If You’re Already Tired of Pumpkin Spice, Krispy Kreme Has a New Fall Treat to Try

Pumpkin spice may own the fall menu, but it does not have to own every fall craving. Krispy Kreme has introduced Churro Doughnut Dots, a limited-time treat that swaps pumpkin for a combination that is just as cozy: cinnamon sugar and dulce de leche. The new item arrived Sept. 22, one day after the official start of the fall promotion was announced, giving customers another seasonal option while pumpkin-flavored everything fills coffee shops and grocery aisles.

The idea is wonderfully straightforward. Krispy Kreme starts with its signature light and airy dough, turns it into bite-sized Doughnut Dots, then coats each one in cinnamon sugar. An order comes with eight dots and a small cup of rich dulce de leche dipping sauce. That last part matters. Rather than simply making a cinnamon doughnut and calling it churro-inspired, Krispy Kreme has built the experience around dipping and dunking.

Alison Holder, Krispy Kreme’s chief product and brand officer, described the dots as “poppable” and “dippable,” positioning them as an add-on for a doughnut dozen, coffee run or group order. They are also small enough that sharing sounds reasonable, although a cup of warm-looking cinnamon-sugar bites sitting next to caramel-like dulce de leche may test that generosity pretty quickly.

The Churro Treatment Makes These More Than Mini Doughnuts

The dipping sauce is what pushes the new release beyond simply shrinking a doughnut. Churros are traditionally associated with a crisp exterior and cinnamon sugar, and Krispy Kreme is translating that familiar flavor profile into its softer signature dough. The dulce de leche adds a creamy, caramelized sweetness that makes each dot customizable: a quick dip for a little extra sweetness or a full dunk for anyone who considers the sauce half the point.

The timing also gives the release an interesting advantage. Churros are having a noticeable moment on chain menus. USA TODAY noted that Costco announced the return of its twisted churro to U.S. food courts for a limited time after offering a Caramel Churro Sundae earlier in the year. Taco Bell has also introduced a limited-time Churro Ice Cream Taco nationwide. Krispy Kreme is entering that conversation with something designed specifically for snacking.

There is a practical appeal here, too. Eight individual pieces make the order easier to split than one full-size doughnut, and the sauce turns eating them into part of the fun. Krispy Kreme itself is leaning into that informality, encouraging customers to dip, dunk, or share them, or simply keep the whole order close.

Pumpkin Spice Fans Still Have Plenty to Choose From

Krispy Kreme has not abandoned pumpkin spice to make room for churros. The new dots join an Autumn Seasonal Collection that has been available since Aug. 11, so customers can effectively choose which version of fall they want. The lineup includes the returning Pumpkin Spice Cake Doughnut, an Original Glazed Old Fashioned cake doughnut flavored with pumpkin spice.

There are several options that wander further from the standard pumpkin formula. The new Maple Cheesecake Doughnut is filled with cheesecake Kreme, dipped in maple icing, then finished with graham-flavored crunch and maple drizzle. The new Cafe Mocha Doughnut takes an Original Glazed, dips it in chocolate icing, and adds coffee-flavored buttercream and a mocha bean. The Biscoff Cookie Butter Doughnut also returns, filled with Biscoff Cookie Butter Kreme and topped with cookie butter icing, Biscoff pieces, and white icing.

The drinks follow the same split. Pumpkin loyalists can order a Pumpkin Spice Latte topped with whipped cream and pumpkin spice seasoning. Anyone ready to move on can try the new Apple Crisp Latte, made with apple crisp syrup and finished with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and a graham-flavored topping. In other words, the Churro Doughnut Dots are not replacing fall’s most famous flavor. They are offering an escape route from it.

You’ll Have to Get Them Before Fall Moves On

The Churro Doughnut Dots are available for a limited time at participating Krispy Kreme shops nationwide while supplies last. Customers can order them inside participating stores, through the drive-thru, or for pickup and delivery through Krispy Kreme’s app and website. That makes them relatively easy to track down, provided a nearby shop still has them.

Krispy Kreme has not provided an end date in the supplied announcement, which makes “limited time” worth taking seriously. Seasonal menus tend to keep moving, and these dots arrived specifically as a first-day-of-fall celebration rather than as a permanent menu addition. Anyone curious about them may not want to wait until the season is nearly over.

And perhaps that is the most appealing thing about this release: it still tastes like fall without demanding another encounter with pumpkin spice. Cinnamon sugar brings the warmth, dulce de leche brings the indulgence, and eight little doughnut bites keep the whole thing casual. If your pumpkin-spice enthusiasm has already run its course, Krispy Kreme just gave you something else to dip into.