McDonald’s has rolled out a new McFlurry that’s got everyone scratching their heads – the Grandma McFlurry. If you’re anything like us, your first question was probably, “What exactly is in a Grandma McFlurry?” The name itself is a bit of a head-scratcher, especially when you’re used to McFlurry flavors being straightforward like Oreo or M&M’s. Naming a McFlurry after grandmothers definitely calls for a little digging to understand what makes it tick.
McDonald’s describes this new dessert as vanilla soft serve blended with “delicious syrup and chopped, crunchy candy pieces (like grandma’s favorite treat that she hid in her purse!).” Now, “grandma’s favorite treat” is pretty subjective. Maybe your grandma was a licorice lady, or perhaps she stashed away chocolates. However, visual clues strongly suggest we’re talking about Werther’s Original butterscotch hard candies. Butterscotch? Grandma candy? It’s starting to click.
Even if the “grandma” angle feels a bit random (Grandparents Day is in September, after all), and the connection to actual grandmothers and McFlurries is tenuous at best, the allure of butterscotch is undeniable. Many find those little butterscotch discs utterly comforting. So, a butterscotch McFlurry? Intriguing, even if the marketing feels a tad forced.
Of course, launching any new McFlurry flavor comes with the usual McDonald’s dessert machine anxiety. The running joke about perpetually “broken” McFlurry machines is so widespread it’s practically a meme, even sparking conspiracy theories and federal inquiries. Some speculate it’s simply the labor involved that discourages employees. But on a recent taste test, luck was on our side. Not only was the machine functional, but the Grandma McFlurry arrived in a charming pink cup adorned with a quilt-patterned McDonald’s logo and a sweet “xoxo, Grandma” message. Points for presentation!
But let’s get to the core question: what’s it like to eat? The butterscotch flavor is immediately apparent. If you’re a butterscotch fan, this is good news. It’s a bold flavor, almost bordering on overpowering, but butterscotch is rarely subtle. The real issue wasn’t the taste, but the texture. While there were some delightful amber slivers of butterscotch candy scattered throughout, a more dominant element resembled those pie crust bits sometimes found in ice cream sundaes for a pie-like effect. These pieces were in a textural no-man’s-land – not quite soft, not truly crunchy, but decidedly chunky. Not the most pleasant surprise.
The wish list for the Grandma McFlurry would definitely include more of those actual butterscotch candy pieces and fewer of the pie crust chunks. The butterscotch syrup swirled into the vanilla ice cream, however, was consistently delicious throughout the entire cup.
So, is the Grandma McFlurry a new must-try? It’s a qualified yes. It satisfies a butterscotch craving, but it’s not going to dethrone any McFlurry favorites. If anything, it highlights the desire for McDonald’s to bring some of their international McFlurry hits stateside. Imagine a Caramel Popcorn McFlurry from Canada, or a Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurry from Europe – instead, we get the Grandma McFlurry. Interesting choice.
Perhaps the best way to appreciate the Grandma McFlurry is to share one with your actual grandma. Maybe she’d like to try one. It’s certainly a conversation starter, if nothing else.
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