"A huge trend this year is crossover items and collaboration menus. Wendy's took a page from two popular sweet snacks to create its new Frosty Fusions, while the Popeyes x Hot Ones menu channeled the famed YouTube interview show's "hot questions and even hotter wings" with three spicy chicken items. Spicy dishes have been seen all over 2025 menus, making them hot in more ways than one."
"Starbucks Pecan Oatmilk Cortado No offense, pumpkin spice lattes and chais, but Starbucks' Pecan Oatmilk Cortado is our new favorite way to welcome fall. This hot coffee drink mixes three shots of blonde espresso with sweet and nutty pecan syrup, oat milk, and a delightful pecan crunch topping. The brand-new autumn menu item became an instant hit among Starbucks fans for its warm, comforting, baked good-esque flavors paired with a bold espresso kick."
Ten standout fast-food items debuted in the U.S. from January to September 2025. Crossover items and collaboration menus emerged as a major trend, exemplified by Wendy's Frosty Fusions and the Popeyes x Hot Ones spicy lineup. Spicy dishes appeared across menus at McDonald's, Wendy's, and KFC. Several discontinued favorites returned, including a Panera soup revived after seven years and Taco Bell's Y2K menu revival. Social media buzz and reviews influenced reception of new releases. Seasonal beverage innovation arrived with Starbucks' Pecan Oatmilk Cortado, combining blonde espresso, pecan syrup, oat milk, and a pecan crunch topping.
Read at Tasting Table
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]