Dunkin', Carrabba's and Paris Baguette end 2024 on a sweet note

Visions of sugar plums fill restaurant kitchens as the holiday season goes into overdrive. Cookies, cakes and celebratory desserts are trending on menus, along with festive dinners—all available for dining in and taking home. And for those who just want to grab a bite or sip during the hectic days ahead, there are plenty of sandwiches, snacks and beverages.

Decorated Shortbread Cookies are making their holiday debut for the first time at Dunkin’. Crafted to look just like the chain’s Strawberry Frosted Sprinkle donut, they feature a shortbread cookie base, sweet pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles. Holiday Sprinkles are adorning chocolate, vanilla and strawberry frosted donuts too, and through Dec. 25, Rewards members can score a free classic donut with a beverage purchase on Wednesdays.

Two types of full-size cakes are available for takeout at Carrabba’s Italian Grill to sweeten holiday celebrations through Jan.13. The Cannoli Cream Cake has a vanilla cake base with layers of cannoli filling, pistachios and chocolate sauce with a chocolate chip crust; it’s priced at $64. Strawberry Cheesecake is a creamy New York-style cheesecake topped with strawberry puree for $51.

Seasonal cakes, pastries and beverages fill the menu at Paris Baguette through Christmas Day. Whole cakes include the Nutcracker Strawberry Soft Cream Cake, Winter Village Chocolate Hazelnut Cake with Nutella, Holiday Red Velvet Cake filled with strawberry soft cream and berries, and Penguin Pond Chocolate Cake. Each is garnished with a whimsical topper. Individual pastries range from a Peppermint Mochi Donut and Snowman Cream Donut to a French apple turnover and pound cake loaf. Sweet Cream Lattes complete the holiday specials.

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream has a limited-time lineup of holiday flavors. These include Peppermint Stick; Gingerbread Man, a spiced ice cream rippled with graham cracker crust; Eggnog; and Peppermint with Oreo, blended with cookie pieces. 

Gingerbread Cookie Ice Cream is a featured flavor at Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, too. It’s made with a base of spiced gingerbread-flavored ice cream swirled with crunchy gingersnap cookie pieces. “Gingerbread is the ultimate holiday classic, from cookies and drinks to gingerbread houses,” said Jennifer Schuler, Handel’s CEO, in a statement. “It brings back fond memories of making and sharing gingerbread with family and enjoying cookies at Grandma’s house.”

Christmas ice cream flavors at Clementine’s include Peppermint Candy, Smokey Italian Fig and Sugar Cookie with Sprinkles for fans of all ages. Those over 21 can try the boozy Coquito, a Puerto Rican-style eggnog ice cream. On Tuesday, the St. Louis-based concept releases Hanukkah flavors including Roasted Pistachio M’hencha made with roasted pistachio ice cream and warm spices, and a Black & White Cookie flavor featuring a rich, creamy blend of vanilla and chocolate with cookie pieces that evoke New York City’s iconic sweet. 

Three cocktails and several festive food items join the menu at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse. The Frosty Lucky Ducky is a sparkling cocktail made with tequila, coconut rum, mandarin vodka, peach Schnapps and lemon-lime soda, while the Tipsy Snowman combines sweet liqueurs topped with whipped cream and a snowman-shaped marshmallow. There’s also a new Winter Paradise Pomegranate Margarita. On the food side are BJ’s Classic Rib-Eye, a Surf & Turf Stack, Chili Crunch Pot Stickers and Garlic Shrimp with Parmesan Toast.

The Holiday Buffet returns to Golden Corral restaurants featuring a variety of carved entrees, sides and desserts. Among the former are roast turkey, holiday glazed ham and bone-in pork roast with sides such as stuffing, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce and yeast rolls. Pumpkin pie leads off the dessert selection. Holiday Meals to Go for six to eight diners are also available with similar choices. To drink, there’s Cinnamon Bun Iced Tea, Cinnamon Bun Coffee and Cranberry Citrus Splash.

Pies are what people think of at Polly’s Pies, but the chain also has a Dine-In Prime Rib Dinner available on the weekends through Jan. 1. Each plate includes oven-roasted prime rib, horseradish cream, au jus, cheesy potatoes au gratin and market vegetables for $19.99-$25.99, depending on portion size. For another $5.99, customers can add sauteed or coconut shrimp to make it a surf ‘n turf entree. For holiday get-togethers at home, Polly’s offers a Prime Rib Feast for Gatherings with the same components plus the choice of a pie.

IHOP also has holiday family feasts to go filled with breakfast favorites, such as one that includes four slices of Thick ‘N Fluffy French Toast, four servings each of scrambled eggs and golden hash browns, choice of eight hickory-smoked bacon strips or pork sausage links, and four seasonal toppings. The chain also announced its December Pancake of the Month: Chocolate Peppermint Bark Pancakes topped with peppermint bark pieces, cream cheese icing and whipped topping.

The MoPo Corn Dog, a snack that’s gone viral on social media, is the latest item to join the menu at Bonchon. It’s filled with mozzarella cheese in crispy breading with golden crunchy potato cubes and can be brushed with soy garlic sauce or rolled in cinnamon sugar for both savory and sweet options. Each MoPo Corn Dog is also served with a choice of dipping sauces, including kewpie mayo, spicy mayo, ranch, cucumber wasabi or bibimbap.

Red Garnet returns to Jinya Ramen Bar through Feb. 28. The ramen combines vegetable broth, pork chashu, spinach, green onion, kikurage and white onion and is topped with chili garlic sauce, then served with signature thick noodles. Also on offer for a limited time are Curry Rice Croquettes, lightly fried, seasoned rice balls stuffed with white cheddar.

Gott’s Roadside is bringing back two West Coast favorites: the Dungeness Crab Sandwich and Dungeness Crab & Bay Shrimp Louie salad. The sandwich pairs the crab with house-made lemon mayo, green onions and romaine lettuce on a toasted brioche bun, while the salad features the crab and shrimp with sliced avocado, tomatoes, hard-boiled egg, lemon wedge and a side of Gott’s secret sauce on top of romaine lettuce lightly tossed in lemon-Dijon vinaigrette. Also on the menu for the holiday season is the Candy Cane Shake.

Two seasonal smoothies make their debut at Smoothie King. The Holiday Pecan Delight is a blend of almond butter, dates, grains, protein powder, cinnamon and butter pecan ice cream, while Apple Cinnamon Cheer is made with apple juice blend, oatmilk bananas, dates, almonds, vegan protein and cinnamon. Both provide over 10g of protein.

Horchata Smoothies made a comeback at Juice It Up. There’s the classic Horchata Smoothie blended with almond milk, nonfat yogurt, banana, dates, chia seeds and cinnamon, and the fruit-forward Strawberry Horchata Smoothie with strawberry/apple juice and strawberries in the mix. Also available through the holiday season are the Protein Açaí Smoothie, along with new Toasted Waffle and Pretzel Bites to snack on.

Customers are invited to toast the holidays at Moxie’s with three new cocktails through Jan.1. The Old Fashion Christmas Cocktail is a combo of bourbon, cranberry syrup and orange bitters, garnished with sugared cranberries and fresh rosemary, while the Peppermint Mocha Martini is a spin on the espresso martini with a mix of coffee-flavored vodka and peppermint syrup. The Winter Aperol Spritz completes the trio, given a festive twist with house-made cranberry syrup and holiday garnishes. 

Boba tea concept Krak Boba offers several seasonal beverages. The King Brûlée features sweetened milk poured over crème brûlée and caramelized brown sugar, and the lighter Taro Twist is made with taro for a nuttier flavor. Calming milk teas including Winter Melon Black Milk Tea and Brown Sugar Milk are classic alternatives.