Pumpkin spice season is drawing near and Cracker Barrel is over the trendy flavor.
Cracker Barrel announced its 2024 fall menu last week and there is no pumpkin spice to be found. The franchise said in a press release that it is attempting to fight “pumpkin spice fatigue” by bringing highlighting the classic apple flavor throughout this year’s seasonal menu.
Inspired by its signature fried apples, the beloved restaurant chain introduced four new menu items, including two beverage options.
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Guests can enjoy Signature Fried Apple French Toast Bake, Southern Apple Cobbler, Granny Smith Apple Mimosa and Granny Smith Apple Tea throughout the season. For those looking for something on the savory side, a new Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd’s Pie is now available.
Apple is one of fall’s most beloved flavors, but has been overshadowed in recent years.
For decades apple was the most popular harvest flavor. With the introduction of pumpkin spice, and the popularity of Starbucks’ iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte, apple has taken a backseat in recent years. According to Datassential, 87% of consumers favor apples, but apple-centric dishes and beverages have been slowly disappearing from menu offerings.
The reintroduction of the flavor is a bold, and hopefully profitable move on the part of Cracker Barrel. The new menu rollout comes just months after the chain closed several of its restaurant locations across the country. Inflation and an overall lesser number of customers were to blame for the closures as more people are choosing to dine at home or opt for cheaper drive-thru value menu offerings.
DID YOU KNOW?
As of 2024, Cracker Barrel has 661 locations across 45 states. Hawaii, Alaska, Wyoming, Washington, and Vermont are the only states that don’t have the pleasure of enjoying the cozy cuisine the restaurant has to offer.
Every year, Cracker Barrel serves approximately:
- 230 million guests
- 210 million biscuits
- 162 million eggs
- 140 million slices of bacon
- 75 million pancakes
- 55 million 1.5 oz. bottles of Pure Natural Syrup
- 41 million servings of grits
- 13 million pounds of chicken tenders
- 13 million orders of Chicken n’ Dumplins