Fall coffee season is officially here, but McDonald’s is doing things a little differently this year. Instead of bringing back the Pumpkin Spice Latte like most places, the fast-food chain is introducing a brand-new seasonal flavor: Caramel Apple Pie.
McDonald’s confirmed that Pumpkin Spice will not be part of its fall beverage lineup this year, marking the first time since the PSL debuted nationwide in 2016 that the chain is skipping the classic fall flavor. Instead, it’s embracing another nostalgic autumn combination: sweet caramel, baked apple and pie spice. We can’t wait to try!
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McDonald’s Debuts Caramel Apple Pie Coffee
A McDonald’s spokesperson told Delish that "Caramel Apple Pie is the only fall coffee flavor McDonald’s is releasing this year."
The new Caramel Apple Pie Latte is available hot or iced, and it’s essentially a McDonald’s apple pie in coffee form. The drink combines McDonald’s espresso and steamed milk with caramel apple pie-flavored syrup, then gets topped with salted caramel-flavored whipped topping and apple pie crumble.
According to McDonald’s, the new drink is meant to offer "a fresh take on the familiar tastes of fall." The company also said it chose Caramel Apple Pie as a way to give customers another seasonal flavor it thinks fans will love.
And the latte isn't the only way to get the new flavor. The limited-time Caramel Apple Pie lineup also includes an Iced Caramel Apple Pie Latte, Caramel Apple Pie Iced Coffee and Caramel Apple Pie Frappé.
The hot latte starts at 340 calories for a small, according to McDonald’s, with the medium coming in at 410 calories and the large at 490 calories.
Fans Are Missing Pumpkin Spice
While the caramel apple flavor sounds like a pretty convincing fall alternative, not everyone is ready to give up their PSL.
Online reactions have been seriously mixed. One Reddit user who tried the new coffee called it "fine" and gave it a 6/10, while another said the combination of apple and coffee simply didn't work for them. Others were considerably harsher, with one commenter calling it "absolute sugar slop liquid."
And some customers aren't necessarily upset about the new flavor—they're just upset that pumpkin spice had to go.
"Gross. I’m so sad they ditched the pumpkin for this," one Reddit user wrote after trying the new drinks. Another added, “I like the apple one, but give me my pumpkin!”
Of course, the new flavor has its fans, too. One customer who tried the Caramel Apple Pie Frappé called it "PEAK" and gave it a 10/10, while another said it tasted just like the caramel apple suckers they get every fall.
So, if you're a die-hard pumpkin spice fan, McDonald's might not be your first stop for a fall latte this year. But if you're willing to trade pumpkin for apple pie, the Golden Arches has a whole new seasonal coffee lineup waiting for you.
