Slideshow: New on the menu

KANSAS CITY — Twists on traditional treats are trending on restaurant menus, as chains mesh unusual ingredients, mix hot and cold and create sweet food fusions.

Sonic is serving surprising ingredients in its new line of Creamery Shakes. Available in vanilla bean, buttered toffee, dark chocolate, bourbon brown sugar, dulce de leche, and wildberry and lavender varieties, the shakes are mixed with interesting ingredients like Madagascar vanilla beans, oak barrel aged bourbon flavor, California strawberries and lavender.

Scott Uehlein, v.p. of product innovation and development for Sonic

“Food tastes better when it’s crafted with premium, sophisticated flavors, and our culinary experts worked to find the perfect ingredients for Sonic’s new handcrafted Creamery Shakes,” said Scott Uehlein, vice-president of product innovation and development for Sonic. “With one of a kind flavors like bourbon brown sugar and wildberry and lavender, guests will enjoy a new level of indulgence with every sip of one of these flavorful Shakes.”

Baskin-Robbins is toying with temperature to modify two much-loved desserts. The chain’s new Warm Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches allow customers to create their own combinations by choosing two warm cookies from the available options — dark chocolate chunk, double fudge, peanut butter chocolate, and white chunk macadamia nut — then picking one of the chain’s ice cream flavors and either rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles or chopped almonds to go in between. The sundaes feature the customers’ chosen ice cream flavor served with their choice of two warm cookies topped with their choice of sauce topping, whipped cream, chopped nuts and a cherry.

Splicing two sweets to create one new treat, Dunkin’ Donuts is introducing the Strawberry Shortcake Croissant Donut. The donut consists of the chain’s classic glazed croissant donut stuffed with a strawberry buttercreme filling and topped with a white and strawberry icing drizzle.