Apple Pie Comparison: McDonald’s vs Whataburger
Have you tried a Whataburger Apple Pie or a McDonald’s Baked Apple Pie? We want to hear from you!
While I haven’t tasted either of these pies, I spent the entire morning researching these fast food desserts. Then I compiled this detailed comparison report to help our audience learn more about what’s in the food.
Read this guide for a complete overview of the nutritional value and ingredients in the popular apple pie desserts available from McDonald’s and Whataburger fast food restaurants.
Don’t forget – we would love to receive your feedback and comments regarding the taste and texture. Let us know in the comments section at the end of this post. Which pie do you think is the best?
Fast Food Apple Pies Nutritional Information
Nutrition Facts Comparison
When comparing the nutritional value of McDonald’s baked apple pie to Whataburger apple pie, there are some close similarities.
Similarities
Here are a few key points summarizing how the two pies are similar:
- Zero trans fat per serving
- Zero cholesterol per serving
- A difference of only 1 gram of carbohydrates between the two pies
- A difference of only 1 gram of proteins between the two pies
Differences
However, there are also a few differences to note.
- Whataburger’s apple pie has 3 grams more dietary fats (27% higher) than the pie from McDonald’s.
- The apple pie from Whataburger has more than twice as much sodium per serving.
- McDonald’s pie has twice the amount of total sugars (14 grams vs 7 grams).
Summary Comparison
The following table offers a side-by-side comparison of the nutritional information for the apple pies offered at McDonald’s and Whataburger restaurants.
APPLE PIES
| NUTRIENT | MCDONALD’S | WHATABURGER |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 230 | 270 |
| Fat | 11g | 14g |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0mg |
| Sodium | 100mg | 260mg |
| Carbohydrates | 33g | 34g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g | 2g |
| Total Sugars | 14g | 7g |
| — Added Sugars | 13g | n/a |
| Protein | 2g | 3g |
Calories
Often the factor that consumers consider to be most important when comparing food products is the total calories.
The apple pie from Whataburger has 17% more calories than the treat from McDonald’s.
That’s due to higher amounts of fat, carbohydrates, and protein. Specifically, Whataburger’s apple pie has 3 grams more fat, 1 gram more carbs, and 1 gram more proteins.
Those extra nutrients result in 40 more calories per serving.
Calories from Fat, Carbs, and Protein
Moreover, the percentage of total calories derived from each macronutrient differs. For example, fats contribute a higher percentage of the total calories in Whataburger’s pie.
By comparison, the greatest proportion of total calories in McDonald’s apple pie is derived from carbohydrates, including added sugars.
The following two charts illustrate this point. The total calories differ by 12%, but the amount of energy (kcalories) delivered from fat, carbs, and protein, is comparable.
Percentage of Calories by Nutrient
McDonald’s Pie
Whataburger Pie
Total Dietary Fat
One serving of an apple pie from Whataburger and McDonald’s has 14 grams and 11 grams of total fat, respectively.
The amount of saturated fat is high. According to the FDA, a nutrient that contributes a 20% or greater daily value per serving is considered high.
As you can see from the following chart, the amount of saturated fat in both pies exceed that threshold.
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the percentage daily value from dietary fats in the two pies (based on a 2,000 calorie diet).
Percentage Daily Value
| MCDONALD’S | WHATABURGER | |
|---|---|---|
| Fat | 14% DV | 18% DV |
| Saturated Fat | 30% DV | 25% DV |
Added Sugars
Unfortunately, Whataburger does not currently report added sugars separately from total sugars. Regardless, McDonald’s does.
The amount of added sugars in McDonald’s Baked Apple Pie is nearly twice the amount of Total Sugars in Whataburger’s pie.
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, individuals should limit calories from added sugars to no more than 10% of total calories consumed each day.
SUMMARY OF SUGARS
Apple Pie Ingredients
Here are the lists of ingredients used by each fast-food restaurant to make their apple pie.
McDonald’s Baked Apple Pie Ingredients
| INGREDIENTS | |
|---|---|
| Apple Filling | Apples, Ascorbic Acid, Salt, Citric Acid |
| Pie Crust | Enriched Flour, Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Apple Juice Concentrate, Modified Food Starch, Invert Syrup, Yeast, Salt, Cinnamon, Sunflower Lecithin, L-Cysteine, Yeast Extract, Enzyme, and Beta-carotene (for color) |
Whataburger Apple Pie Ingredients
| INGREDIENTS | |
|---|---|
| Apple Filling | Apples, Salt, Erythorbic or Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Water, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Modified Food Starch, Caramel Color, Cinnamon, Citric Acid, Salt, Corn Starch, Carob Bean Gum, Cellulose Gum, and Agar. |
| Dough | Bleached Enriched Wheat Flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid), Palm Oil, Water, Sugar, Salt, Natural and Artificial Flavor, and Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate. |
| Glaze | Water, Modified Food Starch, Salt, Dextrose, Bleached Enriched Wheat Flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid), Sugar, Locust Bean Gum, Citric Acid, and Artificial Vanilla Flavor. |
Nutritional information and ingredients in this guide is based on information provided by McDonald’s and Whataburger.
So, which apple pie do you choose? Does it all come back to taste or convenience depending on where you stopped for lunch?
We aim to help our audience make informed decisions about the foods they eat. So even if your choice is solely dependent on flavor, I hope this guide provides an interesting and informative overview of the nutritional value in these sweet desserts.
Bon appetit!
Ingredients, allergens, and nutrition facts are based on available information as of the date this article was published and/or updated. Restaurants and food manufacturers may change their recipes without notice. Check directly with the food provider for the most accurate and up-to-date information. NutritionandIngredients.com does not provide health or wellness advice or dietary recommendations. Our aim is to research commercially processed food and publish articles for informational purposes only. Unless otherwise stated, % Daily Value is based on 2,000 calories per day, but calorie needs vary by individual. Always consult your physician for any healthcare or dietary advice.
Ingredients and nutritional information sources: McDoanld’s and Whataburger
Yum! I’ll take one of each. But more often than not, I’d choose McD’s for the larger apple pieces.