Blueberry Lemon Pie - © 2023 Popeyes

Fast Food Week: Quick Service Restaurant And Snacks News!

Here we are, heading full-steam for the year-end holidays. Some of us are loving it, and others are dreading it. No matter how you view the holidays, one thing is certain: There will be plenty of enticing Fast Food treats on the ‘seasonal’ menu!

Elf Pack - © 2023 Krispy KremeThe 4 new Elf-themed doughnuts in the 20th anniversary Elf dozen, from Krispy Kreme…

Mains

Taco Bell reprises Double Decker Taco

It’s here until December 20, in Classic and Taco Supreme versions. Lots of fans will remember the DD Taco fondly. An outer flour tortilla shell and extra signature ground beef…

Double Decker Taco - © 2023 Taco Bell

What’s not to like? It was a permanent menu item from 2006 to 2019. Since then, it’s been back sporadically as a limited time ‘feature’.

Melts and Cheesy Tots back at Burger King

Yes, these fan faves have come around on the limited-time menu rotation again. Just in time for the Holidays. This time, they’re offered in three variations: Classic, Bacon and Shroom n’ Swiss. The Tots, meanwhile, are available in 4- and 8-piece orders. Now through December 31.

Jack’s $10 Fan Favs Box is back

Jack In The Box is offering its Fan Favs Box for a limited time over the Holidays. This year’s version includes: Medium Curly Fries, Onion Rings, Tiny Tacos, Mini Churros and 3 dipping sauces.

Fan Favs Box - © 2023 - Jack In The Box

Alas, the Jalapeño poppers some fans thought were the best part of the deal have been discontinued. Chalk that one up to high produce prices and razor-thin profit margins.

Beverages

Steak & Shake pours seasonal Shakes

To be precise, they’re bringing back their Egg Nog and Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshakes for the holidays. They come in kids’ and adult sizes. And they can be had for half price from 2 to 4 pm every weekday, at participating locations.

Starbuck’s goes half-off on drinks

The premium coffee giant is offering a half-price deal on all handcrafted beverages, every remaining Thursday this month, from 12pm to 6pm. Alas, for the majority of us, it’s an exclusive deal for Starbuck’s Rewards members.

Handcrafted Drinks - © Starbucks

And even if you are a member, you can get only one per Thursday. Another coercive offer trying to get you to join the club and generate tons of valuable marketing data), and use mobile ordering and payment.

Snacks

Krispy Kreme celebrates Elf anniv.

That 2003 Christmas movie, Elf? About a human raised by Santa’s elves? Starring the delightfully goofy Will Ferrel in the lead role? Well; it’s 20 yeas old! And it’s spawned a new collection of seasonal doughnuts at KK. They’re elaborately decorated and lavishly stuffed/topped. And they come only in a special ‘dozen’ pack. All that art doesn’t come cheap: The Elf pack is priced at $22.99.

Goldfish swim into Chip territory

Goldfish – the cheesy crackers like no others – are launching their challenge to the potato chip. At least that’s what some reviewers are saying.

Goldfish Crisps - © 2023 - Goldfish

The new ‘Goldfish Crisps’ come in three classic chip flavours: Cheddar, Sour Cream & Onion, and Salt & Vinegar. They start an exclusive début engagement at Walmart next week, and will be in stores ‘around the world’ by New Year’s.

Blueberry Lemon Cream Cheese pie returning to Popeye’s

Yes, they look just like McDonald’s hand-pie desserts. (See photo, top of page.) But the festive filling of this Popeye’s version is unique. Looks great. Wish it was bigger. They’re around for an unspecified limited time, vaguely described as ‘winter’.

Baskin Robbins adds a ‘Cup of Cocoa’

The new variety is, in fact, the December Flavour of the Month. It’s described as, a light chocolate flavor balanced by marshmallow-flavored ice cream. Mini marshmallowsare stirred in to add ‘pops of gooey sweetness’.

Cup of Cocoa Ice Cream - © 2023 Baskin Robbins

Also on the December feature menu, a special Happy Holly-Days ice cream cake. It can be made with your choice of cake and ice cream, and it’s decorated with a wreath of icing pine branches, eucalyptus leaves, and holly berries.

Novelties

Taco Bell sending students an SOS

The Bell is tossing a special seasonal ‘life preserver’ to students hunkered down in their dorms rooms, cramming for their end-of-semester exams. The boxed set includes bottles of Mild, Hot, Fire, and Diablo sauces, Taco Bell crunchy shells, and both Original and Fajita seasoning packets.

Student SOS Box - © 2023 Taco Bell

Taco Bell also knows many kit recipients will be eating their meals in bed. So they’ve included a spill-and-stain-resistant, Twin XL Taco Bell fitted sheet. Claim your Kit at this dedicated website.

McDonald’s premieres Adult Happy Meal

The box is decorated in celebration of the original McNugget Buddy Toys, which premiered in 1988. Then, they were included in regular kids’ Happy Means. So… Today’s 30-somethings will get a nostalgia infusion.

Adult Happy Meal - © 2023 McDonald's

Each Frost Box (named in honour of the creator of Buddy Toys, Kerwin Frost) contains: One of 6 toys, your choice of either a 10-piece order of Chicken McNuggets or a Big Mac, plus Fries and a drink. Now at participating locations across the US and around the world.

And that’s the skinny…

… On what’s going to be making some of our physiques a little more Santa-like over the coming year-end holidays. See you back here in 7 for the next overindulgent edition of Fast Food Week!

~ Maggie J.