With the holiday season upon us, national restaurant companies are looking for creative ways to keep our business.
Also, with temperatures falling to frigid levels, some people might be less inclined to have a traditional restaurant meal, choosing instead to cook in the warmth of their home or grab something quick at a fast food restaurant.
For this reason, several restaurants are offering customers new items for their fall and winter menus. Ranging from flavorful, satisfying burgers to soothing sweet treats, these items are designed to keep consumers from getting bored over the holidays, while also helping them save a little.
Peppermint Paradise – For a limited time, McDonald’s is offering its Peppermint Mocha and Peppermint Hot Chocolate. Both are basically the restaurant’s signature coffee and hot chocolate enhanced with (or ruined by, depending on your perspective) special peppermint syrup.
The Mocha is mixed with Arabica beans, nonfat or whole milk, chocolate and peppermint that are topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle.
So far, company executives have been happy with sales from the peppermint options, which range in price from $2.29 to $3.29, less than similar offerings at places such as Starbucks. If you enjoy candy such as Junior Mints and the York Peppermint Patty, this is the way to go.
The Perfect Blizzard – Not to be outdone, Dairy Queen will soon offer its Yule Flip Peppermint Chip Blizzard (for those who don’t buy ice cream over the counter, Blizzards, introduced in 1985, are cups of ice cream with different flavors of toppings.)
The Yule Flip Peppermint Chip selection combines peppermint candy cane pieces with rich chocolate chunks and that classic DQ soft serve.
“This colorful, flavorful holiday-inspired favorite really catches the spirit of the holiday season” Dairy Queen chief brand officer Michael Keller said.
Prices for the holiday Blizzard will range from $2.75 to $3.65 depending on size. Customers may also have a DQ ice cream cake made with the new peppermint flavor.
Burger Battle – Yes, I know burgers aren’t necessarily what most of us think of when it comes to holiday choices. However, two of the most successful restaurant companies, Wendy’s and Burger King, are offering new options to enjoy before we dive into those Thanksgiving entrees.
Wendy’s decided to revamp its classic hamburger, and developed Dave’s Hot N’ Juicy burger (named after the company’s late founder, Dave Thomas) after several months of surveying customers nationwide and consulting with culinary experts. The burger comes with extra cheese, a thicker beef patty and a buttered bun, among other upgrades.
Burger King has unveiled its BK Chef’s Choice, a premium burger being promoted along with other items from the restaurant such as new ice cream desserts, shakes, oatmeal and a “3 Pepper Angus” burger. The Chef’s Choice is made with ground chuck, American cheese, thick cut bacon, Romaine lettuce, red onions and tomatoes.
Holiday Slam Dunk – Dunkin Donuts has introduced seven new products. Competing with McDonald’s and Starbucks, the company is selling its own Mint Hot Chocolate and Peppermint Mocha, along with seasonal coffee and lattes that come in different flavors such as Cinnamon Swirl and Gingerbread.
Another new selection is the Cinnamon Swirl Muffin, which is served warm and topped with coffee cake streusel and white powdered sugar.
The standout options are the Holiday Donuts, which include Sprinkle the Cheer, which has red icing and a “holly berry” sprinkle mix, and the Holiday Star Donut, a star-shaped treat with vanilla icing, Bavarian Kreme and silver sprinkles.
