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McDonald’s announced Tuesday that it is bringing back its fried apple pie to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
The fried apple pies will be available at participating U.S. restaurants for a limited time starting June 23, marking their first broad U.S. rollout in more than 30 years.
“Summer tends to move fast – but the moments worth remembering don’t. And with America’s 250th birthday around the corner, we’re bringing back a fan-favorite and bona fide national treasure made for slowing down and savoring the season: the Fried Apple Pie,” the company said in a press release.
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“The all-day menu item features our signature filling made with 100% American-grown apples, wrapped in the same golden crunch and flaky fried crust fans remember – or soon won’t forget,” it added.
McDonald’s said the dessert item started as a family recipe in the 1960s, when East Tennessee Owner/Operator Litton Cochran created a fried apple hand pie.
The treat became a local fan favorite and later a McDonald’s classic.
“There are certain things that just take you back – and the Fried Apple Pie is one of them. It’s something that people love and remember from growing up,” Eric Cochran, McDonald’s Owner/Operator, said in a statement.
“When Ray Kroc was trying to come up with a dessert for McDonald’s, my Grandad, Litton Cochran, suggested a Fried Apple Pie as a classic that people would love. My Grandmom, Jo Cochran, spent months perfecting the recipe. Bringing the Fried Apple Pie back for fans this summer to celebrate America’s 250th just feels right,” he continued.
McDonald’s replaced the fried apple pie in 1992 with a baked pie in most of the U.S. in response to growing consumer awareness about fat and cholesterol consumption.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture also published its food guide pyramid that same year.
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Fried apple pies remained on McDonald’s menus in Hawaii and are still sold in other regions around the world, including the United Kingdom, Mexico, Greece, Australia and China.
In addition to the return of the classic dessert, McDonald’s is installing a 35-foot Fried Apple Pie on Route 66 in Joliet, Illinois, near the company’s Chicago headquarters. The giant pie will remain standing through July 4.
A kickoff event will also be held to debut McDonald’s Largest Fried Apple Pie in Chicagoland. The event will feature live music, ice-cold Coca-Cola and complimentary Arch Cards.
