McDonald's UK New Holiday Menu Is Trying (And Failing) To Be Festive | HuffPost Life

McDonald's, what have you done?!

By

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

|

Some might say that the best part of the holiday season includes enjoying time with family, debating current political issues with your ill-informed uncle, and spiking your brother's eggnog when he isn't looking. Oh, and enjoying a Festive Chicken Deluxe, because McDonald's wants to be even more of a part of your holidays now.

Don't get us wrong -- we love ourselves a McDonald's Egg Nog Shake, but we're not quite sure how holiday-themed chicken fits into our dinner schedule. Nevertheless, McDonald's UK has come up with "The Festive Menu," so we've broken it down for you. Spoiler alert: some of the eight items don't look holiday-themed at all.

Here's what's on McDonald's menu across the pond:

1. Winter Warmer Cheese & Bacon

It's all in the name and the buns with this otherwise regular bacon burger. The bread is a "flour-topped snowflake bun" that's a more filling alternative to just eating snow off the ground.

2. Chocolate Banoffee Pie

We have a sudden craving for Banoffee (banana/toffee) sauce...anyone else?

3. Festive Chicken Deluxe

For goodness sake, the sandwich is coated in BBQ sauce, how could it be holiday-themed (unless you're in the South?) Basically you'll be eating a BBQ sandwich with mayo, onions, lettuce and a holiday-themed name.

4. 20 Chicken McNuggets Sharebox
So this just looks like your average 20-piece Chicken McNuggets order, but maybe that's enough to get one in the holiday spirit? And just in case you were curious, this is how Chicken McNuggets are made, according to McDonald's.

5. Cheese Melt Dippers

Again -- every time we eat cheese we think we're on holiday, but this is only festive when it's photographed near glitter, a tree and holiday-themed spools of yarn. Other than that, it's just breaded cheese and tomato dip.

6. Toffee Latte
Served in cute Christmas cups, this Toffee Latte actually looks and sounds so delicious that we're going to petition to have it in U.S. stores.

7. Chocolatey Donut

We don't quite know how this Chocolatey Donut is holiday-themed, but it looks like it would hit the spot. But then again, lucky patrons in the UK already can buy sugar donuts at McDonald's, so again, we're requesting these make an appearance in the U.S. soon.

8. Galaxy Caramel McFlurry

The description alone -- "Soft dairy ice cream with Galaxy milk chocolate pieces and swirls of delicious Galaxy caramel sauce" -- is enough to make us want to fly to London for this McFlurry.

Want to read more from HuffPost Taste? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Tumblr.

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.

Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

How to Make Fries That Taste Like McDonalds

How the Fry Came to Be(01 of07)

We’re starting at the very beginning of this story, because how the potato became a fry is an important part of why McDonald’s fries taste the way they do. If you want to start with a frozen bag of fries, skip ahead a few slides, but if you’re doing it from scratch start to finish, start reading here. And here would be with fresh Idaho potatoes, washed and peeled.Want More McDonald's? Click here to see How to Make All of Your Favorite McDonald's Menu Items at HomeCredit: Thinkstock/iStockphoto

Really, Really Good Knife Skills(02 of07)

One of the first things you’ll need once you’ve washed and peeled your Idaho potatoes are some "dope a$$ knife skills," as Talde puts it. This is so that you can cut the fries into a consistent and uniform diameter, which is one of Talde’s favorite things about the fry. While he admits that they may vary in length, the diameter will always be ¼ -inch thick, and this is one of the things that lends to a perfectly crisp and golden brown fry. While you’re cutting your fries, Talde instructs to place the cut ones in a cold water bath mixed with vinegar. When you’re done prepping all of the fries, drain and rinse the cut fries with cold water, and put them in another water-vinegar bath to sit overnight. Talde tells us that this allows them to leech out some of that extra starch, so that they have a better chance of crisping up.Credit: Thinkstock/iStockphoto

The Mystery Ingredients(03 of07)

We’re not going to try to define every single ingredient found in McDonald’s fries in order to replicate them at home, but instead we paid attention to a few simple cues given to us by McCain’s product manager, Mario Dupuis. As he says in the video, the fries are first blanched to remove excess sugars and to stop enzyme activity, and then tossed in a dextrose solution and another "ingredient," which prevents them from turning gray. After reading McCain’s website, we were able to determine that they blanch the fries at around 180 degrees for several minutes, and that afterward they’re dried before being tossed in the solutions. For a faster drying process, we dried our fries in the oven at 125 degrees for five minutes, and then tossed them in a sugar and water solution to replicate the dextrose solution, and then tossed them in a water, vinegar, and lemon juice bath, which we peg as the "ingredient" that prevents them from going gray. Credit: Thinkstock/iStockphoto

Make Fries, Not Baked Potatoes(04 of07)

Now that the fries are prepped and ready to go, it’s time to discuss the method with which you’ll make them. Some people think that they can cut corners and the mess by using an oven, but Talde says it best when he told us, "If you don’t have a fryer, make mashed potatoes [instead]." Fries are called fries for a reason, so it’s time to invest in a deep-fryer, or break out a large skillet durable enough for frying (like a Dutch oven or cast-iron skillet). The oil that’s used is also important with this step. Many people extrapolate that the fries are so delicious and rich because they’re fried in some exotic ingredients, like beef tallow, but Talde ensures us that this step can be skipped. Because beef tallow is so hard to find, he likes using peanut oil to make his fries, because it has a great flavor and a high burning point.Credit: Thinkstock/iStockphoto

Blanching(05 of07)

The blanching method for McDonald’s is used by everyone across the board, including the McCain suppliers and Talde. Talde explains that the blanching method is necessary "because if you cooked them raw, they’d never really get that crispy." We decided to go with McCain’s method, which is frying them for 45 to 60 seconds at 390 degrees. Once pre-fried, place the fries on a wire rack or colander and shake them vigorously so that all of the excess oil is removed. Credit: Thinkstock/iStockphoto

Freezing?(06 of07)

McDonald’s fries start frozen, and this is mostly because it’s the safest way to transport them from suppliers to McDonald’s’ locations, but cooling the fries down after pre-frying them is an important step in the process, too. To cool our fries, we laid them out on baking sheets so that they were in a single layer and placed them in the freezer for at least four hours.Credit: Thinkstock/iStockphoto

Finishing the Fries(07 of07)

As you can see by now, most of the important steps of making McDonald’s fries come from the prep. Once they’re cooled, they’re ready for the actually frying, which is a simple process that starts at 275 degrees for a pre-fry, and then at 375 degrees for about five minutes, or until crisp and golden brown. And while you may think the fries are heavily salted (even Talde does), we chose to believe McDonald’s when they say they don’t use that much salt, and we salted every 2 cups of ours with 1 tablespoon of fine sea salt, to replicate that "heavily salted" taste and appearance. Exact McDonald’s fries may not be possible at home, but this version gets you close enough. Click here to see the Fries That Taste Like McDonald's RecipeCredit: Thinkstock/iStockphoto

Related

Taste mcdonalds McDonalds food

Suggest a correction

|

From Our Partner

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

This Affordable Drugstore Cream Might Be The Closest Thing To The Famous La Mer

24 Foolproof Mother’s Day Gifts For Moms Who Are Hard To Shop For

If There Were A Problem-Solving Hall Of Fame, You Would Find These 30 Products There

This $17 French Moisturizer Is Amazon’s Best-Kept Beauty Secret

The Most Comfortable Sandals For Walking All Day, According To Tour Guides Who Live In Them

MORE IN LIFE

Relationships

5 Signs Your Partner May Have An Avoidant Attachment Style

Life

6 Signs Your Dog Is Happy

Money

7 Surprising Money ‘Rules’ Most People Don’t Know (But Should)

Parenting

I’m Taking Ozempic. Here’s What I’m Telling My Kids.

Wellness

I’m A Spine Doctor. Here’s 1 Thing I’d Never, Ever Do If I Had Back Pain.

Style & Beauty

5 Good Signs Your Skin Is Actually Aging Well

Life

Surprise! This Innocent-Looking Bathroom Item Is Actually The Germiest Part Of Your Bathroom

Shopping

Cool Women's Sunglasses You Can Get On Amazon For Under $20

Shopping

31 Inexpensive Products With Real Fancy Vibes

Wellness

10 Adult ADHD Signs You May Not Realize Are Actually Symptoms

Money

This Gen Z'er Makes $82K A Year And Is Still Struggling Financially — Here's How It Affects Her Daily Life

Relationships

Can A Sexless Marriage Survive? We Asked The Experts.

Shopping

Totally Lovely Mother's Day Gifts That Cost Less Than $30

Shopping

We Track Sales For A Living – Here Are 33 Way Day Deals That We Recommend

Shopping

19 Outdoor Furniture Deals Worth Shopping From Wayfair’s Way Day Sale

Shopping

39 Products For Anyone In Their Quiet Luxury Era, But On A Budget

Parenting

Study Identifies The 1 Grandparent Who Has The Biggest Impact On Kids

Work/Life

This 1 Thing In ‘13 Going On 30’ Is Still Too Real 20 Years Later

Wellness

6 Signs Your Memory Loss Isn't Normal

Shopping

29 Pairs Of Shoes Reviewers Say Make It Feel Like You’re 'Walking On Clouds'

Life

Seen ‘Baby Reindeer’? Here’s What To Do If You Think You Have An Online Stalker

Parenting

The Funniest Tweets From Parents This Week

Life

The Funniest Tweets From Women This Week

Shopping

Calling All Hot Sleepers: Cooling Pillows Are Under $50 In Brooklinen's Sitewide Sale

Shopping

This Popular Large-Room Air Purifier Is Somehow Less Than $70 Right Now

Shopping

We Shop For A Living And These Are Our Favorite Products Ever

Shopping

The Luxury Serum That Has Kept My Mom's Skin Glowing For Years Is 15% Off Right Now

Shopping

Right Now, This Affordable Stanley Tumbler Look-A-Like Is On Sale For Even Less

Shopping

Achieve Perfect Cold Brew Or Iced Coffee With One Of These Highly-Rated Options From Amazon

Shopping

26 Beauty Products Reviewers Over 50 Wished They’d Known About Sooner

Shopping

12 Shorts For Men That Aren't Too Long And Don't Look Dumb

Shopping

These 15 Products Can Make Gardening So Much More Comfortable

Shopping

This Skin Serum Is A Secret Weapon For Shrinking Large Pores — And It's On Sale

Shopping

Right Now, This Affordable Stanley Tumbler Look-A-Like Is On Sale For Even Less

Shopping

This Luxury Moisturizer Is Very Rarely On Sale — So Act Fast

Life

The Nasty Truth About 'Poo Plumes' — And How To Protect Yourself From Them

Shopping

This Palestinian Olive Oil Soap Is The Best I’ve Ever Used

Shopping

The 'Unsexy' Beauty Products That My Algorithm Keeps Suggesting Are Actually Pretty Great

Shopping

Skin Care Gems Reviewers Say Save Them During Flights & Beyond

Shopping

12 Cute And Comfortable Garden Clogs That Aren’t Crocs