Fast-Food Franchises Celebrate the Holidays With Limited-Time Offers and Seasonal Treats
Updated December 18, 2025
Thanksgiving is behind us, Black Friday deals have come and gone, and the holiday season is officially in full swing. But with inflation, tariffs and tighter household budgets shaping how people spend this year, as reported by MSN, many shoppers are feeling the strain.
Still, holiday retail sales are expected to grow 2.9%–3.4%, according to Deloitte, and franchises are getting creative to capture some of that cautious spending. Brands are rolling out festive treats, cozy beverages and cheerful limited-time offers — all designed to give weary shoppers an affordable moment of joy.
Here’s a look at the most fun, festive and irresistible specials hitting menus right now.
Holiday 2025: Restaurant Deals, Specials and Menu Items
Another Broken Egg Cafe
Another Broken Egg Cafe, the daytime brunch franchise known for its indulgent twists on breakfast favorites, is blending comfort with festive flair this season. For a limited time, guests can indulge in the Spiked Peppermint Mocha Cold Brew, S’mores Martini and Peppermint Mocha Waffle.
Aroma Joe’s
Aroma Joe’s is earning a spot on the nice list with its festive lineup of seasonal beverages. Alongside the return of beloved favorites like hot chocolate and Peppermint Bark, the coffee brand has introduced a cheerful new offering: the Merry Mocha.
Auntie Anne’s
Auntie Anne’s, the iconic pretzel franchise found in malls, airports and shopping centers nationwide, is getting into the holiday spirit with its new Sparkleberry Lemonade. The drink comes in two varieties: the Sparkleberry Spritz, a fizzy blend of Sprite, original lemonade and blueberry flavor, and the Sparkleberry Mixer, a berry twist on classic lemonade. The brand is also introducing “Sparkleberry Smittens,” a festive tri-mitten set, and the “Together Tether,” an oversized scarf designed for two.
Beans & Brews
Beans & Brews, the Utah-born coffeehouse franchise known for its high-altitude roasting, is decking the halls this winter with a new holiday beverage collection. Highlights include the Sugar Cookie Latte, Turtle Mocha, Dark Truffle Peppermint Mocha and White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Mocha.
BIGGBY COFFEE
BIGGBY COFFEE has released new menu options just in time for the holidays. Highlights include the Sweet Foam Scotchie Cookie Cold Brew, Peppermint Stick Mocha Latte, Sweet Foam Peppermint Stick Mocha Cold Brew, Peppermint Stick Hot Chocolate, Sugar Cookie and Double Chocolate Mini Muffins.
Buona
On Dec. 13 only, Buona — a restaurant franchise specializing in Italian beef sandwiches — is offering a special holiday deal: a regular Italian beef sandwich with French fries for $7.99. The offer is valid at all locations.
Burger King
Burger King is bringing back its limited-edition BK Advent Calendar for the holidays, and it’s filled with nostalgic fun. Inside the 12 drawers, fans will find retro-inspired goodies like a JD the Dog plushie, an inflatable chair, Cini Minis candles, ornaments, a puzzle cube and a mini board game.
Cheba Hut
Cheba Hut, a cannabis-themed sub franchise, is rolling through the holiday season with a new limited-time bar feature: Sleigh’d and Confused. This lemon-forward pint features Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka, lemon, simple syrup and Coconut Berry Red Bull.
Chicken Salad Chick
Chicken Salad Chick, the fast-casual franchise beloved for its fresh, Southern-style chicken salads, is kicking off the 2025 holiday season with the return of Deck the Holly. This festive spin on the Jalapeño Holly flavor mixes jalapeños and chicken with cranberries for a bright, cheerful bite.
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop — the fun-loving taco franchise with a cult following — is getting festive with its new Jingle Berry ’Rita. This holiday cocktail blends the Frozen House Margarita with blackberry syrup, Blackberry Moonshine and a Black Cherry White Claw dunk. Customer can catch it at participating locations through Dec. 31.
Habit Burger & Grill
The Habit Burger & Grill, the fast-casual charburger franchise known for its smoky, made-to-order flavors, is serving up some holiday cheer. The beloved Patty Melt is making its comeback, and it’s bringing company: brand-new Cheesy Cauliflower Tots and a rich Peppermint Bark Shake. Guests can enjoy these limited-time menu items throughout the holiday season while supplies last.
Jeff’s Bagel Run
Jeff’s Bagel Run is bringing serious holiday cheer to the morning routine. Now through Dec. 31, the beloved bagel-and-coffee franchise is rolling out a festive spread of new and returning seasonal favorites. Guests can sip on indulgent sips like the Peppermint Mocha Cold Foam Cold Brew, Honey Pistachio Latte and Dubai Chocolate Matcha Latte — all perfectly paired with the brand’s small-batch, made-fresh-daily bagels. Fans can also spread the joy with limited-time flavors like Cookie Butter Cream Cheese and Espresso Cream Cheese.
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is celebrating the season with five limited-time, peppermint-packed Holiday Flavorites. The Peppermint Sugar Cookie features Cake Batter and Cookie Butter Italian Ice layered with vanilla soft ice cream and topped with crushed peppermint. Peppermint Bark combines Cookies & Cream Italian Ice with vanilla soft ice cream and a sprinkle of crushed peppermint. Peppermint Mocha pairs Caffe Latte Italian Ice with chocolate soft ice cream and peppermint candies. The Peppermint Oreo® Ice Cream Sandwich brings together Oreo® wafers, vanilla soft ice cream and crushed peppermint for a crunchy, on-the-go treat. Finally, the Peppermint Bark Jelati Cake is a shareable layered dessert with Cookies & Cream Italian Ice, vanilla soft ice cream, crushed peppermint and Oreo® crumbles.
Jimmy John’s
Jimmy John’s is adding a sweet twist to the holidays with its new Holiday Magic Cookie made with M&M’S. The sandwich franchise is getting festive with a sugar cookie packed with red and green milk chocolate M&M’S and topped with a cheerful winter sprinkle mix. It’s a fun, colorful treat that brings a little holiday magic to every order.
KFC
KFC has a new menu option just in time for the holidays — the Extra Crispy Festive Feast. For $25, guests get eight pieces of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits and the gravy flight featuring classic, white peppercorn and southwest cheddar gravy.
Kolache Factory
Kolache Factory, the Houston-based bakery-café franchise known for its fresh, hand-crafted pastries, is celebrating the holidays with a festive new flavor lineup. December’s Flavor of the Month, the Chocolate Cinnamon Twist, features soft, sweet kolache dough baked fresh each morning, filled with rich chocolate and a ribbon of warm cinnamon, and finished with a drizzle of icing for the perfect holiday indulgence. Guests can enjoy this treat alongside one of the brand’s seasonal specialty lattes — Crème Brulee or Gingerbread — each designed to complement the festive Chocolate Cinnamon Twist.
Krispy Kreme
Good grief! Krispy Kreme is teaming up with Peanuts for a whimsical holiday doughnut collection. Three new treats bring the beloved characters to life: the Snoopy Cookies & Kreme Doughnut (Snoopy-shaped and filled with Cookies & Kreme), the Charlie Brown Ornament Doughnut (stuffed with brownie batter–flavored filling and finished with Charlie Brown’s signature zig-zag) and the Christmas Wreath Doughnut (an Original Glazed topped with a green buttercreme swirl, sprinkles and a Snoopy-and-Woodstock sugar piece).
Krystal
Krystal, the original home of the slider in the South, is celebrating the holiday season with the return of Krystalmas, offering daily digital deals exclusively for Club Krystal loyalty members from Dec. 1–31. Specials include $1 Krystals on Mondays, free Glazed Bombs with a Sackful on Tuesdays, Patty Melt deals, $1 Coca-Cola beverages on Thursdays, free Chili Cheese Fries on Fridays with purchase and discounted Sackfuls on weekends.
From Dec. 1–25, members also earn automatic entries into Krystal’s first-ever Coca-Cola sweepstakes when purchasing any Coca-Cola drink or combo via the app. Prizes include a VIP NASCAR experience, free Krystal for a year, Xbox consoles and smart TVs.
McDonald’s
McDonald’s is celebrating the holidays by releasing a limited-edition meal inspired by Christmas’ grumpiest character: the Grinch. The Grinch Meal features a Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium drink, socks and Dill Pickle “Grinch Salt” McShaker Fries. The fries are served with dill pickle seasoning on the side. This holiday meal is available at participating locations.
MilkShake Factory
MilkShake Factory, the family-owned dessert shop known for its premium chocolates and over-the-top shakes, is kicking off the season with festive treats available through Jan. 4. The star of the lineup is the Peppermint Brownie Fudge Shake, a decadent blend of peppermint, brownies and fudge topped with a brand-new Peppermint Cake Pop. The holiday chocolate collection also delivers plenty of cheer with the Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop, gift-ready Molded Chocolate Snowmen and two seasonal barks: classic Peppermint Bark with crushed peppermint in creamy milk chocolate and Hot Chocolate Bark filled with marshmallows and crispy rice.
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Nothing Bundt Cakes is spreading holiday joy with the return of its fan-favorite Peppermint Chocolate Chip Bundt and the debut of the new Coconut Cream Snowflake. The bakery franchise brings its signature handmade Bundt cakes to the season with two festive, limited-time flavors.
The Coconut Cream Snowflake features a fluffy coconut cake filled and drizzled with vanilla pudding, then finished with delicate coconut flakes and winter snowflake sprinkles. The Peppermint Chocolate Chip brings back a seasonal classic: rich chocolate cake packed with chocolate chips and cool peppermint pieces. Both treats capture the warm, celebratory spirit at the heart of the Nothing Bundt Cakes experience.
Paris Baguette
Paris Baguette, a neighborhood bakery-café franchise celebrated for its fresh breads, pastries and signature cakes, has unveiled its new Holiday Cake Collection featuring more than 10 festive, celebration-ready creations. Standouts include the Holiday Chocolate French Roll Cake (above), the whimsical Penguin Pond Chocolate Cake and the Winter Village Chocolate Hazelnut Cake made with Nutella. For larger gatherings, the bakery-café also offers holiday catering with handcrafted sandwiches, salads, pastries and cakes.
The Paris Baguette Shop is launching on Dec. 1. Gifts for purchase include the Signature Soft Cream Crewneck Sweatshirt, Signature Soft Cream Sweatpants, Croissant Slippers, Signature Latte Candle and Croissant Glass Tumbler. Plus, every order will include a scratch-off for a free in-store treat, with one lucky guest winning free cake for a year!
Pizza Inn
Just in time for the holidays, Pizza Inn brought back its Stuffed Crust Pizzert. This dessert item’s chocolate-filled crust takes the classic chocolate chip Pizzert to an indulgent level and has become a seasonal favorite for families gathering around the buffet or dinner table.
PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans
PJ’s Coffee, the New Orleans–born coffeehouse franchise, is pouring on the holiday cheer now through Jan. 6 with three festive seasonal sips. The Gingerbread Chai Latte blends warm gingerbread spices with chai and a sprinkle of cinnamon. The Jingle Bells Shaken Espresso brings together chocolate and cinnamon, shaken until silky and finished with white chocolate cold foam. And the Peppermint Bark Latte delivers full holiday nostalgia with peppermint, white chocolate, PJ’s signature coffee, whipped cream, chocolate drizzle and crushed peppermint pieces.
Playa Bowls
Even though Playa Bowls is synonymous with summer, the healthy fast-food franchise is embracing the colder months with a lineup of cozy winter specials available through December. Fans can dig into the Berry Good Morning Oatmeal Bowl with steel-cut oats, blueberry flax granola, fresh berries and a drizzle of honey. The Banana Power Oatmeal Bowl packs in protein with chocolate protein, banana, granola and peanut butter. And for something festive, the Frosted Hazelnut Smoothie blends acai with banana, strawberries, Nutella, blueberry flax granola and crushed peppermint.
Potbelly
For a limited time only, Potbelly is including the Eggnog Shake on its menu. This seasonal drink is a blend of ice cream, cold milk, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla.
Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard
Rita’s, the beloved ice cream franchise, is bringing cozy flavors to winter with a trio of seasonal milkshakes. The Apple Butter Dream blends vanilla frozen custard with apple butter for a warm, nostalgic sip. The Chocolate Coconut shake mixes chocolate frozen custard with sweet coconut, while the Cookies n’ Cream swirls vanilla frozen custard with crunchy OREO® pieces. Each one is finished with whipped cream and a cherry for the perfect wintry indulgence.
Scooter’s Coffee
The Scooter’s Coffee franchise is celebrating the season with a holiday menu inspired by the family-favorite movie “Elf.” The Candy Cane Forest Mocha (served hot, iced or blended) combines espresso with mocha and peppermint, topped with whipped cream, mocha drizzle and peppermint chips. The Swirly Twirly Sugar Cookie Latte blends espresso with cookie butter and white mocha, finished with a swirl of whipped cream and festive sprinkles.
The holiday lineup also includes two seasonal bakery treats — the Swirly Twirly Sugar Cookie Sandwich and the Candy Cane Forest Cinnamon Roll — adding a warm, nostalgic touch to every visit.
Starbucks
Starbucks is making the holidays even merrier by adding festive flavors of spiced gingerbread, caramel and peppermint to its new seasonal menu. The coffee giant’s Peppermint Mocha, Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino Blended Beverage, Caramel Brulée Latte, Iced Caramel Brulée Latte, Gingerbread Latte and Iced Gingerbread Chai can be enjoyed for a limited time. Food items to indulge in include the Polar Bear Cake Pop, Classic Snowman Cookie, Cranberry Bliss Bar and Sugar Plum Cheese Danish.
Sunny Street Café
Sunny Street Café is making chilly mornings and afternoons cozier with a new winter menu. Highlights include Breakfast Nachos (above), Turkey Melt, Queso Breakfast Burrito, Butter Pecan Pancakes and Salted Caramel Cold Brew.
TGI Fridays
Select Fridays locations are transforming into immersive winter wonderlands this holiday season, complete with a larger-than-life “Original Elf Universe,” dazzling floor-to-ceiling décor and playful zones like Candy Cane Corner and the Snowflake Lounge. Guests can snack and sip their way through seasonal treats like the Christmas Tree-O, Melting Snowman Sundae and festive cocktails such as the Jolly Pom-a-Rita and Snowball Choco-tini.
The Original Rainbow Cone
The Original Rainbow Cone, the iconic ice cream franchise celebrated for its colorful stacked scoops, is serving up holiday cheer with a festive menu available through Dec. 31. Seasonal standouts include the Peppermint Sliced Creation, Peppermint Shake, Peppermint Cake, Peppermint Cookie Sandwich and the indulgent Pecan Pie Super Sundae — each one crafted to bring a sweet, wintry twist to the brand’s classic treats.
Vicious Biscuit
Vicious Biscuit, the scratch-made biscuit franchise with a loyal following, is rolling out a trio of holiday specials. The Frenchie sandwich layers thin-sliced roast beef and melted white cheddar on a signature buttermilk biscuit, served with warm au jus. The Peppermint Mocha Latte returns for the season with its rich blend of chocolate and mint. And for a festive cocktail, The Angry Elf mixes peppermint, Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlúa and Jameson Irish Whiskey into one smooth, holiday-ready sip.
Wendy’s
Wendy’s is stepping into the holiday season with a festive new treat: the limited-time Snickerdoodle Cookie Frosty Fusion. This seasonal indulgence blends a vanilla or chocolate Frosty with sweet, cinnamon-spiced snickerdoodle sauce and tops it off with cookie crumbles for the perfect holiday twist.
Yogurtland
Yogurtland’s seasonal Peppermint Mocha flavor is a creamy blend of chocolatey coffee and crisp peppermint, topped with a Gingerbread Man Cookie. This festive flavor is available for a limited time.
Ziggi’s Coffee
Ziggi’s Coffee’s is stirring up holiday nostalgia with a seasonal menu available through Jan. 12. Festive favorites include the Double Chocolate Muffin, Chai-Nog, Eggnog Latte and Sleighin’ Dirty — a Dirty Soda blend of Dr Pepper, cinnamon flavor and eggnog, finished with a sprinkle of nutmeg.
