If you have been grabbing a Krispy Kreme doughnut with your McDonald’s breakfast or coffee lately, that sweet little treat is about to vanish. Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s have officially decided to end their partnership, and yes — that means doughnuts will no longer be part of the McDonald’s menu. Let us break down exactly what is going on, why it is happening, and how it affects you.
When did McDonald’s start selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts?
You might be wondering when this whole thing even started. It was not that long ago. The partnership began with a small test in late 2023. McDonald’s started offering Krispy Kreme doughnuts at just 160 locations in Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky. In October 2024, the test expanded to parts of Chicago. By early 2025, about 2,400 McDonald’s restaurants across the U.S. were serving Krispy Kreme items.
So yes, it was pretty recent — and things moved fast. Originally, the plan was to have doughnuts available in more McDonald’s locations nationwide by the end of 2026. But that is not going to happen anymore.
Why are Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s ending their partnership?
The decision to part ways came down to one major problem: cost.
According to Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth, “Ultimately, efforts to bring our costs in line with unit demand were unsuccessful, making the partnership unsustainable for us.”
In simpler terms — it just was not working out financially. Even though both companies said they worked closely on marketing, staff training, and delivery, they could not make the numbers work.
So while the idea sounded good on paper, it did not play out that way in the real world.
What Krispy Kreme doughnuts were available at McDonald’s?
If you were lucky enough to try one, McDonald’s offered three kinds of Krispy Kreme treats:
- The classic Original Glazed Doughnut
- The Chocolate Iced with Sprinkles Doughnut
- The Chocolate Iced Kreme-Filled Doughnut
These were delivered fresh daily to the restaurants — not frozen, not reheated. That was part of what made this deal unique. But even fresh doughnuts could not save the partnership.
What will Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s focus on now?
Now that they are going their separate ways, each company is focusing on its own plans. Krispy Kreme plans to keep expanding on its own terms — probably with more shops, grocery store locations, and delivery options.
McDonald’s, on the other hand, wants to double down on its breakfast business and simplify its menu. So you might still see more breakfast items at McDonald’s in the future, just without Krispy Kreme.
Will Krispy Kreme come back to McDonald’s?
Right now, it does not look like it.
While the initial test in Kentucky was actually a hit, things changed as they tried to expand. Unless the two companies find a new way to make it work, this really might be the end of the doughnut-McDonald’s mashup.
But who knows? Maybe one day, they will try again. For now though, enjoy those Krispy Kremes somewhere else — while you still can.
