CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Roses are red, violets are blue, the rumors of Donut Sticks coming to McDonald’s are true! Because donuts and coffee are a “perfect pair,” we’re excited to announce McCafé Donut Sticks this week as a little sweet to go with our premium roast McCafé coffee. Starting Feb. 20 for a limited time, customers can enjoy the delicious combo of Donut Sticks and McCafé coffee during breakfast hours at participating restaurants nationwide.

Donut Sticks are made fresh throughout the morning, prepared in McDonald’s restaurant kitchens until hot, crispy and golden brown for a light and airy texture – never microwaved. They’re sprinkled with cinnamon sugar for a crunchy outside and soft, doughy inside, and served warm to customers.

“We are proud of our breakfast offerings, and excited to share new Donut Sticks with our customers. Donut Sticks are the perfect complement to our existing breakfast lineup, and pair deliciously with our fresh brewed premium roast McCafé coffee,” said Linda VanGosen, McDonald’s Vice President of Menu Innovation. “We initially tested them in select Illinois restaurants in early 2018, and then again in October 2018, as it was critical that we perfected them before we brought them to our customers nationwide. We looked at several donut shapes, tested a variety of doughs and even worked to get the amount of cinnamon sugar just right for the recipe. We are thrilled to be making breakfast at McDonald’s even more delicious by introducing Donut Sticks.”

Whether guests are grabbing Donut Sticks for themselves or looking for a sweet gesture to continue the love after Valentine’s Day, customers across the country can enjoy this tasty treat by the half-dozen or by the dozen. Customers can also pair a half-dozen Donut Sticks and a small McCafé brewed coffee for a special price at participating restaurants.

Customers already love McCafé coffee, and we continue to innovate our McCafé line with exciting beverages and bakery items to delight customers and provide a satisfying coffee experience that is affordable and convenient for all. This has included testing premium bakery items like Muffin Toppers and Coffee Cakes in some of our modernized restaurants, and now McCafé Donut Sticks, which is the first sweet treat we’ll be offering exclusively at breakfast.

McDonald’s has been a category leader in breakfast since 1971. In recent years, we have refocused on breakfast to deliver more options inspired by our customers – from All Day Breakfast, to Triple Breakfast Stacks, to this latest breakfast innovation, McCafé Donut Sticks. We’re constantly evolving our food to meet consumer taste and quality expectations, all while introducing new offerings.

Since 2015, McDonald’s has also made several key moves such as switching from margarine to real butter on its iconic breakfast sandwiches like the Egg McMuffin, removing artificial preservatives from its breakfast pork sausage patty and committing to cage-free eggs in the U.S. and Canada by 2025. Additionally, McDonald’s is part of the global movement to ensure coffee is grown and traded in ways that support communities and their land. That’s why we’ve set aspirational goals to sustainably source 100% of McCafé coffee worldwide by 2020.

About McDonald’s USA McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to nearly 25 million customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook. www.facebook.com/mcdonalds .

© 2019 McDonald’s  All trademarks and/or registered marks are owned by their respective companies

Contact: Andrea Abate +1 630-209-7121 Andrea.Abate@us.mcd.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/Attachm...072fcfff1c