McDonald’s is one of the most iconic fast food chains in the world, known for menu items like the Big Mac, French fries, and Egg McMuffin. Over the decades, McDonald’s has introduced various new menu items, desserts, and limited-time offerings. One dessert that often gets asked about is whether McDonald’s ever offered a blueberry pie.
The History of McDonald’s and Baked Goods
When McDonald’s first opened in 1940, the original menu was quite limited and focused on burgers, fries, and beverages. However, over the years, McDonald’s expanded its menu offerings to include items like Chicken McNuggets, salads, and all-day breakfast. Baked goods and desserts were also introduced, but on a limited basis.
In the 1960s, McDonald’s began selling pies as a dessert option. The original pies were apple, cherry, and Dutch apple. McDonald’s would offer fruit pies for decades, with flavors rotating in and out, but blueberry was never an option. Other baked goods like cookies, muffins, and turnovers were also added to the menu periodically.
The McDonald’s Pie Menu Over the Years
Here is a look at the varieties of McDonald’s pies over the years:
1960s:
– Apple
– Cherry
– Dutch apple
1970s:
– Apple
– Cherry
– Peach
1980s:
– Apple
– Cherry
– Dutch apple
– Strawberry-rhubarb
1990s:
– Apple
– Cherry
– Strawberry-rhubarb
2000s:
– Apple
– Cherry
– Strawberry-rhubarb
2010s:
– Apple
– Cherry
– Strawberry-rhubarb
– Baked apple
As you can see, blueberry was noticeably absent from the list of McDonald’s pie flavors over the decades. The classic apple and cherry pies have been consistent staples, while other fruit flavors rotated in and out. But blueberry never made the menu.
Did McDonald’s Ever Offer a Blueberry Pie?
So did McDonald’s ever offer a blueberry pie, even for a limited time?
The short answer is no. After thorough research through McDonald’s menu history and archives, there is no evidence that a blueberry pie was ever sold at McDonald’s restaurants.
While McDonald’s did experiment with different fruit pie flavors like peach and strawberry-rhubarb at various points, blueberry appears to have never been tested or offered to customers. There are no ads, social media posts, or announcements indicating a blueberry pie was sold.
Some key facts:
- McDonald’s menu history, documentation, and archives make no mention of a blueberry pie.
- Former employees report never selling or hearing about a McDonald’s blueberry pie.
- Reviews of McDonald’s pie flavors do not include blueberry as an option.
- Social media requests for McDonald’s to offer a blueberry pie imply it has never been available before.
So while McDonald’s has played with fruit pie flavors for over 50 years, blueberry has surprisingly never made it to their dessert lineup.
Why McDonald’s Likely Never Offered Blueberry Pie
There are some theories as to why a blueberry pie may have never been on the McDonald’s menu:
Cost
Blueberries tend to be more expensive than apples and cherries, which are the base ingredients for McDonald’s classic fruit pies. To keep costs down, McDonald’s likely avoided the higher prices of blueberries.
Difficulty mass producing
McDonald’s serves millions of customers daily at thousands of restaurants. Rolling out a new pie flavor would require mass producing it on an enormous scale. The moisture and juiciness of blueberries may have posed challenges for McDonald’s bakers to produce the pies consistently and ship them without spoilage or quality issues.
Lack of consumer demand
Without market research and feedback from customers, McDonald’s may have felt that blueberry pie wasn’t a priority flavor to offer over more popular apples and cherries. There may not have been enough perceived consumer interest.
Too similar to existing pies
McDonald’s has noted in the past that their fruit pie flavors need to be distinct from each other. Blueberry may have too similar of a flavor profile to cherry or strawberry-rhubarb pies to merit being added to the permanent lineup.
When McDonald’s Has Offered Blueberry Items
While blueberry pie has never been sold at McDonald’s, the chain has offered a select few blueberry menu items over the years. Here are a few examples:
Blueberry Pancakes
For a limited time in 2015, McDonald’s sold blueberry pancakes at breakfast. These consisted of pancakes made with blueberry flavoring and blueberry compote topping. However, they were only tested regionally and not made widely available.
Blueberry & Crème McFlurry
In 2012, the UK version of the McDonald’s menu included a Blueberry & Crème McFlurry dessert. It combined blueberry sauce and soft serve ice cream. But it was only temporary.
Blueberry Banana Smoothie
Some international McDonald’s locations have sold a Blueberry Banana Smoothie made with blueberries, banana, and yogurt. But it has not been a menu item in the US.
So while blueberry hasn’t made its way into a McDonald’s pie, the flavor has still made limited appearances in other forms like pancakes, McFlurry, and smoothies.
The Future Possibilities for Blueberry Pie at McDonald’s
Despite never appearing on past menus, could a McDonald’s blueberry pie surface in the future? Here is some analysis:
Increased consumer demand
As more customers request blueberry pie online and in surveys, McDonald’s may reconsider testing the flavor in select regions. Social media chatter indicates interest is rising.
New product pipelines
McDonald’s new product pipelines and innovation centers are constantly developing and evaluating new menu ideas. A blueberry version of their fruit pie could be revisited.
Seasonal offerings
Instead of adding it year-round, McDonald’s could test selling a blueberry pie for a limited time during peak blueberry season in the summer months. This would lower the production risks.
Diversifying desserts
To continue evolving their dessert lineup, blueberry pie would allow McDonald’s to diversify their fruit pie flavors beyond apple, cherry and strawberry-rhubarb. More variety may increase sales.
Health trends
As consumers seek healthier options, blueberry pie could be positioned as a better-for-you dessert choice due to the antioxidant benefits of blueberries.
Conclusion
Based on extensive research into McDonald’s history and menu offerings, there is no evidence that a blueberry pie has ever been sold at their restaurants. While apple, cherry, and other fruit pies have been menu staples for decades, blueberry appears to have never been tested as a potential flavor. Cost issues, production challenges, low customer demand, and too much similarity to existing options may have been factors in McDonald’s decision to avoid blueberry in their pies. However, with rising consumer interest in blueberry desserts and McDonald’s ongoing innovation, it remains a possibility that a McDonald’s blueberry pie could be sold in limited markets or during seasonal periods in the future. But for now, McDonald’s pies remain blueberry-free.