McDonald’s has welcomed its festive menu to its branches across the UK, and a few weeks back, we were fortunate to get a sneak preview of the Christmas feast.

The menu includes some familiar favourites and new items, but do any of them actually have enough festive spirit?

As with all of the festive food items that hit various restaurants and shops every year, some will succeed, while others will fail to impress.

Reporter Ellen put to the test some of the newest items hitting McDonald’s this winter season, reported MirrorOnline.

Returning staples include the Big Tasty, Cheese Melt Dippers and Terry’s Chocolate Orange McFlurry. New items include the Cheesy McCrispy and Terry’s Chocolate Orange Pie. Here is how it went…

It’s that time of year again when everybody and their mums hop on the festive bandwagon and bring out an endless array of ‘Christmas’ treats.

Any restaurant, you name it, will have a Christmas menu. McDonald’s is no different, revealing some returning staples and new faces for 2024’s menu. Fortunately, the wait is over, with the menu launching in branches across the UK from today (November 20).

Returning products to the Christmas menu include much-loved classics Big Tasty and Big Tasty with Bacon, Cheese Melt Dippers with Rich Tomato Dip, Terry’s Chocolate Orange McFlurry, and Galaxy Caramel McFlurry.

While it may feel flat that it’s recycling familiar faces, two new items may inspire some festive cheer.

The Cheesy McCrispy, described as the ‘ultimate festive feat’, is a dolled-up version of the standard McCrispy, dressed with crispy onions, pink pickled onion chutney, bacon, two slices of cheese, and a nondescript cheese sauce, all served in a brioche bun. It’s supposed to evoke decadence and gluttony, but for me, the Cheesy McCrispy falls short.

It was missing a certain je ne sais quoi and, in turn, Christmas vibes. I wasn’t expecting a full-on three-course Christmas with all the trimmings, but I can’t help feeling McDonald’s attempted to birth a child of a turkey dinner and cheeseboard.

You could put the McCrispy in front of me at different points in the year, and I still wouldn’t believe it screams ‘Christmas!’. Make no mistake, the Cheesy McCrispy is a decent burger; it’s definitely something different to try. But for Christmas…? Next!

The best of McDonald’s Christmas menu

Personally, I think there are two food items on the festive menu that are worth buying. For cheese fanatics, this iteration of the Cheese Melt Dippers is so on-brand.

This time, you can tuck into breaded camembert! Yes, camembert. Now, if that doesn’t say a ‘cosy night by the fire with a glass of bubbles’, I don’t know what does. Camembert is the epitome of festive cheese.

I’m surprised just how much you can really taste the flavours of ripe French cheese instead of plastic-like fake cheese. There’s a hint of smokiness hidden among the richness of it all. I inhaled the lot. Fortunately—or unfortunately—I didn’t have a Sharebox.

Its accompanying tomato dip is the same we know and tolerate. To elevate the festive cheeseboard illusion further, an onion jam or sweet chilli jam wouldn’t go amiss.

The other item that should be on your next Maccies order is its festive pie, the Terry’s Chocolate Orange Pie. It has a crispy chocolate pastry shell filled with a Terry’s Chocolate Orange-flavoured chocolate ganache. Mm-mm.

Christmas in a pie (not a mince pie), some would say. Are you even British if you don’t have a Terry’s Chocolate Orange among your Christmas choccy supply?

I’ll admit I’m usually sceptical about Maccies’ pies; the flavour combinations can be… an acquired taste. But with one sugary fell swoop, I was converted.

I’d recommend whacking it in the microwave for 30 seconds to make the ganache molten. It’s the perfect treat to warm you up on a grey, chilly winter’s day. If you’re also looking to warm up, look out for the Galaxy Caramel Latte and Galaxy Caramel Hot Chocolate. You’ll need it.

McDonald’s festive menu has some highlights that will get you in the mood for Christmas, but there is definitely room for improvement to make it even more Christmassy, melting even the Grinch’s heart.