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Chick-fil-A fans, get ready for a sweet dose of nostalgia. Years ago, we said goodbye to a beloved milkshake flavor that seemed to capture the entire essence of the fast food chain in one sip. The Southern-inspired shake wasn’t around for long, but it made a lasting mark on the Chick-fil-A fanbase.
“It was by far my favorite they’ve ever had,” shared one fan on Reddit. “I wish it was their pleasure to bring it back,” added another.
For 13 years, customers were left longing, but despite all odds (including an official company statement declaring it would never return), the beloved banana-flavored shake is finally getting its comeback story.
The Banana Pudding Milkshake Is Finally Back at Chick-fil-A
After a 13-year hiatus, the Banana Pudding Milkshake is finally back on the Chick-fil-A menu.
According to an announcement by our favorite fast food sleuth, snackolator, Chick-fil-A is currently testing the return of the Banana Pudding Shake along with a brand new coffee-flavored treat: the Banana Frosted Coffee.
The Banana Pudding Milkshake is like a classic, comfort-loaded banana pudding you can suck down with a straw. If you never had the chance to try the hand-spun shake, which features fresh bananas, vanilla wafers, and a whipped cream topping, you’re in for a real Southern treat. The sweet, creamy flavors are “sure to evoke memories of your grandmother's best recipe,” stated a 2011 press release.
As for the new Banana Frosted Coffee, this treat combines a custom blend of cold brew coffee with fresh bananas and the signature Icedream base, finished off with vanilla wafer cookie crumbles. A coffee-banana combo isn't one you come across very often in the fast food world, but we couldn’t be more anxious to try it.
Unfortunately, these decadent new desserts aren’t promised to roll out nationwide just yet. So far, they’re only available in the Columbia, South Carolina market until Jan. 20 (prompting hungry fans to plan their road trips already).
So, why was the banana pudding dessert gone for so long, anyway? According to a former employee, the limited-time item didn’t sell as well as the standard shake flavors or the peppermint drink in the winter. So, after one or two years, “it was replaced with Peach,” they explained. And the rest is history.
It sounds like the fate of the new frosty treats will depend on the success of the market tests, so, if you really want to see the banana-based beverages stay on the menu for good, you might want to make a little trip to South Carolina ASAP.
Regardless, between this milkshake debut and the launch of new Little Debbie’s snacks, we’d say 2024 is already off to a pretty sweet start.