Ranking the Pies at 5 Major Fast Food Chains
Fast food menus never stop evolving, but pie as a dessert has held its ground across multiple chains. With so many different interpretations of the same classic treat, comparing them has become part of the fun of drive-thru culture.
We’re taking a look at five major chains that keep pie on the menu and assessing whether each dessert actually satisfies the craving it promises to meet.
5. McDonald’s Apple Pie
Image via Wikimedia Commons/N509FZ
This is fast food’s most famous pie, backed by history, yet vulnerable to scrutiny. The shift to a baked process decades ago fundamentally changed its structure. Rather than a dense, satisfying envelope, the polished lattice crust allows more air and less pastry.
The interior is consistent with tart apples clinging to a sauce that borders on sticky syrup. It remains reliable, nostalgic, and widely available, but in the face of newer, richer approaches, this classic flavor profile no longer carries the weight of a true comfort food.
4. Arby’s Apple Turnover
Flaky pastry is what gets the spotlight, as far as Arby’s apple dessert is concerned. Unlike a dense pie pocket, the turnover delivers crisp layers that define the eating experience. The simple sugar glaze provides the necessary sweetness on the exterior. The challenge lies in the filling-to-pastry ratio, since the filling hides deep inside and doesn’t show up in every bite.
When you do reach the apple center, it’s bright and pleasant, just considerably scarce. It’s a fun alternative to the usual fried pies, but the light structure leaves you wanting a bit more substance.
3. Burger King Hershey’s Sundae Pie
This is less a traditional pie and more a mousse-forward, chilled dessert. The dessert is composed of a dense chocolate crumb crust supporting a voluminous, whipped filling that is then capped with a thick fudge layer.
It’s messy in the best way and feels closer to a frozen treat than anything fruit-based. Its flavor profile is aggressively sweet, such that the high level of sugar makes even small bites feel overly rich. It succeeds by offering pure novelty and achieving the specific, high-intensity flavor expected from a Hershey-branded dessert.
2. Popeyes Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie
Its fried shell gives this pie an immediate advantage, and Popeyes doubles down with a filling that mixes tangy cream cheese and strawberry puree. Its texture mimics a quick, handheld cheesecake.
Although the strawberry flavor is more akin to artificial syrup than fresh fruit, the cream cheese adds a necessary sour complexity that keeps the sweetness in check. The crust contributes substantial crunch and warmth without overwhelming the creamy core. It is a satisfying, well-balanced dessert that truly feels like a deliberate menu item rather than a generic obligation.
1. Whataburger Apple Pie
Among fast food pies, Whataburger pulls off something surprisingly close to a real homemade slice of apple pie, only portable and easier to eat in a moving car. Their crust maintains a firm structure without becoming hard or brittle, and the filling tastes like apples instead of syrup. There’s a gentle cinnamon note that enhances the flavor profile, and the well-proportioned mix of filling and crust is clearly intentional.
Compared to the others, this one offers the cleanest, most authentic flavor.