Posted in Beverages on November 6, 2025
Dessert beverages serve double duty as a perfect treat any time of the day. Today’s consumers are thirsty for beverages that feel unique and fun. That’s why sweet beverages are becoming one of foodservice’s strongest growth drivers.1 The payoff for operators? High margins, easy execution and guests willing to splurge on something memorable.
From creative dirty sodas to candy-laden milkshakes, playful spins on cold foam and frozen drinks inspired by classic desserts, operators are stirring up new ways to turn everyday occasions into celebratory moments and extra revenue.1
1. Dirty Sodas: Customizable and Profitable
Once a niche Utah drive-through trend, dirty sodas are now making their way onto mainstream menus. These playful drinks that blend fountain sodas, energy drinks or lemonades with flavored syrup, cream and citrus were hits on social media and are now being launched by several major quick-service restaurants.
Sonic Drive-In’s Dirty Dr. Pepper, with coconut, cream and lime, and Taco John’s “dirty” Tropicana Lemonades, with cream and coconut, show how operators can adapt the trend for broader appeal. According to Datassential, dirty sodas are in the adoption stage, with moderate growth and high appeal, especially among Gen Z. Specialty operators have built entire businesses around dirty sodas, emphasizing consumers’ appetite for experiential beverages and incorporating products from Mondelēz International to provide additional options for guests.2
Studies show that more than half of consumers (53%) who have tried dirty sodas love or like them.3 With consumer curiosity, social shares and a low barrier to entry, dirty sodas can offer operators an easy way to profit on beverage innovation.
Creativity in dirty sodas continues to expand as flavors, creams and bases are expanding too. Lavender, for example, has grown 46% on beverage menus over the past four years, adding a premium twist to these already experiential drinks.4
- Why it matters: Beverage LTOs like dirty sodas drive higher check averages and outpace snack returns in profitability.
- Operator example: McDonald’s is testing dirty sodas alongside creative cold brews in 500+ U.S. locations to capture Gen Z demand.
2. Branded Dessert Beverages: Delivering Nostalgia
According to Datassential, approximately half of Gen Alphas ask parents for specific brands of cereal, sweets and savory snacks by name. And across all grocery categories, most Gen Alphas recognize key brand characteristics like color or iconography, even if they might not remember all brands by name.5
What this means for operators is that brand recognition often plays a role in favorite desserts and beverages, or the success of limited-time offers. Leveraging iconic brands like OREO, Golden OREO, CHIPS AHOY! and SOUR PATCH KIDS can instantly deliver nostalgia, elevating dessert beverage appeal for kids of all ages.
Additionally, for Gen Z, many classic desserts like devil’s food cake or Boston cream pie feel brand-new to them, creating “newstalgia” opportunities that can turn retro desserts and favorite candies into fresh dessert drinks.6
The dessert/snack segment, which includes beverages, saw an 8% growth in sales by the end of 2024, driven by dessert offerings such as novelty ice creams and beverages. This indicates a growing potential for beverages positioned as both desserts and snacks to thrive in this category.7
On top of this, non-alcoholic beverages were one of the fastest-growing categories of limited-time offers last year, according to Datassential, making now the perfect time to offer dessert beverages.8
Recipes to Consider
3. Cold Foam: New Flavors Add Interest
Cold foam, a frothy topping made by whipping nonfat or low-fat milk and used to adorn cold beverages such as cold brew and iced lattes, has been growing in popularity for years, especially as innovative flavors have entered the scene.
Already recognized for adding texture and flavor to iced coffee offerings, cold foam’s unique mouthfeel contributes to its popularity, and some establishments, such as Cody Road Coffee and Cabin Creek Coffee, have introduced creative cold foam options like raspberry, red velvet mocha and dairy-free alternatives, showcasing cold foam’s versatility and appeal across different consumer preferences.9
Cold foam has experienced remarkable 1,698% growth over the past four years, with an additional 256% growth projected through 2028, according to Datassential10. It’s especially popular during seasonal events, such as Valentine’s Day, when chocolate cold foam is paired with drinks such as Starbucks’ Pink Drink to create unique flavor profiles. Experimentation with flavors like salted caramel and pistachio further enhances its appeal in fruit-based beverages, making it a refreshing choice for spring and summer.10
Creating new cold foam flavors is as easy as adding flavored syrups directly into the milk before whipping or frothing it. The options are endless.
4. A New Spin on Milkshakes: Dessert-Inspired
Imagine your favorite childhood desserts transformed into milkshakes — chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin pie, peach cobbler, apple pie, banana pudding; the list goes on. Nostalgic desserts are increasingly being reimagined as beverages, like s’mores milkshakes, resonating particularly well with Gen Z due to their novelty and uniqueness.6
Frozen non-alcoholic drinks, which include variations like frozen hot chocolate, have shown marked growth in midscale dining (+20%) and fast-casual dining (+7%), with moderate increases in quick-service restaurants (+5%).11
Which classic desserts inspire you?
For more dessert beverage inspiration, be sure to read “A World of Opportunity: Make Ice Cream Desserts Hot Sellers With Global Flavors.” Hungry for expert help with every part of the menu, for every season? Dig into the recipes and insights in our Culinary Center. For customized menu solutions, contact us.
Sources
- Technomic, The Liquid Revolution: How Beverages Become the Innovation Battlefield in Foodservice, October 2025
- Datassential, MAC Movers Q1 2025, June 2025
- Datassential, Dirty Soda, September 2025
- Datassential, Trend Wire: Summer 2025, July 2025
- Datassential, Gen Alpha, September 2023
- Datassential, Trends We’re Tracking, July 2025
- Datassential, Datassential 500, June 2025
- Datassential, State of the LTO, 2025
- Datassential, Cold Coffee, April 2024
- Datassential, Trend Bites, April 2025
- Datassential, State of the Menu 2025, February 2025
