What’s New in Fast Food This Month? An Unexpected Burger King Collab, a Fried Chicken Feast & Plenty of Peppermint

One of the most iconic holiday characters graced the McDonald's kitchen on December 2 to bring us The Grinch Meal. The combo includes your choice of a Big Mac or ten-piece McNuggets, Dill Pickle McShaker Fries, a drink and a pair of festive socks. Having tried it myself, the side is no doubt the most exciting part. The pickle seasoning was equal parts tangy and herbaceous, thanks to vinegar powder and dried dill weed. It tasted borderline creamy, despite not having any buttermilk in the mix, and sort of reminded me of ranch dressing seasoning.

Most of the Starbucks holiday drinks (namely the Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Iced Sugar Cookie Latte and Iced Gingerbread Chai) were released on November 6. But on December 2, the coffee chain brought two more bevs to the menu: the resurrected Eggnog Latte and the sweet-and-salty Chestnut Praline Latte. And if you live near a Target with a Starbucks inside, you can treat yourself to a third exclusive holiday drink: Frozen Hot Chocolate.

Bonus? Starbucks has a new merch collab with Roller Rabbit, consisting of photogenic tumblers, cold cups and a camp mug that no one would mind unwrapping this holiday.

Chick-fil-A's holiday menu, which launched on November 10, is still up for grabs. Fans will be most psyched to know that the popular Peppermint Chip drinks have returned (my favorite is hands-down the Peppermint Chip Frosted Coffee for its balanced flavor and crystalline texture), but there's also a crowd-pleasing chicken nugget tray and chicken tortilla soup to enjoy.

As someone who's tasted literally every flavor of Cheesecake Factory cheesecake, take it from me: The Peppermint Stick Chocolate Swirl variety is well worth the trip, and it's only available for a limited time. The base is a white and dark chocolate cheesecake, swirled with refreshing pink peppermint. Best of all, the confection sits atop a mint chocolate brownie bottom (my favorite part) instead of the expected graham cracker crust. It's downright decadent, and the peppermint is subtle enough that it doesn't overwhelm the other components.

Remember the Wendy's Krabby Patty Kollab Meal from last year? Burger King just released its equivalent on December 2, and the lineup is totally over the top. The collection features SpongeBob’s Krabby Whopper on a square, yellow bun, Mr. Krabs’s Cheesy Bacon Tots, Patrick’s Star-berry Shortcake Pie and the Pirate’s Frozen Pineapple Float. Order them all in the Bikini Bottom Bundle, which comes in an adorable pineapple-shaped box.

It's been out since November 5, but there's still time to get your sip on at Panera, considering the chain released two all-new bevs—Signature Hot Chocolate and Frozen Signature Hot Chocolate—along with a new Crème Brûlée Bite. The hot and iced Mocha Latte is also back for the season.

First thing's first: Taco Bell's new Steak & Poblano Rolled Quesadilla hit menus on November 20. It has all the components and energy of a standard quesadilla, but it's rolled for portability. It contains fire-roasted poblanos, marinated steak, cheese and Spicy Ranch sauce.

Even cooler though (IMO, anyway), is the first release of Taco Bell's Fan Style menu creations. This app-only feature, which came out over the summer, asked fans to submit their customized orders for review. Three of more than 40K ideas were just added to the menu on November 20 for a limited time: the California Crunchwrap (made with steak, fries and guacamole), Burrito Bliss (a Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito with pico, Fiesta Strips and avocado ranch) and Cantina Craze (a Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco with creamy jalapeño sauce, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream).

Panda Express has a sweet collaboration with chocolate purveyor Compartés that hit virtual stores on December 2—and you won't believe the flavors. Original Orange, inspired by the chain's famous orange chicken, boasts a milk chocolate base studded with crispy rice, orange and a hint of red chili. The Kung Pao dark chocolate number has chopped peanuts, sea salt and chili pepper, while the Honey Walnut unites creamy white chocolate with honey, walnuts and crisp honeycomb. Best of all, there's the Fortune Cookie, a white chocolate bar studded with bits of Panda Express fortune cookies.

I had the immense pleasure of tasting Shake Shack's holiday milkshakes in 2024. This year, an entirely revamped lineup hit stores on November 18, and you can sip them all for a limited time. Think Peppermint Bark Chocolate, complete with a crackable white chocolate peppermint bark shell, Christmas Cookie (which was my favorite from last winter) and Sticky Toffee Pudding.

This edible ode to Five Nights at Freddy's 2 came out on November 17, but there's still time to taste the limited-edition menu. There are two new items that won't be here for long: Cheesy Bites with Marinara Sauce (aka garlic-crusted white cheddar cheese curds) and the Cupcake Cup (strawberry cake with pink icing). Order them individually, or pair them with Popeye's chicken by ordering the Freddy Fazbear Box or Freddy Fazbear Deluxe Box.

Tired of turkey? Ham got you down? Mix up your holiday menu with The Extra Crispy Festive Feast. For a limited time, you can score eight pieces of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits and—wait for it—a gravy flight featuring classic, white peppercorn and Southwest cheddar gravies for $25. Even better, guests can dig into the chain's famous Pot Pie if they're dining solo. Might I suggest pairing it with the recently resurrected Potato Wedges?

There are countless brands slinging wintry desserts through the end of 2025. Here are a few of the most exciting:

• Krispy Kreme: The doughnut chain's Peanuts Collection, released on November 29, includes three all-new doughnuts (Snoopy Cookies & Kreme, Charlie Brown Ornament and Christmas Wreath) and two fan-favorite holiday numbers, the Santa Belly Doughnut and the Holiday Sprinkle Doughnut.
• Paris Baguette: Shop a stunning collection of French-inspired cakes through December 25, ranging from a raspberry and cream roll cake to an almond-chocolate opera cake.
• Häagen-Dazs: Winter at this ice cream shop tastes like peppermint bark. Launched on November 13, the collection includes a shake, Dazzler, dipped waffle cone and frozen hot chocolate.
• Insomnia Cookies: Head to the nearest location on December 4 to indulge in the Snowball Classic, a sugar cookie stuffed with vanilla buttercream and topped with both confectioners' sugar and edible glitter. Go again on December 9 to try the Candy Cane Classic (a brown sugar cookie with white chips and peppermint pieces) or the Candy Cane Brookie.
• Tim Horton's: Your morning joe looks different this holiday, in the form of an OREO Peppermint Iced Capp, Brown Butter Caramel Latte or Peppermint Mocha Latte. (There's also an OREO Peppermint Hot Chocolate, if you want a treat instead of coffee.) Don't skip the Holiday Tree Donut, Snowman Donut or Hot Cocoa Crumble Muffin either.

A few beloved chains are shaking up deliciously seasonal libations for a limited time.

• Applebee's: There are two $6 Sleigh Bell Sips to sample this month, including the Sleigh All Day Rita and Tipsy Reindeer. Add a "vibe drop" (aka an extra shot of tequila or vodka) for a boozier take. There are also pricier drinks up for grabs, like the Perfect Cranberry Margarita, the Golden Goose and the Espres-So Happy Martini.
• Outback Steakhouse: Wash down that Bloomin' Onion with a Gingerbread Cookie Martini or a Gingerbread Fizz (cola, gingerbread flavor, lime and creamy vanilla).
• Red Lobster: Pair your favorite Cheddar Bay Biscuits with one of three seasonal sippers. There's the bourbon-based Under the Mistletoe, made with cranberry and blackberry; the Sugar Cookie Martini, made with Captain Morgan, RumChata and Amaretto, and the Snow Globe, a wine cocktail spiked with St-Germain.
• Chili's: The chain's $6 Margarita of the Month is the Merry Maker, which is infused with blackberry syrup and strawberry puree and served with a reusable Santa mustache straw.
• TGI Fridays: TGI Fridays is really leaning into the holiday spirit this year with elf-themed decor, movie and trivia nights and a seasonal menu, but the standouts are the festive cocktails. Visit this month to try the Jolly Pom-a-Rita (a pomegranate marg, as the name implies) and Snowball Choco-tini (essentially, a cotton candy-topped chocolate martini).