30 Discontinued Dunkin' Items We Wish They'd Bring Back

Folks from Massachusetts know the real hometown hero is Dunkin' — that's why all the other so-called hometown heroes promote it in Dunkin' commercials every year during the Super Bowl. While the original Dunkin' Donuts, founded in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts, certainly still deals in plenty of "Medium Hot Regulahs," the menu has evolved considerably as the chain has grown to over 14,000 locations worldwide. Over the years, some of the best menu items of that evolution — from limited-time donuts and seasonal Refreshers to ground-breaking menu innovations and everything in between — have sadly come and gone.

Why would Dunkin' take seemingly successful items off the market? It happens for a few reasons, including consumer testing, market trends, seasonal product shifts, and even lackluster sales performance numbers from a behind-the-scenes perspective at the corporate offices. If the Dunkin' team ever decides to bring back some of our past favorites, hopefully they get a hold of this roundup. For now, let's take a walk down memory lane.

Who knew peanut butter, chocolate, and coffee worked so well together? Dunkin' did, evidently. The brand pretty much said, "hold my iced coffee and watch this," conjuring up this popular macchiato. Supercharged with sweet notes of chocolate and peanut butter, the Peanut Butter Cup Macchiato was the perfect combination of your favorite chocolate peanut butter candy and coffee. 

It makes sense that this Reese's-inspired approach was initially introduced as part of the 2021 Halloween menu. It returned in 2022 but has disappeared since. While fans hoped it would return seasonally for Halloween, Dunkin' opted to go all-in on pumpkin flavors in 2023, followed by maple sugar, and apple cider flavors in 2024.

For many of us, Halloween is a state of mind and we'd gladly accept the return of the Peanut Butter Cup Macchiato any time of year. In fact, we'd argue that since Dunkin' hails from Massachusetts, also famously the home of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and 1693, it can be a permanent menu item as a nod to its magical home state, and not just an occasional seasonal item. Until then, fans will just have to do without.

Dunkin' team, if you're reading this, if there's one discontinued item you're able to bring back soon, please let it be the Donut Fries. As the story goes, in 2018 Dunkin' did a soft launch of its Donut Fries in its home state of Massachusetts to get an idea of how customers would react, and the news spread like wildfire across the country. However, they seemingly went as quickly as they came and haven't been seen on menus since. 

Donut Fries cost $2 for five thick fries — a nice price to pay to get a piece of warm, "buttery croissant-style donut dough" coated in cinnamon sugar. A happy hybrid of a churro and a yeast donut, Donut Fries would be welcomed with open arms should they ever reappear on the menu.

It's always an exciting time when the Girl Scouts post up outside your local grocery and home improvement stores, letting you stock up on your favorite cookies to last you for the rest of the year. Dunkin' earned its patch for creativity with the rollout of the Girl Scout Cookie Swirls and bottled beverages that featured some of the most popular cookie flavors. 

Debuting in 2018 and making another appearance in the spring of 2020, you could order Thin Mint or Coconut Caramel DeLite swirls to your iced coffee, lattes, and Coolattas. While the cookie season comes and goes year after year, customers wait in anticipation for the next spring to get their favorites. Unfortunately for these flavor swirls, the wait continues.

This drink is just two ingredients, iced sweet tea mixed with lemonade, originally popularized by and named directly after golf legend Arnold Palmer. It's delectably tangy, sweet, and refreshing — par for the course when it comes to the perfect Coolatta flavor candidate.

2014 was a particularly special year, as Dunkin' introduced the frozen Arnold Palmer to its Coolatta roster. The timing of the rollout was strategic, as it was announced in late April when the weather started to warm up. If Dunkin' were also a bar, making this an elevated adult beverage would present quite the reintroduction.

As infamous drag queen LaGanja Estranja would say, "Y'all wanted a twist?" A Bagel Twist from Dunkin', that is. Despite "Donuts" formerly being part of its name, Dunkin' has been on the bagel scene for well over 20 years. These twisted bagels deviated from the traditional circular shape to give you something reminiscent of a breakfast breadstick, with flavors like Cinnamon Raisin, Pretzel Salt, Sour Cream and Onion, Blueberry, and French Toast being part of the original 2010 lineup. 

There was also the aged Wisconsin white cheddar baked version, which was brought back in 2016. While some fans have reported sightings of this breakfast item at their local Dunkin' over the years, Bagel Twists have seemingly been off the market since their brief 2016 appearance.

The Hazelnut Swirl sweetened flavor was held in high regard by the Dunkin' fanbase, providing a sweet, nutty surge with every sip. As Dunkin' lovers know all too well, coffee freshness can be hit or miss — which is where the flavor swirl became a godsend in elevating the experience. 

As one Reddit user lamented, "Today, I sip a Dunkin coffee with a hazelnut shot plus cream & sugar. The hazelnut swirl would cover up the stale coffee taste. Now all I can do is wallow." To create a similar experience, you can try picking up some of Dunkin's Hazelnut Ground Coffee to brew at home.

For many, trying out a new flavor of donuts or iced coffee instead of going with the usual is different enough. For the brave few willing to go all in with adventurous flavors, Dunkin's Ghost Pepper Donut would have been perfect for you. Appearing in the fall of 2020, this was Dunkin's approach to striking a balance between sweet and spicy. 

This hot treat was a regular donut glazed with strawberry-cayenne-ghost pepper icing. To help with the fiery aesthetic, it was dusted with a generous amount of red sugar. In a campaign with Sean Evans, the host of the mega-popular YouTube Series Hot Ones, he describes the first bite as a sweet singe of "ghost pepper burn." No need to fire up your engines to get over to your Dunkin', though, as this flavor has long since sizzled out and off the menu.

As a token of their affection, Dunkin' gave customers the happiest of Valentine's Days with the Pink Velvet Macchiato in 2020, and again in 2021. A different kind of pink drink than what the competition offers, Dunkin' aimed to give the experience of "biting into a red velvet cupcake" with this beverage, with its flavors of "rich espresso with red velvet cake flavor and hints of smooth cream cheese icing." 

The ombré brown and pink color was an aesthetic treat for the eyes that has been missed since it was taken off the menu. Given Dunkin's decision to bring back popular Valentine's Day menu items in 2025, there's still hope that the Pink Velvet Macchiato could be your Valentine next season.

To set the scene on how magical this drink was, let's start at the beginning. Dunkin' invented the Coffee Coolatta in 1997 to give consumers a different-but-refreshing approach to iced coffee. Resembling more of a coffee slushie, it has evolved to include many flavors during its more than 25-year run, including Oreo.

Somewhere between a frozen hot chocolate and iced coffee, Oreo lovers had a field day with this beverage. 2014 saw Dunkin' introduce a Mint Oreo version for Saint Patrick's Day, and in 2015 fans had the option of original Oreo or even Chips Ahoy! Coolattas with cookie pieces blended right in. Bring this powerhouse collaboration back as soon as possible!

Dunkin's Oreo craze didn't just apply to its coffee and Coolattas. The Oreo Hot Chocolate provided an elevated cocoa experience, complete with "rich flavors of cookies and crème" with every sip. This was emphasized by Matt Zion on YouTube channel Wreckless Eating who, in his review of the drink, states that it tastes "just like the cream on the inside of an Oreo mixed with an overall chocolatey marshmallowey flavor."

Introduced in 2016, it was apparently discontinued in 2022 to make way for new menu items. Despite this, fans seem to be crushed about its disappearance. The original and espresso hot chocolate flavors will have to do for now.

While cotton candy is more reminiscent of a funfair than the far reaches of outer space, Dunkin's colorful Cotton Candy Coolatta rocketed onto the scene in 2018. Its layers of blue raspberry and pink cotton candy resulted in a vibrant drink that resembled both the pillowy treat its named for and vibrant clouds of a distant nebula. 

This Coolatta was no doubt a very sweet concoction and a hit or miss among customers. For those who were all-in, they are still questioning when it will land on the menu again and continue to try and make contact with Dunkin' for its return.

Let's face it — there aren't a lot of vegetarian and vegan-friendly options to be found at fast food restaurants, Dunkin' included. But for a time, the company did change the status quo with the Beyond Meat Breakfast Sandwich, making it one of the first chain restaurants to have plant-based menu offerings.

While it wasn't completely free of animal products, this sandwich was comprised of Beyond Meat sausage, American cheese, an egg, and an English muffin to round out a vegetarian-friendly breakfast. However, after a dive in sales performance and a lawsuit over a marketing slogan, the Beyond Meat Breakfast Sandwich officially bowed out around 2021. 

In the summer of 2021, Dunkin' decided to give boba a go in the form of its Popping Bubbles. Unlike regular chewy boba pearls, these bubbles contained a liquid, strawberry-flavored center that could be easily pierced for that pop sensation in your mouth. They could be added to any cold drink, with which you'd receive a wide paper straw similar to what you'd get with boba tea. 

Sorry to burst your bubble though — since Dunkin' discontinued this item, your best bet to finding anything close is by visiting your local boba tea shop. Or you can try buying some Strawberry Popping Boba Pearls to mix your own concoction. Perhaps if this drink ever makes a reprise appearance, Dunkin' could offer a variety of flavors instead of just strawberry.

Ice cream meets iced coffee with the Banana Split Flavor Swirl. A nod to Baskin-Robbins ice cream, this flavor made its debut back in 2019 and has fans calling for its return ever since. While a banana split may not be the first flavor that comes to mind when you get your morning coffee, this one is surprisingly good. 

As Dunkin' describes it, "Banana Split tastes like the classic sundae with the flavor of banana, as well as hints of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice creams." It's unclear if this flavor swirl will make its rounds again but fear not — with the help of one Reddit user and former Dunkin' employee, you can make your own very close copycat version with a mix of Monin White Chocolate Syrup and Capella Banana Split flavor drops.

When the Big N' Toasted Breakfast Sandwich came on the scene in 2011 as a limited-time menu item, it ended up leaving a legacy that made customers yearn for more. Fans were bewitched by its thick, buttery slices of Texas Toast, juicy cherrywood smoked bacon, fried eggs, and American cheese. 

In a review, JP Lambiase of YouTube channel HellthyJunkFood stated that, "this thing is like an epic grilled cheese breakfast sandwich" thanks to all of its savory ingredients. In 2013, Dunkin' upped the ante and added an Angus Steak version of this savory sandwich stack to further entice customers. Diehard fans are asking if it'll make a comeback anytime soon, but the answer remains unclear.

No matter how strange something may sound in the world of food, the general rule is don't knock it until you've tried it. The infamous Cornbread Donut is one of the most genius menu items developed by Dunkin', featuring a glazed cornbread cake donut to create what Dunkin' described as "the perfect sweet and savory bite" (via BusinessWire). 

While the concept of cornbread-meets-donut can seem a bit perplexing, the taste is exactly that. In a YouTube review by JayyySquared, hosts Jasmine and Joel noticed that the cornbread donut didn't have the dry texture that usually accompanies cornbread. Making its initial appearance in the spring of 2022, along with its cornbread munchkins counterpart, here's hoping that it makes a resurgence very soon.

Did you know that two of America's most recognizable food brands, Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins, are related? They are actually two subsidiary businesses of parent company Inspire Brands. One of Dunkin's more elusive coffee flavors, the Butter Pecan Flavor Swirl, was reminiscent of its sister company's popular butter pecan ice cream flavor. 

Popping on and off of the menu for the past ten years, this flavor swirl became a revered iced coffee addition thanks to its creamy, nutty notes and smooth decadence. While it's discontinued for now, this is not a matter of if it comes back, but when. Stay tuned, and keep your eyes peeled next time you're in a combo Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin' location.

The Dunkaccino of yore was not Dunkin's version of a cappuccino, despite what the name may have implied. Rather, it was hot coffee and chocolate mixed together. While many would remark that those two ingredients make a mocha, there was something special about the Dunkaccino that set it apart. 

Released in the early 2000s, since it was discontinued, fans have been trying to create dupes to capture its original taste, throwing together components like hot chocolate mix, espresso, and milk to no avail. As one Reddit user solemnly states, "Dunkaccino has a unique flavor that I personally haven't been able to recreate with any degree of precision."

How do you improve on the delicious simplicity of grilled cheese? Turns out, by adding tomato and pesto, which are the two secret ingredients Dunkin' used to make their grilled cheese so moreish. This sandwich exploded in popularity with its 2022 launch, inspiring a host of copycat recipes to capture the zesty, savory experience it gives. 

It has a powerful effect on turning customers from once-in-awhile visitors to regulars. One Reddit user demonstrated this by writing, "I've literally been getting it almost [twice] a week for the past month because it was so good." Needless to say, plenty of hungry customers out there would love for this to be a permanent addition to the Dunkin' menu. The people have spoken, and they want their Tomato Pesto Grilled Cheese back.

Dunkin' has come up with many iterations of Refreshers over the years, but 2021's Apple Cranberry was a definite standout. A blend of apple and cranberry juices, B vitamins, and green tea came together to create an experience that was both tart and sweet. 

This refresher had the option of adding coconut milk for extra creaminess, which also turned the drink from a deep scarlet to a lilac purple. Fans loved it for its spot-on fruit flavors instead of pale sugary imitation flavors. Fingers crossed this Refresher will make a comeback during a future fall season.

Impeccably buttery and flaky, the Croissant Donut was made to be a combination of what customers love about both pastries all in one. Selling 8.5 million of these donuts in the first three months they were available, Dunkin' saw massive success with these delicious treats. However, right off the bat the croissant donut also got some questionable feedback as it was remarkably similar to the trademarked and extremely popular Cronut created by NYC baker Dominique Ansel. 

Dunkin' refused to be called a copycat, claiming this creation was already in the works and different because of the Cronut's cream filling, which the Croissant Donut lacks, along with Dunkin's planned lineup of flavors to try out. Despite all this, the Croissant Donut quickly fizzled in popularity.

When a copy of a Dunkin' menu test leaked across the internet in 2022, lovers of the Everything Bagel Minis seemed to sharpen their pitchforks at the news of the beloved snack being discontinued. These bagel bites were very similar to Dunkin's infamous Munchkins, both providing the perfect small bite packed with flavor. And speaking of flavor, the Everything Bagel Minis brought it every time. 

Encrusted with the standard everything bagel seasoning — garlic, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, dried onion, and sea salt — and filled with a cream cheese center, it was a savory masterpiece that will by sorely missed. There may be a glimmer of hope though, as Dunkin' has mentioned the Everything Bagel Mini on social media since its discontinuation. That suggests these tasty snacks may not have entirely left the company's radar, but only time will tell.

It's probably no surprise for a restaurant that used to have Donuts in its name, but Dunkin' doesn't exactly have an abundance of gluten-free menu options. The exceptions, for a time, were Dunkin' Bowls. Available in two varieties — the sausage scramble bowl and the egg white bowl — Dunkin' Bowls were both high in protein and gluten-free, though cross-contact was still a concern given the amount of gluten-containing menu items prepared in stores. Still, with so few gluten-free offerings available at the chain, Dunkin' Bowls were a short-lived windfall for those following a gluten-free diet.

When they were introduced in 2019, Dunkin' Bowls were listed as available for a limited time only, but who really believes that warning given the come-and-go nature of other popular fast food menu items like the famously fickle McDonald's McRib? Certainly, not someone who has fallen completely in love with Dunkin' Bowls and has planned to have them regularly for a very long time — until one day they're just gone without warning and with no return.

If you've ever gone through the Dunkin' drive-thru with a toddler or pre-schooler, you'll know that the options are surprisingly somewhat limited. Sure, there are plenty of doughnuts and sandwiches available, but for something bite-sized and easy to hold for tiny hands, you're looking mostly at the Bagel Minis. Just don't go looking for the aforementioned Everything Bagel Minis. 

Once upon a time, however, Dunkin' carried Pancake Minis, the perfect silver dollar pancakes for toddlers, pre-schoolers, and nostalgic snackers everywhere. Pancake Minis had bits of maple-flavored goodness cooked right in, and were served with an additional side of pancake syrup. They were introduced as part of the 2021 holiday menu but disappeared not long after, without any formal announcement. While another discontinued pancake item, the Pancake Wake-Up Wrap, returned briefly in early 2024 as part of Dunkin's seasonal winter menu, there has been no such triumphant return for Pancake Minis. 

If you've never had white hot chocolate, this one may be lost on you — but trust us, Dunkin's version was delicious. Introduced in the long ago days of 2006, Dunkin' called its White Hot Chocolate "a rich, smooth, buttery beverage with a hint of vanilla." A cold weather staple for many, the drink slowly faded from Dunkin' menus with the last known sightings being reportedly sometime around 2015. 

The chain did come close in 2021 with the introduction of the White Mocha Hot Chocolate, which it called a reimagining of a holiday classic, but it wasn't the same — and fans took note. The reimagining was short-lived and fans of white hot chocolate are still watching and waiting for the beloved drink to return.

There was a time when the word "Coolatta" was always accompanied by the word coffee (the Coffee Coolatta was the original, after all), but those days are long gone. Today, the frozen Dunkin' beverage known as a Coolatta comes in blue raspberry, strawberry, and vanilla bean flavors — any semblance of coffee is notably absent. Look, we get it, sugar sells, but for a place known today more for its coffee than its doughnuts, it would be nice if coffee lovers could get their Coolatta fix more efficiently with a two-for-one drink.

When the Coffee Coolatta was discontinued in 2017, Dunkin' alleged they were replacing it with a better drink: Frozen Dunkin' Coffee. The biggest problem, however, is that Frozen Dunkin' Coffee didn't last either, at least not in what Dunkin' calls its "standard retail products" that are sold at all stores (via Reddit). That means you may be able to track down a Frozen Dunkin' Coffee if your local franchise decides to sell it, but you're probably out of luck. Whatever you call it, Dunkin', just give us back our coffee-flavored frozen drink!

The frustrating thing about Dunkin' Refreshers is that it seems like the moment you discover a favorite, it's gone. Sometimes, it's just gone for the season, set to return less than a year later. In the worst cases, however, Dunkin' fans are left without their favorite Refresher indefinitely. Like the beloved and discontinued Apple Cranberry Refresher, another one of the flavors that has gone the way of the dodo in recent years is the Blueberry Pomegranate Refresher, which was introduced in 2021.

Some fans suggest that the syrup Wendy's uses for its blueberry pomegranate lemonade works in a pinch to make a DIY version when mixed with green tea (and supposedly some locations will sell it by the cup), but we can't speak from experience. We just can't understand why, if the Refreshers are made with a concentrated base, the chain can't keep all the flavors on hand. You know, just in case. Okay, we do understand why, but that doesn't mean we have to like it.

Another Refresher that seemed like an obvious candidate for a permanent menu spot, the Peach Passion Fruit Refresher was one of the original Refresher flavors when the line launched in 2020. It hung around longer than some of the other discontinued Refresher flavors, with its discontinuation news hitting the internet in early 2023. 

We hoped, for a time, that its discontinuation was just the effect of the drink becoming seasonal (after all, peach and passion fruit are both very summery flavors). Thousands of distraught fans have signed petitions and taken to social media to volley for the drink's return, but so far it hasn't made a comeback — during warm weather months or otherwise. If you're desperate, Starbucks' canned Peach Passion Fruit Refresher might make for a good substitute. We won't tell anyone.

Swinging by a Dunkin' midday or in the early afternoon is often a clear miss these days. There's very little on the menu that could be considered lunchtime fare, but that wasn't always the case. Once upon a time, Dunkin' served chicken sandwiches as part of their afternoon offerings. In 2013, the chain introduced the Barbecue Chicken Sandwich and Bacon Ranch Chicken Sandwich as part of what Dunkin' called its "commitment to all-day menu items." The coffee and donut giant took it a step further in 2015 when the Pretzel Roll Chicken Sandwich with bacon, white cheddar cheese, and honey mustard joined the lineup. 

Unfortunately, Dunkin's commitment to all-day dining didn't last, at least not in the form of chicken sandwiches. While some restaurants in the American South still offer chicken as a protein alternative for breakfast sandwiches, with optional egg and cheese, the sandwiches featuring barbecue sauce, honey mustard, and ranch — all primarily thought of as afternoon flavors — were phased out as part of an effort to simplify the Dunkin' menu (around the same time Dunkin' dropped the second half of its name to simplify its moniker in 2018).

Another savory afternoon option, the Green Goddess Wrap at Dunkin' was also one of the rare vegetarian options available at the chain. Okay, fine, most of the donuts are vegetarian, but we're not sure that's what you want to grab when you're seeking a satisfying lunch or snack. But the Green Goddess Wrap was certainly a fine choice. It contained egg whites, farro, sundried tomatoes, spinach, feta, and green goddess dressing in a green lavash wrap. 

Despite the obvious niche it filled, the Green Goddess Wrap was a very short-lived menu item, introduced in May 2024 and no longer available by the fall. Still, there is hope. Many fans are hoping that the item was always meant to be seasonal and could return on future spring or summer menus. Unfortunately, Dunkin' has made no announcements or given any hints regarding the future of the Green Goddess Wrap, so we can only cross our fingers.