✔ Updated · new easy method + 2026 availability
McDonald’s Holiday Pie is a seasonal hand pie: a flaky, golden pastry shell filled with creamy vanilla custard, brushed with a sugar glaze and covered in rainbow sprinkles.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: beat the custard until it's really thick and chill the filled pies for 10 minutes. That's what stops them leaking and keeps the crimped edges sharp.
It only shows up for a few weeks each winter, so this copycat-style version lets you make it whenever you like. Store-bought pie crust keeps it easy, a quick no-cook vanilla custard gives the creamy middle, and the glaze and sprinkles go on while the pies are still warm, just like the real thing.
Why You'll Love These Holiday Pies
- Just like the drive-thru version, with flaky pastry, vanilla custard, sugar glaze and rainbow sprinkles.
- Easy shortcut pastry, made with store-bought pie crust, so there's no dough to make.
- Make-ahead friendly: freeze the unbaked pies and bake them straight from frozen.
Is the McDonald’s Holiday Pie Back in 2026?
As of October 2026, McDonald’s hasn’t announced a 2026 return date. In recent years it came back in mid-November: on November 15 in 2024 and November 14 in 2025. It’s sold only at select US restaurants, while supplies last, and usually through December. Some locations start selling it a little early.
Because availability is decided restaurant by restaurant, the McDonald’s app is the quickest way to check whether your local restaurant has it. We’ll update this section as soon as the 2026 return is confirmed. Until then, the recipe below gets you there any time of year.
What Is a McDonald’s Holiday Pie?
It’s a rectangular baked hand pie with a vanilla custard filling and a pastry crust, finished with a sugar glaze and rainbow sprinkles. Unlike the Baked Apple Pie, it’s only sold for the holidays, which is why so many people look for a way to make it at home.
Holiday Pie vs. Baked Apple Pie vs. Pumpkin & Crème Pie
| Pie | Filling | Topping | When it's sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Pie | Vanilla custard | Sugar glaze and rainbow sprinkles | Mid-November to December, select restaurants |
| Baked Apple Pie | Spiced apple | Lattice crust with a sugar sprinkle | Year-round |
| Pumpkin & Crème Pie | Pumpkin and vanilla crème | Crumbly sugar topping | Fall, limited time |
Craving the apple version instead? Try our McDonald's Apple Pie recipe.
How to Make Holiday Pies (Step-by-Step Photos)
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Make the custard really thick. It should hold its shape on the whisk. A loose filling leaks out of the seams in the oven.
- Keep the pastry cold. If the dough gets soft and sticky, slide it into the fridge for 5 minutes before cutting or crimping.
- Don't overfill. About 2 tablespoons per pie with a ½-inch border seals well. Use any leftover custard as a dip for baked pastry scraps.
- Chill before baking. Ten minutes in the fridge helps the pies keep their sharp rectangle shape and crimped edges.
- Glaze while warm, sprinkle at once. The glaze sets fast, so add the sprinkles straight after each pie is glazed.
McDonald’s Holiday Pie (Copycat Recipe)
8
pies30
minutes15
minutes610
kcal1
hour5
minutesCopycat McDonald’s Holiday Pies: flaky pastry hand pies filled with creamy vanilla custard, finished with a sugar glaze and rainbow sprinkles. Made easy with store-bought pie crust.
Ingredients
- For the Pastry
4 refrigerated pie crusts (two 14.1 oz boxes), chilled
all-purpose flour, for dusting
- For the Vanilla Custard Filling
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 box instant vanilla pudding mix (one 3.4 oz box)
3/4 cup cold whole milk
1/4 cup yellow cake mix, heat-treated (see step 1)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Egg Wash
1 large egg
1 tablespoon water
- For the Glaze and Topping
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons rainbow nonpareil sprinkles
Directions
- Make the Filling
- Heat-treat the cake mix: microwave it in a small microwave-safe bowl in 15-second bursts, stirring between each, until it reaches 165°F (74°C). Raw cake mix contains uncooked flour, so don’t skip this. Let it cool.
- Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add the pudding mix and cold milk and beat for 1 to 2 minutes until very thick. Beat in the cooled cake mix and the vanilla. Chill for 10 minutes while you prepare the pastry.
- Shape the Pies
- Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll each pie crust out slightly, to about 12 inches across. Cut four 3 x 4½-inch rectangles from each crust, for 16 rectangles in total.
- Whisk the egg with the water. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of filling onto the center of 8 rectangles, leaving a ½-inch border, and brush the border with egg wash.
- Lay the remaining rectangles on top, press the edges together and crimp them with a fork. Cut two small slits in each top, brush with egg wash and chill the pies for 10 minutes so they hold their shape.
- Bake and Glaze
- Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, until deep golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
- Whisk the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla into a thick but pourable glaze. Spoon it over the warm pies and scatter the sprinkles over straight away so they stick. Let the glaze set for 10 minutes before serving.
Recipe Video
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Variations
- From-scratch pastry: make your own crust with 1½ cups whole wheat flour, 1½ cups white flour, a pinch of salt and 2 tablespoons of sugar, all chilled in the freezer for about an hour. Work in ½ cup of chilled oil, then about 180 ml of cold water until the dough comes together. Bake at 380°F for 15 to 20 minutes. The video below shows this version.
- Air fryer: bake 2 to 3 pies at a time at 350°F for about 8 to 10 minutes, until golden. Glaze once they're out.
- Any holiday: swap the rainbow sprinkles for red and green at Christmas, pastels at Easter, or orange and black at Halloween.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a McDonald's Holiday Pie?
It's a pastry hand pie with a vanilla custard filling, finished with a sugar glaze and rainbow sprinkles. Our copycat-style filling uses cream cheese, instant vanilla pudding, milk, heat-treated yellow cake mix and vanilla.
When is the McDonald's Holiday Pie back in 2026?
As of October 2026, McDonald's hasn't announced a date. It returned on November 15 in 2024 and November 14 in 2025, at select US restaurants while supplies last. Check the McDonald's app for your local restaurant.
Can I make Holiday Pies ahead of time?
Yes. Make the custard up to a day ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. Baked pies keep in an airtight container for up to 2 days; warm them in a 350°F oven for a few minutes before serving.
Can I freeze McDonald's Holiday Pies?
Yes. Freeze the assembled, unbaked pies on a tray, then transfer them to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen at 400°F, adding 3 to 5 minutes, and glaze after baking.
Why did my Holiday Pies leak in the oven?
Usually the filling was too loose, the pies were overfilled, or the edges weren't sealed. Beat the custard until very thick, use about 2 tablespoons per pie, and crimp firmly with a fork after brushing the border with egg wash.
🍪 Filling a cookie tin? Find more holiday baking recipes for the season.
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Hi I’m super excited to make this recipe, can I use whole wheat instead of whole grain flour?
Thank you, my entire state has decided to stop offering the delicious holiday pie. 🙁 I tried to make it a couple years ago and it did not turn out well, I’m going to try again and use this recipe. Fingers crossed.
Fingers crossed, Sara! We’ve updated this recipe with an easier method: store-bought pie crust, a quick no-cook vanilla custard, then the glaze and sprinkles. I hope it brings the holiday pie back for you.