McDonald's Iconic McFlurry Cups Are Changing. Here's What To Expect

It's a brave new world for the McFlurry. Since its debut in the 1990s —well before McDonald's served all day breakfast — the item from McD's has donned a plastic dome-shaped lid to contain the soft-serve dairy treat mixed with toppings like M&Ms and Oreos. However, the Golden Arches recently announced that this month in the U.S. the McFlurry is getting a makeover. This McFlurry revamp will help achieve McDonald's goal of supplying all of its primary customer packaging from renewable, recycled, or certified sources by the end of next year.

So, what does it look like? The new McFlurry vessel will feature a cardboard cup with a four-flap lid at the top that folds down to protect the confection within. The burger conglomerate previously rolled out the modern packaging in Canada in May 2024. International markets in Europe and Indonesia have likewise transitioned to the four-flap design, and this effort follows McDonald's decision to switch from the traditional hollow spindle spoons in 2023 (see below) to a smaller black spoon that uses less plastic. And packaging innovations aren't the only change coming to the McDonald's menu.

Along with the new cup design, Mickey D's will now sell a smaller version of its sweet treat with the Mini McFlurry. The petite confection is half the size of the original and perfect for folks who don't want to commit to a full-sized dessert. McDonald's Mini McFlurry will be served in the new four-flap container, which beyond the size, is exactly like its counterpart. 

Smaller portions fall in line with a strategy to offer more affordable options as the restaurant recently experienced a dip in sales due to customers being more cautious with their spending. Back in April, McDonald's spiced things up (literally) with a new chicken sandwich and more recently the return of the $5 Meal Deal to increase customer engagement. However, this fresh packaging and the option to buy a smaller portion of the McFlurry might be precisely what the restaurant chain needs to address customer drop-offs.