A favorite dessert returns to McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A is serving free drinks and Ziggi’s Coffee is giving away free concert tickets.
Restaurants in Indiana are introducing deals, special menus, freebies and even a cookie subscription.
Among the offerings:
McDonald’s Fired Apple Pie is back at Indiana stores
After more than 30 years of being off the menu, the Fried Apple Pie has returned to Indiana McDonald’s.
The crispy-crust, deep-fried hand pie was replaced in 1992 by the Baked Apple Pie.
The fried dessert is returning for a limited time starting on June 23, the company said. Some Indianapolis stores are already selling the pie, although it’s not on the store displays or listed as fried in the McDonald’s app.
“McDonald’s Fried Apple Pie recipe features 100% American-grown apples inside a crispy, golden crust that’s fried to perfection,” the chain’s website says.
McDonald’s switched out the fried pie, made with diced apples, in an effort to appeal to more health-conscious consumers.
The turnover-style fried pie, from a Knoxville, Tennessee, franchisee’s recipe, debuted at the chain in 1968, according to Eater.
The recipe for the baked version was revamped in 2016 to use sliced apples and the current lattice-top crust. It was tweaked in 2018.
What’s in the McDonald’s Fried Apple Pie?
McDonald’s lists the following ingredients for its Fried Apple Pie:
Apples (apples, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Salt), Water, Enriched Flour (bleached Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Palm Oil, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Brown Sugar, Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil), Modified Food Starch, Dextrose, Salt, Natural Flavor, Sugar, Spice, Baking Soda, Locust Bean Gum, Sunflower Lecithin, Food Starch, Citric Acid, L-cysteine (dough Conditioner), Lemon Puree, Yeast Extract, Enzyme.
Contains: Wheat.
Fried Apple Pie vs. Baked Apple Pie
How does the old pie compare to the baked pie currently in stores?
Free drinks at Chick-fil-A
Central Indiana Chick-fil-A customers can get free drinks this week.
The restaurants are offering each guest a complimentary Dragonfruit Sunjoy, its limited-time pineapple- and dragonfruit-flavored beverage, through the Chick-fil-A App.
The offer is good through June 20.
Carvel Passport to Flavor treats
Through August 3, Carvel is serving a limited-time collection of globally inspired frozen treats.
· Dubai Decadence: Chocolate and pistachio soft serve swirled with fudge ribbons and Carvel vanilla crunchies. Comes scooped or in a Sundae Dasher.
· Affogato: Smooth soft serve topped with rich coffee flavor for the ultimate pick-me-up.
· Orange Shake made with Fanta: The fizzy flavor of Fanta blended with creamy soft serve.
· USA Carvelanche: Classic Carvel soft serve mixed with red, white, and blue M&Ms.
Guests can pick up a limited-edition Carvel Passport to Flavor at a Carvel Shoppe and collect stamps from each of the new items to get a free small Carvelanche (redeemable between Sept. 8 and Oct. 11.)
Free concert tickets from Ziggi’s Coffee
Ziggi’s Coffee is giving away concert tickets every week this summer.
The chain partnered with AEG Presents to launch Ziggi’s Summer Soundtrack Sweepstakes, giving customers the chance to win concert tickets, free Ziggi’s drinks and swag.
Participants have the chance to win hundreds of tickets to see dozens of shows, including those by Brandi Carlile, Louis Tomlinson and Ella Mai.
To enter, customers visiting any participating Ziggi’s location can scan a QR code at the point of purchase and complete the entry form. Entries reset weekly, and winners are drawn every Tuesday. No purchase is necessary. The offer is void in New York, Florida and Rhode Island.
For details, visit ziggiscoffee.com.
New cookie club from Rosie’s Place
Gooey Butter Cookies by Rosie’s Place is launching its Cookie Craving Club monthly delivery subscription.
Subscriptions open on July 1 with the first delivery arriving on August 1.
For information, visit gooeybuttercookies.com.
Sullivan’s Steakhouse Tomahawk Trio for Two
In July, Sullivan’s Steakhouse will offer the Tomahawk Trio for Two for $199. The meal includes a 32 oz. Australian Wagyu Tomahawk Ribeye, paired with two North Atlantic Lobster Tails and a bottle of Caymus Red Blend.
New drinks at Starbucks
Starbucks has introduced beverages to support Water.org’s Get Blue initiative to help expand access to safe water and sanitation:
Through July 7, Starbucks will donate 25 cents for every Iced Blue Coconut Matcha and Blue Coconut Refresher sold.
Terra Gaucha $49.95 Signature Cuts Menu
Through Sept. 30, dinner guests can order the Signature Cuts Menu, which includes Picanha, Grilled Shrimp and a Lime Cake Mousse. Guests must mention this menu to a server or hostess before starting their experience so they can have the correct menu and prices.
Father’s Day dining offers
Free family photos with dinner at Dean’s Steak & Seafood
Dean’s Steak & Seafood and other restaurants at JW Marriott will offer family portraits with complimentary frames to parties booking Father’s Day meals.
Free cold brew at PJ’s Coffee for Father’s Day
PJ’s Coffee is offering a buy one, get one deal on cold brew until 2 p.m. on June 21, while supplies last.
P.F. Chang’s Papa Chang sweepstakes
P.F. Chang’s guests can nominate a father or father figure who deserves recognition by sharing why they’re special, along with the best piece of “Dad Wisdom” they’ve provided.
In the Papa Chang sweepstakes, one grand prize winner will receive a $2,500 P.F. Chang’s gift card, along with a custom-engraved “Papa Chang 2026” plaque. Eight runner-ups will each receive $250 P.F. Chang’s gift cards.
How to enter:
The sweepstakes run through June 21 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
P.F. Chang’s also has its limited-time “Sizzle. Share. Celebrate.” chef-curated five-course menu, designed for sharing. Highlights include new dishes like NY Prime Strip Steak Tataki and Lobster & Prawn Fried Rice, which join Chang’s Spicy Chicken, Mongolian Beef and Miso-Glazed Salmon on the menu.
Father’s Day dining at Ford’s Garage
During Father’s Day weekend, June 19-21, Ford’s Garage guests can order a 12-ounce New York Strip Steak for $27.99, served with a choice of two sides. The chain is also featuring its Woodford Old Fashioned for $9.99, crafted with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, demerara syrup, Angostura bitters and orange bitters.
Contact Midwest Connect reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cjackson@usatodayco.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com: @cherylvjackson or Bluesky: @cherylvjackson.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: McDonald’s fried apple pie is back, free drinks at Chick-fil-A and more deals
Reporting by Cheryl V. Jackson and Chris Sims, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cheryl V. Jackson and Chris Sims, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
