Drive sales with dessert-style sippers
W hile consumers with a hankering for a sweet pick-me-up have long relied on the afternoon coffee—alternative and innovative dessert-inspired coffee flavor additions are growing even more popular.1 Newstalgia—the concept of combining nostalgic, childhood emotional flavor connections with new formats—has been further motivating this confection craze. Today’s consumers seek contemporary, elevated experiences that feel fresh and exciting, while providing that feel-good, comforting vibe memorable treats give—and dessert-inspired coffee beverages offer the perfect solution for operations looking to capitalize on this.2 We’re here with a platter of freshly-baked dessert-beverage solutions so that you can capture treat occasions with ease—no ovens required.
Sugar, spice and everything nice
The journey of dessert-inspired coffee flavors began with familiar favorites like vanilla, hazelnut, and chocolate. However, the widespread success of the pumpkin spiced latte—first made popular by Starbucks in the early 2000s—opened the door for more adventurous flavors in coffee. Check out these marketplace examples that illustrate how some coffee brands are transforming classic desserts into crave-worthy beverages.
I’ll take some cookie with my coffee
Sugar cookie, gingerbread and snickerdoodle flavored beverages have gained popularity—and for good reason. The comforting, homey feel of a fresh-from-the-oven cookie provides the dopamine hit consumers long for in the middle of the workday. And combined with caffeine? The perfect combo.
- Dunkin’s 2024 Holiday Cookie Signature Latte blended espresso and whole milk with notes of buttery cookie and toasted almond, topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle and cookie butter crumbles.
- Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s Holiday 2024 Gingerbread Cookie lineup featured a gingerbread syrup that delivered a sweet and spicy flavor, just like biting into a fresh-baked gingerbread cookie.
Pastry flavored, please
The cookie-forward flavors quickly inspired pastry interest—drawing inspiration from things like cinnamon rolls, donuts and other freshly mixed, rolled and sugared baked goods.
- Dunkin’s Blueberry Donut Iced Coffee with Sweet Cold Foam featured on their Summer 2024 menu combined iced coffee with flavors of blueberry and sweet pastry dough.
Cobblers, crème brûlées and cakes, oh my!
Today, coffee brands push the boundaries with even more complex and innovative flavor combinations reminiscent of cobblers, pies, cakes, cheesecakes, gelatos and other deluxe desserts.
- Starbucks’ Iced Apple Crisp Oat Milk Macchiato launched in fall of 2024 layers apple, cinnamon, oats, and brown sugar with Blonde Espresso Roast, creamy oat milk, and a spiced-apple drizzle.
- Dutch Bros Coffee’s Chocolate Covered Strawberry Mocha created for Valentine’s Day 2025 blends espresso with strawberry and chocolate milk, topped with Soft Top® and heart-shaped sprinkles.
Ready-to-drink desserts
While dessert-inspired flavors have traditionally been featured in made-to-order coffee—the ability to capitalize on this sweet-treat occasion isn’t exclusive to coffee shops or facilities with an espresso machine in reach. All operators can leverage this trend with ease through the use of ready-to-drink beverages. PepsiCo’s portfolio offers a wide variety of Starbucks ready-to-drink beverages, including several on-trend dessert-inspired options like Starbucks Frappuccino Oat Milk Dark Chocolate Brownie, Starbucks Frappuccino Oat Milk Caramel Waffle Cookie, and Starbucks® Frappuccino® Lite in Creamy Vanilla Gelato, Double Chocolate Gelato, and Sea Salt Caramel Gelato. As beverage consumption continues to surge—especially in the afternoon daypart—dessert-inspired ready-to-drink coffee offers a convenient treat alternative for consumers seeking indulgence without the wait.
Spread a little sweetness with PepsiCo
Dessert-inspired coffee beverages stand out as a must-have menu addition for operators looking to differentiate and drive sales in 2025. With PepsiCo, you can hand your guests a cup of fresh-from-the-oven flavors without the mixing, spreading, baking, cooling and frosting that’s typically involved with traditional dessert-making. Our portfolio makes it easy to stock your cold case with sippable confections and give consumers the gift of nostalgic delight. Not only will they get the pick-me-up they need, but your day will also be brighter once you catch sight of those sweet, sweet sales.
Sources
1 Datassential Hot Coffee Menu Adoption Curve January 2024
2 Nations Restaurant News, The rise of the drinkable dessert on restaurant menus, January 2024
