Posted in Beverages on May 19, 2025
With the official start to summer around the corner, it's time for a temperature check of what consumers hope to see on the menu. An informed summer menu mix could help you get on a hot streak of sales.
Fact is, 53% of consumers associate the summer season with special flavors, dishes, beverages and limited-time offers, according to the market research firm Datassential.1 And nearly 60% are interested in purchasing restaurant specials and LTOs in the summer.1
Summer-specific options can encompass a variety of formats and flavors—ranging from desserts imbued with a taste of lemonade or key lime to offerings that contain yogurt and other beverage elements, according to Chef Jackie Joseph, Mondelēz International Foodservice Brand Ambassador, founder of Louisville, Kentucky’s JJBakes & Co. and the season four winner of the Food Network’s “Best Baker in America.”
“When I think of summer, I envision smaller portions, lighter options—desserts that can be held in your hand,” Chef Jackie said. When asked about what operators should be looking to menu in the upcoming months, Joseph suggested exploring refreshing portable options. Yogurt recipes like Raspberry-Chia Yogurt Parfaits made with NILLA Wafersand Frozen Berry Yogurt Milkshake with HONEY MAID Graham Crackers can appeal to wellness-conscious consumers who also hanker for a delicious treat.
A Focus on Traditional Favorites
Consumers expect to see some classic dessert elements—such as standard ice cream flavors like strawberry and mint chocolate chip—during the summer months, according to Brand Ambassador and Chef Maeve Rochford, who owns Sugar and Scribe bakery in La Jolla, California.
As temperatures rise, boost the menu with creative twists that take classics to another level of seasonal flavor appeal.
Celebrate the sweet taste of strawberries with three summertime desserts. The Strawberry Banana Milkshake made with OREO Cookie Pieces blends creamy vanilla ice cream with banana and strawberry purees, topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. The Red White & Blue Milkshake made with OREO Cookie Pieces delivers a festive twist with vanilla ice cream, blueberry and raspberry sauces, and OREO crumbles. For a rich finish, the Tres Leches Cake Cups made with NILLA Wafers combine a triple-soaked NILLA Wafers cake with whipped cream, fresh strawberries, salted caramel drizzle, and a crunchy NILLA crumble, creating a parfait that celebrates Latin tradition with an American twist.
Given that cookies and cream indexed high in Datassential research as a sweet summer flavor,1 foodservice operators may want to scoop up recipe ideas like Cookies 'n' Creme Hand Pie made with OREO Cookie Pieces or this Baked Alaska made with OREO Cookie Pieces.
Everything Cold is New Again
Chef Jackie advised to expect an expanded amount of newstalgia offerings–“twists and modernization on comfort or nostalgic sweets”–during the summer months.
“[Newstalgia] elevates and brings new light to classic desserts,” she said.
As Datassential explained the nostalgic mega trend, “Dessert is a menu part that loves to be playful, meaning that candy, cereal, and retro snacks work as inclusions and flavors in a wide variety of applications.”2
A refreshing mix of novelty and nostalgia, Meyer Lemon Dessert made with SOUR PATCH KIDS combines a sweet childhood treat with luscious layers of tangy Meyer lemon curd.
“We love doing key lime curd coconut bars and lemon meringue mini-pies,” Chef Maeve said. “Our trifle is also super popular and has summer flavors tied into it, such as pistachio and chocolate, banana cream pie, blueberry lemon trifle and strawberry shortcake.”
Considering that 56% of U.S. consumers are interested in global frozen desserts,3 it makes sense to diversify the menu with a few international inspirations. Innovative recipes like Cookies and Cream Ice Cream "Tacos" with OREO Cookie Pieces, and Thai Tea Sweetened Condensed Milk Ice Cream made with OREO Cookie Pieces add global variety and multicultural appeal to the menu.
Dessert drinks like Dulce de leche Shake made with Chunky CHIPS AHOY! Cookie Pieces can help satisfy a thirst for global flavors during the summer months.
Pour on the Summer Beverage Sales
Smoothies, of course, are a summertime staple. Made from leafy green vegetables mixed with fruits, nut butters, plant milks or other sweeteners, green smoothies in particular have been cropping up on menus. These palate-pleasing, plant-forward concoctions have surged +31% on menus over the last 4 years and are projected to grow 48% over the next four years.4
For another fresh take on summer refreshment, try the Vegan Matcha Tea Shake with OREO Cookie Pieces. Crafted with almond milk, matcha and boba, this blended beverage combines vegan goodness with sweet flavor appeal. Peanut butter lovers will gravitate towards a Protein Smoothie made with NUTTER BUTTER Cookies, which has a supremely smooth texture.
Keep in mind that cold coffee sales jump in summer. Iced and cold coffee concoctions accounted for about 75% of Starbucks’ beverage sales in its fiscal 2024 third quarter, up from 37% in 2013.5
Younger consumers in particular are perking up cold coffee sales. Forty-five percent of coffee drinkers ages 18 to 24 said they had a cold coffee in the past day.5
Iced coffee creations like Frozen Latte made with Chunky CHIPS AHOY! Cookie Pieces or an Ice Cream Affogato made with OREO Cookie Pieces make the ideal dessert drink for coffee lovers of all ages.
Freshly Grown Features Are Cool
Using authentic ingredients, instead of flavorings, is one way to make desserts stand out in summer, according to Chef Maeve.
With an abundance of seasonal fruits and vegetables available in summer, integrating items like apples or raspberries can help boost desserts’ appeal to consumers who favor foods with natural and fresh qualities.
In addition to the top mainstream flavors that have been used in sweet items for the past five years—which include produce-based options like strawberry, blueberry and coconut—operators may be able to pique customers’ interest by utilizing pomegranates, wildberries, figs and tangerines.
Serving desserts made with botanical elements like lavender can be another way to work the bounty from in-bloom summer gardens into your menu.
At Sugar and Scribe, Chef Maeve has menued floral-infused baked goods, including a mango hibiscus coconut bar and lemon lavender croissant round.
Hot for Branded Ingredients
Iconic cookies, candy and other products are also popular dessert inclusions. Trusted brands like OREO, CHIPS AHOY! and SOUR PATCH KIDS provide name recognition that can generate excitement and buzz about new and innovative dessert concepts.
The Dolly Llama, for example, which tops Liege waffles with ice cream and other ingredients, said summer’s warm weather helps attract customers to its 10 locations.
“Guests love cooling off with ice cream,” the chain said in a statement. “Our shakes also are very popular during the summer—such as the Snow Storm that’s made with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, OREO cookies and whipped cream.”
Consider wow-worthy shake concepts like Ultimate Cookie Milkshake made with OREO, CHIPS AHOY!, and NUTTER BUTTER Cookies and NILLA Wafers–a feast for the eyes with social media appeal.
Portable Treats Are No Sweat
In summer, patrons may be especially interested in desserts they can either enjoy on-premise or take to an outdoor location—which can make portable menu items a must.
“I find making desserts that are light and easily transported is key for consumers,” Chef Maeve said. “An example of this is the dessert cups we do that have fresh berries layered with chocolate mousse.”
Dessert bars, boards and charcuterie trays customers can bring to parties may also pop up on menus in the coming months, according to Chef Jackie.
“They offer smaller assorted portions and a variety of snacking sweets, which is perfect for a sweet summer get-together,” she said.
By offering desserts that feature fresh fruit, to-go capabilities and other summer-friendly components, foodservice operators might find they’re able to attract new customers and increase dessert-related traffic outside of the traditional evening hours when transactions may have picked up in the past—and as a result, potentially boost their overall sales across dayparts.
For more summer dessert inspo, be sure to dig into our post Cool Ideas: A Fresh Take on Frozen Treats for Summer Menus. Hankering for summer recipes across dayparts? Visit our Culinary Center.
1 Datassential, Summer Trends, March 2024
2 Datassential, Desserts, January 2024
3 Datassential, Global Desserts, May 2024
4 Datassential, Flavor of the Week: Green Smoothie, January 22, 2024
5 Baker, Ryan, Here's why Americans are obsessed with iced coffee, CNBC, November 15, 2025
