4.7 min. read
It’s Hallowe’en! Not often the controversial observance falls on a Saturday – the optimal of the week for extra-curricular activities! Especially for the fast Food , snacks and candy purveyors! This Hallow-e’en could prove pivotal for some…
The Jack O’ Lantern: An endangered species?
The snack and candy giants are pushing their hardest, but…
A new survey reveals Hallowe’en Treat spending is way down…
The rundown…
Lots of spooky fare on the menu this week… And some downright kitschy stuff – not the least of which is the new Nerds Crunch Pop Very Berry crunchy-gummy frozen dairy dessert!
MAINS
McRib is back, but not for long – as usual
McRib is making a seasonal appearance at McD’s. Not everywhere, though, and not for long. The bur-ger behemoth is nice about feeding the small but ardent McRib fan base every year or so.
And for some, it’s like a religous experience. Appearing now in selected markets where McRib has sold well before, including: Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Dallas.
SONIC launches new seasonal Smasher
The burger one reviewer calls, “all-new version of its incredibly popular Sonic Smasher,” is back in a new iteration for winter 2026-27. The new Smoked Gouda & Bacon Sonic Smasher features crispy ba-con, smoked gouda, grilled onions, and black pepper aioli on ‘hand-smashed’ Angus beef patties with a juicy center and ultra-crispy edges. You can order a single, a double or a triple!
Wingstop adds Lemon Pepper twists
You can now get your game day Lemon Pepper Wingstop Wings in three versions: Regular, Lemon Pepper Chili Crunch, and Lemon Pepper Chili Glaze. The Crunch is prepped in a dry rub. The Glaze also features Chili Crunch condiment in a sauce…
Arby’s spotlights US Thanksgiving
… With two returning fan-fave Turkey sammys. The Deep Fried Gobbler features a quarter pound of deep-fried turkey slices, topped with crispy onions, Swiss cheese, savory stuffing and cranberry spread.
The Deep Fried Turkey Club starts with a quarter pound of deep-fried turkey slices, topped with cheddar cheese, tomato, lettuce, bacon and mayo. Both are stacked on a toasted bun…
Little Caesars’ $5.99 Mix-N-Match deal is back!
The deal every LC fan waits for is back. Choose from a generous selection of large pizzas and wings for just $5.99 each when you buy two. Limit of 5 discounted items. Price may vary depending on where you live.
SIDES
Jack In The Box dabs new Avengers: Doomsday dipping sauces
They’re designed as enhancements for the Stop’s new AD Dipping Box. There’s Assemble Sauce, an new mystery flavour; Mutant Marinara, a returning limited time favorite; and Fantastic Buttermilk Ranch. And there’s nothing in the announcement about them NOT being available for any Wing Stop wing type you might want to order.
BEVERAGES
McDonald’s unveils new Holiday Drinks
McD’s is pouring new Holiday-themed beverages, including: fancy coffees and fizzy blends. Cookie Butter Frappé, Cookie Butter Latte, and Cookie Butter Iced Coffee. Each features rich, caramel, spiced cookie butter flavor, topped with vanilla whipped cream and cookie crumbs.
The cold bevs are also based on a single flavour profile: orange and cranberry Frosted Cranberry flavors and are topped with cold foam and cranberry sprinkles. Try low-key Sprite Berry Blast or go boosted with Red Bull Frosted Cranberry Energizer…
SONIC pours seasonal specialties
The wacky wizards at America’s Last Real Drive-In have come up with three new iced whistle wetters: the Santa Slush Float; and two Coke-based quaffs – Merry Berry Fizz and Holiday Creamy Vanilla. Get the latter selections with either regular Coke or Coke Zero.
Wingstop premieres new Coke Freestyle creations
The Stop is offering a new Coca-Cola Freestyle exclusive: Sprite Touchdown Twist, which mixes Sprite Cherry and Mello Yello Limeade for a unique cherry-citrus combination. You’ll find it at participating Wingstop locations US-wide that have Coca-Cola Freestyle machines.
DESSERTS & SNACKS
SALTY
Doritos goes from ‘flamin’ to smoulderin’
Bucking its own trend toward hotter and hotter chili pepper flavours, Doritos has announced a new Lemon Pepper favour.
It’s a tart and distinctly warm experience, but definitely a black pepper one, rather than a chili blast. Alas… Fans will have to wait until after the Holidays to get their hands on this new treat…
SWEET
Nerds rolls out new crunchy-gummy frozen dessert
It’s a multi-mouth-feel experience on a stick. The Nerds Crunch Pop Very Berry frozen dairy dessert features a fruity gummy core surrounded by frozen dairy cream and rolled luxuriently in Very Berry Nerds. It’ll make your sweet tooth ache! Coming soon to retail locations near you…
Pepperidge Farms tries sourdough cookies
The ancient and venerable bakery brand is treading new territory with three new Soft & Chewy sour-dough-style cookies: Cinnamon Sugar, Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate. They’re at Walmart now, and will be available at all the places you usually get Pepperidge Farms treats come January.
Hershey’s Peanut Butter Bar now at Walmart
Did you even know Hershey’s has a peanut Butter Bar? It’s a healthy-sized affair composed of 15 chocolate pockets filled with the PB cream you’ve grown to love in iconic PB Cups.
One social media taste tester declared it’s, “by far is the best product that [Reese’s] has come up with.” Whoa! That’s a high bar. For any bar… It’s available now at Walmart, and Kroger family stores, including Ralph’s, Pick ‘n Save, and QFC, among others.
OREOs goes coffee-luxe…
It’s a new Thins version sandwiching Espresso Cream between two regular OREO chocolate wafers. For the first time… OERO is making just one batch – 1,000 packs – of these seasonal specials. And they’re only available by lottery. Sign up by November 3 at the official contest page for your chance to win a pack. Winners will receive a special redemption code by e-mail on November 4…
… Adds two new Holiday treats
OREO is infamous for launching multiple new flavours and collabs all at the same time. So it is with new Salted Caramel Shortbread (blonde, vanilla wafers stuffed with Shotbread-flavoured stuff); and Golden OREO Gluten-Free Lemon Creme. They are permanent additions to the Golden lineup, which cur-rently includes classic Golden Oreos, Double Stuf, and Original Lemon Creme.
Pop Tarts + Liquid Death = Squeezed to Death!
Liquid Death Pop-Tarts Squeezed to Death Frosted Orange puts the orange soda flavor from the bev-erage company’s Squeezed to Death drink into a standard-looking pastry.
AllRecipes reports: “The limited-edition flavor features an orange-colored crust stuffed with an orange-flavored filling. It’s finished with a spread of white frosting and a scattering of orange sprinkles.”
Dairy Queen replaces traditional Holiday Blizzard
The Candy Cane Blizzard, which has come around for several years at year’s end, is being supplanted by a new Hershey’s collab: the Holiday Cookie Swap Blizzard Treat Collection. AllRecipes explains, “This year, Dairy Queen’s holiday menu is inspired by a fan-favorite tradition: the Christmas cookie swap.” Check out the returning Peppermint Bark Blizzard, and the new Peanut Butter Blossom made with Hershey’s Mini Kisses Blizzard…
NOVELTIES
Jack In The Box fills up a new Avengers: Doomsday Dipping Box
The dippables include: Popcorn Chicken, two Mozzarella Sticks, two of Jack’s signature tacos, season-ed curly fries, and a drink. Get it with any of three special dipping sauces: There’s Assemble Sauce, an new mystery flavour; Mutant Marinara, a returning limited time favorite; and Fantastic Buttermilk Ranch.
The ‘toy’ is a fridge magnet collectors will want to grab. To make it more mysterious – and challenging – there are 4 versions, one for each Avengers hero, blind bagged and tossed into your DDB at random.
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be making some of us a little ‘sweeter’ in the coming days and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the next ‘Holidays under way’ edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.