McDonald’s fried apple pie returns nationwide for a limited time in June

McDonald’s is bringing back the dessert nostalgic customers have been wanting to see again for decades.

The fast food chain announced that its fried apple pie will return to participating restaurants nationwide for a limited time on June 23 as part of America’s 250th birthday celebrations.

The dessert features apple filling made with American-grown apples, wrapped in a fried, flaky crust.

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The pie first appeared on the McDonald’s menu in 1968 after Tennessee franchisee Litton Cochran developed the recipe. It remained a staple for decades before most U.S. restaurants switched to the baked version in 1992, according to The Associated Press, at a time when concerns about fat and cholesterol consumption were growing.

Fried cake never completely disappeared; It remained available in Hawaii and select international markets even after most U.S. restaurants switched to the baked version.

“There are some things that take you back, and Fried Apple Pie is one of them,” Eric Cochran, McDonald’s owner/operator and Litton Cochran’s grandson, said in a statement.

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“It’s something people love and remember growing up.”

To celebrate the dessert’s return, McDonald’s plans to unveil a 35-foot-tall fried apple pie display along Route 66 in Joliet, Illinois, near the company’s Chicago-area headquarters.

Apple pie made its debut at McDonald’s in 1968. (iStock)

The large cake will remain on display until July 4th.

The announcement quickly caused a stir online, especially among customers who remembered the fried pies of yesteryear.

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“This is great news! But I wish it didn’t only last two weeks!” wrote one Reddit user.

Others expressed hope that the limited-time offer might eventually become permanent.

The return of the fried pies has caused a stir among longtime online customers. (iStock)

“I see this as the beginning of the reintroduction,” another commenter wrote.

Many users pointed out that fried versions of the cake never completely disappeared.

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“For some reason they still have these in Hawaii,” one commenter wrote. “It’s just the rest of the country that’s missing out on good pies.”

Others debated whether the returning cake would match the version they remembered from decades ago.

“They don’t serve fried apple pie unless they re-fry it in beef fat,” one reviewer wrote.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to McDonald’s for further comment.