Pumpkin pie is a classic fall dessert, with its distinctive spiced pumpkin flavor and creamy texture. As one of the most popular pies during the Thanksgiving season, many people wonder if they can grab a quick and easy pumpkin pie from McDonald’s to complement their holiday meals. This article will explore whether McDonald’s offers pumpkin pies, examine the history of McDonald’s fall and holiday dessert offerings, look at some of the reasons why McDonald’s may or may not sell pumpkin pie, and provide some alternative options for where to find pumpkin pie.
Does McDonald’s sell pumpkin pie?
The simple answer is no, McDonald’s does not currently offer pumpkin pie on their dessert menu. While they have a wide selection of pies and seasonal desserts, including apple pies, holiday cream pies, and pumpkin/fall-themed McFlurrys, a true pumpkin pie is not one of the options at McDonald’s restaurants.
What desserts does McDonald’s have for fall and the holidays?
While pumpkin pie may be missing from their lineup, McDonald’s does try to embrace the fall spirit with some seasonal desserts and McCafe beverages. Here are some of the limited-time dessert offerings McDonald’s has featured on their menu for the fall and holidays:
- Pumpkin Spice Latte and other pumpkin spice flavored McCafe drinks
- Pumpkin/Fall-themed McFlurrys with pumpkin pie filling and dessert flavors
- Apple pies
- Holiday pie flavors like Egg Nog pie and Holiday Cream pies
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Holiday sugar cookies
So they make an effort to have seasonal desserts, but pumpkin pie itself has not made an appearance.
Why might McDonald’s not sell pumpkin pie?
There are a few potential reasons why serving true pumpkin pie may not align with McDonald’s business model and operations:
Limited/Variable Demand
Pumpkin pie is very popular during the holiday season, especially around Thanksgiving, but demand is quite limited throughout the rest of the year. Since McDonald’s menu tries to offer consistent options, they may feel pumpkin pie doesn’t have enough sustained interest to warrant a permanent spot on their dessert menu.
Difficult to Mass Produce
McDonald’s relies on consistent products that can be mass manufactured efficiently. However, pumpkin pie is difficult to produce on such a large scale:
- It has delicate ingredients like eggs and dairy that don’t preserve or transport as easily as other desserts.
- The pumpkin puree gives it a shorter shelf-life.
- Baking large numbers of whole pies requires a lot of time and oven space.
- Individual slicing would need to happen in-store vs. at a supply facility.
So the operations and supply chain logistics pose challenges for making pumpkin pie viable on the McDonald’s system.
Too Similar to Other Options
McDonald’s may feel their menu already satisfies consumer demand for fall-flavored desserts. Between apple pies, pumpkin McFlurrys, and pumpkin spice baked goods, customers have several options for getting their pumpkin fix from McDonald’s. So pumpkin pie could seem redundant.
Where can you find pumpkin pie?
Since whole pumpkin pies are not sold at McDonald’s, here are some other quick options for getting pre-made pumpkin pie this season:
Grocery Store Bakeries
Many major grocery chains with bakeries will sell fresh pumpkin pies around Thanksgiving. This offers convenience without having to bake your own. Some examples include:
- Whole Foods
- Safeway
- Kroger
- Publix
- Wegmans
Gas Stations/Convenience Stores
Brands like Krispy Kreme, QuickTrip, and Kwik Trip have all been known to carry pumpkin pies at their convenience style locations.
Restaurant Chains
Some family dining chains offer pumpkin pie for dine-in meals or to-go orders:
- Cracker Barrel
- Bob Evans
- Shoney’s
- Boston Market
- Marie Calendar’s
Grocery Store Frozen Sections
Check the frozen dessert sections in grocery stores for pre-made frozen pumpkin pies from brands like:
- Mrs. Smith’s
- Sara Lee
- Marie Callender’s
- Edwards
- Whole Foods 365
Conclusion
Pumpkin pie may not be part of the lineup at McDonald’s, but with convenient options from grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants, and frozen aisles, you can still easily grab a pre-made pumpkin pie for the fall season. And you can always supplement it with popular seasonal treats from the McDonald’s menu like pumpkin McFlurrys and mccafe pumpkin spice drinks.