Remember when fast food chains would go all out for Halloween? No, we’re not talking about those pumpkin- or ghost-shaped nuggets, but rather spooky-themed limited offers that made October feel like Christmas morning. But like ghosts, these Halloween specials have vanished all of a sudden. Let’s take a trip back on Halloween Town Lane and remember these 8 fast food specials we once had.
8. Dunkin’s Spider Donut
Dunkin’ had a long history of festive donuts, but one that’s been etched in our hearts is the Spider Donuts. It featured a classic donut base frosted with orange icing and topped with a chocolate Munchkin donut hole for the spider’s body. It’s further decorated with chocolate drizzle for the legs. It has been a seasonal favorite for years, but the good news is that it might make a comeback this month, sparking speculation.
7. Taco Bell’s Black Jack Taco
2009 was a year of skinny jeans and vampire movies. It was also the year that Taco Bell introduced the Black Jack Taco. It features a black taco shell filled with your favorite taco ingredients, including beef, lettuce, cheese, and a pepper jack sauce. The sweet additions were the spooky black taco shell and the sweet and spicy sauce we miss.
6. Burger King’s Black Cherry Icee
Long before the controversial Halloween Whopper, there was the Black Cherry Icee. This frozen drink features a deep, dark color with a sweet, tart flavor from the cherries. It was a spooky sweet treat that goes well with your Whopper and fries. We’d love to see it again this Halloween, but from the looks of the speculated drops, we’d have to wait another year.
5. McDonald’s Halloween Treat Certificates
Back in 1989, McDonald’s collaborated with Roger Rabbit for a promotion of treat certificates. There were these Halloween-themed coupons that could be redeemed to get free pies, cookies, or sundaes. Instead of getting candy from McDonald’s, kids could trade the coupons for their favorite sweet treat.
4. Pizza Hut’s My Haunt Box
Pizza Hut’s My Haunt Box from 2024 was probably one of the Halloween promotions fans will remember. This limited-time offer features a personal pan pizza with garlic crust marketed as a “vampire deterrent.” The box is shaped like a coffin and decorated with spooky designs to capture the Halloween spirit.
3. McDonald’s Halloween Buckets
No list of Halloween specials would be complete without the iconic McDonald’s Halloween Buckets. There were these festive pails that first appeared in 1986 as a Halloween special. The original trio involves McPunk’n, McBoo, and McGoblin, who became an instant hit. They were buckets made for trick-or-treating or storing some art stuff you had as a kid.
2. Wendy’s Frosty Frights
Remember Wendy’s Frosty Frights promotion for a cause? This Kids’ Meal has evolved over the years, with many fans missing the older versions of toys and Boo! Books. Part of the promotion is a coupon for free Jr. Frostys, with proceeds going straight to charity. The toys over the years have ranged from glow-in-the-dark collectibles to real spooky characters.
1. Burger King’s Halloween Whopper
If you’re looking for a real-life spooky Halloween release, then Burger King’s Halloween Whopper just won the crown. It featured a black bun colored with A.1. steak sauce for a savory flavor. It has a mummy wrapper, but that’s not the real scare. Some customers who consumed them reported that their stool turned green. Well, it’s called a Halloween special for a reason.