Taco Bell Finally Brought Back This Fan-Favorite Menu Item for the First Time in 5 Years

Fans begged, Taco Bell listened.

For many of us, the past few years have been tough. Not only did we endure a global pandemic, but fast food fans were also united in another shared sorrow. Less than a year before lockdown, in the summer of 2019, Taco Bell broke hearts by removing its beloved Caramel Apple Empanada from the menu.

Now, for those of us still mourning its loss, there’s good news—and no, it’s not the Cheesy Chicken Crispanada. On Nov. 21, the Caramel Apple Empanada will make its triumphant return for a limited time as part of Taco Bell’s Decades Menu.

Taco Bell Brings Back Its Caramel Apple Empanada

Since last month, Taco Bell has been bringing back one fan-favorite item from each decade of its history, starting with its 1960s debut. Fans have already been relishing retro delights like the Green Burrito from the 1970s, featuring a tangy green-chile-and-tomatillo sauce, the classic Tostada from the 1960s, the beefy Meximelt from the 1980s, and the Beef Gordita Supreme from the 1990s.

But Taco Bell seems to have saved the best for last with the early 2000s-era Caramel Apple Empanada. This crispy, cinnamon-sugar-coated fried pastry is filled with soft apples and creamy caramel—a combination that made it an instant favorite. Though it was replaced on the menu by Cinnabon Delights, fans never stopped longing for its return.

Unsurprisingly, Reddit is buzzing with nostalgia over the news. In a year-old thread speculating on why the empanada disappeared, a former employee revealed that the dessert’s long frying time—three to six minutes—caused backups in the drive-thru, which may have contributed to its discontinuation.

In a new thread, one Redditor expressed their excitement, saying, “They should have kept the apple empanadas on the menu since they were so good and a bit better than McDonald's apple pies, a lot better imo. If they have them by Thanksgiving, I might just get a bunch for Thanksgiving dinner dessert.”

That's not a bad idea. Though the empanada no longer costs $1 as it did in its heyday, we’ll still be stocking up!