McDonald’s Apple Pie Recipe

This homemade McDonald’s Apple Pie Recipe recreates the iconic fast-food dessert with a buttery puff pastry shell and a warm, spiced fruit filling. Fried to a bubbling golden crisp, these handheld pockets offer that signature shatter-crunch and gooey center without leaving your kitchen. It is the ultimate nostalgic treat, delivering hot, sweet comfort in just 20 minutes for the whole family.

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McDonald’s Apple Pie Ingredients

The Spiced Filling:

• 1 Granny Smith apple: For tartness and structure.
• 1 Red Apple: (Like Fuji or Gala) for natural sweetness and softer texture.
• 3 tbsp Butter: To sauté the fruit.
• 3 tbsp Brown Sugar: Creates a rich, caramel-like syrup.
• Spices: 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, and 1/4 tsp allspice for that classic pie flavor.
• 1 tsp Lemon Juice: Brightens the filling and prevents browning.
• 1/4 tsp Salt & Vanilla: Enhances flavor depth.

The Crust & Fry:

• 2 sheets Puff Pastry: Thawed. This mimics the flaky, blistered exterior of the original fried pie better than standard pie crust.
• Neutral Oil: Canola or vegetable oil, enough for 3 inches in the pot.
• Water: For sealing the edges.

How To Make McDonald’s Apple Pie

1. Sauté the Filling: Peel, core, and dice both apples into small, uniform cubes. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, lemon juice, salt, and vanilla. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender and coated in a thick, syrupy glaze. Let the filling cool completely (hot filling melts pastry!).
2. Prep the Pastry: Unfold the thawed puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Cut each sheet into 4 equal rectangles (or squares, depending on your preferred shape).
3. Fill and Seal: Place a generous spoonful of the cooled apple mixture onto one half of each pastry rectangle, leaving a border. Dip your finger in water and run it along the edges of the pastry. Fold the empty half over the filling. Press the edges down firmly with the tines of a fork to crimp and seal them tight.
4. Heat the Oil: Pour oil into a heavy-bottomed pot to a depth of 3 inches. Heat over medium-high until it reaches 350°F (175°C). Drop a scrap of dough in; if it sizzles and floats immediately, the oil is ready.
5. Fry to Golden: Carefully lower 1 or 2 pies into the hot oil. Do not crowd the pot. Fry for about 1 to 2 minutes per side, flipping once with tongs, until the pastry is puffed, blistered, and deep golden brown.
6. Cool and Serve: Transfer the pies to a wire rack to drain and cool slightly. Warning: The filling will be molten hot lava, so let them rest for at least 5 minutes before taking that first crispy bite.

Recipe Tips

• Don’t Overfill: It is tempting to stuff the pies, but overfilling leads to leaks in the hot oil. A tablespoon or two is plenty.
• Chill Before Frying: If your pastry gets warm and soft while assembling, pop the formed pies in the fridge for 15 minutes before frying. Cold dough hits hot oil better, creating flakier layers.
• The Glaze Hack: The original pies have a slight glaze. You can brush the hot fried pies with a tiny bit of simple syrup or dust them with cinnamon sugar while they are still oily for extra sweetness.
• Apple Size: Dice the apples small (about 1/4 inch). Large chunks won’t cook down into that cohesive, jammy filling we associate with the fast-food version.

What To Serve With McDonald’s Apple Pie

• Vanilla Soft Serve: Or ice cream, to mimic the McFlurry experience.
• Caramel Sauce: A drizzle of salted caramel pushes this over the edge.
• Coffee: The bitterness of black coffee balances the sweet, fried richness.
• Cheddar Cheese: For a savory-sweet twist, serve with a slice of sharp cheddar.

How To Store McDonald’s Apple Pie

• Room Temperature: Store loosely covered on the counter for up to 24 hours. Sealed containers make the crust soggy.
• Reheat: To revive the crunch, place the pies in an air fryer or oven at 350°F for 3-5 minutes. Microwaving will turn them into a soft, chewy mess.
• Freeze: Freeze un-fried assembled pies on a baking sheet, then bag them. Fry directly from frozen, adding an extra minute to the cook time.

McDonald’s Apple Pie Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 380 kcal
• Fat: 22g
• Carbohydrates: 42g
• Sugar: 18g
• Protein: 4g

Nutrition information is estimated per pie.

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