"Panera Bread may be known for its bagels, soups in bread bowls, and You Pick Twos, but I stopped by the eatery for something else: to try the three new menu items for winter. The trio of Crème Brûlée Bites (available as a stand-alone bite or for purchase in a 3-pack), Frozen Signature Hot Chocolate, and the Signature Hot Chocolate launched storewide on November 5, 2025, so I ventured to my local bakery to get a first-hand taste."
"As a former Panera employee, it's always a bit fun (and strangely nostalgic) for me to come into the store as a customer rather than a cashier. Funny enough, I avoided the cashier entirely and ordered via my mobile app, sat down, and waited for my items to be ready. I tried everything in the store, so it was as fresh as possible. How do these three holiday items taste? Do they deliver, or is it better to save a few bucks and avoid them?"
Three winter menu items launched on November 5, 2025: Crème Brûlée Bites, Frozen Signature Hot Chocolate, and Signature Hot Chocolate. The Crème Brûlée Bite is described as a buttery vanilla cake with a brown sugar streusel crumb and a sprinkle of salted caramel sugar. The bite tastes predominantly of vanilla with only subtle brown sugar notes and a slight streusel crunch. Texture is very moist; the underside adhered to the plate and tore when lifted. Pricing at the sampled bakery was $1.99 for a single bite or $4.99 for a three-pack, making the pack the better value.
Read at Tasting Table
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