Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

McDonald's Brings Back Original Fried Apple Pie June 23

6/19/2026

29 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

McDonald’s will resume selling its original fried apple pie at most U.S. restaurants on June 23 2026 as a 35-foot sculpture is being installed on Joliet, Illinois' Route 66.
The pie debuted in 1968, was replaced in 1992, yet remains on menus in Hawaii and overseas markets.
McDonald’s uses 170 million American-grown apples annually, while a Facebook group urging its return has 130 members, versus over a thousand for McRib and Szechuan Sauce drives.

History

Historical Context

McDonald's opened its first drive-through in 1975 at Sierra Vista, Arizona, near Fort Huachuca, following earlier drive-through experiments by Kirby’s Pig Stand (1931) and In-N-Out (1948). By the 1970s drive-throughs eclipsed drive-ins, now generating about 70 % of U.S. sales. The chain now revives its 1968 fried apple pie on Route 66 in Joliet, echoing that novelty-driven traffic strategy.

1 of 2

Story summary

McDonald’s will resume selling its original fried apple pie at most U.S. restaurants on June 23 2026 as a 35-foot sculpture is being installed on Joliet, Illinois' Route 66.
The pie debuted in 1968, was replaced in 1992, yet remains on menus in Hawaii and overseas markets.
McDonald’s uses 170 million American-grown apples annually, while a Facebook group urging its return has 130 members, versus over a thousand for McRib and Szechuan Sauce drives.

1 / 2