Prices are approximate and vary by restaurant. Last updated September 2026.
The McFlurry gets all the attention, but it is far from the only sweet treat on the McDonald’s UK menu. Behind the counter sits a small but well-drilled dessert range: thick milkshakes in four classic flavours, warm baked apple pies, soft-serve cones, cookies and the occasional seasonal special. None of it is fine dining, but for a couple of quid it scratches the sweet-tooth itch better than almost anything else on the high street.
This guide runs through every dessert currently on the McDonald’s UK menu — what each one costs, how many calories it packs, and which ones are actually worth ordering.
One note before we start: this is an independent guide, not an official McDonald’s menu. Prices are set by individual restaurants, so the figures below are typical ranges gathered from across the UK. The McDonald’s app shows the exact prices for your chosen restaurant if you want to check before you order.
Milkshakes: the thick, classic choice
The McDonald’s milkshake is one of the great constants of British fast food. Thick, sweet and served ice-cold, it comes in four flavours and one size in most restaurants: medium.
- Medium Chocolate Milkshake — around £2.99, and usually about 364 kcal. The default order for most people, and rightly so — rich, creamy and properly chocolatey.
- Medium Strawberry Milkshake — around £2.99, typically about 356 kcal. Sweet and pink and faintly nostalgic; a favourite with kids.
- Medium Vanilla Milkshake — around £2.99, roughly 366 kcal. The quiet one of the group, but a solid pick if you find chocolate too heavy.
- Medium Banana Milkshake — around £2.99, about 357 kcal. An underrated option — tastes like a liquid banana sweet.
At just under three pounds, a McDonald’s milkshake is noticeably cheaper than the equivalent at most high-street shake or dessert shops, where £4–£5 is common. The portion is generous too. If you like your shakes thick enough to need real effort through the straw, you will not be disappointed.
One practical tip: milkshakes are made to order and can take a minute or two longer than the rest of your food, so if you are ordering a full meal, do not be surprised if your shake arrives slightly after everything else.
Cookies and baked treats
The baked section of the menu is small but dependable. These are the items people forget exist until they spot them on the menu board — and then immediately want one.
- Apple Pie — around £1–£1.50. The long-running star of the dessert menu: a crispy, golden pocket of hot apple filling. It has been on the menu for decades and still holds up. Be warned — the filling stays volcanic for the first few minutes.
- Cookies — usually around £1–£1.50 for a pack. Chocolate chip and double chocolate varieties are often available, sometimes as a single large cookie and sometimes as a small pack. Warm, chewy and dangerously easy to eat in about forty seconds.
The apple pie deserves a special mention because it punches far above its price. At barely more than a pound, it is one of the cheapest hot desserts you can buy anywhere in Britain, and the contrast between the flaky pastry and the molten apple centre is genuinely satisfying.
Soft-serve and frozen treats
If you want something cold but lighter than a milkshake, the soft-serve options are your friend.
- Soft-Serve Cone — usually under £1.50. A simple swirl of soft-serve ice cream in a crisp wafer cone. It is basic, it is cheap, and on a warm day it is exactly right.
- Sundaes — often available in some restaurants, typically topped with a chocolate or strawberry sauce. Availability varies more than most items, so do not be surprised if your local branch does not list one.
The soft-serve cone is arguably the best-value item on the entire dessert menu: proper ice cream, a proper cone, for less than the price of a bottle of water in many places.
A quick word on McFlurries
We keep this section short on purpose — we have a full, dedicated guide to McFlurry flavours elsewhere on this site. The short version: regular McFlurrys in classics like Oreo, Smarties and Maltesers usually cost around £1.99, with mini versions at roughly £1.59–£1.69. The current limited edition is the S’mores McFlurry — marshmallow, biscuit crumb and chocolate sauce — at £2.69 (£1.99 for the mini), available until 16 November 2026 as part of World Menu Heist 2.0.
If you are deciding between a McFlurry and a milkshake, the rough rule is this: the McFlurry is the better pick if you want texture and mix-ins, while the milkshake wins if you want something you can sip slowly.
Dessert price table
| Dessert | Typical price | Typical calories |
|---|---|---|
| Medium milkshake (any flavour) | ~£2.99 | ~356–366 kcal |
| Regular McFlurry (classic flavours) | ~£1.99 | ~258–273 kcal |
| Mini McFlurry | ~£1.59–£1.69 | ~129–137 kcal |
| Limited-edition McFlurry | ~£2.69 (currently S’mores) | varies |
| Apple pie | ~£1–£1.50 | ~230 kcal |
| Cookies | ~£1–£1.50 | varies |
| Soft-serve cone | under £1.50 | ~200 kcal |
Remember: these are typical figures. Your local restaurant may charge a little more or less.
Which dessert should you pick?
- Best overall value: the soft-serve cone — proper ice cream for under £1.50.
- Best for sharing: a regular McFlurry, which splits neatly into two with a second spoon.
- Best hot dessert: the apple pie, no contest.
- Best for kids: the strawberry milkshake or a mini McFlurry — smaller, sweeter, and easy to handle.
- Best after a heavy meal: the soft-serve cone or a mini McFlurry; the full milkshake after a Big Mac meal is a commitment.
Tips for dessert lovers
- Check the app first. The MyMcDonald’s app sometimes features dessert-specific offers, and the exact prices for your restaurant are listed there.
- Limited editions come and go. Seasonal McFlurry flavours and special bakes appear throughout the year — if you see one you like, order it, because it may not be there next month.
- Delivery melts. If you order a McFlurry or soft-serve through Uber Eats, Just Eat or Deliveroo, expect it to arrive softer than in-store. Milkshakes travel much better.
- Pairing matters. A hot apple pie with a cold vanilla milkshake is an elite combination that more people should know about.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a milkshake at McDonald’s UK?
A medium milkshake — available in chocolate, strawberry, vanilla and banana — typically costs around £2.99. Prices vary slightly by restaurant.
Does McDonald’s UK still sell apple pie?
Yes. The apple pie remains a regular item on the UK dessert menu, usually priced around £1–£1.50.
What is the cheapest dessert at McDonald’s UK?
The soft-serve cone, usually under £1.50, and the apple pie at around £1–£1.50, are the cheapest options.
Are McDonald’s milkshakes suitable for vegetarians?
Yes — milkshakes are vegetarian. They are not vegan, as they contain dairy.
Why is there no large milkshake?
McDonald’s UK standardised on a single medium size for milkshakes some time ago. If you want more, you will need to order two.
Do McDonald’s desserts contain allergens?
Many do — milk, wheat, egg and soya appear across the dessert range. McDonald’s UK publishes full allergen information, and our separate allergen guide covers the details.
Final thoughts
The McDonald’s UK dessert menu is not trying to be a patisserie, and that is exactly its charm. For between £1 and £3 you can get a genuinely enjoyable sweet treat — a thick milkshake, a molten apple pie, a classic soft-serve cone — without any fuss. The McFlurry may be the headline act, but the supporting cast deserves more love than it gets. Next time you are there, look past the burgers and give the dessert board a proper read.