McDonald’s cherry pie was a classic dessert item that was served at McDonald’s restaurants for over 20 years. The cherry pie was a warm and flaky pastry crust filled with cherry filling, topped with a lattice crust. It became a signature dessert menu item and was beloved by many McDonald’s customers. However, in 1992, McDonald’s made the decision to discontinue serving cherry pies on their menu, much to the dismay of pie fans. In this article, we’ll look at the history of McDonald’s cherry pie, when it was discontinued, and the reasons behind McDonald’s decision to remove it from their permanent menu.
History of McDonald’s Cherry Pie
McDonald’s first introduced the cherry pie to their menu in 1971. It was initially added as a seasonal menu item only served during the summer months. However, it quickly became popular and was added as a permanent dessert menu item in 1972. When it was first introduced, the cherry pie was sold for just 15 cents per pie.
For two decades, the cherry pie remained a staple dessert item at McDonald’s locations across the United States. Customers loved being able to get a warm, freshly baked pie for an affordable price. McDonald’s sold over 250 million cherry pies per year at the height of its popularity in the 1980s. The pies were baked fresh daily in store kitchens. Employees would fill the pie shells with cherry pie filling and top them with lattice crusts.
Popularity of McDonald’s Cherry Pie
There were several reasons the cherry pie became so popular on the McDonald’s menu:
- It was an affordable dessert option, especially for families.
- The warm, freshly baked pies were served year-round.
- The pie tasted great and was satisfying after eating salty McDonald’s burgers and fries.
- It was unique on the menu and stood out from other dessert options like cookies or sundaes.
For two decades, customers could rely on being able to order a McDonald’s cherry pie to satisfy their craving for something sweet. However, this changed in the early 1990s.
Discontinuation of McDonald’s Cherry Pie
In 1992, McDonald’s officially discontinued selling cherry pies chain-wide. The last day customers could purchase a McDonald’s cherry pie was on October 31, 1992. After that date, the cherry pies were removed from menus and kitchens stopped baking them.
This decision came as a surprise to many loyal cherry pie fans who enjoyed the dessert. McDonald’s did not give much warning before pulling the pie from the menu. There was no farewell tour or announcement that the pies would be discontinued after a certain date. They were simply there one day and gone the next.
Reasons for Discontinuation
There were a few factors that influenced McDonald’s decision to stop selling the cherry pie in 1992:
- Safety concerns – There were some concerns about the safety of the cherry pies. The hot cherry filling could cause burns if eaten immediately after baking. McDonald’s was worried about potential legal liability.
- High labor costs – Since the pies were baked fresh in store, they required a decent amount of labor to prepare. This made them expensive to maintain on the permanent menu.
- Low profit margins – The pies were sold at an affordable price point but did not have very high profit margins due to ingredient and labor costs.
- Introduction of new menu items – McDonald’s was introducing new menu items like the McFlurry ice cream in the 1990s. They wanted to shuffle the menu offerings.
By eliminating the pie from the menu, McDonald’s could reduce labor costs in the kitchen, avoid potential safety issues, and introduce new dessert items that were potentially more profitable. However, the decision disappointed many customers who missed being able to order the fast food cherry treat.
Customer Response
Many McDonald’s customers were upset and disappointed when the cherry pies were discontinued. The pie had become a nostalgic menu item that people relied on being able to order. Some of the common customer reactions included:
- Writing letters and complaints to McDonald’s corporate offices
- Boycotting certain McDonald’s locations out of protest
- Demanding the return of the cherry pie by creating petitions
- Expressing anger and dissatisfaction about the removal of the pie from menus
Despite customer complaints, McDonald’s stood by their decision and the cherry pie has never returned to the permanent national menu. However, it has made brief comebacks as a limited-time offering.
Availability of McDonald’s Cherry Pie Today
These days, McDonald’s cherry pie is mostly a nostalgic menu item that is no longer available chainwide. However, it occasionally makes limited-time comebacks at select locations:
- In 2007, some UK McDonald’s locations brought the pie back for a 5-week limited run.
- In 2015, McDonald’s sold the cherry pie for a 2-week limited time at locations in Ohio.
- In 2016, it was available for a month at McDonald’s restaurants in Florida.
- Overseas McDonald’s chains like those in Thailand still offer fruit pies like cherry or pineapple on their dessert menus.
While not on the permanent menu, cherry pie fans hold out hope the pie will someday make a comeback at all US McDonald’s restaurants. For now, those craving a fast food cherry pie will have to seek out the occasional special release.
Conclusion
McDonald’s classic cherry pie was beloved by many customers during its 20+ years as a permanent menu item. However, due to concerns over safety, labor costs, and profitability, McDonald’s corporate offices decided to discontinue the cherry pie in 1992. The last day to enjoy a McDonald’s cherry pie was October 31, 1992. While disappointed customers complained about the removal, McDonald’s stood firm in their decision. The cherry pie is mostly a nostalgic menu item these days, only available for brief limited-time runs at select locations. Those with fond memories of the original McDonald’s cherry pie hope that it may someday return to the permanent menu.