I have a particular fondness for McDonald’s Apple Pie because of its uniquely irresistible taste, which I find myself craving quite often. I don’t think any other brand’s apple pie comes close to their recipe.
Their iconic recipe features 100% American-grown apples and a lattice crust that is baked to perfection and topped with sprinkled cinnamon sugar.
Everything about their apple pie is so delicious that I wanted to recreate it at home so I could enjoy it anytime I wanted.
This apple pie recipe has the same crunchy texture with a buttery, flaky crust. Moreover, the filling had the same freshness of apples wrapped in the sweet flavor of cinnamon, giving it a unique identity.
So, here I am today, sharing the copycat recipe of McDonald’s Apple Pie with you all.
Equipments Required
- Saucepan: I use a small saucepan to make the apple filling. You can also use a milk pan or any pan of your choice.
- Rolling Pin: You will need a rolling pin to roll out the pastry sheets.
- Sharp Knife: I use a sharp knife to dice the apples, cut the pastry sheets into rectangles, and also for making slits in the pie before baking them.
- Fork: While I use a fork to seal the edges of the pie, you can also use a small knife or a toothpick.
- Small Bowls: A set of small bowls helps me assemble all the ingredients and also make egg wash and cinnamon sugar.
- Whisk: I use a whisk to beat the egg with cold water. You can also use a small spoon.
- An Oven: Lastly, you will need an oven to bake this delicious copycat recipe for McDonald’s Apple Pie.
McDonald’s Apple Pie Ingredients & Substitutions
Note: This recipe yields eight mini pies. You can adjust the quantity as per your requirement.
- 2 Sheets Puff Pastry-Thawed: You can also substitute phyllo dough or cookie dough for this recipe.
- 3 Cups Apples – Peeled and Diced in ⅓-½ Inch Cubes (about 4 large apples): I have also tried this recipe using pears, and it tasted delicious.
- 3 Tablespoons Sugar: Honey or syrup can also be used as an alternative in this recipe.
- 3 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Cinnamon: Alternatively, allspice, mace, or cardamom can be used in this recipe.
- ½ Teaspoon Nutmeg: Mace or cloves can also be used as an alternative option in this recipe.
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
- ¼ Cup Water
- 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch Dissolved In 2 Tablespoons Cold Water: You can also use all-purpose flour as a thickening agent in this recipe.
- 1 Egg: Whisked with 1 Tbsp Cold Water
Preparation And Cooking Time
| Preparation Time | Cook Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | 20 minutes | 50 minutes |
How To Make McDonald’s Apple Pie At Home
Step 1
For making the apple pie filling, take the diced apples and place them in a saucepan over medium heat. Then add brown and white sugar to the pan.
Step 2
Next up, add cinnamon and nutmeg to the pan.
Step 3
To balance their sweetness, add lemon juice.
Step 4
Add the cornstarch to the pan and cook the filling for 3 to 4 minutes until it thickens.
Step 5
Once the apple filling thickens, add some water and cook the filling over medium heat for 10 minutes.
Step 6
Stir it occasionally, and once done, turn off the heat and set it aside to cool down.
Step 7
Roll out thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 12×12 inch square. Then, cut it into 3×6 inch rectangles. Place these rectangles on a baking sheet. Spoon apple pie filling generously onto each, leaving a ½-inch border.
Step 8
Brush the borders with egg wash, made by whisking an egg with 1 tbsp cold water and keeping it aside. Place the remaining rectangles of puff pastry on top, gently stretching to cover the filling and match the edges. Seal by crimping with a fork.
Step 9
With a sharp knife, cut four slits into the tops of each pie. Brush with egg wash again and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar that was made using cinnamon and 3 tbsp of light brown sugar and kept aside. Repeat the process with the remaining puff pastry sheet as well.
Step 10
Place the pie in a preheated oven at 400°F and bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown.
Step 11
Place the baked pies on a wire rack and let them cool for 10 minutes before you relish them.
Expert Tips That I Recommend
- To get a flaky and tender crust on my apple pie, I use puff pastry chilled in the refrigerator. I also chill the rolling pin and the work surface for the flakiest crust.
- When choosing apples for my apple pie, I always select tart apples. I particularly like Granny Smith apples because of their pleasant aroma, but you can use any tart apple to make the best apple pie dessert.
- I don’t go overboard with the seasoning, as I want my pie to first taste like an apple and then have light cinnamon and nutmeg flavors. Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg can easily overpower the taste of apples, so I always go light with the seasoning.
- Cooking the apples before filling them in the pie helps maintain their shape. But make sure you just cook them al dente to retain their shape and texture in the filling.
- Lastly, letting the apple pie rest for some time after it is baked is an important step to consider. Giving the pie crust time to rest at room temperature will result in a crispy and flaky texture.
- Before filling the pies with the apple filling, I let it cool completely to check its consistency. It should be thick but not overly dry. This step helps me easily fix the consistency.
- Preheating the oven is an important step in baking recipes. An unheated oven causes uneven baking and will affect the texture of your pie.
- Lastly, when rolling out the pastry, I make sure not to overdo it. You should handle it as little as possible to avoid developing gluten, which can lead to a tough crust.
FAQs About McDonald’s Apple Pie
Nutritional Information Per Serving
Apples are healthy as they are rich in fiber and other nutrients. However, covering them with a buttery crust and coating them with sugar slightly changes things. Apple, when made into an apple pie, comes with a lot of calories. Hence, I would recommend having it in moderation.
| Calories | 608 kcal |
| Total Fat | 7.1 g |
| Saturated Fat | 4.3 g |
| Cholesterol | 32 mg |
| Sodium | 133 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 144.8 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 18.6 g |
| Total Sugar | 90.7 g |
| Protein | 3.4.g |
| Vitamin D | 5 mg |
| Calcium | 361 mg |
| Iron | 3 mg |
| Potassium | 243 mg |
This copycat recipe of Mcdonald’s Apple Pie is suitable for eggetarians, non-vegetarians, and lactose intolerant folks.
Recipe Variations For Different Diets
- Vegan Diet: People who follow a vegan diet can substitute egg wash for maple syrup or almond, soy, or oat milk. Apart from that, all the ingredients are suitable for a person following a vegan diet.
- Keto-Friendly Diet: The hero ingredients of this recipe are apples, which are not considered to be keto-friendly fruits. So, to make these pies keto-friendly, you can use chayote squash or peaches instead of apples. Also, pie crust can be made using almond or coconut flour to make it more suitable.
- Sugar-Free Diet: People following a sugar-free diet can substitute any non-sweetener like stevia with sugar in this recipe. Also, honey or maple syrup can be substituted to make this recipe sugar-free.
Storing And Reheating This Recipe
Storing
- Refrigerator: I usually store the leftovers of my apple pie in an airtight container by tightly wrapping them in plastic wrap. This way, they last for about four days in the fridge.
- Freezer: When I want the leftovers to last longer, I freeze them. I use the same method as for refrigeration, placing apple pie in an airtight container. When frozen properly, an apple pie can last up to four months.
Reheating
- Oven: I usually set the pie on a parchment-lined baking sheet and put it in a preheated 350-degree oven for about 15 minutes. I then check if it is heated through or heat it for five more minutes accordingly.
- Air Fryer: I place a slice of apple pie in the air fryer and reheat it at 350 degrees F for 5 to 7 minutes until the filling is warmed through.
- Microwave: Although this method won’t keep the crust crispy, it sure is quicker. So, when I am running out of time, I place the pie on a microwave-safe plate and microwave it in 30-second to one-minute intervals until heated to my liking.
Printable Version
McDonald’s Apple Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Sheets Puff Pastry-Thawed
- 3 Cups Peeled and Diced Apples in 1/3-½ Inch Cubes about 4 large apples
- 3 Tablespoons Sugar
- 3 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
- ½ Teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
- ¼ Cup Water
- 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch Dissolved In 2 Tablespoons Cold Water
- 1 Egg Whisked with 1 Tbsp Cold Water
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Rolling Pin
- Sharp Knife
- Fork
- Small Bowls
- Whisk
- Oven
Instructions
- For making the apple pie filling, take the diced apples and place them in a saucepan over medium heat. Then add brown and white sugar to the pan.
- Next up, add cinnamon and nutmeg to the pan.
- To balance their sweetness, add lemon juice.
- Add the cornstarch to the pan and cook the filling for 3 to 4 minutes until it thickens.
- Once the apple filling thickens, add some water and cook the filling over medium heat for 10 minutes.
- Stir it occasionally, and once done, turn off the heat and set it aside to cool down.
- Roll out thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 12×12 inch square. Then, cut it into 3×6 inch rectangles. Place these rectangles on a baking sheet. Spoon apple pie filling generously onto each, leaving a ½-inch border.
- Brush the borders with egg wash, made by whisking an egg with 1 tbsp cold water and keeping it aside. Place the remaining rectangles of puff pastry on top, gently stretching to cover the filling and match the edges. Seal by crimping with a fork.
- With a sharp knife, cut four slits into the tops of each pie. Brush with egg wash again and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar that was made using cinnamon and 3 tbsp of light brown sugar and kept aside. Repeat the process with the remaining puff pastry sheet as well.
- Place the pie in a preheated oven at 400F and bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown.
- Place the baked pies on a wire rack and let them cool for 10 minutes before you relish them.
Notes
- To get a flaky and tender crust on my apple pie, I use puff pastry chilled in the refrigerator. I also chill the rolling pin and the work surface for the flakiest crust.
- When choosing apples for my apple pie, I always select tart apples. I particularly like Granny Smith apples because of their pleasant aroma, but you can use any tart apple to make the best apple pie dessert.
- I don’t go overboard with the seasoning, as I want my pie to first taste like an apple and then have light cinnamon and nutmeg flavors. Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg can easily overpower the taste of apples, so I always go light with the seasoning.
- Cooking the apples before filling them in the pie helps maintain their shape. But make sure you just cook them al dente to retain their shape and texture in the filling.
- Lastly, letting the apple pie rest for some time after it is baked is an important step to consider. Giving the pie crust time to rest at room temperature will result in a crispy and flaky texture.
- Before filling the pies with the apple filling, I let it cool completely to check its consistency. It should be thick but not overly dry. This step helps me easily fix the consistency.
- Preheating the oven is an important step in baking recipes. An unheated oven causes uneven baking and will affect the texture of your pie.
- Lastly, when rolling out the pastry, I make sure not to overdo it. You should handle it as little as possible to avoid developing gluten, which can lead to a tough crust.
Nutrition
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Conclusion
I love how McDonald’s Apple Pie has that distinctive cinnamony and fresh apple taste to them. Our Chef Jasbir Singh has successfully attempted to create an apple pie replica of what Mcdonald’s has been proudly making all these years.
You should also try out this simple recipe to learn how it can be made at home and enjoyed with your loved ones. Also, don’t forget to share your experience and experiments with this recipe with us in the comment section below.
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