Introduction

The McDonald’s Holiday Pie is a festive treat that combines creamy filling with a flaky crust, perfect for the holiday season. This homemade version offers a delightful blend of vanilla pudding and cream cheese wrapped in a golden pastry, finished with a sweet glaze and sprinkles.

Four square golden brown pastries with crimped edges lay on a wooden board placed on a white marbled surface. Each pastry is covered with a light drizzle of white icing and scattered with small red, green, and white round sprinkles, adding color contrast to the warm baked texture. The pastries have a slightly uneven but crisp top layer, showing a flaky texture. Around the board, some sprinkles are scattered on the marbled surface, giving a festive look. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

4 9-inch uncooked pie crusts
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding
¼ cup yellow or white cake mix, dry mix
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Optional egg wash:
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 to 4 tablespoons milk
- Christmas sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. If using an air fryer, you can skip this step.
Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together the vanilla pudding mix, cake mix, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Set aside.
Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the pudding mixture and blend until well combined.
Step 4: Gently unroll each pie crust and trim the rounded edges to create large squares. Cut each square in half to form rectangles.
Step 5: Spoon the filling into the center of each rectangle. Fold the dough over and seal the edges by pressing with a fork.
Step 6: Beat the egg and water together in a small bowl. Brush this egg wash over the tops of the pies to help them brown nicely.
Step 7: For oven baking: place the pies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown. For air frying: spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, cook 2 pies at a time at 350°F for 10 minutes, repeating with the remaining pies.
Step 8: In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of milk. Adjust by adding up to 2 more tablespoons to reach a drizzle-able consistency.
Step 9: Drizzle the glaze over the warm pies and top with Christmas sprinkles if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips & Variations

For a festive twist, try adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the filling mixture.
You can substitute cream cheese with mascarpone for a richer texture.
If you prefer a crunchier crust, brush the edges with a bit of sugar before baking.
Use gluten-free pie crusts to make this recipe suitable for gluten-sensitive guests.

Storage

Store any leftover pies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 5–7 minutes to regain crispness. Avoid microwaving as it may make the crust soggy.

How to Serve

The image shows two rectangular layers of flaky, golden-brown pastry stacked on top of each other, each filled with a smooth, bright yellow custard cream layer. The top pastry layer is drizzled with white icing and sprinkled with small, round, red, green, and white candy sprinkles. The layers have a crisp, crumbled texture around the edges, and the surface beneath them is a white marbled texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I prepare these pies ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the pies and keep them refrigerated for up to a day before baking. Just be sure to brush with egg wash right before baking to ensure a golden finish.

Can I freeze the pies?

Absolutely. Freeze the assembled, unbaked pies on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.