Market
Jun 16, 20261
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McDonald's Brings Back Fried Apple Pie for America's 250th Birthday
McDonald's is bringing back fried apple pies for America's 250th birthday celebration, marking their return after more than three decades. The nostalgic menu item, originally introduced in 1968, will be available at most U.S. restaurants starting June 23 as part of a broader wave of patriotic offerings from major fast-food chains.
Quick Facts
Who
McDonald's
What
McDonald's bringing back fried apple pies
When
1968 - original introduction
Where
Most U.S. McDonald's restaurants
- McDonald's bringing back fried apple pies
- Product available for limited time
- Installation of 35-foot giant fried apple pie sculpture
- Competing fast-food chains offering patriotic treats
- McDonald's
McDonald's is reviving a menu item from its early decades to celebrate America's semiquincentennial. The fast-food chain announced Tuesday that it is bringing back fried apple pies for the first time in more than three decades, with availability beginning June 23 at most U.S. restaurants for a limited time.
The fried apple pie was originally introduced by McDonald's in 1968, the same year the company debuted the Big Mac hamburger. Litton Cochran, a McDonald's franchisee in Tennessee, developed the rectangle-shaped pie, which was served in a cardboard sleeve. In 1992, McDonald's replaced the fried version with a baked alternative across most of the United States in response to growing consumer awareness of fat and cholesterol consumption. However, fried apple pies have remained available in Hawaii and continue to be sold in several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Mexico, Greece, Australia, and China.
McDonald's is joining other fast-food chains in offering patriotic treats for the milestone. Burger King has debuted its Firecracker Cookie Pie featuring a sugar cookie crust with red, white, and blue star-shaped sprinkles. Sonic is offering a red, white, and blue slush float for $2.50, while Hardee's has introduced an iced Star-Spangled Biscuit with red and blue sprinkles.
To commemorate the comeback, McDonald's is installing a 35-foot-tall giant fried apple pie sculpture on Route 66 in Joliet, Illinois, near the company's Chicago headquarters. The monument, approximately the height of a three-story house, will remain in place until July 4. According to McDonald's, the company serves 170 million American-grown apples annually across its U.S. restaurants. The baked apple pie contains 230 calories, compared to 220 calories in the fried version.
Why This Matters
McDonald's revival of fried apple pies taps into powerful consumer nostalgia while capitalizing on America's 250th birthday milestone, signaling how major brands leverage patriotic moments for marketing impact. For consumers, this represents a rare chance to experience a discontinued classic, while the industry-wide patriotic menu rollout by Burger King, Sonic, and Hardee's demonstrates coordinated seasonal positioning during peak summer dining. The 35-foot sculpture on Route 66 serves as a high-visibility promotional anchor that blends Americana imagery with social media appeal, illustrating modern fast-food strategy.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 1968
WireMcDonald's introduces fried apple pie and Big Mac hamburger; developed by Litton Cochran
Jan 1, 1992
WireMcDonald's replaces fried apple pie with baked version across most of U.S. due to health consciousness
Jun 16, 2026
WireMcDonald's announces return of fried apple pies for America's 250th birthday
Jun 23, 2026
WireFried apple pies become available at most U.S. McDonald's restaurants
Jul 4, 2026
WireGiant 35-foot fried apple pie sculpture on Route 66 scheduled for removal