McDonald’s is finally launching its full Christmas menu for 2023, and there’s lots of festive feasting to get stuck into.
It’s been a long time coming, but after several chains and fast food joints have unveiled and launched their festive food and drink offerings over the last few weeks, McDonald’s has finally joined the Christmas party today (22 November), and there’s a bunch of new and returning fan favourites on the lineup to get those mouths watering.
We’re talking Cheese Melt Dippers, Galaxy McFlurrys, limited-edition festive pies, and the highly-anticipated return of one of the chain’s most viral burgers of all time.
New to the menu this year is ‘The Big & Cheesy’ burger, which is made up of a large 100% beef patty, two slices of cheese, red onions, and crispy onions, topped in a cheese sauce and sandwiched between a toasted flour-dusted bun.
There’s also option to add bacon onto that too, with the new ‘The Big & Cheesy with Bacon’.
ADVERTISEMENT
McDonald’s is finally launching its 2023 Christmas menu today / Credit: McDonald’s UK
But when it comes to the star of the burger show, it doesn’t get much better – or more talked-about – than the return of the Chicken Big Mac.
Having proven to be a huge hit with Maccies’ fans after it first debuted back in 2022, going viral and selling out both on its initial release and first return, the Chicken Big Mac is a twist on the chain’s iconic burger with a triple-layered bun, two chicken patties, a slice of cheese, lettuce, pickles, and of course, the Big Mac sauce.
ADVERTISEMENT
Also being thrown back into the mix this year are the Cheese Melt Dippers, which are the perfect festive feast accompaniment made with camembert and served with a rich tomato dip.
Not only that, but this year’s festive menu brings with it the chance to order the ‘McDonald’s Chicken Combo’ – which includes 10 Chicken Selects and a 20 Chicken McNuggets Sharebox – for the first time in restaurants after it launched on delivery platforms earlier this month.
Got yourself a bit of sweet tooth though? There’s three treats to choose from this year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Fans of the axed Chocolate Pie and the soon-to-disappear Toffee Apple Pie will probably be pretty excited to give the new Galaxy Caramel Pie a try, which has a Galaxy-flavoured caramel sauce encased in a crispy chocolate pastry.
On the McFlurry front, there’s two new Galaxy offerings to go with your pie – one that’s swirled with chocolate sauce, and one with caramel, and both are topped off by little festive Galaxy stars.
The full McDonald’s 2023 Festive Menu is now available to tuck into, and is expected to stick around until the new year.
Featured Image – McDonald’s UK
Trending
Sir Ian McKellen pays emotional tribute to long-time friend and fellow northern actor Sir Patrick Stewart
Emily Sergeant
Sir Ian McKellen has paid an emotional tribute to his long-time friend and fellow northern actor, Sir Patrick Stewart, following his death.
Sir Patrick Stewart – who was born and bred in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, and is best-known for his theatre work alongside an illustrious 60-year screen career, taking on prominent roles in franchises such as Star Trek and X-Men – sadly passed away at the age of 86, with his death being announced publicly yesterday evening (29 October).
And now, his long-time friend and fellow northern actor, Sir Ian McKellen, has paid tribute.
Sir Patrick and Sir Ian shared the stage together countless times over their decades-long careers, but also famously starred alongside each other in the X-Men franchise, and subsequent Marvel movies, as Charles Xavier/Professor X and Magneto.
The tribute, shared across Sir Ian’s social media platforms, reads: “Before everything else, Patrick was defined by being born and bred in Yorkshire, the proud county in the north of England which he loved to the end. You could hear it in his accented voice and in the stern honesty with which he told you what he thought and felt. Yorkshiremen have no truck with half-truths or avoidance of big issues. He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love.
“We first met as ambitious young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company half a century ago but we weren’t in the same productions.
“My first strong memory was a few years later, meeting him in the street in central London when he told me about an offer to take over a leading part in ‘Star Trek’. “But Patrick think of your stage career in the UK. Do you really want to risk getting lost in Hollywood for years and years?”
“Well, he took the risk and thank goodness for us all that he did, for not just his devoted Trekkies, but film and theatre audiences who marvelled at his using international celebrity to star in a string of cinema successes (‘X-Men’ of course) and in great classical plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer, Pinter and Beckett at Stratford-upon-Avon, in London’s West End and on Broadway.
“America was his adopted home, where he met his adored Sunny who has cared for him through sickness and health, through thick and thin.
“But he never forsook his origins: and the proudest achievement of the most respected and beloved actor of his generation on either side of the Atlantic, was his appointment as Chancellor of Huddersfield University in Yorkshire.”
Sir Patrick Stewart’s farewell performance will be in Avengers: Doomsday, which is being released in UK cinemas on 18 December 2026
Featured Image – Gage Skidmore (via Flickr)
Trending
Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets this Bonfire Night
Emily Sergeant
Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks season.
Bonfire Night may be loved by us humans for the spectacular firework displays and all the festive-themed activities that come along with it… but sadly, the November holiday isn’t quite so fun for our four-legged friends.
Loud bangs, flashing lights, and unpleasant strong smell of spent explosives are just some of the reasons why fireworks are frightening to pets.
Not only that, but with multiple bangs occurring from numerous displays across this time of year, pets are rarely able to pinpoint when and where the booming explosions are coming from, therefore creating even more anxiety around this time of year.
Classic FM will play calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks / Credit: DESIGNECOLOGIST (via Unsplash)
Which is why, for the ninth year running now, Classic FM is once again teaming up with the RSPCA for two Pet Classics programmes packed with ‘the most soothing and comforting classical music’.
The music has been handpicked to help calm and settle any anxious pets.
A survey by the RSPCA revealed that almost two-thirds (63%) of animal owners reported their pet was distressed during fireworks season, and that playing relaxing music was the most common way (36%) to help calm or prepare their animal.
Presenters Dan Walker, Aled Jones, and Dawn O’Porter will each host a night of the specially created programme to help keep the nation’s pets calm through the whizzes and bangs.
Dan will present the first programme on Bonfire Night itself (Thursday 5 November), and then as celebrations continue throughout the weekend, Aled will be on hand to bring some peace to Friday 6 November, and Dawn picks up the baton on Saturday 7 November.
Emily Sergeant -
21st November 2023 
