Shake Shack Is Launching a New Menu—and We Tried It First

While Shake Shack’s burgers and fries are delicious, there’s nothing more synonymous with the restaurant than its shakes. It’s quite literally called the Shack of Shakes, so of course, they’re a big deal.

Every year around the holidays, Shake Shack releases three shakes for a limited time. While, yes, no need to worry, the restaurant is selling a holiday menu this year, it does have a bit of a different twist. This holiday season, Shake Shack teamed up with DreamWorks Animation to launch a new milkshake menu inspired by the “Trolls Band Together” movie, which hits theaters on November 17.

The Trolls-themed shakes are based on three characters from the new movie—Poppy, Branch, and a character introduced in this third film, Viva—all with a holiday spin. So, starting November 1, you can find Poppy’s Sugar Cookie Shake, Branch’s Chocolate Peppermint Shake, and Viva’s Cinnamon Roll Shake at Shake Shack locations nationwide.

But, before these shakes were available nationwide, we got a chance to try them first.

We Tried Shake Shack's Trolls-Themed Menu

We visited Shake Shack’s Innovation Kitchen to try the three holiday menu items—and, let’s just say, you might have to visit Shake Shack three times this season to try them all too.

Poppy’s Sugar Cookie Shake

First up is the returning fan-favorite Sugar Cookie Shake. This shake is made with sugar cookie frozen custard, as usual, but instead of the shortbread pieces, it features special cookie dough pop candy—plus whipped cream and cotton candy.

This popping white chocolate-coated cookie dough candy was specially made for the shake—and we’d say that this shake should be made with popping candy from here on out. Overall, this one is a classic, and you can never go wrong with a classic.

Branch’s Chocolate Peppermint Shake

Next, Branch’s Chocolate Peppermint Shake is a semi-returning shake from 2019, however, this time around, Shake Shack’s Innovation Kitchen changed up the recipe a bit. The restaurant will blend both its vanilla and chocolate frozen custards together for the first time in the Chocolate Peppermint Shake, which is usually only made with chocolate custard. It also includes mint fudge sauce for that classic choco-peppermint flavor. To make it Branch’s shake, however, it’ll be topped with whipped cream and blue and green mint candy that match the troll.

This shake is really great for peppermint lovers—the chocolate-vanilla blend tones the decadent chocolate flavors down and really lets the peppermint shine. However, it has quite a strong minty taste, so if you don’t have an affinity for that, you might want to try something else.

Viva’s Cinnamon Roll Shake

Finally, just like the Viva character herself, the Cinnamon Roll Shake is a completely new offering at Shake Shack. This one is made with cinnamon roll-flavored frozen custard swirled with golden frosting and topped with whipped cream and gold confetti.

Despite it being a cold treat, it has all the delicious flavors you love from a warm, gooey cinnamon roll. It’s nicely spiced and not overly sweet—and it’s definitely one we want Shake Shack to bring back for another holiday season.

The Trolls holiday shakes, and special themed packaging, will be available through January, so you’ll have plenty of time to see the DreamWorks takeover at your local Shake Shack—and also plenty of time to see the new “Trolls Band Together” movie, which, let’s be honest, isn’t just for kids thanks to that new NSYNC song that us ‘90s babies have been waiting years for.