McDonald’s oatmeal raisin cookies have been a popular menu item for years. However, there have been reports that McDonald’s may have stopped selling the oatmeal cookies at some or all locations. In this article, we’ll examine if McDonald’s did in fact get rid of oatmeal cookies from their menu.
When were McDonald’s oatmeal cookies introduced?
McDonald’s first introduced oatmeal raisin cookies to their menu in the mid-1980s. The cookies were an instant hit and became a regular menu fixture for decades. The soft, chewy oatmeal cookies with raisins were a favorite afternoon or evening treat for many McDonald’s customers.
When did reports surface that McDonald’s may have stopped selling oatmeal cookies?
In the last few years, there have been various reports that McDonald’s has removed oatmeal raisin cookies from their menu. In 2016, there were anecdotal reports on social media sites like Twitter and Reddit from customers saying their local McDonald’s had stopped selling the cookies. These reports continued over the next couple years, with more and more customers across the U.S. stating the cookies were no longer available at their area McDonald’s locations.
Has McDonald’s made any statement on oatmeal cookies?
McDonald’s has not made any definitive public statement confirming that oatmeal raisin cookies have been removed from all menus nationwide. However, when questioned by various media outlets in recent years, McDonald’s has indicated that menu options vary by location and that franchises have flexibility on which menu items they offer. This seems to imply that the decision to sell oatmeal cookies or not has been left up to individual franchises.
Are McDonald’s oatmeal cookies still available in some locations?
While it appears many McDonald’s may have stopped selling oatmeal cookies, they do still seem to remain as a menu item at select locations. Some customers responding to the reports of McDonald’s discontinuing the cookies have replied that their area McDonald’s does still offer oatmeal raisin cookies. So it seems that some franchises have chosen to retain the popular item on their menus.
Possible regional availability
Based on customer reports, McDonald’s oatmeal raisin cookies appear to still be sold at some franchises in these regions:
- Northeastern states like New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts
- Midwestern states like Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota
- Western states like California, Washington, Nevada
However, customers report the cookies are no longer available at McDonald’s locations in many Southeastern and Southwestern states.
What do customers say about the removal of McDonald’s oatmeal cookies?
Many longtime McDonald’s customers have expressed disappointment and frustration at the removal of oatmeal raisin cookies from most menus:
- Customers say the cookies were one of their favorite McDonald’s dessert items
- They enjoyed the chewy texture and oatmeal&raisin flavor
- The cookies were seen as a more unique dessert option compared to other McDonald’s sweets
- Parents would get the cookies as a small treat for their kids
- Customers are sad the cookies are gone from their local restaurants
On social media, many customers have begged McDonald’s to bring the oatmeal cookies back. Some have said they will be less likely to go to McDonald’s now without the ability to get oatmeal raisin cookies.
Why did McDonald’s get rid of oatmeal cookies?
McDonald’s has not provided an official reason for removing oatmeal raisin cookies from their menu. But there are some potential factors that may explain why they were discontinued:
They weren’t a top seller
While the cookies had a loyal fanbase, they were not one of McDonald’s top selling dessert items. Items like McFlurries, baked pies and soft serve ice cream cones make up a larger share of McDonald’s sweet treat sales. The company may have decided to allocate menu space to faster moving products.
Health trends
Oatmeal raisin cookies are one of the healthier cookie options. But they still contain added sugars and do not fit with current trends toward low-sugar and high protein snacks. McDonald’s may be trying to adapt to customer preferences for healthier menu options.
Supply chain issues
Like many restaurants, McDonald’s has faced supply chain problems and shortages over the last couple years. It’s possible challenges obtaining ingredients for oatmeal raisin cookies led to them being removed from menus.
New dessert offerings
McDonald’s frequently rotates menu options based on season or limited-time offers. New dessert promotions like McFlurry flavors or specialty baked goods may have pushed oatmeal cookies off some menus.
Could McDonald’s bring back oatmeal raisin cookies?
While McDonald’s has yet to reintroduce oatmeal raisin cookies across all locations, it’s certainly possible they could return in the future. Here are some scenarios where McDonald’s might opt to bring the cookies back:
Customer demand is strong
If customers continue to express a high desire for the return of the cookies through petitions, social media posts, and requests to store managers, McDonald’s corporate may instruct franchises to add them back to menus. Strong customer demand can influence menu decisions.
McDonald’s does a vintage/retro menu promotion
For a limited-time gimmick, McDonald’s could create a menu with dishes that were popular back in the 80s and 90s. Oatmeal raisin cookies would be the perfect fit for a retro menu focused on customer nostalgia.
Supply issues are resolved
If supply chain disruptions easing and ingredient accessibility improves, it would remove that barrier to making the cookies. McDonald’s could potentially bring them back once they can reliably source all the ingredients.
Conclusion
It does appear the era of McDonald’s oatmeal raisin cookies may largely be over for now. A few scattered locations may still sell them, but most restaurants have removed them from their menus. Customers who loved the chewy cookies will certainly be disappointed by the news. While there are possibilities McDonald’s could opt to bring the cookies back in the future, nothing concrete indicates that is imminent. For cookie lovers, the best option may be trying to replicate the recipe at home until McDonald’s hopefully chooses to reinstate this missed menu item.