While not as often as Dairy Queen Blizzards, McDonald’s has been mixing several new and exciting McFlurry offerings over the past few years. In 2019, we got stroopwafel and snickerdoodle McFlurry flavors. Last year, the Golden Arches introduced an Oreo Shamrock one in the spring and a Chips Ahoy variety in the fall.
And we gave them all positive reviews.
Well, I’m here to continue that thumbs ups streak in 2021 because right after scarfing down McDonald’s new Caramel Brownie McFlurry, I wondered how soon is too soon to get another.
The treat features caramel topping and brownie pieces mixed with soft serve. As you can see in the photos, the one I picked up looks like, well, let’s just say not as put together as the promotional photos I’ve seen. But, I believe there’s an ancient wise proverb that says, “Never judge a McFlurry by how it’s been mixed.”
While mine looks like an explosion and fire happened at a Rolo factory that was brought under control by a herd of dairy cows shooting milk from their udders, that sticky mess in the cup was magnificent. But, let’s be honest, combining ice cream, caramel, and brownie pieces, no matter how it looks, has a scientifically proven 95 percent chance of tantalizing the taste buds.
While caramel gets top billing in the name, the sweet stars of the show are the brownie pieces. They’re how the chocolatey treat should be — fudgy, dense, chewy, and able to sit in soft serve without getting soggy. They taste like a batch made from a boxed mix, but that’s not a complaint. The chunks are also plentiful. Almost every spoonful I scooped out had one in it.
The buttery and sugary caramel topping McDonald’s uses isn’t too noticeable in this McFlurry because there are many brownies to contend with, so it plays less of a role in the treat. But the golden gloop adds a nice third texture that goes well with the chewy brownies and creamy ice cream.
My taste buds did notice a cheesecake-like tang every so often. It wasn’t off-putting, but I’m not sure where it came from.
McDonald’s Caramel Brownie McFlurry isn’t a transplant from a European country (though, it was available in Canada in 2017), doesn’t feature an iconic cookie, or has green food coloring, so it might not be as exciting as recent limited time flavors. But shoveling spoonfuls of it into my mouth excites my taste buds.
Purchased Price: $3.59
Size: Regular
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 630 calories, 19 grams of fat, 11 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 70 milligrams of cholesterol, 280 milligrams of sodium, 101 grams of carbohydrates, 67 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fiber, and 13 grams of protein.
Even before reading your review (where you essentially said the same)…the very first thing I thought of, when scrolling through the pics of this, was: that straight up looks ugly. ha Glad to hear the taste makes up for the unappealing look of it.
The image of a herd of cows shooting milk from their udders to save the Rolo factory from fire has generated some much-needed serotonin in my brain this morning. Thanks for the review!
You’re welcome!
“While mine looks like an explosion and fire happened at a Rolo factory that was brought under control by a herd of dairy cows shooting milk from their udders . . . .”
Between you and Holly in her Cocoa Pebbles candy bar review (“Excuse me while I look up night face creams on Amazon.”), this is quite a wonderful start to the week. 🙂
(And this really does sound like it would taste delicious.)
Thanks! And you’re welcome!
i know this is a very english thing to say, but is that the regular size of McFlurrys in the US? I have visited lots over the past 30 years but never had a McFlurry – that is twice the size of the ones here. A new size was just introduced here, but it was a smaller one, not a larger one!
I don’t have them very often and i’ve always felt that the ratio of topping to ice cream was wrong (not enough) so the last one i had here was the smaller one and that felt better. So if it was that big, then ratio would be even worse. Sorry just amazed at the size!
Yes sir. There’s an obesity epidemic in the States, and the reason for your surprise is one key element. The oreo mcflurry for example appears to be 280 grams for the regular size and 180 grams for the “snack” size. For people who don’t pay attention to calories and macros, eating out will super size you.
as I say, i’ve visited a lot over the past 30 years, so was aware of portion sizes (big gulps etc etc) but for some reason this one really surprised me as i’d not seen it before! It’s therefore always puzzled me while in the US, the McD apple pie is baked not fried, in a supposed health reasoning – but here ours remains deliciously unhealthily fried 😉 UK mcflurries are 150g and 75g.
Yep, and it’s not just the fact that the sizes are astronomical, it has to do also with the ingredients being used.
Absolutely, i keep an eye on this too. It saddens me. At first, when we get imported stuff here (there is a BIG market for US imported stuff) with all it’s bright colours and crazy flavours, it’s somewhat amusing (things with labels stuck on them warning off giving it to kids cos of the additives) but looking at the wider picture you feel that its in EVERYTHING and to try and avoid these ingredients is a thankless task. Even the fact that Mcdonalds has different ingredients between US and UK too is baffling.
Trix is my absolute favourite as it reminds me of vacations as a kid and for a long time it was really hard to find, even on import sites and one company said it was to do with the ingredients (tho i’m not sure what made it any different to Froot Loops or Lucky Charms which were always available)
There was a really good video that I watched a while back comparing the portion sizes in the U.S. and U.K. I’ll have to see if it can find it again.
I think i’ve seen it 🙂 though i don’t remember mcflurries being in it, but maybe i’d checked out nearer the beginning once i got the idea 🙂
And you can get it FREE today (May 4, 2021)!
Apparently, per CNET’s The Cheapskate blog, you can get “a completely free, no-purchase-necessary Caramel Brownie McFlurry, available today only [May 4, 2021] when you order via the McDonald’s app.”
Enjoy! 🙂
I was one of the people who put their McDonald’s app to good use and got a free one on May 4th. I was disappointed, though. There was a glunk of brownie caramel sludge on the top of my McFlurry that melted nearly half of the ice cream. The brownie pieces were nice, but the McFlurry altogether didn’t work for me. I would have preferred the caramel drizzled throughout or the brownie pieces mixed in (like the Oreo McFlurry).