I tried McDonald’s Christmas menu including a dessert based on a classic festive chocolate – it beat the original
MCDONALD’S is shaking up its menu and launching a festive-themed range including two new items within days.
The chain is unveiling 12 items in total on November 20 and some old favourites including the Big Tasty and Cheese Melt Dippers are back.
But when I got to visit McDonald’s HQ in London to try the new festive range yesterday, I had the two newbies in my sights.
The duo in question were the new Cheesy McCrispy and Terry’s Chocolate Orange Pie.
Shoppers will be able to get the Cheesy McCrispy from £7.79, while the Chocolate Orange Pie will be on sale for £1.99.
The first comes with a chicken breast fillet in a crispy coating served with lettuce, crispy onions, pink pickled onion chutney, bacon, two slices of cheese and cheese sauce.
The latter combines crispy chocolate pastry with the classic Terry’s Chocolate Orange-flavoured ganache filling – a blend of chocolate and cream.
How did they taste though? Here’s what I thought.
Cheesy McCrispy
The Cheesy McCrispy is a twist on the classic McCrispy, except it comes with a load more ingredients like crispy onions, cheese slices and pink pickled onion chutney.
I was a big fan of the McCrispy when it was first released because of its simple list of ingredients.
So when I was first handed the Cheesy McCrispy, my first thought was how overloaded it looked.
I tucked in, and while the chicken was crispy and cheesy sauce added a nice gooey texture, I felt there was just too much going on.
And even with all the ingredients packed in, the burger was lacking overall depth in its flavour.
I can see what McDonald’s is trying to do with the burger in giving the McCrispy a gourmet uplift, but it wasn’t for me.
- Rating – 3/5
Terry’s Chocolate Orange Pie
I’m a big fan of Terry’s Chocolate Orange, particularly at Christmas, and was excited to see how this hybrid item would taste.
One concern was that it would be far too sweet, though.
So, I was pleasantly surprised when, after taking a first bite, it was pretty delicious.
The crunch of the chocolate coating and the gloopy, warm Terry’s Chocolate Orange-flavoured ganache spewing out made for a nice textural contrast.
The sauce had just the right amount of orange flavour to it without being too zesty and overpowering.
If I had to choose between this, and the original Terry’s Chocolate Orange, I’d definitely go for the McDonald’s pie.
- Rating 4/5
How did everything else taste on the Christmas menu?
Ten other items are returning back to menus from November 20, but I hadn’t actually tried all of them before so was keen to give them a go.
First, were the Camembert Cheese Melt Dippers, which come in two sizes costing £2.49 and £6.79
They were a definite stand out for me – the salty Camembert cheese wrapped in crunchy coating with smoky Rich Tomato Dip made for the perfect, moreish combination.
They’re ideal if you’re looking for a quick cheap bite as well as the cheapest savoury item on the Christmas menu.
The returning Big Tasty with bacon hit the spot too, with the smoky sauce, fresh tomatoes and beef combining for a tasty burger, but it was hard to keep all the ingredients from spilling out.
McFlurry fans will be keen on the returning Galaxy Caramel McFlurry, which costs up to £2.19.
Two of the returning items that were a big no from me though the Galaxy Caramel latte and Galaxy Caramel Hot Chocolate, both priced at £2.69.
The hot chocolate was rich and velvety but, with the cream on top, just far too sweet and I couldn’t stomach more than two or three sips.
The same went for the Latte, which was just far too sickly to even consider finishing the whole thing off.
In other news, McDonald’s has brought back the McRib after 10 years.
Plus, it recently unveiled the Double Chilli Cheeseburger in restaurants. Customers can get the item for around £2.49.
How do I find my nearest McDonald’s?
If you’re planning on taking a trip to McDonald’s, you’ll want to know where your nearest branch is.
The chain has a restaurant locator tool on its website you can use to find your nearest one – and check what time it opens.
Bear in mind that McDonald’s serves breakfast every day until 11am.
After that, the menu switches to the normal menu serving meals such as burgers, chicken nuggets and more.
How to save at McDonald's
You could end up being charged more for a McDonald's meal based solely on the McDonald's restaurant you choose.
Research by The Sun found a Big Mac meal can be up to 30% cheaper at restaurants just two miles apart from each other.
You can pick up a Big Mac and fries for just £2.99 at any time by filling in a feedback survey found on McDonald’s receipts.
The receipt should come with a 12-digit code which you can enter into the Food for Thought website alongside your submitted survey.
You’ll then receive a five-digit code which is your voucher for the £2.99 offer.
There are some deals and offers you can only get if you have the My McDonald’s app, so it’s worth signing up to get money off your meals.
The MyMcDonald’s app can be downloaded on iPhone and Android phones and is quick to set up.
You can also bag freebies and discounts on your birthday if you’re a My McDonald’s app user.
The chain has recently sent out reminders to app users to fill out their birthday details – otherwise they could miss out on birthday treats.
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