> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.flavorist.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # McDonald’s Drops Pumpkin Spice Flavor for Caramel Apple Pie: What to Know About the New Fall Drinks - URL: https://www.flavorist.com/mcdonalds-drops-pumpkin-spice-flavor-for-caramel-apple-pie-what-to-know-about-the-new-fall-drinks/ - Published: 2026-09-09T03:33:36.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-09T03:36:50.000Z - Author: Editor # Tuesday September 8, 2026 – McDonald’s is making a major change to one of the most familiar traditions of fall. For 2026, the fast-food giant has **dropped Pumpkin Spice from its seasonal McCafé coffee lineup**, replacing the longtime autumn flavor with a new **Caramel Apple Pie** collection. The change is generating renewed attention after a September 8 report from [Fortune’s coverage of McDonald’s Pumpkin Spice decision](https://fortune.com/2026/09/08/pumpkin-spice-mcdonalds-millennials-gen-z-climate-change/?utm%5Fsource=flavorist.com) examined whether America’s long-running pumpkin spice obsession could finally be losing some momentum. McDonald’s confirmed to Fortune that Caramel Apple Pie is its only fall coffee flavor for 2026 and that Pumpkin Spice will not be included this year. For anyone searching **“McDonald’s drops pumpkin spice flavor,”** there is an important distinction: McDonald’s has not announced that Pumpkin Spice is permanently discontinued. The company has confirmed its absence from the **2026 fall coffee lineup**, but has left open the possibility of bringing it back in another season. ## What Is McDonald’s Caramel Apple Pie Flavor? Rather than abandoning fall flavors altogether, McDonald’s is betting on another classic autumn combination: **apple, caramel and warm pie-inspired flavors**. According to [McDonald’s official current menu](https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/whats-hot.html?utm%5Fsource=flavorist.com), the seasonal Caramel Apple Pie drinks combine **caramel apple pie flavored syrup, salted caramel flavored whipped topping and apple pie crumble**. The flavor is currently available for a limited time at participating restaurants. Customers can get the Caramel Apple Pie flavor in several McCafé formats: - **Caramel Apple Pie Latte** - **Iced Caramel Apple Pie Latte** - **Caramel Apple Pie Iced Coffee** - **Caramel Apple Pie Frappé** That gives McDonald’s customers both hot and cold ways to try the new seasonal flavor, something that has become increasingly important as fall beverage launches arrive while temperatures remain warm across much of the United States. McDonald’s describes its hot Caramel Apple Pie Latte as combining espresso and steamed milk with the seasonal syrup, salted caramel flavored whipped topping and apple pie crumble. A large version contains 490 calories, according to the [official McDonald’s Caramel Apple Pie Latte page](https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/caramel-apple-pie-latte-large.html?utm%5Fsource=flavorist.com). ## Why Did McDonald’s Drop Pumpkin Spice in 2026? McDonald’s has not said that customers suddenly stopped liking Pumpkin Spice. Instead, its statement suggests the company wants to experiment with other seasonal flavors. “Caramel Apple Pie is the only fall coffee flavor McDonald’s is releasing this year,” a McDonald’s USA spokesperson told Fortune, adding that the chain continues to explore new seasonal flavors. The decision comes amid evidence that American fall beverage preferences are becoming more diverse. [Axios reported on changing fall coffee trends](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/31/pumpkin-spice-apple-caramel-starbucks?utm%5Fsource=flavorist.com) that caramel, apple and cinnamon ranked as the three most-ordered fall flavors in DoorDash data, ahead of pumpkin. Searches for “caramel apple iced coffee” were also at an all-time high, according to Google Trends data cited by Axios. That makes McDonald’s Caramel Apple Pie strategy less surprising. Instead of simply copying competitors with another Pumpkin Spice Latte, the chain can tap into rising interest in apple and caramel while still delivering the sweet, comforting flavors consumers associate with autumn. ## Is Pumpkin Spice Losing Its Fall Flavor Crown? Pumpkin spice is hardly disappearing. Starbucks and other major coffee companies continue to invest heavily in pumpkin drinks, and consumer search interest remains substantial. Axios reported that “pumpkin spice latte” was still the most-Googled latte in the United States during August 2026, while Yelp searches for pumpkin spice latte had risen sharply from the previous year. But the market is becoming much less dependent on a single fall flavor. Fortune reported that Google Trends data showed Pumpkin Spice Latte dominating latte searches in only three states in late August 2026, compared with 32 states at roughly the same point in 2025 and 48 states in 2024\. Matcha, chai, caramel, apple and cinnamon are increasingly competing for consumers’ attention. For restaurants, that creates an incentive to experiment rather than automatically bringing back the same pumpkin drink every year. McDonald’s appears to be testing exactly that idea. ## McDonald’s Hasn’t Completely Abandoned Pumpkin There is another important detail behind headlines saying **McDonald’s dropped Pumpkin Spice**: the company has removed pumpkin spice from its **coffee lineup**, not necessarily pumpkin from the menu altogether. McDonald’s currently lists its seasonal **Pumpkin & Crème Pie**, a baked sugar-coated pastry featuring pumpkin pie filling on one side and crème filling on the other. The official McDonald’s product page lists the dessert at 280 calories and notes that availability can depend on participating restaurants. [See McDonald’s Pumpkin & Crème Pie](https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/pumpkin-and-creme-pie.html?utm%5Fsource=flavorist.com) So pumpkin fans may still be able to get an autumn pumpkin treat at McDonald’s even though they cannot pair it with the traditional McCafé Pumpkin Spice coffee this season. That distinction is important for consumers encountering headlines claiming McDonald’s has completely “axed” pumpkin spice. ## Why Caramel Apple Pie Could Be a Strong Replacement Caramel apple has several advantages as a seasonal coffee flavor. Like pumpkin spice, it evokes traditional fall activities and desserts. Caramel apples are associated with harvest festivals, Halloween, fairs and cool-weather treats, while apple pie has an even broader nostalgic appeal. The new McDonald’s flavor layers those associations together. Apple pie crumble provides the dessert component, salted caramel flavored whipped topping adds richness, and the caramel apple pie syrup carries the flavor through the drink. It also translates easily across multiple beverage formats. Customers wanting a traditional café experience can order the latte, while people facing September heat can choose an iced latte, iced coffee or Frappé. The strategy also fits broader consumer trends. Axios found not only rising interest in caramel apple but growth in brown sugar and maple drinks, illustrating how coffee chains are expanding the definition of a “fall flavor” beyond pumpkin spice. ## Is McDonald’s Pumpkin Spice Latte Gone Forever? For now, **no permanent cancellation has been announced**. The most accurate description of the news is that **McDonald’s has dropped Pumpkin Spice from its fall 2026 coffee lineup**. McDonald’s told Fortune that Pumpkin Spice “will not be part of this year’s lineup,” wording that leaves the door open for a future return. Seasonal fast-food menus routinely change from year to year, so the Pumpkin Spice Latte could return in 2027 or another future season. McDonald’s has not announced those plans yet. ## The Bottom Line The surge in searches for **“McDonald’s drops pumpkin spice flavor”** reflects a meaningful shift in the fall coffee wars. After years of Pumpkin Spice dominating seasonal beverage menus, McDonald’s is giving another classic autumn flavor the starring role. Its **Caramel Apple Pie** collection combines apple pie crumble, caramel apple pie flavored syrup and salted caramel flavored whipped topping across lattes, iced coffee and Frappés. The bigger story may be what the change says about consumer tastes. Pumpkin spice remains extremely popular, but caramel apple, cinnamon, maple, matcha, chai and other flavors are competing more aggressively for fall coffee drinkers. McDonald’s is betting that customers are ready for something different without giving up the nostalgic, dessert-like qualities that make seasonal drinks appealing in the first place. For fall 2026, at least, **Caramel Apple Pie is the new star of McDonald’s seasonal coffee menu—and Pumpkin Spice is sitting this season out.** ###