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Monday, Sep 22, 2025

Starbucks, Burger King, Krispy Kreme and Dunkin' scaring up Halloween-themed items

Starbucks isn't scaring up a Halloween drink in the U.S. this year, but Burger King has a Ghost Whopper, Applebee's has $1 Vampires and there's more.

For the first time in five years, Starbucks isn't bringing a Halloween-themed drink for its U.S. locations.

But the global coffee giant has concocted a spooky beverage that will be available overseas. Locations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East will have the fruity Phantom Frappuccino Monday through Halloween.

"The distinctive colour is created with use of Charcoal Powder and the beverage is crafted with coconut milk, mango essence and a ghoulish lime slime made with spirulina to deliver a light and fruity taste extravaganza," Starbucks said in a blog post. "The Phantom is vegan too!"

Starbucks started its Halloween U.S. tradition in 2014 with the Franken Frappuccino.

Then in 2015 and 2016, U.S. locations had the Frappula Frappuccino. 2016. In 2017 it was the Zombie Frappuccino followed by the Witch’s Brew Frappuccino last year.

Last year's blended drink was a purple blend of “toad’s breath” which tastes like the orange crème Frappuccino. It had a swirl of “bat warts” or chia seeds added and was topped with vanilla whipped cream with a dusting of green “lizard scale” powder.

In a statement to USA TODAY, Starbucks said it has been reducing the number of limited time menu items, a change announced in April 2018.

"There is no Halloween Frappuccino blended beverage in the U.S. this year, however customers looking to celebrate the season with a Frappuccino can enjoy Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino or Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino," the company said in its statement.

Other Halloween special items

These Halloween-themed items don't require a passport and are available at participating locations while supplies last. Check with your closest location before heading out.

Applebee's: The $1 Vampire is the chain's Neighborhood Drink of the Month and is a tiki rum punch served with a cherry and fangs. served with a cherry and fangs.

Baskin-Robbins: The ice cream chain’s Flavor of the Month is the Candy Mashup, which is chocolate ice cream with Snickers, caramel cup pieces and a salty caramel ribbon. The Fright Night Scoop include the mashup ice cream topped with a Halloween sprinkle mix and a white chocolate zombie hand. The chain also has special Halloween cakes.

Burger King: Unlike last year's "Nightmare King" that was available nationwide, this year's Halloween-themed Ghost Whopper is only available at 10 locations. It features a quarter-pound of beef, tomatoes, lettuce, mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles and sliced white onions on a cheddar-cheese flavored white sesame seed bun.

Burger King to Sell 'Ghost Whopper' for Halloween To emulate a ghost, the spooky sandwich will be served on a white cheddar bun. The "Ghost Whopper" will go on sale October 24, but will be available in just 10 select locations. Wibbitz

Chili’s: The chain’s October Margarita of the Month is the $5 Fangtastic ‘Rita, which is available through Halloween and comes with a set of fangs on top. The drink is a blend of Lunazul Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, Monin Blood Orange and fresh sour.

Dunkin': The Spider Donut is back for the third year and is a doughnut frosted with orange icing and topped “with a scary good eight-legged donut creature, made from a glazed chocolate Munchins donut hole treat with chocolate drizzle for the spider legs and white or orange icing for the eyes.” Other doughnuts are also dressed up with holiday colors.

Hard Rock Cafe: From Saturday 30 through Nov. 3, Hard Rock will have limited edition Halloween shakes for adults called BOO!-zy Shakes made with bourbon and dark rum, blended with vanilla bean ice cream and rich dark chocolate sauce, and then topped with white chocolate whipped cream and candy corns. There’s a non-alcoholic Spooky Shake, too.

IHOP: Through Nov. 3, IHOP has a special Halloween menu inspired by The Addams Family movie, featuring Wednesday’s Web-Cakes, pancakes with cupcake icing, chocolate syrup and violet whipped cream, Uncle Fester’s Chocolate Ice Scream Shake and Morticia’s Haunted Hot Chocolate. Also through Nov. 3 from 4 to 10 p.m. daily, kids 12 and under get a free kids meal entrée with each purchase of an adult entrée.

Krispy Kreme: The new Monster Batch Doughnuts are available through Halloween and include the Slimon, the Slime Monster Doughnut, an Original Glazed doughnut with lemon slime filling and dipped in green icing; Mumford, the Mummy Monster Doughnut wrapped in purple icing; and Hypno-Henry, the Cake Batter Monster, a doughnut filled with cake batter, dipped in yellow icing and orange sanding sugar with an icing swirl.

Papa John's: The pumpkin-shaped Jack-o-lantern pizza is available through Halloween and has a pepperoni border and smiley face. The pizza comes uncut and is available for $11 at participating locations.

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