How to make Copycat McDonald’s Apple Pie at home
Golden, flaky, and filled with warm cinnamon-spiced apples — this Copycat McDonald’s Apple Pie brings nostalgic drive-thru flavor straight to your home kitchen. The best part? You control the ingredients, ensuring real apples, rich butter, and just the right amount of sweetness in every bite.
Equipment
• Parchment-lined baking sheet
• Apple corer
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Rolling pin
• Rectangle cookie cutter or sharp knife
Ingredients
Apple Filling:
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• 4 apples, peeled, cored, and diced small
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Squeeze of lemon juice (see notes)
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
Pie Shells & Finish:
• Store-bought pie crust (2 rounds or sheets)
• Egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water)
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon + ¼ cup sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Filling
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, then add the diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir occasionally and cook until most of the liquid reduces and the apples are soft — about 4–5 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water to make a smooth slurry. Pour this into the apple mixture while stirring, allowing the filling to thicken for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool completely before assembling.
Step 2: Assemble the Pies
Once the filling has cooled, lightly roll out your pie crust on a floured surface. Cut into eight 4.5×6-inch rectangles (or use a rectangular cookie cutter). Re-roll scraps as needed.
Spoon about 1 heaping teaspoon of the apple filling onto the center of each rectangle. Place a second rectangle of dough on top, pressing the edges closed with a fork to seal. Use a knife to make three small slits on top for ventilation.
Step 3: Finish and Bake
Brush each pie with egg wash, then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Let the pies rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. The filling will continue to set as it cools.
Chef’s Notes
• Prevent Browning: As you dice the apples, squeeze a touch of lemon juice over each batch to prevent oxidation.
• Perfect Consistency: The cornstarch slurry should resemble milk in thickness — this ensures the filling becomes jammy and glossy instead of runny.
• Make-Ahead Tip: The filling can be prepared up to two days in advance and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Baking with Kids: If little hands are helping, prepare the filling ahead of time so it’s cool and safe to handle. They can assist with sealing, venting, and brushing the pies.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe captures the nostalgic flavor of McDonald’s apple pies without deep-frying or additives. The buttery crust bakes up perfectly crisp in the oven, while the thickened apple filling gives that signature gooey center. With real apples, real butter, and simple pantry ingredients, you’ll never crave the drive-thru version again.
Copy Cat McDonalds Apple Pie
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
- Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside
- Once apples are peeled, cored and chopped, place them into a pan with butter over medium heat.
- Add in the brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg
- Cook until fragrant and the apples have softened a bit (4-6 mins)
- Mix the cornstarch and water together and then pour into the apple mixture
- Stir frequently as the liquid thickens
- Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Cut out 8-10 rectangles with a cookie cutter or with your knife from the pie crust.
- Scoop a heaping tablespoon of filling in the center of the pie crust
- Lay a second rectangle over the top
- Crimp together with a fork
- Cut 3 slits into the tip for venting
- Brush with egg wash and sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar
- Bake for 12-15 mins or until golden brown
- Sprinkle more cinnamon sugar right out the oven
Notes
The cornstarch and water should be mixed together to create an almost milk like consistency slurry – this will create an almost jammy consistency for our filling.
If baking with children, you’ll want to either a) make the apple pie filling ahead of time to allow it to cool before making the pies or b) explain that the filling is hot and they can watch you will you place it in the center of the dough then invite them back into the activity
Leftover Apple filling can be stored up to five days in the fridge in an airtight container.