There are still a few weeks to go until Halloween, but that hasn’t stopped restaurants from getting into the spooky spirit. People are already wondering if Chipotle’s Boorito is returning this year. In the meantime, other chains have already gotten started with their Halloween menus. Spoiler alert: most places are offering buckets perfect for trick-or-treating.
McDonald’s
No matter how old I get, McDonald’s Happy Meals will always have a special place in my heart. Luckily, there’ll soon be a perfect excuse to buy one. Starting October 21, the chain is bringing back Boo Buckets, a Halloween staple since the 1980s.
You can choose from five options, including the classic ghost, pumpkin, and goblin or the newly released zombie and black cat. Personally, I’d go with the pumpkin — trick-or-treating calls for a jack-o-lantern pail.
Burger King
The bucket craze doesn’t end with McDonald’s. Burger King releases its own version on October 13. It’s inspired by the chain’s new Monster Menu, which is already in stores and includes both savory and sweet options.
Most notably on the menu is the Jack-O-Lanter Whopper. It’s the classic BK burger with a twist: an orange bun, with black sesame seeds to top off the Halloween look. And a burger isn’t complete without fries or, in this case, Mummy Mozzarella Fries. The mozzarella sticks are even served in a festive Halloween box.
If you want more finger food, order the Vampire Nuggets, complete with a coffin-shaped container. These fang and bat-shaped chicken nuggets bring me straight back to childhood. For dessert, finish with the Franken-Candy Sundae, which consists of soft serve topped with purple syrup, colored candy, and, like all great sundaes, Oreos.
Krispy Kreme
Halloween is about all sweets, not just candy. Krispy Kreme’s adorable new donuts are great for indulging your sweet tooth the entire month. Options include the Jack-o-Lantern, the Candy Bag, the Spooky Sprinkle, and Cookies and Skreme House.
The Jack-o-Lantern looks exactly as it sounds: a shell donut with a buttercream jack-o-lantern face. For chocolate lovers, the Candy Bag is covered with chocolate buttercream and topped with candy bits and caramel. With the Spooky Sprinkle, think Original Glaze but neon green with sprinkles. And Cookies and Skreme House — the best name, I think — comes with a haunted house topping.
Dunkin’
Not to be outdone by Krispy Kreme, Dunkin’ also launches a Halloween menu on October 15. Donut options include the spider donut, the Halloween Sprinkle Donut, and the iconic Munchkins covered in orange and brown Sprinkles. And since everyone’s hopping on the bucket trend, you can get your Munchkins in a purple Halloween-themed bucket.
Because it’s Halloween, feel free to wash down a sweet treat with an even sweeter drink. In this case, it’s Dunkin’s Candy Bar Latte topped with whipped cream and — you guessed it — tons of candy.
Tim Horton’s
You seriously can’t have too many buckets. Tim Horton’s is selling Timbits Buckets that have exactly 31 Timbits. But this might be the cutest and coolest bucket of the bunch. It’s covered with black and white cats and is even glow-in-the-dark, which definitely helps later during a trick-or-treating night.
And if you love peanut butter, you’re in luck. Tim Horton’s will also release Peanut Butter Chocolate flavored hot chocolate, cookies, and the chain’s classic Iced Capp.
The best part: you can get your Timbits bucket refilled for just $6. So between now and October 31, you can always find me at the nearest Tim Hortons.