When Dunkin’ Donuts began, the focus was purely on the vast range of donuts you could get.
Times have changed and the franchise’s coffee is now much more relevant with some exciting flavor combinations and limited edition offerings.
How you have your coffee could typically depend on the amount of creamer and sugar you stir in but those habits can be changed.
If you want to add a bit extra instead of creamer and sugar, you can choose one of their flavor swirls and some of them are simply irresistible.
In this guide, we will look at the 9 best Dunkin’ Donuts flavor swirls (see also ‘15 Tasty And Exciting Dunkin’ Donuts Flavors‘) you have to try in your coffee.
We will also look at some of the best combinations of flavor swirls that may seem too good to be true and some of the limited edition flavor swirls.
The 9 Best Dunkin’ Donuts Flavor Swirls You Have To Try In Your Coffee
- Caramel Swirl
- Rocky Road Swirl
- Peanut Butter Cup Swirl
- Cookie Dough Swirl
- Peppermint Mocha Swirl
- Butter Pecan Swirl
- French Vanilla Swirl
- Mocha Swirl
- Hazelnut Swirl
1. Caramel Swirl
As a staple flavor swirl at Dunkin’ Donuts, you should be able to infuse your coffee with some sweet caramel goodness all year round.
Use it as an alternative to simple plain sugar and it can work really well. Try it in an iced coffee by putting the creamer and sugar down as the flavor swirl will suffice and then a bit more.
The flavor swirl even works with a cold brew, especially a sweet cream one which is known as ‘The Charlie’, but a Caramel Macchiato is also worth trying too.
2. Rocky Road Swirl
Taking inspiration from the Baskin Robbins ice cream flavor, a Rocky Road flavor swirl can work really well when added to various coffees.
In a hot coffee, the combination of bitter coffee beans with the sweetness from the marshmallows, rich almonds, and chocolate ice cream is impressive.
Of course, you may be used to Rocky Road as an ice cream flavor so use it in an iced coffee for a cool tasty treat.
3. Peanut Butter Cup Swirl
We should all appreciate how peanut butter works so well with chocolate, but coffee?
It does, as the flavor should be more appropriately named Peanut Butter And Chocolate which is essentially what a Peanut Butter Cup is.
The flavor swirl was initially introduced as part of Dunkin’ Donuts’ Halloween-themed flavors so seek it out when the time is right.
Try it as a Peanut Butter Cup Macchiato and you can imagine you are drinking warm, liquid Reese’s pieces.
4. Cookie Dough Swirl
This one may be tricky to find and it may even seem a bit mind-blowing but at certain times of the year, certain Dunkin’ Donuts franchises will offer the Cookie Dough flavor swirl.
If you do, you simply have to order it.
The flavor has been inspired by the ice cream flavor perfected by Baskin Robbins and can be a suitably sweet order. Plus, the combination of cookie dough and Arabica beans is well worth sampling.
5. Peppermint Mocha Swirl
When the red cups come out, you should head to Dunkin’ Donuts instead. For a chocolatey, minty taste sensation, try their Peppermint Mocha flavor swirl.
This can bring you right in the mood for the holiday season so make sure you get it as a Mocha to keep your hands warm as the temperature drops.
6. Butter Pecan Swirl
Butter coffee is not new as the popularity of Bulletproof coffee attests and it just goes to prove how well rich butter goes with bitter coffee beans.
At Dunkin’ Donuts you can use the Butter Pecan flavor swirl for your coffee for a buttery taste in your cup of Joe.
The end result is a cozy and comforting beverage that works as a latte or an iced coffee.
However, as a latte, it really comes into its own during the holiday season as something close to a milkshake if you want an alternative to Salted Caramel or Peppermint Mocha.
7. French Vanilla Swirl
As with ice cream, French Vanilla can seem incredibly versatile and ideal for combining with something else yet as a standalone flavor swirl it brings a decadence to coffee.
Sure, it goes great with Butter Pecan, Hazelnut, and Caramel yet if you want a delicious-tasting coffee then try French Vanilla for its own flavor profile.
It works with a cold brew, an iced coffee, or even a hot coffee if you need the caffeine kick but not the bitter flavor that can come with it.
8. Mocha Swirl
Think of chocolate and you should go for the Mocha swirl as this is the closest flavor swirl you can get.
With a rich, chocolaty flavor, the bold bitterness of coffee beans is rounded off nicely.
This is not a sickly sweet chocolate flavor you may get elsewhere but one that enhances the coffee flavor, all without piling in the sugar sachets.
If you need the caffeine boost but fancy a hot chocolate, try the Mocha swirl in a hot latte.
9. Hazelnut Swirl
For a suitably warm, nutty addition to your coffee you cannot beat the Hazelnut flavor swirl.
The flavor really comes into its own during the winter months as it can elevate a hot coffee to new levels.
That could be in a frothy latte or a plain drip cup but it should remind you that the holidays are coming.
ven if you try it at the turn of the year, there is a warming satisfaction from every sip, even in an iced latte or iced macchiato.
The Limited Edition Flavor Swirls
Just like the holidays truly begin when Starbucks brings out their red cups, Dunkin’ Donuts has a few limited edition offers of its own.
For those romantic souls, you can enjoy a Pink Velvet flavor swirl on Valentine’s Day, perhaps for yourself or maybe a loved one. Look out for the Baskin Robbins’ Rocky Road and Cookie Dough flavor swirls which can transform your coffee into tasting like delicious ice cream.
There is also the Peanut Butter Cup flavor swirl which typically comes out around about Halloween.
Granted, a Pumpkin flavored coffee may not seem wholly original yet Dunkin’ Donuts has jumped on the fall bandwagon.
Thankfully, the Pumpkin flavor swirl is well worth getting hyped up about when the taste suddenly becomes trendy late in the year.
This one has strong notes of cinnamon, to the point where it might as well be renamed. If you like your hot black coffee with warm-tasting spices then choose Pumpkin.
Of course, Dunkin’ Donuts brings out its own limited edition flavor swirls just in time for the holiday season.
Alongside Pumpkin, you can try their Peppermint Mocha for a minty festive treat or a Salted Caramel flavor swirl for sheer indulgence. There is also the Butter Pecan which brings a cozy, buttery flavor to any coffee.
Flavor Combinations You Have To Try
While these 9 flavor swirls are well worth trying based on their own merits, you could go even further.
By combining flavor swirls (and even flavor swirls and flavor shots), you can create your twist on how you want your coffee to taste.
This could be in a regular coffee or in an iced one so feel free to experiment.
If you want to go indulgent, try the Caramel Mocha yet if you like the taste of chocolate and berries then there is the Coco Berry.
More decadent flavors include Toasted French Vanilla, Caramel Coconut Crème Pie, and Hazelnut Mocha.
Caramel Mocha
For a flavor combination that would even work as ice cream, try mixing together the Caramel and Mocha flavor swirls.
The richness of the Caramel flavor goes so well with the bitterness of the Mocha that you may want to keep the taste sensation all to yourself.
If anything, the taste may be a little too rich so take your time with it.
Coco Berry
If you like your coffee tasting a little more fruity than most then try a Coco Berry. This can be created by ordering a Mocha latte and then adding a Blueberry flavor shot.
The flavor is akin to chocolate-covered blueberries, you can even add in a flavor shot of raspberry for even more berries.
Toasted French Vanilla
French Vanilla may seem a little blasé for many coffee aficionados so ramp it up a bit. Try ordering an iced coffee with a French Vanilla flavor swirl then add a flavor shot of Toasted Almond.
You can even have it with almond milk for even more toasted goodness. This is another flavor to savor so take a seat and enjoy the view while sipping away.
Caramel Coconut Crème Pie
The Caramel Coconut Crème Pie may seem like a secret menu item but it is relatively easy to create if you ask the server.
Order an iced coffee with milk then add a Caramel flavor shot and finish it off with a Coconut Crème Pie flavor swirl.
For an iced coffee that is close to dessert, throw in some whipped cream and even a shot of espresso for that extra caffeine boost.
Hazelnut Mocha
Hazelnuts and chocolate work well together, so you should try them in a coffee.
Order a latte with the Mocha flavor swirl then add a Hazelnut flavor shot for an upgrade of nuts. This also works as an iced coffee if you like something close to a nutty milkshake.
French Vanilla With… Most Flavor Swirls
As a rich flavor base, French Vanilla can be combined with pretty much any flavor swirl and it should work. Try it with the Peanut Butter Cup flavor swirl for a rich, flavorful coffee.
Then again, the flavor swirl works with other nutty flavors so try it alongside Butter Pecan and Hazelnut.
Caramel is another flavor swirl that can be elevated alongside French Vanilla for a warm flavor, especially in a hot coffee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Key Difference Between A Flavor Shot And A Flavor Swirl?
When you look at the menu at Dunkin’ Donuts, you should note that there are two distinct ways to flavor your coffee instead of simply adding sugar and creamer.
You could use a flavor swirl or a flavor shot and the main difference comes from the ingredients.
According to Dunkin’ Donuts, the flavor swirls are made with sweetened condensed milk so it should be creamier and have more flavors for increased variety.
However, the flavor shots are unsweetened and come sugar-free.
That increased variety in flavor swirls should include Mocha, Hazelnut, French Vanilla, and Caramel with seasonal offerings such as Butter Pecan, Salted Caramel, and Peppermint Mocha.
The classic flavor shots include Toasted Almond, Blueberry, Raspberry, Coconut, Vanilla, and also Hazelnut.
Both flavor swirls and flavor shots should be free from artificial sweeteners and colors which is worth considering.
The calorie content also differs as a flavor swirl should contain between 150 and 160 calories while a flavor shot only has five to ten calories.
How Many Flavor Swirls Can You Expect In A Large Iced Coffee?
A large iced coffee should have four flavor swirls though any more can make the coffee taste really sweet.
For a small coffee, there should only be two flavor swirls included which means that a medium iced coffee should only have three flavor swirls.
Final Thoughts
Adding a flavor swirl to your coffee can really make a difference that will make you think again about the sugar and creamer.
You could have a flavor in mind as a preference, whether you like Rocky Road or French Vanilla ice cream, maybe Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as a snack.
Experiment with what you like then go for flavor combinations that you perhaps had not thought of before.
Perhaps some fruit and chocolate like the Coco Berry or Toasted French Vanilla for moreish nuts and vanilla.
Be wary that some of these flavor swirls may only be around for a limited time.
Certainly, the likes of Pumpkin, Peppermint Mocha, even Peanut Butter Cup, Butter Pecan, and Rocky Road may only be made available as the seasons change later in the year.
Though these flavors typically work best as hot, indulgent coffees, you can try them as iced coffee for a different take on a flavor swirl.
If it works for staple flavor swirls like Caramel and Mocha then any flavor can work in an iced coffee.
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