It's one of McDonald's best-kept secrets, and now you're in on it
This Under-the-Radar McDonald’s Menu Item Is a Big Hit with Fans
Published on Jul. 08, 2025
There’s a special kind of joy that comes from discovering a secret menu item at your favorite restaurant chain. (Looking at you, Wendy’s Barnyard Burger and McDonald’s birthday cake!) They’re delicious, yes, but finding a hidden gem like this makes you stand a little taller and smirk a little more because you’re in the know. Well, get ready to get excited, because McDonald’s is offering yet another item you probably don’t know about (yet).
The difference here? It’s not exactly a secret, but it is very under the radar—like, so under the radar that you likely have no idea it’s even there. We certainly didn’t … but we’re thrilled we know now!
So what is it? Keep reading to find out what McDonald’s menu item you should start ordering, and how to get your hands on it the next time you swing by the Golden Arches.
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What McDonald’s menu item have you probably never heard about?
Even if you’re a die-hard McDonald’s fan, chances are you’ve never heard about the Cookie Tote. What is a Cookie Tote, you ask? Exactly what it sounds like: a cute little cardboard box (with a convenient handle) that’s filled with 13 of McDonald’s signature chocolate chip cookies. They’re the same cookies you can order individually but are not necessarily always served warm. When you order the Cookie Tote, however, you’ll always get those cookies straight out of the oven.
FYI, here’s an interesting McDonald’s fact: The cookies are not baked in-house but instead are flash-baked. Flash-baking is a process that warms the cookie all the way through, so it tastes as if it was freshly baked. That’s why McDonald’s cookies are always deliciously soft and chewy!
How long has the McDonald’s Cookie Tote been on the menu?
Here’s where the lore surrounding the McDonald’s Cookie Tote starts to get a bit murky. McDonald’s first introduced individual chocolate chip cookies to the menu in the 1970s—for 15 cents a cookie!—but no one can say with certainty when the Cookie Tote officially made its debut. Some people online have talked about getting this baker’s dozen warm, gooey McDonald’s cookies for the past 15 years, though it likely hasn’t been a nationwide offering for that long. Even now, you won’t find it on any drive-thru menu!
Why do so few people seem to know about it?
Even though the Cookie Tote is part of McDonald’s permanent menu, it seems that no one really knows about it because McDonald’s doesn’t really advertise it! And yes, that’s very unusual, since every other permanent menu item is highlighted in an obvious way in-store and at the drive-thru. And you won’t find the Cookie Tote in either of those places. (More on where you can get it below.)
What do McDonald’s fans say about it?
@floridamomof3 Cookie tote from @McDonald’s #megandmaddie #lunchtime #costcodaughter #costcomamma #review #motherdaughter #motherdaughterduo #forupage #mcdonalds #mcdonaldshacks #mcdonaldssecrets #cookietote ♬ original sound – Meg & Maddie
That it is 100%, absolutely worth getting! In one video, TikTokers Meg and Maddie did a taste test of the cookies in the Cookie Tote that made us hungry to watch. “It seriously smells like we just came from a cookie factory,” says Meg. “Might be better than a homemade cookie,” added Maddie.
In the comments section, McDonald’s enthusiasts chimed in. “Confession … I once ate a whole tote by myself in just a few hours,” said one commenter. Another admitted: “Saw this and immediately sent my husband out to get me one.”
How can you get a cookie tote?
Despite the seeming layer of secrecy surrounding the Cookie Tote, it’s actually pretty easy to get your hands on one. It’s available at participating McDonald’s locations, which means any location that sells cookies should be able to sell you a Cookie Tote.
You can order a Cookie Tote through the app, in-store or at the drive-thru, though it might take a few extra minutes to heat your fresh chocolate chip cookies and assemble the cardboard carrier. Some have speculated that this might be part of the reason some franchisees neglect to put it on the menu.
How much does it cost?
As is usually the case with national restaurant chains, prices for McDonald’s Cookie Tote vary quite a bit, depending on your location. Some people have reported paying as little as $4.59 for the cardboard box containing 13 cookies, while others have reported paying as much as $9.99. No matter how you slice it, it’s still less than $1 per warm, gooey cookie, which is a pretty sweet deal.
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Sources:
- McDonald’s: “13 Pack Chocolate Chip Cookie Tote”
- McDonald’s: “Chocolate Chip Cookie”
- Food & Wine: “The Semi-Secret McDonald’s Item Is the Best Thing on the Menu”
