REVIEW: McDonald’s Dulce de Leche Frappe

It’s been a minute since I’ve had a McDonald’s Frappe. My usual heavily masked with sugar and dairy coffee drink from the fast food chain is its iced coffee. Tasting this new McDonald’s Dulce de Leche Frappe reminded my sweet tooth of what it’s been missing, and it’s sugary enough that it won’t ever forget it.

The limited time coffee drink features a caramel coffee frappe base, dulce de leche flavored syrup, and ice blended together. It’s then topped with whipped light cream and crunchy caramel pieces. I thought McDonald’s might’ve used the crunchy pieces from its Grandma McFlurry for streamlining purposes, but what tops this is different.

The caramel coffee base and the dulce de leche syrup combined created a drink that tastes like a McDonald’s Caramel Iced Coffee that’s been pumped with caramel syrup with reckless abandon. Did it have a coffee flavor? You’d have to ask my taste buds after they wake up from being carpet-bombed with caramel and sugar. I should mention that this was even before I mixed in the caramel pieces and whipped topping. The base has a nice texture; it is not entirely Slurpee slushy, but it is also not completely melted. There were ice crystals to satisfy my molars’ desire to crush them. Yes, my dentist hates me.

I also enjoyed chomping on the crunchy caramel-flavored pieces, which kind of crunched like ice crystals, so if yours ends up melting too much, the sugary pieces can still give you an ice-like texture. The candy pieces with the Frappe base gave my mouth a double drubbing of dulce de leche. Not a hint of coffee could be detected. As I quickly drank through this to make sure those ice crystals didn’t completely melt, I felt my mouth coming close to the point where it would think it was too sweet. But it never crossed that line. However, I imagine some people will think this tastes too sugary.

McDonald’s Dulce de Leche Frappe was a delicious, nice change of pace from my usual iced coffee. I thoroughly enjoyed its sweetness and texture from beginning to end, although some of that delight was interrupted by a bout or two of brain freeze from consuming it swiftly. Because of its sweetness, it’s definitely a sometimes drink, so it’ll be another minute before I have another.

Purchased Price: $5.29*
Size: Medium
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 630 calories, 20 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 60 milligrams of cholesterol, 420 milligrams of sodium, 106 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 97 grams of sugar (including 85 grams of added sugar), and 9 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

SPOTTED (SEASONAL EDITION): 11/1/2024

Here are some interesting new products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of them, share your thoughts in the comments.

Create-A-Treat Minecraft Mini House Cookie Kit
Create-A-Treat Barbie Create Your Own House Cookie Kit

(Spotted by Robbie at Five Below.)

Planet Oat Nog

(Spotted by Allison H at Giant.)

Sparkling Ice Winter Limited Edition Variety Pack

(Spotted by Robbie at Sam’s Club.)

Member’s Mark European Cheese Board

(Spotted by Robbie at Sam’s Club.)

Marketside Cranberry Jalapeno Dip

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.)

Over Joyed Limited Edition Harvest Spice Indulgent Trail Mix
Over Joyed Limited Edition Maple Leaf Creme Cookies

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Tom Thumb.)

Palmer Spongebob Squarepants Minis Chocolaty Characters

(Spotted by DJ at Redner’s.)

Slim Jim Original Cane

(Spotted by Robbie at Sam’s Club.)

Belmont Peanuts Santa Munch

(Spotted by Robbie at Marshall’s.)

Galerie Elf Magic Hot Chocolate Melt Gift Set

(Spotted by Robbie at Walgreens.)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Hot Cocoa Mix & Marshmallows

(Spotted by Robbie at Walgreens.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

BACK ON SHELVES: Little Debbie Marshmallow Treat

Little Debbie Marshmallow Treat.

Apparently this has returned after a long hiatus. Will it be turned into a Little Debbie ice cream flavor? (Spotted by Robbie at Stripes.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

SPOTTED: McCormick Finishing Sugars

McCormick Finishing Sugar 1.

McCormick Finishing Sugar 2.

White Frosting, Hot Cocoa, English Toffee, Salted Caramel, and Gingerbread Spice. Not shown is the Candy Cane variety. (Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

REVIEW: KFC Original Recipe Tenders (2024)

The press release for these new KFC Original Recipe Tenders begins with: “The chicken wars began five years ago with the chicken sandwich, but that’s old news. Today, the chicken tenders battle begins as KFC introduces new Original Recipe Tenders.” Um, it appears someone forgot about the Fast Food Chicken Strips/Tenders Battle during the late 2010s that it also participated in?

I guess it’s difficult to remember since most of the strips/tenders ended up being replaced, limited time offerings that come back every other year, or discontinued, never to be fried up again.

But KFC has had chicken strips/tenders for years, and these new Original Recipe Tenders have a description that sounds like it could’ve been used for previous versions. They feature chicken breast strips double hand-breaded with the chain’s iconic secret blend of 11 herbs and spices and then fried to golden brown. I mean, what could be different from previous iterations? More secret spices? Single hand-breaded?

I ordered a three-piece meal deal that comes with Secret Recipe Fries and two dipping sauces. In the app, I picked the new zesty Comeback Sauce, but my order didn’t come with it. Instead, I was given the KFC Sauce. I went back to the counter to swap them but was told they had yet to receive their shipment. Aw, ship! So, I guess I must come back to try the Comeback Sauce.

The double hand-breaded chicken wasn’t as crunchy as Popeyes’ offering, but the poultry inside was meaty and juicy. The familiar flavor of KFC’s world famous blend of 11 herbs and spices is present in every sauceless bite, making these fine to eat sans sauce. Despite being double hand-breaded, I thought the breaded exterior appeared a bit thin in places when compared to Popeyes’ even-coated tenders.

While I didn’t receive the Comeback Sauce, I was glad I finally got to try the KFC Sauce. The tangy and sweet sauce is delicious, and I tried to scrape up every milliliter I could with the rest of the tenders and some of the Secret Recipe Fries.

KFC Original Recipe Tenders are good enough that I’m sure they’ll survive the fast food chicken wars.

Purchased Price: $7.99*
Size: 3-piece combo
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3 tenders) 510 calories, 18 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 90 milligrams of cholesterol, 1200 milligrams of sodium, 60 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 33 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. The advertised price for the Tenders Box is $5.