With fall underway, many McDonald’s fans are wondering if the popular fast food chain will be bringing back pumpkin pie to their menu this year. For several years, McDonald’s offered pumpkin pie on their dessert menu during the fall season, delighting customers with the classic autumnal treat.
Will McDonald’s have pumpkin pie in 2023?
Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that McDonald’s will be offering pumpkin pie on their menu for fall 2023. McDonald’s has not officially confirmed that pumpkin pie is returning, and there have been no indications in seasonal marketing materials or social media posts that it will be back this year.
The last time McDonald’s is known to have had pumpkin pie on their menu was in the fall of 2017. That year, they briefly tested the pie at select locations across the United States. However, the pumpkin pie was not brought back in 2018 or since, suggesting it may have been a limited test rather than a permanent seasonal addition.
Some customers may recall seeing pumpkin pie milkshakes at McDonald’s in recent years. However, the shake did not actually contain real pumpkin pie, instead using pumpkin pie flavored syrup as part of the ingredients. So for those hoping for true pumpkin pie on the McDonald’s menu, it seems you may be out of luck this fall.
Why isn’t McDonald’s bringing back pumpkin pie?
There are a few possible reasons why McDonald’s pumpkin pie likely isn’t returning to the menu:
- Lack of consumer demand – If the 2017 test release did not sell well or generate significant interest, McDonald’s may have decided there was not enough customer desire for pumpkin pie to justify keeping it on the permanent fall menu.
- Supply chain issues – McDonald’s has streamlined their menu offerings in recent years, focusing on core items. Producing pumpkin pie along with their regular menu may have posed inventory management challenges.
- Labor costs – Baking pies takes more preparation than McDonald’s usual made-to-order food items. The additional labor to bake pies may have increased costs more than McDonald’s was willing to incur.
Ultimately, pumpkin pie may have been a novelty item rather than a top seller for McDonald’s. With its limited fall availability, McDonald’s likely found it more profitable to devote their kitchen resources to core menu items with year-round demand.
Will pumpkin pie ever come back?
While a McDonald’s pumpkin pie comeback doesn’t seem imminent, it’s not necessarily impossible in the future. McDonald’s does sometimes bring back popular limited-time offerings based on customer requests, or trial seasonal items again after a hiatus. However, the company has not hinted at any plans to resume pumpkin pie production.
Fans who want to let McDonald’s know there is still interest in bringing back pumpkin pie can try reaching out to the company on social media or through their customer feedback channels. If demand seems high enough, it’s feasible McDonald’s could opt to test pumpkin pie again in upcoming fall seasons. But for now, those craving McDonald’s pumpkin pie will have to satisfy the seasonal craving elsewhere.
Other places to get pumpkin pie
Though you can’t currently get pumpkin pie at McDonald’s, there are many other places pumpkin pie lovers can go to get their fix this fall. Here are some spots to pick up a tasty pumpkin pie:
| Restaurant/Store | Pumpkin Pie Options |
|---|---|
| Grocery store bakeries | Freshly baked pumpkin pies you can buy whole or by the slice |
| Costco | Affordable, tasty pumpkin pie available in bakery |
| Starbucks | Slice of pumpkin cream cheese loaf cake |
| The Cheesecake Factory | Pumpkin cheesecake with cream cheese pumpkin pie filling |
| Peppermint Bakery | Pumpkin pie milkshake with real pie blended in |
Grocery store bakeries are always a solid choice for picking up a fresh pumpkin pie to enjoy at home. National chains like Costco, Starbucks, and The Cheesecake Factory offer pumpkin pie versions on their dessert menus in the fall. And specialty local eateries may have unique pumpkin pie treats like milkshakes. So don’t despair – even without McDonald’s, pumpkin pie can still be yours for the eating this autumn.
When can you expect pumpkin flavored items at McDonald’s?
Even if pumpkin pie won’t be at McDonald’s this fall, customers can still enjoy some seasonal pumpkin spice flavors on the McDonald’s menu. Here’s when to expect the return of pumpkin items:
- Pumpkin Spice McCafe Drinks – Available for a limited time in the fall, usually late August through November. Options include pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice frappes, and pumpkin spice mochas.
- Pumpkin Spice Cookies – Also return for a limited fall window, starting as early as late August while supplies last.
The availability of McDonald’s pumpkin drinks and cookies can vary by location. Check with your local McDonald’s to see when pumpkin flavors arrive on the menu for the season. Though pumpkin pie won’t be there, these pumpkin options can help satisfy your cravings.
The history of McDonald’s pumpkin pie
To understand why pumpkin pie isn’t currently offered at McDonald’s, it helps to look back at the history of McDonald’s pumpkin pie:
- First launched – Pumpkin pies were first tested on the McDonald’s menu in the fall of 2015 at participating locations in southern California.
- Wider release – Following the test release, McDonald’s rolled out the pumpkin pies to more locations around the U.S. in fall 2016 and 2017.
- Pricing – The pies retailed for $1.99 each during the test period.
- Poor sales – Sales and demand for the McDonald’s pumpkin pie were reportedly poorer than expected.
- Discontinuation – After the 2017 release, McDonald’s did not bring back the pumpkin pie in 2018 or since, essentially discontinuing the item.
The story of McDonald’s pumpkin pie on the menu seems to have begun with high hopes but ended in disappointment. The pies did not generate enough excitement or purchases from customers to become a fall staple offering. With two test releases yielding lackluster results, McDonald’s ultimately decided to focus their menu instead on more popular core items.
Could customer interest bring pumpkin pie back someday?
Given the story of McDonald’s unsuccessful pumpkin pie trial run, it seems unlikely the pies will return anytime soon without good reason. However, if customer preferences change in the future, renewed interest and demand for McDonald’s pumpkin pie could potentially prompt the company to revisit the option.
McDonald’s does have a history of bringing back limited-time items by popular request. For example, sauces like Szechuan dipping sauce have returned for brief stints when fans rallied on social media and showed clear desire for the product. If pumpkin pie enthusiasts made their wishes heard, there’s a chance McDonald’s could test the waters again down the line.
McDonald’s also occasionally rotates seasonal offerings, bringing back pumpkin pies could allow them to vary their fall dessert menu. However, McDonald’s hasn’t indicated any plans to do this. For now, the pumpkin pies seem relegated to McDonald’s history books rather than the future menu.
Should McDonald’s consider bringing back pumpkin pie?
There are reasonable arguments on both sides as to whether McDonald’s should reconsider reviving pumpkin pie:
Reasons to bring back pumpkin pie:
- Could attract more customers in fall months
- Offers a classic autumnal treat many enjoy
- Variety for customers tiring of the same desserts
- May drive revenue if marketed/executed well
Reasons not to bring back pumpkin pie:
- Initial test releases had poor results
- Requires additional labor and production costs
- Menus are already crowded with seasonal pumpkin items
- Focus should stay on core menu items with consistent demand
Ultimately, McDonald’s likely has the sales data to best analyze whether bringing back pumpkin pies would be profitable or advisable for the business. Customer opinion certainly plays a role, but McDonald’s has to weigh many factors in deciding menu options. For now, fans will have to turn to other eateries for their pumpkin pie fix.
How to make your own McDonald’s style pumpkin pie
Since McDonald’s pumpkin pie is off the table for this season, home bakers can try making a version themselves at home. Here is a recipe for a pumpkin pie inspired by what McDonald’s may have offered:
Ingredients:
- 1 refrigerated pie crust
- 15 oz canned pumpkin puree
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/4 cup evaporated milk
- Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Unroll pie crust and fit into a 9″ pie pan. Crimp edges decoratively.
- In a bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, sugar, spice, salt, eggs, and evaporated milk until well blended.
- Pour mixture into pie crust.
- Bake for 15 minutes at 425°F.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350°F and bake for 40-50 more minutes until filling is set.
- Allow pie to cool fully before slicing. Serve with whipped cream on top if desired.
While it may not be exactly like what McDonald’s served, this easy homemade pumpkin pie can satisfy your fall cravings. Enjoy!
Conclusion
For fans eagerly awaiting its return, McDonald’s pumpkin pie unfortunately doesn’t seem to be on the menu this fall. After poorly received test runs, McDonald’s hasn’t brought the pumpkin pie back in recent years and has no apparent plans to revive it for 2023. While disappointing for those with fond memories of enjoying the seasonal treat at McDonald’s, there are still plenty of other places to sate your pumpkin pie appetite this autumn. And who knows – increased customer interest and demand could potentially prompt McDonald’s to revisit pumpkin pie someday down the road. But for now, we’ll have to settle for pumpkin spice lattes and cookies from the golden arches.