The first McDonald’s apple pie was deep fried and served hot in a cardboard sleeve. Since then, McDonald's has released more than 40 variants of its apple pie, featuring other fillings, different cooking methods, and lattice tops.

McDonald’s introduced a flock of McDonaldland characters, including an Apple Pie Tree, the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Ronald McDonald, among others. The tree was a background character, often seen behind the core group with apple pies hanging from its branches. It was part of a brand marketing campaign and appeared in restaurant play areas around the country. McDonaldland characters (excluding Ronald McDonald) were retired in 2003.

McDonald's decides to replace its traditional fried pie with a baked version, causing some upheaval with its fan base. The chain also adds a baked cherry pie.

McDonald’s sells cherry, peach, strawberry, pumpkin, and sweet potato versions of its pie, in addition to a special holiday recipe.

McDonald’s introduces a lineup of Signature pies, which kicks off this year with a strawberry and crème pie. The company also introduces a s’mores pie.

McDonald’s runs tests of a new mixed berries and lemon pie, a cherries and crème version, and a peaches and crème pie.

Chef Eric Greenspan, who ran Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese in Los Angeles until its closure in March 2017, put a fried apple pie on his dessert menu after he connected with someone who knew a vendor that sourced the pies for McDonald's.

The chain officially launches a pumpkin and crème pie, along with a sweet potato and crème version, for the fall menu.

New flavors released include strawberry and crème, cherry, cherries and crème, blueberries and crème, guava and crème, peaches and crème, pumpkin and crème, and sweet potato and crème.