Before pumpkin spice came along and claimed fall, the flavor most commonly charged with ushering in the start of the holiday season was cinnamon. And judging by this latest McFlurry flavor from McDonald’s, it could be about to stage a comeback in the form of snickerdoodles.
Intrepid food taster Ian K, who’s living the dream reviewing food on YouTube channel Peep THIS Out, stumbled upon the experimental new flavor when he went to a McDonald’s late one night in search of an iced coffee.
McDonald’s is known for testing new products regionally before releasing them to everyone.
For example, last year they tested the Ultimate Chicken Sandwich in 160 stores in western Washington state before making the sandwich available to a broader market. Also in 2018, South Florida got to try out some international foods, including the Stroopwafel McFlurry, and McDonald’s later said they would be adding it to their American menu.
The news is slowly catching on.
The new Snickerdoodle McFlurry sounds like a winner.
If you need a refresher, a snickerdoodle is like a cinnamon-flavored sugar cookie. They look something like this (ribbon optional):
Fortunately for those of us who aren’t in the testing area, Ian gave a very detailed review:
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrWA3vNX4vQ&feature=youtu.be"]Ian confirmed that the dessert smells sweet and has a strong cinnamon flavor, with a good ratio of cookies to soft serve.
The recipe apparently uses ingredients already on hand at McDonald’s.
Ian said that when he asked the staff what was in the McFlurry, they said it was a combination of their sugar cookies, cinnamon, and obviously the soft serve. However, we’ll likely have to wait for the dessert to go nationwide to confirm that for sure.
Are you in the special region?
Rumor has it that only people in certain parts of California can try it at the moment. Which doesn’t exactly narrow it down!
This source claims to know the exact locations.
According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), the Snickerdoodle McFlurry will be available between August 12 to September 6, 2019, in select stores in Michigan, Montana and, yes, California.
Ingredient Notice (Egg, Milk, Soy & Wheat): McDonald’s USA Snickerdoodle McFlurry | Food Allergy Research & Education https://t.co/sDW7MARCs4
— CeliacCorner (@CeliacCorner) August 13, 2019
Unlike Ian, this Twitter user is not excited.
Not a cinna-man.
McDonald's has started testing a snickerdoodle McFlurry. It's been spotted in southern California. Maybe it will stay there.
— Bubba Culpepper (@culpepper_bubba) August 12, 2019
Others are catching FOMOSM.
That’s the Fear Of Missing Out on Snickerdoodle McFlurry:
But [insert record scratch] this isn’t the first Snickerdoodle McFlurry.
OK, it’s the first official Snickerdoodle McFlurry that we know of. But people have been craving a combination of the cinnamon sweetness of the snickerdoodle with cool ice creaminess for a while now.
I wnt an oreo mcflurry, snickerdoodle kookies, orange soda, snickers, & chocolate cake #fattweet
— Humbly SWEET (@SWEET_tACE) September 23, 2011
And a year later…
I'm craving pizza, the great cookie (snickerdoodle), a McFlurry, and a milkshake-
— Akiva’ K. (@la_rebellefleu) August 4, 2012
And just this year…
I want some snickerdoodle cookies🍪 from the great cookie & a McFlurry 🍦😩
— Say2x 🌱🔑 (@DowhatiSAY__) August 4, 2019
Other ice cream manufacturers are already on it.
Check out this scoopalicious version from Brooklyn-born Van Leeuwen Ice Cream:
Meanwhile, makers of low-calorie ice cream Skinny Cow resorted to the tried and trusted approach for combining ice cream with cookies:
Other McFlurry flavors have come close.
Notably, the Stroopwafel McFlurry:
I have had all of these and the McFlurry is delicious 🤤. The topping they use to mix into it tastes just like a snickerdoodle cookie. https://t.co/joW5lQCMDX
— HanaBanana (@pier_michelle) June 18, 2019
But some people have been life-hacking their way to a Snickerdoodle McFlurry on their own.
With the help of another flavor…
Go to 7/11
— RexThomas (@NoFckinYeezy) March 19, 2017
Get a snickerdoodle cookie
Go to McDonalds , get a Oreo mcflurry
Put them together and you gone fall in love
Twitter served up another wild twist.
We’re not saying that this person is psychic, or that McDonald’s gets all their ideas by scrolling Twitter. But this brainstorm happened in 2013:
(Side note: kakorrhaphiophobia = ‘‘an abnormal fear of failure’ so enjoy pondering whether you have that.)
We still have questions.
While Ian’s review has already got us adding this to our list of fall must-trys, it’s unclear if and when people outside of those few specially chosen stores will ever get to taste the Snickerdoodle McFlurry for themselves. In the meantime, we’ll have to be content with testing that Oreo McFlurry DIY trick.