Some Of 2026's Best Fast Food Desserts Come From A Popular Chicken Chain

You may typically swing by a drive-thru for a quick breakfast, soda, or sandwich, but nearly every fast food menu also sports a solid selection of sweets. In 2026, several chains released new desserts, and a handful of them were named top fan-favorite fast food desserts of the year. A couple of those picks come from the most popular chicken spot in the United States: Chick-fil-A.

The two dessert items stealing the show at the never-open-on-Sunday spot are the frosted soda and the float. If you're a Chick-fil-A devotee, you may already know that these treats aren't entirely new – they were former secret menu items. Previous versions of the drinks were rolled out as limited-time offers at select locations, but they never had a permanent place on the menu until January of 2026. Both are a marriage of Chick-fil-A's Icedream (the brand's take on ice cream) and a fountain drink. The difference is in the preparation. The float is similar to the classic beverage that combines soda and sweet, frozen dairy, except Icedream is texturally closer to soft-serve, so it's swirled into the glass instead of being added as a scoop. For frosted sodas, the two ingredients become one, with the Icedream spun milkshake-style into the carbonated beverage.

The float and frosted soda can be crafted with any fountain beverage, from traditional root beer or Coca-Cola to Dr. Pepper, Mello Yello, Sprite, or Fanta's strawberry or orange. Berry-flavored Powerade and a couple of Hi-C options are available as well.

In 2024, a Mashed food reviewer was able to track down Chick-fil-A's frosted soda, which she described as being fairly elusive at the time. She taste-tested the Dr. Pepper flavor, and her conclusion was, "Overall, the drink was absolutely delicious. I enjoyed how it wasn't overly sweet." Since frosted soda became permanent, Reddit users have also shared their opinions, with one stating, "I love them. Frosted Diet Dr Pepper hit the spot." Others recommended ordering it with Hi-C, Coke, or Coke Zero. There were some nay-sayers, too. Noted downsides included too much sweetness, a high price point, and an imbalanced ice cream-to-soda ratio.

As for the floats, not everyone is on board, but the positive feedback is plentiful. One YouTube reviewer was a fan and commenters agreed. An enthusiastic commenter said, "Best Coke float I've had in years!!!" Others chimed in with similar feelings about that flavor, while some comments gave shout-outs to Fanta and Dr. Pepper as their favorite floats. For those that aren't as excited to hop on the float train, the iciness was one Reddit complaint. Semantics was an issue for another who said, "There was no floating." 

Chick-fil-A's floats and frosted Sodas can serve as a solo sweet or an end to a meal. You can also enjoy them alongside menu items that pair well with ice cream, like french fries or a fried chicken sandwich — which is probably the reason you stopped by the restaurant in the first place.