Everyone's going bananas for bananas
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Bananas are emerging as one of the breakout flavors of the year — popping up in coffee drinks, milkshakes and bakery cases nationwide.
The big picture: Major chains across coffee and dessert are elevating the once-basic fruit — suggesting bananas may be moving from staple to star.
- What's notable isn't just the flavor itself, but how many national brands are rolling it out at once.
Dig in: Dunkin's spring menu debuts Wednesday with banana syrup and banana cold foam, anchoring more than a dozen banana-forward drinks, including the Banana Puddin' Cloud Latte, Banana Daydream Refresher and Chocolate Covered Banana Iced Coffee.
- The brand called banana "the flavor of the season." Anthony Epter, Dunkin's vice president of menu innovation, described it as "nostalgic, comforting and incredibly versatile."
- The rollout comes alongside Dunkin' Zero, a new zero-sugar energy drink line, signaling the chain is pairing playful flavors with functional offerings.
Meanwhile, Dunkin' sister brand Baskin-Robbins made Banana Dulce de Leche its March Flavor of the Month and is promoting $6 Banana Split Wednesdays nationwide.
- Dairy Queen launched a Savannah Bananas Split Shake blended with fresh banana last month while Nothing Bundt Cakes brought back its Banana Pudding Cake for spring.
- Tim Hortons is also leaning into banana with a new Choco Chip Banana Bread Donut and bite-sized Timbits.
- Starbucks rolled out Banana Protein Cold Foam, including an Iced Banana Cream Protein Matcha, in September.
🍌 My thought bubble: Banana offers brands something pumpkin spice no longer does — familiarity without fatigue.
- It taps nostalgia while still feeling fresh enough to anchor limited-time launches across categories.
The bottom line: Everyone's going bananas — and menus prove it.
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