Cozy season may be getting closer, but it’s not officially back just yet according to Dunkin’.
It’s August 2024, and over the past few years it’s become apparent that the best way to tell autumn is coming long before there’s a chill in the air is to track the return of pumpkin spice.
For one of the chains that goes hardest for this fall phenomenon, one question remains: When will Dunkin’ release its pumpkin spice lineup?
What pumpkin items has Dunkin’ offered?
Last year, Dunkin’ rode the cinnamon and nutmeg train with its Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte. The beverage was reminiscent of the OG Starbucks drink and featured notes of pumpkin, vanilla and fall spices. The flavoring was blended with espresso and milk, then topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle and a dusting of cinnamon sugar.
The chain also had two other menu items that utilized everyone’s favorite orange gourd.
One was a Nutty Pumpkin Coffee (pumpkin, cream and a touch of hazelnut) and the other was a Pumpkin Swirl (a flavoring option). The latter was Dunkin’s “most sought-after flavor” add-on, which customers could use to customize their drinks by adding it to hot, iced or frozen coffee, espresso drinks and cold brew.
When will Dunkin’s pumpkin spice items return in 2024?
Unfortunately for folks who already got their windbreakers and corduroy ready, a Dunkin’ representative tells TODAY.com that the chain “cannot confirm timing just yet” on its fall menu.
Still, there are some breadcrumbs we can follow to figure out when the coffee chain’s seasonal lineup may return.
Looking back at when Dunkin’ dropped its fall menu in past years, we can venture a guess that it’ll probably be pumpkin time on a Wednesday in August:
- 2019: Wednesday, Aug. 21
- 2020: Wednesday, Aug. 19
- 2021: Wednesday, Aug. 18
- 2022: Wednesday, Aug. 10
- 2023: Wednesday, Aug. 16
Instagram account Markie Devo also read the tea leaves (or the cider pulp) when he figured out the exact date Dunkin’s fall menu would drop in 2023 about a month in advance.
The food-focused account posted a leaked menu on Aug. 2 this year, crediting a “Dunkin’ employee” with sending in the tip. Devo says the fall menu will come this month, followed by the chain’s Halloween menu which he says is set to drop weeks before the spooky holiday.
“The fall menu goes down on August 28th, the halloween menu will launch on October 16th at participating Dunkin’ locations nationwide,” Devo wrote.
A peek at Dunkin’s fall menu
Devo also says the new drinks in store include Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte, Almond Spice and a new drink called a “Dunkalatte.” Food offerings include Loaded Hash Browns, Maple Sugar Seasoned Bacon, Banana Chocolate Chip Bread, an Apple Cider Donut and its returning pumpkin-flavored trio: a Pumpkin Donut, Pumpkin Munchkins and a Pumpkin Muffin.
According to Devo, the Halloween menu will introduce a new “Potion Macchiato” with ube flavoring and marshmallows, a Spider Donut, Halloween-themed sprinkles and a Halloween Munchkins bucket.
“Dunkin’ said move aside guys, we got a spooky bucket of our own!!😍🎃☕️,” he wrote, alluding to McDonald’s famous Boo Buckets.
Dunkin’ adds pumpkin to its Spiked line
While Dunkin’ hasn’t yet dropped its in-store autumn offerings, it does have one pumpkin spice item already set for folks of legal drinking age.
On Aug. 7, Dunkin’ Spiked announced the expansion of its ready-to-drink spiked ice coffee line with a first-ever limited-time seasonal offering: Dunkin’ Spiked Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte.
The canned beverage is 6% ABV and features coffee, pumpkin spice flavor and a vegan and lactose-intolerant friendly creamer. The brand says the new adult beverage is best enjoyed straight from the can or poured over ice and topped with whipped cream.
It’s hitting stores in early August as a four-pack of 12-ounce cans and will be sold anywhere Dunkin’ Spiked Iced Coffees are sold.
The original Dunkin’ Spiked brand was first announced in August 2023 — it offers four iced coffee and four iced tea flavors. Folks can imbibe on the classic Dunkin’ flavor riffs including original, caramel, mocha and vanilla iced coffee as well as signature iced tea flavors Slightly Sweet, Half & Half, Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher and Mango Pineapple Refresher.
Dunkin’s Spiked Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte will be available for a limited time across 27 states including California, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and more.
