Apple Pie

What is it?

Rectangular and baked, this fast-food pastry comes in a thin, layered shell that turns golden and flaky in the oven. Inside, soft fruit pieces sit in a cinnamon sauce, so the texture shifts from crisp edges to a hot, looser centre as you eat. Compared with fried versions sold in the US, the UK version is baked rather than deep-fried. It's one of the longer-running items on the McDonald's menu, and it's sold as a single handheld pastry rather than a slice or dessert cup. The filling is sweet and heavily spiced with cinnamon, and the fruit breaks down into a soft, almost jam-like consistency. Be careful with that first bite, because the centre retains heat longer than you'd expect.