For many die-hard food fans, the holidays are not a feeling but a flavor.
As the spirit of the season descends, fast-food chains deliver: Zaxby’s Peppermint Cookies & Cream Shake, Dunkin’s slew of Cookie Butter Drinks, and Starbucks filling devotees’ bear cups and hearts with Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew and Apple Pomegranate Refreshers.
Now, McDonald’s has entered the fray, resurrecting a beloved menu item that speaks to sugar, spice, and fevered fanfare.
In addition to the Golden Arches offering a series of limited-edition holiday drinks — a Frosted Cranberry Splash with Sprite, a Red Bull Cranberry Energizer, and a Cookie Butter Frappé that can be added to coffee — the burger colossus has begun restocking its Holiday Pie at select locations this month.
Since its introduction in 1999, the hand pie, which clocks in at 260 calories and 13 grams of fat, has inspired a cult following.
McDonald’s describes the dessert offering as “the greatest gift to yourself—creamy, smooth custard nestled in a flaky, buttery crust glazed with sugar and topped with rainbow sprinkles.”
Akin to a Funfetti hot pocket, the Holiday Pie allegedly tastes of heavenly cake batter thickened with the tears of your inner child.
Food blogger Markie Devo took to Instagram this week to share that he had sated his pie pang at a Brooklyn McDonald’s.
Devo gave fans sage advice: request their pies warmed up for maximum pleasure.
In the comments section, a horde of fans lamented that the pie wasn’t available in their area codes, creating a sense of scarcity, envy, and caloric yearning.
“Will never understand why McDonald’s only releases this one in like 3 or 4 states, and then not in a bunch of them. They’re a multi-billion-dollar business; they can transport to all 50 states easily,” cried one commenter.
Thus far, pie supplies have been confirmed in New York City, Philadelphia, Portland, Orlando, Boston, and Columbus, Ohio.
Hopeful customers can use the McDonald’s app to see whether the pie is flying out of their local location.
Not to dash hopes and crumble crusts, but a commenter on Devo’s post likened finding one of the coveted pies to “finding a unicorn.”
Other commenters suggested ways to improve the pie.
“I want it in chocolate format with peppermint,” said a Veruca Salt-adjacent commenter.
“They need to have a fried version!” said another critic.
Still, an NJ food review from a few years back crested the poetic when describing the pie.
“As soon as I was handed the pie, my car started smelling like fresh sugar cookies. And it was so warm I could feel the heat through the bag! But there was no way it would look like it does in the pictures, right? Wrong. It looked exactly how it was supposed to,” they confirmed, damning to hell any conventional holiday flavor profile.
“While I’m still not 100% sure what makes this a ‘holiday’ pie, I frankly don’t care. It’s completely scrumptious. If this were served at a bakery, I would make a trip there at least once a week to have one.”
However, not all reviews are so glowing.
“They taste like Play-Doh,” decried a Threads commenter.
Those who fall in love with the cake but can’t find it locally can soothe themselves with a dupe recipe.
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