McDonald's is bringing back its fried apple pie starting June 23 for a limited time, capitalizing on summer nostalgia and the nation's milestone 250th birthday celebration. The chain is marking the occasion with a 35-foot fried apple pie installation as part of the promotional push. The exact duration of the limited-time offering and participating locations have not been disclosed. Fried apple pies represented a signature McDonald's item for decades before the chain phased them out in favor of baked versions. The return taps into consumer appetite for retro menu items—a strategy competitors have also pursued to drive traffic and social media buzz during promotional windows. **Why It Matters:** Limited-time offerings tied to cultural moments remain a proven traffic driver for QSR operators. The revival signals McDonald's confidence in leveraging nostalgia as a menu strategy, particularly around seasonal and patriotic occasions when consumers show heightened discretionary spending.