Panera Bread unveiled its new Ciabatta Dippers, two melty sandwiches made for dipping. The chain said with these sandwiches, “spoons are now optional.” Panera said it was “inspired by the combination of soups and sandwiches already loved by its guests,” according to a press release. The sandwiches are available now.

Panera's Ciabatta Dippers are available in two varieties:

• French Dipper: A sandwich dipping pair featuring marinated steak, melty provolone and asiago, and garlic aioli drizzle on ciabatta paired with a dipping portion of bistro French onion soup.
• Spicy Chicken Dipper: This sandwich features a combination of grilled chicken, salsa verde spread and melty provolone on ciabatta paired with a dipping portion of creamy tomato soup.

"At Panera, our guests have shown us just how much they enjoy pairing menu items, especially dipping their sandwiches into our signature soups," said Mark Shambura, chief marketing officer at Panera Bread. "Inspired by this love for creative combinations, we've crafted two delicious new menu items for guests to ditch the spoon and embrace the dip.”

Chick-fil-A launched a lineup of seasonal peppermint-flavored drinks for the holidays. The LTO offerings include:

• Peppermint chip milkshake: Hand-spun Chick-fil-A Icedream dessert with bits of peppermint bark chips.
• Peppermint iced coffee: A seasonal twist on cold-brew coffee with peppermint syrup and pure cane syrup.
• Peppermint chip frosted coffee: A blend of cold-brew coffee, peppermint syrup, and Chick-fil-A Icedream dessert, mixed with peppermint bark chips.

Wendy’s unveiled a limited-time Frosty flavor: the Salted Caramel Frosty. “For 55 years, Wendy's iconic Frosty has captured the hearts and tastebuds of Wendy's fans with its creamy texture and satisfying sweetness. To celebrate this milestone, participating Wendy's restaurants nationwide are serving the newest seasonal Frosty flavor, Salted Caramel Frosty … featuring notes of rich, salty caramel, this limited-time flavor is cool and cozy in every bite,” Wendy’s said in a press release.

Other QSRs are also launching holiday-themed LTOs this season, including Starbucks’ new for 2025 Cran-Merry Orange Refresher and Subway’s double chocolate peppermint footlong cookie.