economie

I ranked apple pies from 5 fast-food chains. The least expensive was my favorite.

September 5, 20240
Apple Pie Poppers from KFC are last on my list of apple pies.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

A serving of four bite-sized apple pies cost $2.91, excluding tax and fees, at my local KFC in Manhattan, New York. The pies, which also come in a 10-count serving, were the most expensive of all the pies I tried.

Given that this item was a recent addition to KFC’s menu — it was added in April — I was excited to try it.

Each pastry was about 2 inches long and had slits on one side.
The Apple Pie Poppers from KFC.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

Three bites into the tiny pocket pie, I still hadn’t gotten the gooey apple taste I love. Instead, I felt like I was eating fried flour.

The four mini pies, which are 340 calories in total, would be great for groups to share, though.
The Apple Pie Roll from Panda Express was my fourth favorite.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

The pie roll cost $2, excluding tax and fees, at a Panda Express I visited in Chicago.

At first glance, it looked like a cross between a pie and a Chinese egg roll.
The Apple Pie Roll from Panda Express.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

I was impressed with the freshness of this roll and liked that it is always served hot. Before I even took a bite, I could tell the pastry had a nice crunchy exterior.

However, the overpowering cinnamon and sugar coating made this pie roll too sweet for my taste.
The Cinnamon Apple Pie from Popeyes was my third favorite.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

The cinnamon-coated dessert cost $1.89, without taxes and fees, at the Popeyes I visited in Chicago.

The pie was not as hot as I would’ve liked, but it had a nice crispy exterior.
The Cinnamon Apple Pie from Popeyes.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

I think spices like cinnamon are less for taste and more for their fragrance — if you add just the right amount, it can be a game changer, but overdo it, as in the case of this Popeyes pie, and it can really throw the whole recipe off-balance.

But I enjoyed its slightly zesty apple filling.
The Apple Turnover from Arby’s was part of my top two.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

It cost $1.99 at the Arby’s I visited in Chicago, excluding tax and fees.

At first glance, I thought the frosting drizzle on top seemed unnecessary.
The Apple Turnover from Arby’s was well-balanced.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

The inside had the perfect layer of apple filling, which was molten but still a bit thick. It was encased in crisp pastry.

Despite having only one layer of apple filling, this 430-calorie pie did not taste doughy and was well-balanced.

However, it did not have that overall pie feeling. I felt as though I was eating a stuffed croissant.
The apple pie from McDonald’s was the best.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

At $1.89 — excluding tax and fees— this apple pie from a Chicago McDonald’s was priced similarly to the one at Popeyes.

The pie came in a signature yellow box and was served warm.
The apple pie from McDonald’s.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

Although the shape of the pie was pretty standard, I was happy to see McDonald’s added patterns to the pastry.

It had the perfect tartness, a nice crunch, and big, chunky apple pieces spread evenly throughout.
The apple pie from McDonald’s.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

This pie had the right ratio of apples to dough, and I enjoyed the warm and soft interior and its crispy biscuit-like exterior.

I shared all the pies with friends, but this was one of just two pies from which I took a third bite — the other was from Arby’s.

Overall, each pie I tried had a unique flavor profile, and they had varied textures, ranging from crispy and toasted to soft and molten.

But the McDonald’s apple pie stood out for its simplicity: a warm, crispy pie with gentle hints of cinnamon and whole chunks of apple, setting the perfect tone for the cozy days ahead.