Hot cocoa as both a beverage and a flavor dominated seasonal offerings this year.
IHOP is celebrating the season with a new limited-time menu.
The Jolly Cakes dish features four green pancakes topped with sweet cream cheese icing, whipped topping and shimmery round red and green sprinkles.
The Oh What Funnel Cakes includes two crispy funnel cakes dusted with powdered sugar and topped with glazed strawberries, whipped topping and shimmery round red and green sprinkles.
The Merry Marshmallow Hot Chocolate is flavored with toasted marshmallow syrup and topped with whipped topping and shimmery round red and green sprinkles.
The Holiday Ham & Sausage Omelette is stuffed with diced ham and sausage, fire-roasted peppers and onions, hash browns and jack and cheddar cheese then topped with more diced ham and sausage, cheddar cheese and white cheddar cheese sauce.
Dairy Queen has debuted the Peppermint Hot Cocoa Blizzard Treat, featuring candy cane pieces, chocolate chunks and cocoa fudge blended with vanilla soft serve. The dessert is then finished with whipped topping and candy cane pieces.
Auntie Anne’s is introducing the Hot Chocolate Frost, a frozen twist on the holiday staple. The treat features frozen hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of Hershey’s chocolate syrup.
Tim Hortons has launched a lineup of holiday beverages and donuts.
New seasonal sips include a Peppermint Iced Capp, Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Peppermint Latte, Crème Brulee Latte and Crème Brulee Iced Capp.
The Holiday Tree Donut is a yeast tree-shaped donut filled with venetian cream and topped with vanilla fondant and festive nonpareils.
The Raspberry Filled Donut is a raspberry-filled yeast donut sprinkled with powdered sugar.
The Chocolate Candy Cane Donut is a chocolate cake ring donut topped with chocolate fondant and peppermint bark.
The Jingle Bell Boston Cream is a yeast donut filled with venetian cream and topped with chocolate fondant and peppermint bark.
The Holiday Bloom Donut is a raspberry-filled yeast bloom donut topped with vanilla fondant and red, white and green sprinkles.
The Festive Vanilla Dip is a yeast ring donut topped with green fondant and red and white sprinkles.
Orange Leaf teamed up with Ghirardelli to launch a new frozen yogurt flavor: Peppermint Hot Cocoa Froyo. Made with Ghirardelli chocolate, the seasonal flavor pairs minty and sweet flavors.
“We are excited to once again partner with Ghirardelli to be able to create a flavor featuring their rich chocolate that's been handmade in San Francisco for almost 170 years now,” said Kendall Ware, president and chief operating officer. “They’ve been a quality flavor partner of ours for years and it’s no surprise that combining their hot cocoa with our proprietary frozen yogurt has already proven to be a crowd favorite.”
El Pollo Loco is rolling out new holiday offerings inspired by the brand’s Mexican heritage.
The Chicken Tamale Bowls are made with fire-grilled chicken simmered in red chile sauce and masa. The bowls come in three varieties: two chicken tamales, tamale and chopped chicken breast, and tamale and two-piece leg and thigh.
The Chicken Pozole Verde is a traditional holiday soup with fire-grilled chicken and hominy slow simmered in a tomatillo broth with garlic, onion and chile.
The Mexican Hot Chocolate is made with Abuelita chocolate, spiced with cinnamon and vanilla and topped with whipped cream and cinnamon sugar.
“At El Pollo Loco, we embrace tradition – both old and new,” said Hector Muñoz, chief marketing officer for El Pollo Loco. “Our customers look forward to these classics every holiday season, and now they can start a new tradition at their table with El Pollo Loco.”
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is preparing for the holiday season with the debut of the new Gingerbread Glazed Original Filled with Cheesecake Doughnut. The spiced gingerbread donut is filled with cheesecake Kreme.
The donut maker also is introducing the Original Glazed Reindeer Doughnut. Dipped in chocolate icing and decorated with pretzel antlers, candy eyes and a red nose to look like a reindeer, the donut joins the Santa Belly Doughnut and the Present Doughnut in Krispy Kreme’s holiday collection.
Starbucks Corp. has revealed a new holiday beverage for 2019 — the Irish Cream Cold Brew. The drink is the coffee chain’s first new holiday offering since 2017. The Irish Cream Cold Brew is made with Starbucks cold-brew coffee and Irish cream syrup over ice, topped with a cap of vanilla sweet cream cold foam and a dusting of cocoa powder.
“It pairs so well with cold brew because of the chocolate flavor in the Irish cream and the cocoa notes from the coffee,” said Erin Marinan, product developer for Starbucks R.&D. department and creator of the Irish Cream Cold Brew. “I think about that customer who’s in the middle of work or shopping, and this will help get them into the holiday spirit for the rest of the day.”
Dunkin’ is debuting four new signature lattes, two new coffee flavors and a new donut, comprising the chain’s largest-ever holiday lineup, the company said.
Four of the new seasonal sips expand Dunkin’s slew of signature lattes, which may be ordered hot or iced. Two-thirds of each beverage is made with steamed milk that is poured over a shot of espresso and topped with a layer of milk foam. The lattes feature “exciting flavors and toppings, handcrafted for an artful presentation and a smooth taste,” Dunkin’ said.
The Holiday Eggnog Signature Latte combines the flavors of eggnog and cinnamon and is finished with whipped cream, caramel drizzle and cinnamon sugar.
The Merry Mocha Mint Signature Latte includes peppermint mocha flavor and is topped with whipped cream, mocha drizzle and hot chocolate powder.
The Toasted Gingerbread Signature Latte blends gingerbread, marshmallow and chocolate flavors and is finished with whipped cream, a caramel drizzle and cinnamon sugar.
The Frosted White Chocolate Signature Latte features a white chocolate flavor and is topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle and cinnamon sugar.
Along with the new latte lineup, Dunkin’ is adding two new flavors to its coffee offerings: Gingerbread S’mores Coffee and Winter White Chocolate Coffee. Both are available in Dunkin’s hot and iced coffee, cold brew, espresso drinks, frozen coffee and frozen chocolate.
Also new for the holiday season is the Holiday Brownie Crumble Donut, featuring a vanilla frosted yeast ring dipped in brownie crumbles and drizzled with dark green icing.
“With all the responsibilities of the holidays, remembering the simple joys of the season isn’t always so simple,” Dunkin’ said. “To help create quick and easy moments of happiness even when things are hectic, Dunkin’ is unwrapping its largest-ever holiday lineup, refueling and refilling joy with all the festive flavors guests could want during the most wonderful time of the year.”
Baskin-Robbins is celebrating the holiday season with new Jolly Mint Ice Cream. The pink and white butter mint ice cream features white chocolate flakes and may be ordered as a sundae or in a milkshake.
“December is a time for friends and family,” said Shannon Blakely, vice-president of marketing for Baskin-Robbins U.S. and Canada. “Whether you are hosting a holiday party or need a sweet escape from the holiday hustle and bustle, Baskin-Robbins is here to help you end 2019 on a sweet note.”
Cold Stone Creamery is introducing Fudge Mint Cookie Ice Cream, which stars in the new Chilly Chocolate Mint Creation. The treat features Fudge Mint Cookie Ice Cream, fudge mint cookies, sprinkled chocolate drops and fudge.
“We are extremely eager to introduce our new store-made super-premium ice cream flavor and creation for the holiday season,” said Sara Schmillen, vice-president of marketing at Kahala Brands, parent company of Cold Stone Creamery. “Our focus is to bring family and friends together with our delicious treats and create meaningful memories that last a lifetime.”
It’s A Grind Coffee House is debuting a duo of new beverage lines: Red Velvet Caramel Pecan and Blonder Gnar Gnar beverages.
The Red Velvet Caramel Pecan Beverages feature a blend of espresso and milk with white chocolate, caramel pecan and red velvet flavors. The drink may be ordered hot, iced or blended. The hot variety is topped with whipped cream and Ghirardelli caramel.
The Blonder Gnar Gnar Beverages combine espresso, milk and peanut butter with white chocolate and caramel flavors. The drinks may be ordered hot, iced or blended. The hot and blended versions are topped with whipped cream and Ghirardelli caramel.
“Let’s be honest, tis’ the season to indulge and we’re making it all worth it with our brand new holiday creations featuring decadent flavors like red velvet, caramel pecan, white chocolate and peanut butter,” said Sam Ferreira, president of It’s A Grind Coffee House. “We know our guests like to drink their coffee in different ways and we didn’t want them to miss out on our festive holiday flavors, so we’ve made them available in three options: blended, hot lattes and poured over ice.”
Creamistry is introducing a trio of ice cream creations for the holidays.
The new Peppermint Cookies ‘N’ Cream Creation features cookies and cream iced cream with crushed peppermint candies, layers of fudge and crushed peppermint.
The Pecan Praline Creation features vanilla bean ice cream, candied pecan and sea salt caramel finished with whipped cream.
The Pumpkin Pie Creation features pumpkin spice ice cream, graham cracker crust crumble, caramel, whipped cream and pumpkin spice.
“We’re excited to kick off the holiday season with our customers,” said Jay Yim, founder and chief executive officer. “We love to put our own twist on the classic holiday desserts that everyone knows and loves. Creamistry strives to continue pushing the envelope, and our holiday menu items are a reflection of our innovation and commitment to quality and taste.”
Del Taco is debuting Shredded Pork Tamales, made with seasoned shredded pork, fire roasted salsa and stone ground corn masa all wrapped in a corn husk. The tamales also may be topped with a combination of zesty red sauce, tangy green sauce, sour cream and cilantro, or topped with chili, grated cheddar cheese and sour cream.
“The holidays are all about spending quality time with family and friends, and cooking tamales is a tradition for many,” said Barry Westrum, chief marketing officer for Del Taco. “This year, let Del Taco prepare and serve delicious Shredded Pork Tamales for you, so you can spend more time with your families and less time in the kitchen. And with our two for $4 Tamales deal, we’re giving guests an unmatched value, without compromising on quality or flavor.”
Apr
2024
New product innovation swept the show floor.
Beverage innovation is on the rise.