The countdown to the holidays has officially begun, and this year you won’t have to celebrate alone or hungry.
From McDonald’s to Starbucks, major chains across America are gearing up for the holiday season by introducing new holiday-themed menu items this week.
While Chick-fil-A has kept details about its 2026 holiday menu close to the vest, others, like Dairy Queen and Scooter’s Coffee, have already begun to usher in the festive season.
DQ unveiled a new Blizzard collection inspired by two holiday cookie platters, while Scooter’s Coffee is offering customers a limited-time lineup of baked goods and unique drink concoctions.
McDonald’s is also ahead of the curve, offering a flight of festive drinks that launched at participating restaurants on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Dunkin’ and Starbucks’ winter menu, on the other hand, won’t debut for a few more days. However, don’t fret, because we know exactly what’s on the menu.
Here’s a closer look at the holiday menu items debuting this week.
Starbucks Going All Out This Holiday Season
Between the return of the Caramel Brulée Latte and the Bearista Collection, Starbucks is going all out this holiday season, which officially kicks off at coffeehouses nationwide on Thursday, Nov. 5.
Starbucks’ new and returning drink options include:
- Tiramisu Velvet Latte (available hot or iced): Topped with velvet mascarpone cold foam and cocoa and coffee dusting
- Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew: Gives Starbucks Cold Brew a dessert-inspired twist with vanilla syrup, velvet mascarpone cold foam and a dusting of rich cocoa on top.
- Apple Pomegranate Refresher: Crisp apple flavors and popping pomegranate-flavored pearls
- Snowy Apple Pomegranate Refresher: Apple Pomegranate Refresher made with coconut milk
- Peppermint Mocha: Combines Starbucks signature espresso, steamed milk, mocha sauce and peppermint-flavored syrup, topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls. Available hot, iced and as a Frappuccino.
- Caramel Brûlée Latte: Combines Starbucks signature espresso, steamed milk and rich caramel brûlée sauce, topped with whipped cream and caramel brûlée topping. Available hot, iced and as a Frappuccino blended beverage.
- Iced Caramel Brûlée Cream Chai: Creamy chai meets rich caramel brûlée sauce and caramel brûlée bits for a festive pairing of cozy spice and toasted caramel.
- Iced Sugar Cookie Latte: Starbucks Blonde Espresso, milk and sugar cookie-flavored syrup come together over ice, finished with festive red-and-green sprinkles. Also available hot.
- Iced Gingerbread Chai: Warm chai spices and creamy milk served over ice, topped with gingerbread-flavored cold foam and a spice topping. Also available as a hot chai and hot or iced latte.
The Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese and Turkey & Stuffing Sandwich will debut alongside these returning menu items: Cranberry Bliss Bar, Snowman Cookie and Sugar Plum Cheese Danish.
In addition to new and returning food and beverage options, Starbucks is dropping four different holiday merch collections complete with themed drinkware and accessories.
Dunkin’ Wintery Drinks Are Coming Soon
Dunkin’s wintery drinks are a-comin’. Launching Wednesday, Nov. 4, the lineup features several drinks made with the coffee chain’s popular cookie butter and toasted white chocolate flavors.
From the Cookie Butter Matcha to the Toasted White Chocolate Cloud Latte, the full lineup includes:
- Cookie Butter Cloud Latte: Espresso, cookie butter syrup and milk topped with cookie butter cold foam and cookie butter crumbles
- Cookie Butter Cloud Dunkalatte: Coffee milk, cookie butter syrup and espresso topped with cookie butter cold foam
- Cookie Butter Hot Chocolate: Hot chocolate with cookie butter syrup topped with whipped cream and cookie butter crumbles
- Cookie Butter Matcha: Sweetened matcha blended with whole milk and cookie butter syrup
- Iced Cookie Butter Oat Chai Latte: Chai latte made with oat milk and cookie butter syrup
- Spiced Cookie Iced Coffee: Iced coffee and oat milk paired with cookie butter syrup
- Toasted White Chocolate Cloud Latte: Toasted white chocolate combined with espresso and whole milk, topped with sweet cold foam
- Toasted White Chocolate Signature Latte: Toasted white chocolate blended with espresso and whole milk, finished with whipped cream, caramel drizzle and cinnamon sugar
- Almond White Chocolate Shakin’ Espresso: Toasted white chocolate and toasted almond flavor shaken with oat milk and a double shot of espresso
- Raspberry White Chocolate Matcha: Sweetened matcha blended with whole milk, raspberry flavor and toasted white chocolate swirl
Along with the holiday menu unveiling, Dunkin’ also announced the following promotions for Dunkin’ Rewards Members:
- Through Nov. 30: Earn 100 bonus points on all beverages when ordering ahead on Mondays
- Nov. 4-5: Earn three times the points on all beverages
- Nov. 17: Earn 4 times the points on all Avengers beverages
- Nov. 19: Earn 3 times the points on all beverages when ordering ahead
- Nov. 23: Celebrate National Espresso Day with four times the points when ordering espresso beverages
Dairy Queen Sweetens the Season With New Blizzard Collection
Dairy Queen is sweetening the season with a new Blizzard collection inspired by two holiday cookie platters.
Available through Sunday, Jan. 3, at participating locations nationwide, the Peanut Butter Blossom Blizzard and the Peppermint Bark Blizzard collection “pairs an all-new treat with the return of a delectable seasonal offering.”
- Peanut Butter Blossom Blizzard: Made with Hershey’s mini kisses, cookie pieces and peanut butter topping blended with DQ’s famous soft serve.
- Peppermint Bark Blizzard: Milk and white chocolatey layers sprinkled with peppermint candy cane pieces blended with DQ’s famous soft serve.
DQ is also offering fans a couple of discounts this season, including a Meal Deal upgrade featuring a $2 Blizzard and 2 cupcakes for $6 through Sunday, Nov. 29. To receive the deal, customers need a DQ Rewards account.
Dutch Bros Unwraps ‘Most Festive Menu Yet’
Dutch Bros “most festive menu yet” features two new, seasonal sips, a holiday-themed sweet treat and a pair of returning classics. All new and returning seasonal beverages, along with the Holiday Sugar Cookie Cake Pop, are now available at all Dutch locations, while supplies last.
Dutch Bros customers have a few more options this holiday season:
- Merry Magic: A fruity blend full of holiday spirit with blackberry, peach and cherry, topped with festive holiday candy. Fans can try it blended or with an iced Rebel Energy Drink, Myst Energy Refresher or lemonade.
- Sprinkle Cookie: A sugar cookie flavor drink topped with Soft Top and festive sprinkles. Fans can order the Sprinkle Cookie as a Freeze, iced latte or iced chai.
- Holiday Sugar Cookie Cake Pop: A sugar cookie-flavored, tree-shaped cake pop coated in white chocolate and decorated with drizzle and sprinkles.
- Hazelnut Truffle: Hazelnut and rich chocolate milk, finished with fluffy Soft Top and caramel drizzle. Typically served as an iced or hot mocha, or mocha Freeze.
- Candy Cane: Peppermint and velvety chocolate milk finished off with Soft Top and candy cane sprinkles. Enjoyed most as an iced or hot mocha, mocha Freeze, mocha cold brew or hot cocoa.
According to Dutch Bros, every drink comes in one of nine seasonal-themed cups, including special editions for kids and pets, to add to the festive experience.
McDonald’s Unveils New Holiday Drinks
From Red Bull Frosted Cranberry Energizer to the Cookie Butter Latte, McDonald’s wants customers to revel in the holiday spirit early with a flight of festive drinks debuting at participating restaurants nationwide on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
- Frosted Cranberry Splash with Sprite: A crisp Sprite infused with bright orange and cranberry flavors, featuring cold foam and cranberry sprinkles for a refreshing finish.
- Red Bull Frosted Cranberry Energizer: A bold, uplifting Frosted Cranberry flavor with cold foam and sprinkles meets the energizing boost of Red Bull – made for packed holiday schedules and festive adventures. Available with classic Red Bull and Red Bull Zero.
- Cookie Butter Frappé, Latte and Iced Coffee: A creamy blend of rich cookie butter flavor topped with caramel cookie crumbs and sweet vanilla whip for a seasonal treat.
Candy Cane or Coconut? You Can Get Both at Scooter’s This Holiday Season
As diverse as it is festive, Scooter’s Coffee’s holiday menu highlights flavors from peppermint to coconut. Seven holiday drinks and two bakery items debuted at more than 900 locations across the country on Sunday, Nov. 1.
According to Scooter’s Coffee, espresso and chai items are available hot, iced or blended, while Red Bull infusions are available iced or blended.
Here’s the full lineup:
- Colada Craze Red Bull Infusion: Red Bull Yellow Edition with pineapple and coconut, a splash of sweet cream and a layer of coconut cold foam.
- Sleighcation Pineapple Smoothie: Real pineapple purée blended with your base of choice: cold, sweet-tart or bright. Add a Red Bull Yellow Edition to the smoothie to create a Vertigo Smoothie, perfect for the 3 p.m. holiday slump.
- Butterscotch Caramelicious: The guest-favorite Caramelicious, now with butterscotch, is topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle and salted toffee pieces for a salty-sweet crunch.
- Butterscotch Chai: Butterscotch and warm chai spice under whipped cream and salted toffee pieces.
- Bah Humbug Butterscotch Muffin: Butterscotch, cinnamon and vanilla under a crackly sugar top.
- Candy Cane Chaos Mocha: Espresso, mocha and peppermint under whipped cream, mocha drizzle and peppermint chips. (Sugar-free option available)
- Candy Cane Chaos Hot Chocolate: Mocha and peppermint under whipped cream, mocha drizzle and peppermint chips. (Sugar-free option available)
- Santa’s Cookie Latte: Espresso, white mocha and cookie butter, finished with whipped cream and green sprinkles.
- Stocking Stuffer Sugar Cookies: Buttery, bite-size and loaded with red and green sprinkles.
Contributing: Greta Cross, USA TODAY
Reporting by Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
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