I Tried Panera's New Holiday Menu, And One Item Was a Major Miss
Plus, the chain is ‘poking the bear’ with limited-edition merch.
On the fifth day of November, my true love gave to me… a Panera Bread and a pear tree.
You heard it here, folks: Panera Bread has launched its annual holiday menu, with a few surprises. Here’s everything you need to know.
What’s on Panera’s 2026 holiday menu?
- Peppermint White Mocha (NEW): A white chocolate and peppermint-flavored coffee, available as a latte, an iced coffee or a frozen java. Each drink is topped with peppermint bark pieces, with sweet cold foam on the iced latte and whipped cream on the latte and java.
- Pistachio White Mocha (NEW): A white chocolate and pistachio-flavored coffee, available as a latte, iced coffee topped with sweet cream cold foam or frozen java. Each drink is topped with pistachio pieces, with sweet cold foam on the iced latte and whipped cream on the latte and java.
- Cocoa Marshmallow Cake Slice (NEW): A chocolate and marshmallow swirl cake topped with chocolate chips and marshmallow bark.
- Mitten Cookie: A shortbread cookie coated in icing, shaped like a cozy mitten.
My honest review of Panera’s holiday menu:
I tried both of the new drinks as iced coffees. Unfortunately, I tasted no pistachio flavor in the Pistachio White Mocha… and I really searched for it. I did enjoy the Peppermint Mocha, however: the minty flavor was refreshing and not overpowering. The white mocha in both drinks just tastes like vanilla, though.
The Cocoa Marshmallow Cake looks like a slice of coffee cake and would pair wonderfully with a cup of hot chocolate. The Vanilla Chocolate Swirl Cake has a Swiss Miss-like chocolate-marshmallow taste, with a dry marshmallow topping that also resembles the dehydrated mini marshmallows you find in an instant cocoa pack. As for the Mitten Cookie? Panera releases seasonal designs for these shortbread cookies and so far, they all get my vote. They’re more memorable than you’d expect: sweet and buttery with a hard, not-too-thick icing that tastes like white chocolate.
What else is new at Panera?
Panera is also taking inspiration from the Starbucks Beatista cups and blind box trend. According to an email shared with Food Network, the franchise is “poking the bear” this season, giving away blind boxes of collectible snowman cups for one day only on December 3. There will only be 12 cups per participating cafe, so make sure to show up early if you want to snatch one. Or, if you miss the drop, the two “naughty” and “nice” snowman cups will also be available for purchase for $22 online at The Panera Shop.
“The holidays are about coming together, enjoying great food and making memories, even when things get a little messy,” Andy Rebhun, Chief Marketing Officer of Panera Bread, says in a press release. “At Panera, we’re bringing a little extra joy to the season with indulgent new beverages, comforting bakery treats and limited-edition Snowman Cups. It’s our way of making the everyday moments of the holidays feel a little more special.”
When will Panera’s holiday menu be available?
The menu items dropped on November 5 and will be available throughout the holiday season.
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