The Aporia · McDonald’s once sold beloved cookies featuring forgotten characters from the chain's past

McDonald’s once sold McDonaldland Cookies in its Happy Meals starting in 1979, but discontinued them between 2003 and 2004 as part of a move toward healthier options. The cookies featured characters like Grimace and Ronald McDonald and were described as having a lemon flavor similar to shortbread or animal crackers. Although no longer available in the U.S., some Australian and New Zealand locations still serve them, and a Reddit user reported that Benton’s animal crackers from Aldi supermarkets taste very similar.

Written by AI on 2026-09-21, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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In 1974, McDonald’s introduced McDonaldland Cookies as part of its Happy Meal offerings when they went national in 1979. These cookies were beloved for their subtle lemon flavor and featured characters like Grimace, Ronald McDonald, Birdie, and Hamburglar. Baked by Keebler, the cookies came in small plastic bags or colorful cardboard boxes depicting the characters. Due to a push towards healthier options, McDonald’s discontinued these cookies in all U.S. locations between 2003 and 2004, though chocolate chip cookies remained on the menu. Despite their absence, fans still reminisce about the classic treats, noting that some McDonald's restaurants in Australia continue to serve them.

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Introduced in 1974, McDonaldland Cookies became a regular addition to McDonald’s Happy Meals when they debuted nationwide in 1979, but the beloved menu item was discontinued in the early 2000s, to the disappointment of many fans.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-21

🔮 One Reddit user commented: "I am eating the Benton's animal crackers from Aldi right now and they taste exactly like the McDonaldland cookies." McDonaldland Cookies might be gone in the U.S., but the characters have not been totally forgotten.

2026-09-21 · Fox News

McDonald’s once sold beloved cookies featuring forgotten characters from the chain's past · assertive framing

item → introduce → fans

The small, crunchy, cookies were baked for McDonald’s by Keebler, had a subtle lemon flavor and featured the faces of beloved McDonald’s characters like Grimace, Ronald McDonald, Birdie, and Hamburglar. asserted

cookies → bake → Grimace

Customers described them as a cross between shortbread and animal crackers, and McDonaldland Cookies came in either a little plastic bag or a brightly colored cardboard box that also showed the faces of McDonald’s characters. asserted

that → describe → characters

The fast food chain altered its Happy Meals to include healthier items such as apple slices in the early 2000s. asserted

chain → alter → 2000s

Between 2003 and 2004, McDonaldland Cookies were discontinued at all U.S. locations. asserted

Cookies → discontinue → locations

Chocolate chip cookies, however, remained on the menu. asserted

cookies → remain → menu

McDonald’s has been serving some variation of chocolate chip cookies since the early 1970s, with today's chewy, soft-baked version introduced in 2012. asserted

version → serve → 2012

Although McDonaldland Cookies are no longer available in the United States, select McDonald’s locations in Australia still offer them, and certain New Zealand restaurants serve the treat under the name "McHappy Cookies." asserted

restaurants → offer → name

Fans have also shared on Reddit that a cookie with a flavor and texture similar to the original McDonaldland cookies is available at Aldi supermarkets. asserted

cookie → share → supermarkets

One Reddit user commented: "I am eating the Benton's animal crackers from Aldi right now and they taste exactly like the McDonaldland cookies." McDonaldland Cookies might be gone in the U.S., but the characters have not been totally forgotten. uncertain

characters → comment → U.S.

The viral Grimace Shake, a purple-hued milkshake with a vanilla soft serve base and mixed berry flavoring, came out in 2023 as a limited-time treat to celebrate the beloved character’s birthday. asserted

Shake → mix → birthday

Beginning in 2022, McDonald's sporadically released various limited-edition Adult Happy Meals, allowing grownups to enjoy the nostalgia of Happy Meals — which, depending on their age, might have included McDonaldland Cookies. uncertain

which → begin → Cookies

Fox News Digital reached out to McDonald's for comment. asserted

Digital → reach → comment

McDonald’s once sold beloved cookies featuring forgotten characters from the chain's past

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