There's just something about McDonald's food. Whether it's the refreshing taste of a McDonald's co*ke, the shoestring French fries, or the heavenly apple pie, customers have been loving Mickey D's for over 65 years.
We've all experienced the moment under the Golden Arches when you bite into your meal or sip your drink and think what makes McDonald's food taste so good? And, believe it or not, most of the time there's actually a real answer.
You probably already know that McDonald's co*ke is better than other fast-food restaurants. But what about the apple pie?
Why McDonald's Apple Pies Taste So Good
The mystery behind what makes the warm, gooey, and flaky baked apple pie so great has been revealed.
The famous apple pie joined the McDonald's menu in 1968 (the same year as the Big Mac) as the chain's first dessert. It has since skyrocketed into a staple menu item with a cult-like following. It has such a strong fanbase, that when McDonald's changed the pies from fried to baked in 1992, there was a national uproar.
The pies we know and love today are packed with apple flavor, baked, and topped with a lattice crust. And the reason customers can't get enough of the apple pie is based on two factors: the apples and the thickener used in the filling.
A-Plus Apples
Unlike the apple pie that you make at home, McDonald's doesn't just use one or two types of apples. So you can put away your Granny Smiths and Red Delicious if you think you can just whip up McDonald's signature dessert at home.
Instead, Mickey D's makes their pies with six different types of apples — Jonagold, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala, Rome, and Ida Red, all of which are homegrown in the U.S.
And the apples are sliced instead of diced, so you'll notice big chunks of apple in every bite.
Phenomenal Filling
So yes, McDonald's fills their pies with a lot of apples, but it's not just those six varieties that give the pie an apple-y taste. McDonald's uses a special thickening agent that adds an additional apple flavor to the filling.
Many pie fillings are made with a processed thickening agent that keeps the filling jelly-like and in place. But McDonald's uses a dehydrated apple powder. The powder not only thickens the filling, but it also adds that extra apple taste that you love.
McDonald's has rolled out many different varieties of pies over the years — including cherry pie, strawberry and crème, and holiday pies — but none have ever been as popular as the traditional apple pie. What can we say, if it ain't broke, right?
Another McDonald's mystery solved. Now that your mouth is watering (and so is ours), we'll see you at the Mickey D's drive-thru.
FAQs
Many pie fillings are made with a processed thickening agent that keeps the filling jelly-like and in place. But McDonald's uses a dehydrated apple powder. The powder not only thickens the filling, but it also adds that extra apple taste that you love.
Why do McDonald's apples taste better? ›
The McDonald's apple slices are NOT the same apples you find in a grocery store. They are tree-ripened for higher fructose content and then sprayed in ascorbic acid (vitamin C) making them taste tangy. Also, they have nothing to do with the apples in the apple pies.
Is McDonald's apple pie real apples? ›
Absolutely—McDonald's apple pie has real diced apples. The exact variety can vary from season to season, but we look for apples that are sweet and slightly tart. Read a full ingredient list for our Apple Pies.
What is the difference between the old and new McDonald's apple pies? ›
Public opinion started to lean away from fried food and more toward baked, so McDonald's switched to a baked version in 1992. The new version was undoubtedly healthier, though many longtime fans insist that the old flaky, crispy crust was tastier.
Is it okay to eat McDonald's apple pie? ›
The pies are considered fine to eat if they are cooled to a safe temperature, specifically in a refrigerator, after the time on their stickers. The pies must also be thoroughly reheated. You can reheat one of McDonald's famous pies in an air fryer or an oven without much trouble.
Why does McDonald's apple pie taste so good? ›
Many pie fillings are made with a processed thickening agent that keeps the filling jelly-like and in place. But McDonald's uses a dehydrated apple powder. The powder not only thickens the filling, but it also adds that extra apple taste that you love.
Why did McDonald's stop frying their apple pies? ›
And then there's the long forgotten fried apple pie at McDonald's, which made the switch to baked in 1992 due to health reasons and has tasted inferior ever since. Unless you're over 40 and/or live in Hawaii (more on that soon), you've probably never tasted a McDonald's fried apple pie.
Who supplies McDonald's apple pie? ›
Bama Companies produces more than 2 million pies per day as McDonald's exclusive pie supplier.
Are McDonald's apple pies frozen? ›
Even though you might think the pastries come frozen, the chain assures on its website that its apple pies are baked fresh every day.
Does apple pie have egg McDonald's? ›
The Filet-o-Fish® does contain eggs as an ingredient due to the Tartare Sauce, but the Apple Pie does not. .
While the original pie recipe was created in the late 1960s with the recipe by McDonald's franchisee Litton Cochran from Knoxville, Tenn., it was Bonita's work at Bama Pie Company that brought the pie most of us remember and love to life – and to our hometowns.
What pie is McDonald's bringing back? ›
McDonald's first introduced the Strawberry & Crème Pie in 2012 and it was available nationally until 2014. The fast food chain brought it back briefly in 2022 but only in the spring or winter and only at select locations, according to AllRecipes.com.
Can you eat McDonald's apple pie left out overnight? ›
According to McDonald's alumni on Reddit, the pies are supposed to be left out for a maximum of four hours after they come out of the oven in order to prevent bacteria growth.
Are McDonald's apple pies made with choko? ›
In Australia, a persistent urban legend is that McDonald's apple pies were made of chokos (chayotes), not apples. This eventually led McDonald's to emphasise the fact that real apples are used in their pies. This legend was based on an earlier belief that tinned pears were often disguised chayotes.
What kind of apples does McDonalds use? ›
“With the current sliced apple products sold at McDonald's, they use a lot of Gala and Empire apples, which we grow a lot of here in New York,” Gregg said. Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission (WAC), said the apples would have to come from U.S. growers.
Are McDonalds apple slices healthy to eat? ›
MacDonald's Apple Slices are healthy snack options that are often included in Happy Meals. While they may not provide a substantial source of protein as they contain zero grams of protein, these apple slices are a great way to include some extra fruit and fiber in your diet.
What is the tastiest apple? ›
If you have a sweet tooth, you're going to want to head over to the other end of the scale where you'll find the Fuji, Honeycrisp, Ambrosia™, Gala, Golden Delicious, and Red Delicious apples. These sweeter apples contain more natural sugars and can hide any tart flavors even if they are more acidic!
