The last few years have been hard for many of us. Not only have we experienced a global pandemic, but fast food fans have also been united in another shared grief. Less than a year before lockdown, in the summer of 2019, Taco Bell broke hearts when it removed its popular Caramel Apple Empanada from the menu.

For those of us still mourning the loss, there’s good news — and no, it’s not the Cheesy Chicken Crispanada. On November 21st, the Caramel Apple Empanada makes its triumphant return as part of Taco Bell’s Decades menu for a limited time.

Taco Bell is bringing back its caramel apple empanada

Starting last month, Taco Bell has been bringing back a fan-favorite item from every decade of its history, starting with its debut in the 1960s. Fans already enjoy retro delights like the 1970s Green Burrito with a spicy green chile tomatillo sauce, the classic 1960s Tostada, the bold 1980s Meximelt and the 1990s Beef Gordita Supreme -years.

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

Unsurprisingly, Reddit is buzzing with nostalgia over the news. In a year-old thread speculating about the reasons for the empanada’s disappearance, a former employee revealed that the dessert’s long frying time – three to six minutes – led to backlogs at the drive-thru, possibly leading to the I contributed to the setting of the dessert.

In a new thread, a Reddit user expressed his excitement, saying, “They should have kept the apple empanadas on the menu since they were so good and a little better than McDonald’s apple pies, a lot better in my opinion.” “If they have them by Thanksgiving, maybe I can get some for Thanksgiving dessert.”

That’s not a bad idea. Although the empanada no longer costs $1 like it did in its heyday, we will still be stocking up!