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Summertime is in full swing and Dunkin’s newest additions are here to help you beat the heat. On June 26th, they released their summer menu, with five brand new items and one returning favorite.
Several items in the new lineup take inspiration from a well-known summer dessert: s’mores. The classic flavor combo of marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker is featured in two new beverages: S’mores Cold Brew and Bonfire S’mores Frozen Coffee. You can also get a taste of the campfire staple with the return of the S’mores Donut.
Dunkin has also partnered with Mike’s Hot Honey to bring us a few new savory food options, including a Hot Honey Bacon Sandwich, Hot Honey Bacon Wake-Up Wrap® and Hot Honey Snackin’ Bacon.
Finally, for those looking for fruit-flavored energy drinks, the new Tornado Twist SPARKD’ Energy might be more your style.
First up, we have the S’mores Cold Brew. The nutritional facts for a small beverage are as follows:
- Calories: 360 calories
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Total Sugars: 40 g
- Added Sugars: 40 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Total Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Sodium: 75 mg
Although this drink falls within our recommended guidelines for sodium, it’s quite high in added sugars and calories. The smooth cold brew is topped with a creamy Marshmallow Cold Foam and graham crumble topping, which is most likely responsible for the added sugar and calorie content.
“Added sugar is something most Americans eat too much of, and one of the main sources is sugar-sweetened beverages,” shares Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, registered dietitian and nutrition editor at EatingWell. “The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests consuming no more than 36 grams of added sugar per day, and this drink exceeds that. That doesn’t mean you can’t have it if you enjoy it, but it’s better for a special occasion rather than an everyday coffee.”
Next, we have the nutritional facts for a small Bonfire S’mores Frozen Coffee:
- Calories: 590 calories
- Carbohydrates: 94 g
- Total Sugars: 84 g
- Added Sugars: 81 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Total Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
This frozen drink is also high in calories, saturated fat and sodium, with a significant amount of added sugar as well. With 84 grams of added sugar per serving, it has over 230% of the maximum recommended daily intake from the AHA. The beverage features vanilla and s’mores flavors blended with coffee and is topped with whipped cream, mocha drizzle and graham cracker crumb, all of which contributes to the nutrition profile.
“I would suggest thinking of this menu item like a dessert or milkshake rather than a typical morning coffee, because that’s what its nutritional profile resembles. All foods can fit into a healthy eating pattern, but this would be best to enjoy less frequently for special occasions,” shares Ball.
For a S’mores Donut, the nutrition facts read:
- Calories: 370 calories
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Total Sugars: 22 g
- Added Sugars: 22 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Total Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
Dunkin’ brings back a fan-favorite donut that contains marshmallow-flavored filling, chocolate icing and graham crumble. While they market the breakfast pastry as a perfect pairing for either of the previously mentioned s’more drinks, we might suggest going for a less sweet beverage to quench your thirst. It is high in added sugar and saturated fat, so it’s best to think of this as more of a dessert than a breakfast food.
Jumping to the hot honey items, let’s get a closer look at the nutritional information for the Hot Honey Bacon Sandwich:
- Calories: 670 calories
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Total Sugars: 21 g
- Added Sugars: 20 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Total Fat: 39 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Sodium: 1,010 mg
Featuring hot honey bacon, egg and melted white cheddar cheese on a buttery brioche bun, drizzled with Mike’s Hot Honey, the sandwich has a lot going on. It’s pretty high in sodium, saturated fat and calories for a breakfast option, with over two times our recommended maximum (500 calories and 480 milligrams of sodium) for an entree. That said, the 20 grams of protein does meet our parameters for a high-protein breakfast.
“Sodium and saturated fat are other nutrients that most Americans overdo it on, which can lead to things like high blood pressure and higher heart disease risk over time,” says Ball. “The sandwich sounds delicious with the savoy bacon and sweet hot honey, and it could make for a filling option in a pinch thanks to the protein it contains. However, due to its sodium and saturated fat content, I wouldn’t recommend enjoying it regularly.”
Next up, the Hot Honey Bacon Wake-Up Wrap®:
- Calories: 250 calories
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Total Sugars: 4 g
- Added Sugars: 3 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Total Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Sodium: 590 mg
If you’re really excited to try the Mike’s Hot Honey collab, Dunkin’s new breakfast wrap comes a lot closer to meeting our nutrition parameters. While still pretty high in sodium, the calories in this wrap are significantly lower than its sandwich counterpart.
“When you’re eating something high in sodium, like the hot honey menu items, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water, getting in some movement and pairing them with a source of potassium like fruit. This can help your body naturally flush out excess sodium,” advises Ball.
The final item in the summer menu, we have the Tornado Twist SPARKD’ Energy drink, with nutritional facts for a small:
- Calories: 80 calories
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Total Sugars: 18 g
- Added Sugars: 18 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Total Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Sodium: 135 mg
- Caffeine: 144 mg (approximately)
A juicy combination of raspberry, strawberry, peach and lychee, this caffeinated energy drink holds a ton of flavor by blending Dunkin’s existing Berry Burst SPARKD’ and Peach Sunshine SPARKD’. The refreshing drink meets our parameters for beverages so it could be worth trying if you’re looking for something new.
“The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming a max of 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. This drink has a similar caffeine content to an 8-ounce cup of coffee, so it could be a safe choice for those who need an energy boost,” says Ball. “That said, it is high in added sugar compared to coffee or tea so be mindful of how it fits in your routine.”
The Bottom Line
There’s no denying the appeal of these summer additions to Dunkin’s menu. Nostalgic flavors like s’mores, exciting partnerships with Mike’s Hot Honey and fruity energy drinks certainly add to the allure. Although they may not be ideal to add to your regular breakfast routine, we’d suggest being mindful of the amount of added sugar, sodium and calories they contain. That being said, all foods can fit into a healthy eating pattern and these foods and drinks can be something special to enjoy in moderation. So pop by your local Dunkin and give these new summer items a try!