mcdonalds baked apple pie recipe
The Best mcdonalds baked apple pie recipe
I started making this copycat McDonald’s baked apple pie at home because my kids ask for one every single time we drive past the golden arches. The baked version is the one they want, not the fried one, which honestly surprised me the first time I heard it. It has a flaky crust, a soft apple filling, and that light cinnamon sugar coating on top that makes the whole kitchen smell like fall. Once I figured out how simple it is to put together, I stopped buying them and started keeping a batch in my freezer instead.
This is a good recipe for a lot of reasons. It works for a random Tuesday when someone wants something sweet after dinner, and it works for potlucks, bake sales, and holiday trays where you need something that travels well. My youngest helps me spoon the filling into the dough, and my oldest handles the cinnamon sugar, so it turns into a whole family project without a big mess. You can bake a dozen, wrap them, and pull one out whenever the craving hits.
The apple filling is the part I feel good about. Apples bring fiber and a little vitamin C, and baking instead of frying keeps the fat down compared to the drive thru version. Cinnamon adds flavor without needing much else, and since you control the sugar in the filling, you can dial it back if you want. It still tastes like the real thing, just a little lighter and made in your own oven.
Copycat McDonald’s Baked Apple Pie
A homemade take on the fast-food classic: flaky, buttery hand pies packed with cinnamon-spiced apples and finished with a crackly cinnamon-sugar crust. They bake in the oven rather than a fryer, so the pastry stays crisp and the filling stays jammy.
🥘Ingredients
For the Apple Filling
For the Dough
For Finishing
👨🍳Directions
🔧Equipment
📊Nutrition Facts (per serving)
📝Notes
Watch Video Of How Copycat McDonald’s Baked Apple Pie Works
I keep this recipe in my rotation because it works for everything from a weeknight dessert to a holiday table and it does not take much effort. The pies are easy to make in batches, so they hold up well when family comes over and everyone wants a second one. If you need a simple dessert that pleases a crowd, this is the recipe I make most often.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Copycat McDonald’s Baked Apple Pie
1. What makes a copycat McDonald’s apple pie different from a standard apple pie?
The biggest difference is size and format. These are individual hand pies with a thin, tender crust rather than a deep-dish pie with a top and bottom crust, so the filling-to-pastry ratio is much higher. The filling is also cooked down to a thick, almost jammy consistency so it doesn’t run out when you bite into it, and the finished pies are small enough to hold in one hand.
2. Is the homemade version baked or fried?
This recipe is baked, which is the easier and safer route at home. A hot oven, around 400°F, gives the crust a crisp, golden exterior without the mess of a pot of oil. If you want a closer match to the texture of a fried pie, brush the pastry with a little melted butter before baking and let the pies cool on a wire rack so steam doesn’t soften the bottom.
3. Can I use store-bought pie crust or puff pastry?
Yes. Refrigerated pie dough works well and keeps the process quick, and puff pastry gives an extra-flaky result, though the texture will be lighter and less sturdy. If you use puff pastry, chill the assembled pies for about 15 minutes before baking so the layers stay distinct. Homemade dough gives you the most control over thickness, which matters here since thin pastry is part of the appeal.
4. What kind of apples work best for the filling?
Firm, tart-sweet varieties hold up best, such as Granny Smith, Braeburn, or Honeycrisp. Softer apples break down too quickly and turn the filling to sauce. Cut the pieces small, roughly a quarter inch, so they soften fully in the short bake time, and cook the filling on the stovetop first with sugar, cinnamon, and a small amount of cornstarch or flour to thicken it.
5. How should I store and reheat leftover apple pies?
Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, or refrigerate them for up to four and rewarm before serving. A toaster oven or a 350°F regular oven for about five minutes restores the crispness far better than a microwave, which will leave the crust chewy. If you plan to freeze them, do it before baking and bake straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the time.
