McDonald's recently began offering baked apple turnovers at its restaurants in Northern and Southern California. The new hand pies are part of an ongoing effort to tweak popular McDonald's menu items in order to make them more appealing to health-conscious consumers.
Unlike the fried turnovers that McDonald's has been selling for several years, the new Baked Apple Pies feature sliced instead of diced apples. The new turnovers also come with an intricate lattice-top crust instead of the diagonal slashes that characterize the current hand pie offerings. Finally, the new pies are baked rather than fried to give consumers a healthier dessert option.
By offering apple turnovers that are closer to a traditional pie than the current fried hand pie options, McDonald's demonstrates an ongoing effort to give consumers more healthy menu choices.
Baked Apple Turnovers
McDonald's New Baked Apple Pie is an Alternative to Its Fried Desserts
Trend Themes
1. Baked Dessert Trend - The trend of baked desserts offers opportunities to create healthier menu options and appeal to health-conscious consumers.
2. Traditional Pastry Trend - The trend of traditional pastries, such as lattice-top crust and sliced fruit fills, can offer opportunities to differentiate menu offerings and appeal to nostalgia.
3. Menu Item Revamp Trend - The trend of revamping existing menu items in a healthier way can offer opportunities to refresh and update restaurant offerings to appeal to health-conscious consumers.
Industry Implications
1. Fast Food Industry - The fast food industry can innovate by offering healthier dessert options, such as baked fruit pies or hand pies with lattice-top crusts.
2. Bakery Industry - The bakery industry can find opportunities to create healthier versions of traditional pastries, such as lattice-top crusts and pastry turnovers with sliced fruit fillings.
3. Healthy Food Industry - The healthy food industry can innovate by partnering with fast food chains to create healthier menu options and promote healthy eating habits.