Why did Taco Bell discontinue the caramel apple empanadas?

When one thinks of Taco Bell, they don't usually think of desserts. For years though, Taco Bell featured an out-of-the-box dessert with its caramel apple empanadas.

Whether you had one yourself or knew someone who loved them, the dessert had its own following. If you aren't familiar with it, it was essentially a fried dough pocket featuring chunks of apple and caramel sauce. It was also $1.00 which is a rarity these days.

It was basically a fried apple pie but smaller and cheaper. While it didn't hold a candle to McDonald's Apple Pie, it was a good alternative. With the added caramel, it ended up having a zing of sweetness that was just delightful.

Despite all the people that enjoyed it, the product was discontinued for reasons unknown. While there are some theories, Taco Bell hasn't ever really shared why they chose to discontinue the caramel apple empanada.

Losing the caramel apple empanada was a hit for Taco Bell fans

The caramel apple empanada is sadly one of those items that was removed by Taco Bell with no explanation. Some imagine that it was due to the brand working with Cinnabon or maybe it was unpopular or just took too long to make. Either way, these were pulled from the menu, but they do live on in the hearts of Taco Bell fans everywhere.

Thankfully if you google caramel apple empanadas, you can find a number of different "copycat" recipes to make them at home. While it's not the same as ordering one at Taco Bell, you can still have something similar. Plus you can customize it with other flavors and items if you want something a little bit different.

Regardless if you're going to make a copycat version at home or not, it's unlikely we'll see this end up back on Taco Bell menus. Then again, maybe we'll hear about some new and exciting dessert additions during the brand's Live Mas Live. It's unlikely but at least it's pretty easy to duplicate a caramel apple empanada at home.