Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Cool: 10 mins
Total: 55 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 8 pies
You may crave the burgers and fries at McDonald’s, but their signature apple pie is the best way to finish off a meal. Today, the McDonald’s apple pies are topped with a lattice crust, but back in the day they were known for their crispy exterior. It’s easy to create this throwback copycat recipe in your own kitchen. In fact, this homemade version of the McDonald’s apple pie is baked, not fried, but it still has the golden brown and crisp crust we all remember.
These copycat McDonald’s apple pies are made quickly and easily by using prepared refrigerated pie crusts. Simply roll out the crust and cut it into equal-sized rectangles. Meanwhile, prepare a cinnamon and sugar apple filling on the stovetop until the apples are soft and coated in a thick, flavorful syrup. Top with the remaining pie crusts and press together with a fork to seal. The pies are then brushed with an egg wash and sprinkled with granulated sugar to create that signature crust. Homemade McDonalds’ apple pies are surprisingly quick and easy—in under an hour you’ll have a nostalgic treat that will put a smile on everyone’s face.
It’s fun to serve each individual pie wrapped in parchment paper to mimic the paper sleeve from the restaurant. The apple pies can also be dipped in caramel sauce for an added treat, or even served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an easy apple pie à la mode dessert.
«What a treat to have a pocket-sized apple pie in a fraction of the time it would take to make this traditional dessert. The method can be tricky to sandwich enough filling, so I liked making these ’empanada-style’ and served extra filling on the side.» —Lauryn Bodden
A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Ingredients
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter
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2 1/2 cups chopped apple, about 2 to 4 peeled and cored apples
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1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
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1 tablespoon lemon juice
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1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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1/4 cup all-purpose flour, more or less, for dusting
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1 (14.1-ounce box) rolled refrigerated pie crusts
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1 large egg, beaten
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2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 425 F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a medium pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the chopped apple, brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and salt and stir. Bring to a simmer and cook until the apples are soft and most of the juice has cooked off, about 10 minutes.
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Remove the apple filling from the heat and allow to cool before filling the pies.
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On a lightly floured surface, gently roll out one of the refrigerated pie crusts large enough to hold an 8 x 8-inch square.
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Cut into 8 rectangles, each measuring 2 inches wide and 4 inches long. Repeat with the second pie crust. Discard extra pie crust trimmings or reserve for another use.
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Place 8 of the rectangles on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the surface of each with some of the beaten egg.
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Spoon the cooled apple filling into the center of the 8 rectangles, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Top with the remaining rectangles and crimp the edges together with a fork. Brush with the remaining egg wash and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Prick the tops of each pie with a toothpick or fork.
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Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack and cool before eating. Wrap each apple pie in parchment paper to mimic the classic McDonald’s sleeve. Enjoy.
Tip
If you have any leftover filling, serve it on the side with the hand pies, or try adding it to pancakes or muffins or swirling some into your morning yogurt.
Recipe Variations
- For a different shape, punch out large circles instead of rectangles.
- You can fill and fold these hand pies like empanadas or calzones by cutting 4 large squares (instead of 8 rectangles) from each pie crust. Once brushed and topped with the filling, fold each square over in half to form a rectangular hand pie.
How to Store and Freeze
- Leftover hand pies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days.
- These mini apple pies can also be frozen. To freeze them before baking, assemble the pies but skip the final egg wash. Place the parchment-lined baking sheet in the freezer and freeze until solid. Transfer to a zip-top freezer bag and freeze for up to two months. Bake from frozen, adding about 5 minutes to the cook time. Decrease the oven temperature a bit and cover with foil if they brown too quickly.
- To freeze the pies after baking, let them cool completely. Add to an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to two months. Defrost in the fridge before enjoying.
Are McDonald’s apple pies fried or baked?
Up until 1992, McDonald's apple pies were fried, but the company switched to baking their apple pies to appeal to healthier dining trends. This recipe is for a baked hand pie, but is closer in style to the original.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 8 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 323 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 16g | 21% |
| Saturated Fat 7g | 34% |
| Cholesterol 31mg | 10% |
| Sodium 281mg | 12% |
| Total Carbohydrate 43g | 15% |
| Dietary Fiber 2g | 7% |
| Total Sugars 13g | |
| Protein 3g | |
| Vitamin C 2mg | 10% |
| Calcium 20mg | 2% |
| Iron 1mg | 5% |
| Potassium 100mg | 2% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
