'We tried McDonald's Christmas menu - one item is one of its best launches of all time'

McDonald's Christmas menu is available from November 20 - but the Mirror has had a sneak peak of the new range and given our verdict on the best new items

McDonald’s has finally revealed its Christmas menu - and the Mirror was invited to an exclusive taste test to try out its festive range before its release later this month.

There are two new items which we thought were the stand-out stars of the new range. Introducing the Cheesy McCrispy, which is basically an upgraded version of the McCrispy that contains pink pickled onion chutney, bacon, two slices of cheese, and cheese sauce.

Mirror Consumer Editor Natasha Wynarczyk said the new festive burger was “an elevation” on the already delicious McCrispy, and added: “The batter of the chicken had a lovely crunch and was well seasoned. The cheese sauce blended well too.”

Also new for this year is the Terry's Chocolate Orange Pie, which is a crispy chocolate pastry filled with a Terry’s Chocolate Orange flavoured chocolate ganache. Mirror Money Editor Levi Winchester said this was one of McDonald's "best ever" pies and reckons this will go down a treat with Maccies fans at Christmas.

She said: "The ganache was rich in flavour and you could really taste the Terry's Chocolate Orange coming through. I was worried the orange wouldn't be strong enough, but fans of this classic Christmas flavour won't be disappointed by this new addition."

Maccies fans will also be pleased to know that some fan favourites are making a grand return this Christmas, including the ever-popular Big Tasty and the Big Tasty Bacon. If you've never tried one, the Big Tasty consists of a beef patty, Emmental cheese, onions, juicy tomatoes and a smoky flavoured sauce in a toasted bun.

The Big Tasty always goes down well whenever McDonald's brings it back, but we wondered if McDonald's could have maybe introduced something a bit different for Christmas. Natasha said: "The Big Tasty has become a classic - but given recent launches such as the Philly Cheesesteak I was expecting something a bit more innovative. The bacon did elevate it slightly and give it a smoky taste."

Another classic that you'll find back on the menu is the Cheese Melt Dippers, which are made with Camembert and served with a rich tomato dip. These generally only come back once a year for Christmas, so is likely to cause more excitement with Maccies fans.

Levi said: "I always look forward to McDonald's bringing back these cheese dippers. The texture is gooey and rich and the tomato dip adds a sweet and tangy taste. These are a fan favourite for a good reason." For dessert, McDonald's is bringing back its Terry's Chocolate Orange McFlurry and Galaxy Caramel McFlurry.

But unlike the Terry's Chocolate Orange Pie, the McFlurry didn't go down as well with team Mirror. Natasha said: "The pie version of this was an absolute triumph and one of McDonald’s best launches of all time. Sadly this paled in comparison and only faintly tasted of the stocking-filler favourite."

Levi agreed, saying: "I preferred the Galaxy Caramel McFlurry. I really like sweet caramel from the Galaxy sauce and the chocolate stars on top of make it feel really festive." The McDonald's Christmas menu launches on November 20 for a limited time.

McDonald's Christmas menu 2024

• Big Tasty meal - £7.59
• Big Tasty (with bacon) meal - £8.39
• Cheesy McCrispy meal - £7.79
• Cheese Melt Dippers with Rich Tomato Dip - £2.49
• Sharing Cheese Melt Dippers with Rich Tomato Dip - £6.79
• Terry's Chocolate Orange McFlurry - £2.19
• Terry's Chocolate Orange Mini McFlurry - £1.59
• Galaxy Caramel McFlurry - £2.19
• Galaxy Caramel Mini McFlurry - £1.59
• Terry's Chocolate Orange Pie - £1.99
• Galaxy Caramel Latte - £2.69
• Galaxy Caramel Hot Chocolate - £2.69