Fast food dessert pies are the unsung heroes of quick-service menus, offering a perfect sweet ending to your burger and fries feast.
These portable pastries come in countless varieties, from classic apple to decadent chocolate cream.
I've sampled countless fast food pies across the nation's favourite chains and compiled this definitive ranking based on flavour, texture, and that all-important wow factor.
12. McDonald's Apple Pie
Remember when McDonald's apple pies were fried to golden perfection? Those days are long gone. Today's baked version lacks the magic of its predecessor.
The crust often arrives disappointingly tough rather than flaky, while the filling resembles overly sweetened apple sauce. Even the cinnamon can't save this shadow of its former self.
11. KFC's Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
KFC's attempt at dessert innovation falls sadly flat with this confused creation. Is it a cookie? Is it a pie? It's neither done well.
The artificial chocolate flavour hits your palate like a laboratory experiment gone wrong. The texture leaves you puzzled - too soft to satisfy cookie lovers, too dense for pie enthusiasts, creating an identity crisis on a plate.
10. Popeyes' Apple Pie
Popeyes may reign supreme in the chicken sandwich wars, but their apple pie is a different story entirely. The crunchy exterior promises greatness but quickly disappoints.
Inside lurks an apple filling so aggressively sweet it makes your teeth ache. The cinnamon seems like an afterthought, barely detectable beneath the sugar assault that overwhelms any chance of balanced flavour.
9. Burger King's Hershey's Pie
Chocolate lovers beware - this pie's initial appeal fades faster than a summer tan. The chocolate cookie crust provides a promising foundation, but things quickly go downhill.
The filling delivers a sugar sledgehammer rather than nuanced chocolate notes. After three bites, your taste buds surrender to overwhelming sweetness, begging for water. A missed opportunity for true chocolate indulgence.
8. McDonald's Peach And Creme Pie
This seasonal offering from the golden arches shows promise but ultimately stumbles. The peach filling offers authentic fruit flavour - a pleasant surprise from fast food.
Unfortunately, the creme component sabotages the experience. Heavy and oddly artificial, it bullies the delicate peach notes into submission. What could be a refreshing summer treat becomes a confusing clash of competing textures.
7. Jack In The Box's Chocolate Cream Pie
Jack in the Box delivers a respectable chocolate effort that outshines its fast food competitors. The chocolate filling achieves a silky smoothness rarely found in drive-thru desserts.
Sadly, the structural integrity falls apart with a crust that's inexplicably thick and bland. Each bite requires navigating this doughy barrier before reaching the pleasant chocolate center - a textural obstacle course not everyone will appreciate.
6. Whataburger's Pecan Pie
A true Southern treasure hiding on a fast food menu! Whataburger's take on this classic dessert brings genuine homestyle charm to the table.
The filling strikes a beautiful balance between sweet and nutty, while generous pecan pieces add delightful crunch. Its only flaw? Sometimes the pie arrives slightly too dense, making it a bit heavy after a burger meal.
5. McDonald's Banana Cream Pie
This limited-time offering deserves a permanent spot on the menu. Unlike its apple cousin, McDonald's banana cream pie delivers unexpected finesse.
The banana flavour tastes surprisingly authentic - not the artificial candy-like version you might expect. Light, airy cream complements the fruit notes perfectly. A touch less sugar would elevate it further, but it's a worthy contender in the fast food pie arena.
4. Hardee's/Carl's Jr. Apple Pie
Here's a proper apple pie that understands what makes this classic dessert work. The crust achieves remarkable flakiness for a mass-produced item, creating delightful textural contrast.
Apple chunks maintain their integrity rather than dissolving into mush. Cinnamon notes play a supporting role without overwhelming. While not quite homemade quality, it respects the tradition enough to satisfy your apple pie cravings.
3. Taco Bell's Cinnabon Delights
Technically not pies, these rebellious little spheres break all the rules - and we're better for it! Warm, pillowy dough balls filled with molten cinnamon cream create an irresistible texture adventure.
The cinnamon sugar coating transforms into a delicate crust that gives way to gooey sweetness. Pop one in your mouth and experience the perfect balance of crisp exterior and velvety center - fast food dessert engineering at its finest.
2. Arby's Cherry Turnover
Arby's cherry turnover is the sophisticated cousin in the fast food dessert family. The puff pastry achieves remarkable lightness with distinct, buttery layers that shatter beautifully with each bite.
Inside waits a cherry filling that balances tartness and sweetness masterfully. Unlike many competitors, it tastes like actual fruit rather than sugary gel. The delicate glaze adds just enough sweetness without overwhelming the other elements.
1. Popeyes' Cinnamon Apple Pie
Popeyes redeems itself spectacularly with this fried masterpiece! The crust shatters with a satisfying crackle, revealing perfectly spiced apple filling that tastes like autumn in New Orleans.
Unlike competitors, Popeyes balances sweetness with cinnamon complexity. The textural contrast between crisp exterior and tender apples creates dessert harmony. This is what happens when fast food chains take dessert seriously - a true culinary achievement available at a drive-thru.
