Panera Bread is making its first foray into the milkshakes category with the introduction of three Bakery Shakes, two of which are inspired by Panera’s bakery treats. Panera announced the new menu category Wednesday and will be rolling out the shakes to select test markets in Texas this week, with the option to expand the test nationally in 2023 when the weather is warmer.
The flavors include:
- The Kitchen Sink: This shake is inspired by Panera’s Kitchen Sink cookie, and is made with cookie pieces, caramel syrup, sea salt, vanilla cream and ice. The shakes are topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.
- Fudge Brownie Swirl: This one is inspired by Panera’s signature brownie and is made with Panera brownie chunks and blended with vanilla cream and ice. Each shake is topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle.
- Strawberry Cheesecake Swirl: This is the only shake on the menu that doesn’t have a corresponding bakery menu item. The shake is inspired by strawberry cheesecake and is made with strawberry puree and cream cheese, blended with vanilla cream and ice, and topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.
This is not the first time Panera has expanded its menu offerings into new categories this year. This spring, the bakery-café chain entered the chicken sandwich wars with a non-breaded, baked offering that put a healthier spin on the proliferation of fried chicken sandwiches that dominated menu trends last year. Previously, in 2020, the St. Louis-based chain rolled out flatbread pizzas to encourage guests to visit the chain during the dinner daypart. We would not be surprised if Panera continues to test out new menu options for guests in the future.
The milkshake test will launch in select cities and towns in Texas including Waxahachie, Waco, Killeen, Cedar Hill, Temple, Mansfield and Grand Prairie and are available for $5.79 each.
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