KANSAS CITY — Strawberries are surging in popularity on menus, starring in smoothies, salads, sweets and more.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews is serving up strawberries in its new Freckled Lemonade Smoothie, which features strawberries, strawberry puree, lemon juice and vanilla soft serve.
Strawberries step into the spotlight in Dunkin’ Donuts new Chocolate Drizzled Strawberry Croissant Donut, which features flaky, buttery layers of croissant donut, strawberry filling and a chocolate icing drizzle to evoke the taste of a chocolate-covered strawberry. The chain also is offering Dunkin’ Energy Punch in a strawberry flavor variety.
While it’s not in the name, strawberry sweetens Starbucks’ new Berry Prickly Pear Frappuccino. The blended beverage features a mango Frappuccino blended crème poured over a strawberry and prickly pear fruit puree, which also features notes of hibiscus, passionfruit and lime. The drink is finished with another layer of strawberry prickly pear fruit puree.
Cold Stone Creamery is celebrating Shark Week with two new treats featuring the fruit.
The Great White Bite Creation features sea salt sweet ice cream mixed with strawberries, graham cracker pie crust and blue gummy sharks. The Deep Sea Delight Cupcake is a chocolate cupcake filled with a layer of devil’s food cake, strawberry puree and sea salt sweet cream ice cream all topped with blue frosting, graham cracker pie crust, a blue gummy shark and a chocolate Shark Week medallion.
Combining cream with strawberries, Cinnabon is introducing a new Strawberries & Cream Chillatta. The blended beverage features fresh strawberries and sweet cream.
Quaker Steak & Lube’s new seasonal summer salad also features strawberries. The Red, White & Blue Salad combines strawberries, blueberries, apples, blue cheese crumbles and walnut pieces on a bed of romaine lettuce.
