Pumpkin spice just got pied.
Come September — or now August — Dunkin’, Starbucks, bagel shops, grocery stores and more will break out the pumpkin flavors to initiate the fall season. But some customers are moving away from the spice, begging for something else.
Well, McDonald’s read the tea leaves and released a new fall menu lineup that has coffee drinkers divided as they spotted one less flavor. For the first time in exactly a decade, the fast food behemoth has axed the ubiquitous pumpkin spice and replaced it with a different fall favorite.
Customers looking for a java jolt will now see a new seasonal flavor — caramel apple. The international eatery told The Post that it was about time to swap.
“While Pumpkin Spice will not be part of this year’s lineup, we’re always exploring new ways to give fans seasonal flavors to enjoy. We chose Caramel Apple Pie because it offers a fresh take on the familiar tastes of fall — and one we think fans will fall in love with,” a McDonald’s spokesperson told The Post.
The new item is a classic pairing, blending apple and caramel flavoring with McDonald’s coffee — which is then topped with a salted caramel flavored whipped cream and crumbled apple pie bits.
Those looking for a morning pick-me-up, can also try the full seasonal lineup which includes:
- Caramel Apple Pie Frappe
- Hot Caramel Apple Pie Latte
- Iced Caramel Apple Pie Latte
- Caramel Apple Pie Iced Coffee
McDonald’s first rolled out its take on pumpkin spice back in 2016, adding it to the seasonal coffee offerings as the flavor was added nearly everywhere. Pumpkin spice was made famous by Starbucks years before, as the coffee chain introduced the Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2003.
Since then, the Seattle-based chain has made different variations on the flavor adding it to pastries and different cold foams looking for new ways to innovate the spice. And every year, the date for fall gets closer and closer to summer, pushing fall tastes into the warmer months.
The move has McDonald’s customers divided, with angry diners taking aim at the chain on X.
“What a BAD replacement-!!!!!!!!!! NO Substitutions ARE NEEDED; NOR, ARE DESIRED-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” One user screamed.
Another took to Facebook and blasted the fast food giant, calling the swap a betrayal.
“So I just found out McDonald’s isn’t doing their Pumpkin coffees anymore??? 2026 has officially gone too far. First we lose everything we love and now they’re taking away my pumpkin coffee?!?! I have never been more betrayed by a fast food restaurant in my LIFE.”
Pumpkin haters came to the rescue, defending McDonald’s after making a bold move.
“Unpopular opinion: I absolutely HATE pumpkin spice anything. So when I saw McDonald’s came out with a Caramel Apple Pie line, I was like okay, THIS I can get behind!” The user praised.
“I got the frappe today and OH. MY. GOODNESS. It literally tastes just like those caramel apple suckers I get every fall! As someone who refuses to participate in the pumpkin spice obsession every year… THIS is it.”
Read the full article here
