London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jan 01, 2026

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.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
No UK Curfew Ordered as Deepfake TikTok Falsely Attributes Decree to Prime Minister Starmer
Europe’s Largest Defence Groups Set to Return Nearly Five Billion Dollars to Shareholders in Twenty Twenty-Five
Abu Dhabi ‘Capital of Capital’: How Abu Dhabi Rose as a Sovereign Wealth Power
Diamonds Are Powering a New Quantum Revolution
Trump Threatens Strikes Against Iran if Nuclear Programme Is Restarted
Apple Escalates Legal Fight by Appealing £1.5 Billion UK Ruling Over App Store Fees
UK Debt Levels Sit Mid-Range Among Advanced Economies Despite Rising Pressures
UK Plans Royal Diplomacy with King Charles and Prince William to Reinvigorate Trade Talks with US
King Charles and Prince William Poised for Separate 2026 US Visits to Reinforce UK-US Trade and Diplomatic Ties
Apple Moves to Appeal UK Ruling Ordering £1.5 Billion in Customer Overcharge Damages
King Charles’s 2025 Christmas Message Tops UK Television Ratings on Christmas Day
The Battle Over the Internet Explodes: The United States Bars European Officials and Ignites a Diplomatic Crisis
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie Join Royal Family at Sandringham Christmas Service
Fine Wine Investors Find Little Cheer in Third Year of Falls
UK Mortgage Rates Edge Lower as Bank of England Base Rate Cut Filters Through Lending Market
U.S. Supermarket Gives Customers Free Groceries for Christmas After Computer Glitch
Air India ‘Finds’ a Plane That Vanished 13 Years Ago
Caviar and Foie Gras? China Is Becoming a Luxury Food Powerhouse
Hong Kong Climbs to Second Globally in 2025 Tourism Rankings Behind Bangkok
From Sunniest Year on Record to Terror Plots and Sports Triumphs: The UK’s Defining Stories of 2025
Greta Thunberg Released on Bail After Arrest at London Pro-Palestinian Demonstration
Banksy Unveils New Winter Mural in London Amid Festive Season Excitement
UK Households Face Rising Financial Strain as Tax Increases Bite and Growth Loses Momentum
UK Government Approves Universal Studios Theme Park in Bedford Poised to Rival Disneyland Paris
UK Gambling Shares Slide as Traders Respond to Steep Tax Rises and Sector Uncertainty
Starmer and Trump Coordinate on Ukraine Peace Efforts in Latest Diplomatic Call
The Pilot Barricaded Himself in the Cockpit and Refused to Take Off: "We Are Not Leaving Until I Receive My Salary"
UK Fashion Label LK Bennett Pursues Accelerated Sale Amid Financial Struggles
U.S. Government Warns UK Over Free Speech in Pro-Life Campaigner Prosecution
Newly Released Files Shed Light on Jeffrey Epstein’s Extensive Links to the United Kingdom
Prince William and Prince George Volunteer Together at UK Homelessness Charity
UK Police Arrest Protesters Chanting ‘Globalise the Intifada’ as Authorities Recalibrate Free Speech Enforcement
Scambodia: The World Owes Thailand’s Military a Profound Debt of Gratitude
Women in Partial Nudity — and Bill Clinton in a Dress and Heels: The Images Revealed in the “Epstein Files”
US Envoy Witkoff to Convene Security Advisers from Ukraine, UK, France and Germany in Miami as Peace Efforts Intensify
UK Retailers Report Sharp Pre-Christmas Sales Decline and Weak Outlook, CBI Survey Shows
UK Government Rejects Use of Frozen Russian Assets to Fund Aid for Ukraine
UK Financial Conduct Authority Opens Formal Investigation into WH Smith After Accounting Errors
UK Issues Final Ultimatum to Roman Abramovich Over £2.5bn Chelsea Sale Funds for Ukraine
Rare Pink Fog Sweeps Across Parts of the UK as Met Office Warns of Poor Visibility
UK Police Pledge ‘More Assertive’ Enforcement to Tackle Antisemitism at Protests
UK Police Warn They Will Arrest Protesters Chanting ‘Globalise the Intifada’
Trump Files $10 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against BBC as Broadcaster Pledges Legal Defence
UK Says U.S. Tech Deal Talks Still Active Despite Washington’s Suspension of Prosperity Pact
UK Mortgage Rules to Give Greater Flexibility to Borrowers With Irregular Incomes
UK Treasury Moves to Position Britain as Leading Global Hub for Crypto Firms
U.S. Freezes £31 Billion Tech Prosperity Deal With Britain Amid Trade Dispute
Prince Harry and Meghan’s Potential UK Return Gains New Momentum Amid Security Review and Royal Dialogue
Zelensky Opens High-Stakes Peace Talks in Berlin with Trump Envoy and European Leaders
Historical Reflections on Press Freedom Emerge Amid Debate Over Trump’s Media Policies
×