Slideshow: Serving up sweet menu innovations

KANSAS CITY — Foodservice operators are expanding their menus with limited-time dessert offerings.

Yum! Brands subsidiary Taco Bell partnered with ice cream company Salt & Straw to debut two limited-time items. The churro ice cream taco features a waffle cone shell filled with churro ice cream then covered with puffed rice and a dark chocolate-flavored coating. The choco-waffle chiller combines a vanilla ice cream base that is blended with churro crumbles and waffle cone pieces and encased in a crackable chocolatey shell. While the ice cream taco is available at Taco Bell locations nationwide, the chiller is exclusively available at Taco Bell Live Mas Cafes while supplies last.

“Last year’s collaboration showed us how much joy there is in reimagining a nostalgic favorite, and we’re thrilled to work with Salt & Straw to bring a new ice cream taco to Taco Bell restaurants,” said Liz Matthews, global chief food innovation officer at Taco Bell. “The churro ice cream taco builds on everything fans loved about the original collaboration, with a flavor that feels right at home on our menu.”

Southern-inspired chain Zaxbys collaborated with Ferrara brand Nerds to launch the Nerds strawberry milkshake. The LTO features a strawberry milkshake mixed with Nerds candy pieces and toppings like whipped cream, rainbow Nerds and Nerds Gummy Clusters.

“The Nerds brand is such a fan-favorite, iconic candy, and we knew its signature sweet-and-tangy crunch would take our hand-spun strawberry milkshake to a whole new level,” said Patrick Schwing, chief marketing and strategy officer at Zaxbys. “The pairing creates a crave-worthy treat that brings nostalgic candy flavors together with the creamy indulgence of a hand-spun Zaxbys strawberry milkshake.”

Hardee’s, a CKE Restaurant Holdings, Inc. subsidiary, introduced a s’mores-inspired menu. The limited-edition items include the s’mores ice cream shake, the s’mores fried pie and a s’mores iced coffee.

“Our new s’mores platform keeps those warm, nostalgic summer moments alive,” said Sarah Breymaier, vice president of brand marketing at Hardee’s.