Popeyes Just Added This New Popular Dessert to the Menu
It's almost summer, and Popeyes is revamping its menu across the board. A few weeks ago the chain launched a new Blackened Chicken Sandwich which takes the breading off the chicken filet and instead infuses the "naked" chicken breast with spices. And now the dessert category is getting an indulgent, non-fried item as well.
The new Strawberry Cheesecake Cup is exactly what you think it is—all the elements of a classic cheesecake packed into a mini, several-bites-sized version. The dessert features a thick cheesecake filling mixed with strawberry purée atop a crumbly graham cracker crust and is served in a sealed plastic cup.
This creamy, cheesy dessert is sort of like a shell-less version of the deep-fried Strawberry & Cream Cheese Pie, another popular seasonal treat at Popeyes. In fact, we loved the deep-fried version so much that we deemed it one of the best fast-food desserts around in last year's taste test. So we have high hopes for this purer version of everyone's favorite cake.
In terms of calories, it clocks in at 318, which is higher than 236 calories you get from the chain's Cinnamon Apple Pie. But thanks to portion-controlled packaging, it is much lighter than an order of the Chocolate Beignets, which will set you back some 730 calories.
The new dessert is a limited-time item that's available at participating locations.
And here's what else is new on the Popeyes menu this year.
The chain's first fish sandwich
Possibly the most significant announcement to come out of Popeyes this year is the release of the chain's first fish sandwich. While the chain is fiercely competitive in the chicken sandwich wars, many wonder whether it can pull off another showstopper with the Cajun Flounder Sandwich.
Popeyes' fish sandwich is modeled after the simplicity of its iconic chicken sandwich. The centerpiece is a fried flounder filet spiced with Cajun seasoning, which is served on a buttery, toasted brioche bun. Two supporting players—barrel cured pickles and Popeyes legacy tartar sauce—round out the flavor profile.
Two discontinued sides
In the cutthroat world of fast food, if you snooze on innovation, you'll likely lose (on the market share). And when new things crop up on the menu, some older, less popular items must go. Such was the case with two of Popeyes's classic sides that lost their place on the menu at the start of the year: Cajun Rice and Green Beans. We sure hope this means some innovative sides are in the works to replace them!
A change to the chicken recipe
Popeyes recently announced its five-year goals for food quality and sustainability, which will impact many of the chain's menu items, including its famous chicken sandwich. They include removing antibiotics from Popeyes' chicken supply chain in the U.S. and Canada by the end of this year, as well as cutting colors, flavors, and preservatives derived from artificial sources from all fried chicken menu items by the end of 2022.
Don't worry, Popeyes will still follow its winning chicken formula, which consists of a 12-hour marinade and hand-breading. Now, they'll do it without all the stuff you don't want in your fast food in the first place.
For more, check out 108 Most Popular Sodas Ranked By How Toxic They Are.
