If you’re living a vegan lifestyle, then you know it’s hard to find vegan-friendly options at fast-food restaurants, especially when it comes to desserts.
One iconic dessert that people rave about is the McDonald’s apple pie, but have you ever wondered if the pie is vegan? Read on; we think the answer will surprise you!
Are McDonald’s Apple Pies Vegan?
McDonald’s apple pies are vegan and safe to eat if you’re living a vegan lifestyle. Thankfully, the apple pies don’t contain any meat, milk, or butter of any kind. Additionally, the baked apple pie is also one of the only true vegan food choices at McDonald’s in the United States, except for the side salad.
If you’ve been wondering about the vegan options at McDonald’s and what’s really in the McDonald’s apple pie, keep reading!
Does the McDonald’s Apple Pie Contain Eggs?
The McDonald’s apple pie does not contain eggs, so it’s safe for those with egg allergies and those who want to live a truly vegan life.
Additionally, the apple pies are made with real apples, wheat flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, apple powder, palm oil, salt, and high-fructose corn syrup.
Thankfully, the apple pie is such a hit with customers that McDonald’s has no plans to ever-changing the ingredients.
Are McDonald’s Apple Pies Real Apple?
McDonald’s uses real apples in the apple pies, and in fact, it’s 100% real apple pieces!
In addition to the real apples stuffed inside of the apple pie, McDonald’s uses apple powder to enhance and bring out even more apple flavor.
Thankfully, McDonald’s doesn’t use apple pie filling, which is unhealthy and full of processed ingredients that might not be allowed on a vegan diet.
What’s the Nutritional Information of a McDonald’s Apple Pie?
The McDonald’s apple pie contains only 230 calories per pie, which is decent for such an amazing dessert!
Beyond that, the apple pie contains 11 grams of fat, 2 grams of protein, and 33 grams of carbohydrates.
Are McDonald’s Apple Pies Dairy-Free?
Thankfully, the McDonald’s apple pie contains no milk or milk products, which is one of the reasons why it’s great for vegans!
However, McDonald’s does warn that there could be trace amounts of milk within the product, such as from cross-contamination.
Further, if you’re a lactose-intolerant person, you’ll also find the apple pie at McDonald’s doesn’t upset your stomach and is perfect for those needing a dairy-free sweet treat.
Are All McDonald’s Pies Vegan?
Almost all of the pies at McDonald’s are vegan and perfect for people with allergies to common ingredients such as milk or eggs.
However, the strawberry cheesecake variety or other special limited-time pies contain the cream filling and should be avoided if you’re vegan.
Further, even though the apple pie is most famous and beloved, even the cherry pie is vegan-friendly!
Are McDonald’s Pies Baked or Fried?
McDonald’s switched from frying their pies to baking them back in 1992, which is when more people started to become health-conscious.
In addition to that, baking the apple pies also makes the pastry more resilient, and it doesn’t get soggy like a fried pastry can after a while.
Does McDonald’s Have Other Vegan Options?
McDonald’s does have a few other vegan options on their menu, but most of them require you to modify the meal first, such as the salads.
The only real vegan salad is the side salad, but you have to choose the low-fat vinaigrette or creamy French dressing.
Unfortunately, there are no vegan sandwiches, wraps, or burritos on the McDonald’s menu in the United States.
Additionally, the Minute Maid line of slushies is perfect for vegans but stay away from the McCafe products since those all contain milk.
However, if you live outside of the United States, you may find additional vegan options at your local McDonald’s, such as in the United Kingdom and Pakistan.
Will McDonald’s Bring Other Vegan Options to the Menu?
If you live in the U.K., you can get the McDonald’s Vegan McPlant Burger, and it’s also in Ireland.
Furthermore, the McPlant will have a Beyond Meat patty with vegan special sauce, mustard, ketchup, vegan cheese, pickles, lettuce, onion, and tomato.
On top of that, the McPlant will be served on a vegan sesame-seed bun.
Unfortunately, McDonald’s hasn’t launched the Vegan McPlant Burger in the United States yet, and it’s unknown if it’s going to be coming to American customers in the future.
If you are looking to learn more, you can also see our posts on whether or not McDonald’s fries are vegetarian, if McDonald’s sells cake, and when does McDonald’s serve lunch.
Conclusion
The apple pie at McDonald’s is a perfect choice if you’re craving something sweet but are living as a vegan!
Not only are they delicious, but they are also very cheap to purchase, they don’t use eggs or milk, and they reheat rather well for a pastry product.
Unfortunately, if you live in America, there aren’t many other vegan options at McDonald’s unless you order a modified salad or apple slices.
Since the McPlant is still in testing mode in the United Kingdom, there is no official launch date given by McDonald’s for this product in America.
