McDonald’s is set to revive a nostalgic menu item for a limited time, bringing back its fried apple pie beginning June 22 at participating locations, according to a social media post by blogger Snackolator. The return is being promoted as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration. During the promotion, the chain’s baked apple pie will not be available, making the fried version the only apple pie option on offer at participating restaurants.
The dessert has long been remembered by fans for its crispy, flaky shell and hot, gooey apple filling. The original deep-fried pie was a longtime McDonald’s staple before the company changed the recipe in September 1992 and switched to a baked version in response to growing demand for healthier fast-food choices. The fried pie’s return taps into the chain’s history of bringing back familiar items that many customers associate with earlier decades.
McDonald’s has not yet publicly confirmed the menu change in response to media inquiries, but the fried apple pie is listed on the company’s website with a description stating that it features 100% American-grown apples inside a crispy, golden crust fried to perfection. The listing also identifies the dessert as a 220-calorie item.
The comeback follows a pattern of nostalgia-driven promotions from McDonald’s in recent years. The company has periodically reintroduced older favorites and retro-themed products, including the return of snack wraps, ’80s-style Changeable Happy Meal toys, and limited runs of items such as the McRib and Chicken Big Mac. These promotions have often generated strong interest from longtime customers and social media users eager to revisit familiar menu items.
The fried apple pie return is likely to attract attention from customers who remember the original version and from younger diners curious to try a menu item that has not been widely available for decades. For some, it represents a taste of McDonald’s history; for others, it is a rare chance to compare the baked and fried versions of one of the chain’s best-known desserts.
McDonald’s continues to maintain a large presence in Massachusetts, where it has locations in 143 cities and towns. The chain’s broad reach could help drive strong local interest in the limited-time offering, especially among customers looking for classic fast-food items tied to childhood memories and past eras of the brand.
If the rollout proceeds as described, the fried apple pie will serve as another example of how major fast-food chains are leaning into nostalgia to create buzz, encourage visits, and revive products that built lasting brand recognition.
