McDonald’s Apple Pie: Better Homemade!

Avoid the drive-thru (and the urge to get an order of french fries) by making this delicious homemade version of McDonald’s Apple Pie! My McDonald’s Baked Apple Pie is easy to make and tastes even better when you pull it warm right out of the oven instead of out of a greasy fast food bag!

My McDonald’s apple pie recipe is full of fresh, sweet, tart apples and cinnamon, wrapped in a flakey, buttery pastry. It’s simple – but absolutely irresistible.

The best part is you can make these hand apple pies with my Easy Puff Pastry or four sheets of store-bought puff pastry! And any leftover apple pie filling is the perfect companion to some vanilla ice cream.

McDonald's Apple Pies made at home.

What Are McDonald’s Style Apple Pies?

McDonald’s Apple Pies, which are actually apple turnovers, were the first dessert introduced at the world-famous fast-food chain, and my version tastes just like it. (That’s my attempt at being humble! I’d take this version over McDonald’s every time!)

What Apples Are Best

If you’re standing at the grocery store or at the farmer’s market and you’re staring down about a thousand different apples, don’t fear. You’ll want to choose something classic for baking — here in the U.S. that’s an apple like Granny Smith, or Bramley if you’re overseas!

What You Need To Make McDonald’s Style Apple Pies

Measuring Cups and Spoons
Two baking sheets
Parchment paper
Saucepan
Mixing bowls

Six McDonald's Apple Pies with whipped cream.

How To Make McDonald’s Style Apple Pies

Lets put those delicious fall apples to work! Here’s how you make McDonald’s apple pies (and don’t forget to get the full recipe with measurements, on the page down below):

Combine butter, apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and lemon juice in a shallow saucepan over medium heat. Cook this mixture until most of the liquid reduces, and the apples have softened.
In a small bowl, mix the cornflour and water to make a “slurry.” Stir this into your cooked apples and allow to cook for 2 minutes to allow the filling to thicken.
Take the apple filling off of the stove and allow it to cool completely.
Roll out the puff pastry onto a floured surface, about 1/8-inch thick. Cut into eight 4.5×6-inch (12x15cm) rectangles and place them on two parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
Scoop about 1-2 heaped teaspoons of apple filling and lay it in the center of the pastry.
Brush the pastry’s edges with a little egg wash, fold over, and press and seal using the tines of a fork.
Cut three slits onto the top of the pastry to vent. Brush the tops with egg wash, or a little milk, and sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar.
Bake in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for about 25-30 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden.

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making McDonald’s Style Apple Pies

Be sure your pastry and filling are both cold when assembling, otherwise, the pies will be too difficult to handle.
Make my Easy Puff Pastry or use 4 sheets of store-bought puff pastry.
You can use this pie filling for a whole pie instead of turnovers. Or simply serve it with some vanilla ice cream!
The apple filling can be made up to 3 days in advance.
You can freeze the apple pie filling for up to 2 months.

A close up of the interior of my McDonald's Apple Pies, apple hand pies made at home.

How Do I Store McDonald’s Apple Pies?

This copycat apple pie can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Before serving, rewarm in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 10 minutes to re-crisp!

Make More Pie!

And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook!

McDonald's Apple Pies topped with whipped cream.

Full (and printable) recipe below!

Homemade McDonald’s Apple Pies Recipe

There's nothing better than a famous apple pie from McDonald's, right? Not so fast! Try making my McDonald's Apple Pie recipe and you can be the judge.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Servings hand pies

Author Gemma Stafford

Ingredients

¼ cup (2oz/57g) butter
4 apples peeled, cored and diced small
⅔ cup (4oz/115g) brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
juice of 1 lemon
3 teaspoons cornflour
1 tablespoon water
2 x recipe Easy Puff Pastry (or store bought puff pastry)
egg wash
cinnamon sugar for dusting

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment.
In a shallow saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and lemon juice, and cook gently until most of the liquid reduces and the apples have softened.
In a small bowl mix the cornflour and water to make a 'slurry'. Add this to the cooked apples stirring as you go. Allow to cook for 2 minutes to thicken the filling before removing it from the heat.
Set the apple filling aside to cool down completely. Once cool you can keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days. It can also be frozen.
Once the filling is cool, roll out the puff pastry on a floured surface to roughly ⅛ inch thick.
Cut into eight 4.5x6 inch (12x15cm) rectangles and transfer to your prepared baking sheets. You can re-roll this pastry and make even more pies.
For each pastry rectangle, scoop out 1-2 heaped teaspoons of apple filling and lay in the center of the pastry.
Brush the edges with a touch of egg wash or milk, fold over, press and seal with the tines of a fork.
Cut three slits in the top of each pastry for venting, brush with the egg wash or milk, and sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar.
Bake until pastry is puffed and golden, about 25-30 minutes.
Enjoy warm with cream or ice cream! Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to two days. Rewarm in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 10 minutes to re-crisp before eating.
* A sharp, crisp, dessert apple will be best for this dessert. Adjust the sugar to taste.