OG Pumpkin Spice Latte won’t arrive at Starbucks until Aug. 26, but Krispy Kreme and IHOP are already delivering a pumpkin punch. That doesn’t mean summer specials are over quite yet. Icy drinks continue to trend, fiery flavors are keeping up with the heat outside and seasonal produce is filling menus.
The Pumpkin Spice Original Glazed Doughnut returns to Krispy Kreme Monday for one week only. But three other pumpkin items launching the same day will be available throughout the fall. On the food side, there’s the Original Glazed Pumpkin Spice Cake Doughnut, and on the beverage front, fans can order Pumpkin Spice Latte in a choice of hot, iced or frozen formats topped with whipped cream and a dusting of pumpkin spice. Also on offer is iced or hot Pumpkin Spice Coffee.
Krispy Kreme's pumpkin spice lineup.
Pumpkin Spice Pancakes return to IHOP for a limited time, a popular seasonal special that debuted in 2008 and has since averaged 1 million pancakes sold per year. The stack features a pumpkin batter flavored with pumpkin pie spices and crowned with whipped cream. Guests can also order a combo with two pumpkin pancakes, two strips of bacon or sausage links, two eggs and hash browns.
Taco Bell isn’t so quick to leave summer behind, introducing a new Baja Blast Tuesday. Mountain Dew Baja Midnight blends passion fruit flavor with the original’s tropical lime, available in both fountain-style and frozen formats. The purple drink, which joins the permanent menu nationwide, is the first flavor expansion of the Baja Blast line. Taco Bell has been focused on beverage innovation this summer, also developing and launching its new Refrescas collection.
Mountain Dew Baja Midnight arrives at Taco Bell.
Anyone for a ketchup smoothie? The unusual combination is on hand at Smoothie King for a limited time. On the premise that tomatoes are really a fruit, the Heinz Tomato Ketchup Smoothie blends acai sorbet, apple juice, strawberries, raspberries and ketchup, resulting in a sweet and fruity smoothie with a tangy finish. It’s selling for $5.70 at select locations in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver and Miami.
From a ketchup partnership to one with potato chips, the limited-edition Pringlicious Cookie is a collaboration between Pringles and Chip City that initially launched last year. The returning sweet-and-salty treat is described as a sugar cookie mixed with milk chocolate chips and caramel bits, drizzled with dark chocolate ganache and salted caramel sauce, then sprinkled with crushed Pringles original and sea salt chips.
Also from Chip City are Thins & Thinwiches, rotating with different flavors every four weeks. Available now is the ChocoLOT Thinwich, featuring Triple Chocolate and Chocolate Chip Thins sandwiching chocolate fudge frosting and then rolled in crushed chocolate sandwich cookies. Thins, a crispier, thinner take on classic cookies, are currently on hand in chocolate chip, oatmeal, confetti, triple chocolate and s’mores flavors.
Chick-fil-A's Pretzel Cheddar Club Sandwich.
Cherry Berry & Sprite is the first seasonal soda from Chick-fil-A, leading a cherry-forward lineup. The soda, a mix of Sprite, cherry, blueberry and cranberry, joins Cherry Berry Lemonade, Cherry Berry Frosted Lemonade and Cherry Berry Sunjoy. Meanwhile, a preview of fall flavors comes in the form of the Pretzel Cheddar Club Sandwich, a build of melted cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, an original, spicy or grilled chicken filet and a side of Creamy Dijon Mustard Sauce for dipping. New Waffle Potato Chips in Original and Chick-fil-A Sauce flavors complete the menu additions.
Cava’s Hot Harissa Meal is the fast casual’s first-ever meal offering. It features the Harissa Avocado Bowl (a combination of harissa honey chicken, hot harissa vinaigrette, feta cheese, hummus, fire-roasted corn, avocado, pickled onions, cucumber, basmati rice and greens), along with Hot Harissa Pita Chips and a plushie in the shape of a pita chip. Four plushie characters are on offer to correspond with Cava’s pita chip flavors: Peter Chip (the original), Jimmy Harissa, Garlic Gus and Sweet Sammy. Supplies are limited.
Plushies in the shape of pita chips come to Cava.
Shaq Snacks debuted at Big Chicken, introducing a new menu category for the chain. Each snack is composed of a chicken tender stacked on buttery garlic toast and topped with ingredients. For example, the Hot Shot is topped with pickled jalapeños and cheese curds and the El Shaquito with hot sauce and elote.
Juice It Up tapped aloe vera, an ingredient known for its hydrating and skin-enhancement properties, for its latest beverage addition. Strawberry Lemonade Twist is a mix of strawberries, lemonade, aloe vera and a strawberry-apple juice blend. The thirst quencher combines refreshment and functionality, clocking in at 170 calories.
The Michelada Happy Hour keeps the summer vibe going at Dos Toros. Every Thursday from 4-7 p.m., guests can order a Watermelon Michelada made with Montauk’s Watermelon Beer, lime juice and smoky hot sauce with a tajín rim for $5. Happy hour chips with guac or queso go for $4.50. The summer special is available at two New York City locations only: Grand Central and Brookfield Place.
Happy Hour at Dos Toros includes chips and dips for $4.50.
A Watermelon Salad and Saganaki Bruger landed on the menu at The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. The salad is a toss of summer flavors and textures, including juicy watermelon, crisp cucumber, fresh mint and creamy feta, completed with a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette, while the burger is a charbroiled patty of beef and lamb layered with Kasseri cheese, arugula, red onion and tzatziki on a brioche bun.
Spicy Golden Tenders rolled out systemwide at Golden Chick. This variation of the fast casual’s signature tenders is coated in the brand’s proprietary Lotta Zing seasoning to kick the flavor up a notch or two. For those who want to double the spice, there’s also Lotta Zing Sauce available with an order of tenders. Tenders come in three, four or six pieces to an order, either on their own or as a combo with a side, fresh-baked yeast roll and 30-ounce drink.
Round Table Pizza is offering a riff on its iconic Garlic Parmesan Twists with the introduction of Bacon & Cheddar Twists. The starter, which comes with ranch dressing for dipping, is part of the chain’s growing Shareables menu. Bacon & Cheddar Twists will be available through Jan. 4.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.