McDonald’s Swaps Pumpkin Spice Latte for Caramel Apple Pie Latte

McDonald’s announced that its pumpkin spice latte will not appear on the 2026 fall menu, marking the first omission of the drink in a decade. The chain is introducing a caramel apple pie latte as its sole autumn coffee offering.

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Datassential reports that 86 % of consumers have tried a pumpkin spice latte, but recent sales data show a slowdown for the flavor. Compared with a year earlier, coffee establishments increased Apple Pie-flavored drinks by 99 % and caramel apple drinks by 49 %, while pumpkin spice latte sales rose only 37 % (attributed claim). Pinterest search data from August indicate a surge in interest for alternative flavors: banana latte syrup searches jumped 916 %, blueberry coffee 384 %, and marshmallow cold foam 250 % (attributed claim). Trendologist Clare Conaghan explained, “It’s apples, but caramel apple specifically, as perhaps something that could take over or add to pumpkin spice, and we’ve seen a lot of brands do that” — Clare Conaghan, trendologist and associate director at Datassential (verbatim quote).

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CEO Chris Kempczinski said on the most recent earnings call that U.S. business “slowed significantly” in the second quarter, with sales rising only 0.8 %—the slowest growth since 2025 (attributed fact). McDonald’s attributed part of the decline to slower service amid numerous value offerings and announced a menu reevaluation, emphasizing drinks as one of three core categories. Maeve Webster, president of consulting firm Menu Matters, questioned the move: “Why should (McDonald’s) try to be the second runner to something that somebody else owns?” — Maeve Webster (verbatim quote).

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Social-media responses to the caramel apple pie latte have been mixed, with some reviewers praising the visual appeal and others describing the taste as “a candle.” Despite the divided feedback, a portion of consumers have launched petitions to bring back pumpkin spice.

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Analysts suggest the flavor shift aligns with McDonald’s broader effort to refresh its beverage lineup, which recently added strawberry-watermelon and mango-pineapple refreshers. By focusing on a unique offering, the chain hopes to differentiate itself from competitors such as Starbucks, which continues to dominate the pumpkin spice market. The success of the caramel apple pie latte could influence future seasonal strategies and affect the modest sales growth observed in the latest quarter.

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