Posted in Culinary on July 7, 2026
For sandwich operators today, the best thing since sliced bread is dessert. No longer an afterthought to the sandwich occasion, dessert has become one of the easiest ways for sandwich operators to drive traffic and elevate everyday visits. In fact, consumers are so sweet on dessert, over a quarter say they’re consuming more desserts overall — a stat that rises to 34% among Gen Z and 35% among millennials.1
No wonder Technomic menu data shows that dessert items have increased more than any other menu category in recent years, with operators adding a larger number of sweets to menus year-over-year2 — a clear indication that restaurants see desserts as a high-impact lever for guest satisfaction and incremental sales.
As sandwich operators seek to differentiate in an increasingly crowded fast-casual and quick-service landscape, branded desserts are emerging as a simple but powerful way to elevate the overall meal occasion.
Desserts are increasingly being used as a high-margin attachment strategy at sandwich and quick-service chains, particularly as operators look for ways to grow average check size without raising entrée prices. According to a 2025 industry survey cited by QSR Magazine, 80% of restaurant operators say desserts help increase check averages.3
Branded Ingredients: Familiar, Versatile, Profitable
With high name recognition and brand equity, trusted ingredients like OREO and CHIPS AHOY! give dessert concepts a familiarity and flavor that can make them especially appealing.
The market’s robust appetite for after-meal treats presents a major opportunity for operators to pair sandwiches with sweet finishes with beloved brand flavors and tasty twists on traditional desserts. Nostalgic desserts take the cake in consumer interest at 60%, followed by seasonal desserts at 56%, mini desserts at 54%, and rich classics such as tiramisu and mousse at 53%.1
Ideal for sampling and portion control, mini desserts drive maximum interest among younger consumers and tie into “little treat” culture on social media, where fans share how they reward themselves with small, affordable pick-me-ups. Sixty-three percent of Gen Z and 61% of millennials have a hankering for them.1 Shareable desserts are also increasingly popular menu additions, with dessert platters growing over 96% and flights rising over 74%.1
For delicious and versatile options that combine mini formats, shareable variety and nostalgic appeal, consider a Cupcake Flight made with Golden OREO Cookie Pieces and Sopapillas made with Chunky CHIPS AHOY! Cookie Pieces.
Perfect as grab-and-go mini treats, OREO and CHIPS AHOY! Cake Pops from Chalet Desserts come in an array of flavors to satisfy consumers’ hankering for variety.
Quick-Service Restaurants Dig Into Branded Dessert
As more dessert occasions shift toward retail, convenience and grab-and-go formats,1 branded desserts give sandwich concepts a powerful way to transform a routine meal into a more memorable, premium experience.
Many operators are taking advantage of the popularity of branded ingredients to menu signature dessert concepts:
- Potbelly features OREO shakes at many locations, pairing desserts directly with toasted sandwiches and meal bundles.
- Subway launched a Footlong OREO Cookie for a limited time in 2025, extending its “Footlong Sidekicks” platform beyond sandwiches into dessert.
- Jack in the Box menus seasonal OREO shakes and limited-time OREO Matcha Shakes.
- Dunkin' runs specials for OREO frozen beverages and donut collaborations.
- Which Wich has featured OREO milkshakes and frozen dessert add-ons at participating stores.
Sweet Simplicity Meets Endless Variety
Desserts are a relatively low-risk menu add-on because they typically require minimal labor, limited operational complexity and small ingredient investments while delivering high perceived value and strong margins. For sandwich shops especially, grab-and-go cookies, brownies, shakes and mini desserts can increase average check size and impulse purchases without slowing service or disrupting core kitchen operations.
Given that cookies are the top dessert variety, favored by 89% of consumers,1 sandwich operators may want to consider time-saving, easy-to-make dessert solutions like Stuffed Sugar Cookies made with OREO Cookies and Buttermilk Donuts made with Chunky CHIPS AHOY! Cookie Pieces. Eighty-one percent hanker for muffins,1 making the Banana Muffin made with OREO Cookie Pieces and Coffee Cake Muffins made with CHIPS AHOY! Cookie Pieces appealing options.
Enjoyed by 83% of consumers,1 milkshakes are another dessert category that sandwich operators should explore. To save time while ensuring the highest quality, the OREO Cookies & Cream Milkshake from F’real comes pre-made in cups and ready to be blended in F’real blenders for a flavor-packed frozen novelty that requires minimum labor.
From increasing incremental revenue to differentiating the menu to driving social sharing, branded desserts are becoming a go-to business booster. Familiar names like OREO and CHIPS AHOY! instantly communicate quality and authenticity while giving operators an easy, low-risk way to introduce trend-forward flavors and limited-time excitement.
For more menu ideas to help your operation get the most out of branded desserts, be sure to check out how to elevate sweets with 3 new formats. To stay on top of the latest menu trends and feed your bottom line with insights, sign up for our emails.
1. Datassential, Desserts, February 26, 2026
2. Cobe, Patricia, Restaurant Chains Added a Lot of Sweets to Their Menus Last Year, Restaurant Business, August 13, 2025
3. QSR, How 80 Percent of Operators Increase Check Averages, QSR Magazine, June 3, 2025
