Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
This page contain affiliate links. Please refer to myDisclosures Pagefor more details.
STOP! Before you hit ‘Jump to Recipe’ check ‘Skip to the Good Bit‘ below. I may answer a query you have about this recipe.
I’m lucky, I can have the real deal normally but this post for my Toffee Apple Pies – Gluten Free Copycat McDonalds Recipe came about due to the limited edition version of the normal McDonalds Apple Pie. This new limited edition was filled with toffee and apple which wasn’t dairy free. So, I decided I was going to have my pie and eat it…and whilst I was at it, I was going to make is so YOU could too!
Skip to the good bit
- Are McDonalds Toffee Apple Pies gluten free?
- Is McDonalds Apple Pie vegan?
- Now Available! Copycat Festive Pies!
- Can I make these Toffee Apple Pies just gluten free?
- Baked, Air Fried or Fried?
- How to make apple pie filling?
- How to make dairy free toffee sauce?
- How to build your Toffee Apple Pies
- Other apple recipes you will love
- Toffee Apple Pies – Copycat McDonalds Recipe
Subscribe today!
Sign up to my Friday Newsletter & receive 3 Free Downloads!
- GF & DF e-Book
- Conversion Guide
- 3 Guides to Dietary Needs
Are McDonalds Toffee Apple Pies gluten free?
NO! Neither the normal menu apple pie nor the limited edition McDonalds Apple Pies are gluten free. They are made with WHEAT containing puff pastry.
Is McDonalds Apple Pie vegan?
YES! I am ‘only’ intolerant to eggs, dairy and a few other random things so not personally Coeliac (that’s my daughter, more about Bethany here in this post Coeliac diagnosis – symptoms, impact and life going forward).
As I am not Coeliac I can normally eat the McDonalds Apple Pies due to the fact they have no egg or dairy in them (they do have ‘may contains’ but I am not allergic).
Now Available! Copycat Festive Pies!
Festive Pies – Gluten Free Copycat McDonalds Recipe
In my McDonalds copycat Festive Pies Recipe, I make sure you get all the delicious winter warming flavours of spices, rich fruit and vanilla custard, only these are gluten free and safe for Coeliacs. Perfect comfort food this festive season, also with dairy-filled tips in not dairy free.
Check out this recipe
Can I make these Toffee Apple Pies just gluten free?
Did I just catch you rolling your eyes at me? Not another gluten free AND vegan recipe Rebecca (giggles). Not to worry, this recipe is super simple to make dairy-filled too. Just use your favourite gluten free puff pastry. I always use Jus~Rol Ready Rolled Gluten Free Puff Pastry.
Then, make your toffee sauce using normal cream (or milk) and butter. I’d recommend a single cream or full fat milk on this occasion.
Finally, make a simple swap for normal milk for the pastry wash.
Baked, Air Fried or Fried?
Ooh good question. The pies in the images are baked – honest! They seriously don’t look it though. I even surprised myself. The more you go to town with your pastry wash, the better the crispy-flaky finish to your Gluten Free Toffee Apple Pies.
Baked Version – I simply add to a baking sheet and cook on 220°C | 200°C fan | 425°F | Gas 7 for 20 minutes. Keep a close eye on these beauties, they can colour really quickly due to the cinnamon sugar coating.
Air Fried Version – Same as above really, add to your air frier (probably 3 at a time but will vary depending on size of frier) and air fry for 15-20 minutes. Just keep checking in on them and spoon away any excess fat if necessary.
Deep Fried Version – I have not tried this and I’m hesitant to do so. I’m not sure the pies will stay in one piece. If you DO try this then I implore you to come back and let me know how you got on comment below
Keep Glutarama AD-Free
I have decided not to have AD’s on my website. But this means I need to find other ways to pay for the upkeep.
If you like my work and want to support me you can here via Ko-fi and ‘buy me a coffee‘
How to make apple pie filling?
The apple pie filling is the same principle as my Easy Gluten Free Apple Turnovers. You need both apple puree and finely diced apples to create the perfect pie filling.
You can cheat, I won’t mind, and buy the apple sauce/puree or you can make your own by simply peeling, coring and chopping 2 dessert apples. Add these apples to a saucepan with a tablespoon of water and gently stew with a lid on until the apple has broken down.
Even better, use Bramley apples as these break down so easily – only issue is, they are far less sweet alternative so may find you need to sweeten to your own taste.
TOP TIP: if you’re going to make your own apple sauce you’d be daft not to make a large batch and store what you don’t use in a 500g Kilner Jar in the fridge for another day. I use apple sauce for so many of my recipes and I’m always grateful for a ready made jar in the fridge.
How to make dairy free toffee sauce?
To make the toffee sauce I made a smaller amount of of the sauce used in my Date Free Sticky Toffee Pudding. This still makes plenty of toffee sauce with some left over for dipping if you so wish. I ate all of the leftovers on this occasion while the pies baked so no dipping sauce in the photos. Not even guilty!
- 60mlsoya cream or usual dairy free alternative
- 40glight brown sugar
- 15gbutter or butter alternative (I use Flora plant butter)
- pinch of salt
Making the toffee sauce couldn’t be simpler. Add the butter or butter alternative and light brown sugar to a non stick pan. Heat gently until the butter has melted and the sugar dissolved. Then add the cream/milk or plant alternative and keep the heat up so the sauce bubbles. Stir constantly.
Once you’re happy it’s thickened to a custard consistency, removed from the heat. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools and eventually will turn into a butterscotch-like toffee sauce.
How to build your Toffee Apple Pies
Assuming you are using Jus~Rol Gluten Free Puff Pastry i.e. a ready rolled rectangle, you need to cut 12 rectangular pie shapes (6 tops x 6 bottoms).
I brush 6 of the pastry rectangles with ‘milk’ to make them tacky, this makes the tops stick down better.
Next I add a small amount of apple pie filling to the 6 brushed rectangles.
Now you can add your toffee sauce, it may be quite firm now, not to worry, just add a few dollops with two teaspoons.
TOP TIP: DO NOT OVER FILL, THE PIES WILL EXPLODE WHEN YOU BAKE THEM IF YOU DO!
Sorry to shout but that bit is quite important.
Next place the top pastry rectangle over the pie filling and press down firmly to seal. I go to town on the crimping too with a fork to make sure the pie edges are sealed.
Now brush your pies liberally with milk, really soak them both sides and sprinkle with your cinnamon sugar. It will look like a gooey mess but fear not, it will work out perfectly.
Finally, transfer each pie to a prepared baking sheet and bake in a preheated hot oven (or to air fry see above).
Other apple recipes you will love
Gluten Free Apple Caramel Squares
A delicious merger of apple, caramel and cinnamon crumble. All piled high on a bed of gluten free shortbread. A brilliant way to use up some of your autumn harvest of apples and enjoy with a cuppa on a cold evening for tea or supper
Check out this recipe
Gluten Free French Apple Tart
This lovely sweet (not too sweet) French Apple Tart is made gluten free and has all the charm of a traditional creme patisserie bake, perfect with an afternoon coffee or cup of tea. Plus, with it's impressive (yet simple) decoration this is the perfect show stopper of a dessert for any dinner table.
Check out this recipe
Old Fashioned Gluten Free Apple Pie
This Apple Pie recipe is packed with seasonal fruits, gluten free, dairy free and egg free so suitable for vegans too. The recipe used both stewed apple and apple chunks to fill the pie to the lid and add extra texture to each delicious bite.
Check out this recipe
Gluten Free Apple Turnovers
Make your own Gluten Free Apple Turnovers from scratch. Easy to make with simple ingredients these are a popular pastry in our household. No one suspects they are gluten free and dairy free, I’ve been told they’re better than any bakery! Depending on the puff pastry you get these can easily be vegan too.
Check out this recipe
Toffee Apple Pies – Copycat McDonalds Recipe
If you make it and like the recipe I would be eternally grateful if you popped back and commented leaving a star rating as this will tell search engines that this recipe is worth checking out and others will get to find it in searches.
Gluten Free Toffee Apples Pies – Copycat McDonalds Recipe
Glutarama
In my McDonalds copy cat Toffee Apple Pies Recipe, I make sure you get all the delicious autumn warm flavours of apple, toffee, caramel and cinnamon only these are gluten free and safe for Coeliacs. Perfect comfort food at snack time, also with dairy-filled tips in not DF
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Breakfast, Tea Time
Cuisine American
Servings 6 pies
Calories 135 kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- Jus-Rol Gluten Free Puff
For the apple filling
- 1 dessert apples
- 50 g apple sauce or puree [see notes to make your own]
- 1 tbsp caster sugar
For the toffee sauce
- 60 ml dairy free cream or normal single cream
- 40 g light brown sugar
- 15 g dairy free butter or normal butter
- pinch salt
For the glaze and cinnamon sugar
- 4 tbsp dairy free milk or normal milk
- 3 tbsp light brown sugar
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp sweet ground cinnamon or normal cinnamon
Instructions
To make the toffee sauce
Start by making your toffee sauce, to do this add the light brown sugar and 'butter' to a small non stick pan and heat gently until the butter has melted and the sugar dissolved.
Once melted, add the cream (or milk if you like) and maybe turn the heat up a little so the sauce bubbles. Stir continuously to prevent burning.
When the sauce reaches a custard thickness remove from the heat and set aside. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
To make pie filling
Peel, core and chop the apple into small little-finger-nail sized pieces. Add these to a bowl with the apple sauce/puree and mix to combine.
Do a taste test to see if you need to add sugar and if so add some caster sugar to sweeten.
To make the cinnamon sugar
In a bowl add the light brown sugar, granulated sugar and cinnamon and with a whisk stir until combined.
To build the pie
Cut your gluten free puff pastry into 12 equal sized rectangles.
Brush 6 with 'milk' to make the pastry tacky.
Add a small amount of pie filling and toffee sauce (this will be quite firm now, don't worry) to the 6 tacky rectangles!
TOP TOP: do not overfill, the pies will burst open on baking if you do.
Add the 6 pastry top and press down firmly to seal the edged. I also crimp the edges thoroughly with a fork.
To glaze the pies
Brush all 6 pies liberally with 'milk' and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar, it will look messy, don't worry. Repeat on the bottom side.
Place on a lined baking sheet and pop into a preheated hot oven at n 220°C | 200°C fan | 425°F | Gas 7 for 20 minutes. Keep an eye on the pies as these brown really well.
Remove once beautifully golden and place on a cooling rack for 5-10 minutes before eating – these are HOT!
Notes
Make your own apple sauce
You can cheat, I won’t mind, and buy the apple sauce/puree or you can make your own.
Simply peel, core and chop 2 dessert apples. Add these apples to a saucepan with a tablespoon of water and gently stew with a lid on until the apple has broken down.
Even better, use Bramley apples as these break down so easily – only issue is they a far less sweet alternative so may find you need to sweeten to your own taste.
Air Fried Version– Same as above really, add to your air frier (probably 3 at a time but will vary depending on size of frier) and air fry for 15-20 minutes. Just keep checking in on them and spoon away any excess fat if necessary.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Toffee Apples Pies – Copycat McDonalds Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
135
% Daily Value*
Fat
3
g
5
%
Saturated Fat
1
g
5
%
Trans Fat
0.4
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
2
g
Sodium
32
mg
1
%
Potassium
91
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
27
g
9
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
26
g
29
%
Protein
1
g
2
%
Vitamin A
61
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
2
mg
2
%
Calcium
31
mg
3
%
Iron
0.2
mg
1
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword Apple, Cinnamon, Copycat, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, McDonalds, Pies, Vegan
Have you tried this recipe?Let me know how it was & I will be super grateful. Take a picture & tag me @glutarama on your social media posts – I love seeing your photos more than you will ever know x
Click to find out more about the Free From Food Awards
I love to see your photos of my bakes, dinners and treats. Head to your favourite social media account and don’t forget to tag me in @glutarama so I can see them too!
Click to see gluten free products available on Amazon
Subscribe to my email list so that you get NEW recipes straight in your mailbox every Friday plus 3x FREEBIE’s and access to some amazing gluten free DISCOUNTS
*disclaimer: I use affiliate codes on my website, the vast majority are to Amazon. If you click on any of the links or images in the post and make a purchase my family will benefit from a small % of that purchase at no extra cost to you.
For full transparency, in 2020 I made my first £25, and in 2022 I reached my next £25 (Amazon don’t transfer the money until you reach £25). Recently I got paid a whopping £27.10 for 2023.
So to date I have made £78.58 since I first started the scheme in 2017. It won’t pay the bills, that’s for sure but it does help to pay for ingredients or little treats to cheer me up!
