Valentine’s Day is officially here, and your social media feed is likely bleeding pink and red with new menu releases. But before you drop all your money and hit a sugar crash, use some reviews to help pick your top choices! We went on a tasting tour to see which treats are a ‘match’ and are actually worth your pennies. Below is the 2026 full Valentine’s Day lineup from Starbucks, Crumbl Cookies, Dunkin’, and Dairy Queen. We tried some popular items and reviewed them so that you don’t have to waste time buying the wrong things. 

Starbucks: 

Starbucks went heavy on its pink aesthetic this year, focusing on a return of strawberry and raspberry flavors. The Iced Double Berry Matcha and Iced Banana Bread Matcha are here to stay for their 2026 Spring Launch! Their menu items include :

• White Chocolate Strawberry Cream Cold Brew : Cold brew with vanilla syrup, topped with White Chocolate Strawberry Cream Cold Foam and chocolate curls.
• Strawberry Shortcake Frappuccino : A creme-based, caffeine-free blend of strawberry puree and cinnamon dolce syrup.
• Iced Double Berry Matcha : A colorful twist on a standard iced matcha, this version uses both strawberry puree and raspberry-infused foam to give the traditional green tea latte a festive, fruity upgrade.
• Iced Banana Bread Matcha : A cozy, dessert-inspired latte that blends earthy matcha with sweet brown sugar, topped with banana-flavored foam and crunchy caramel bits.
• Valentine’s Cake Pop : A sweet vanilla cake bite with red and pink coating to represent Valentine’s Day. 

We tried the Strawberry Shortcake Frappuccino, and it was delightful! The cinnamon syrup and strawberry taste made it feel more like a dessert rather than a drink. It was so flavorful and well mixed, perfect for the Valentine’s Day season. Personally,  we would give it a 9/10. Our only complaint was the amount of milk. It felt a tad overpowering, and we would’ve preferred a little less. However, you can customize the drink, which we will make sure to do next time! Overall, a delicious drink, perfect for the holiday of love!

We also tried the Valentine’s Cake Pop. We gave it a 9/10 due to its perfect dough-like texture. It had the perfect snap when we took a bite, and it was very well portioned. The festive heart design was a highlight and made the cutest snack. Our only minor complaint was the sugar percentage. For such a small treat, it was very, very sweet! But, despite our small complaint, this treat was so yummy and a perfect V-Day snack!

Dunkin:

Dunkin made lots of additions to their menu, and added festive-themed titles for all of their new editions. Their new menu items are listed below:

• • Toxic Ex-Presso Cloud Latte: An espresso drink with mocha swirl and raspberry flavoring, topped with chocolate cold foam. 
  • Sweet on You Cloud Latte: An espresso drink with caramel swirl and a coconut flavor. It is topped with sweet cold foam. 
  • Chocolate Covered Strawberry Day Dream: Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher with oat milk and chocolate cold foam. 
  • Heart Eyes Day Dream Refresher: It is a Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher with blueberry flavor, oat milk, and sweet cold foam. 
  • Blush Spritz Refresher: Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher with sparkling water. 
  • Brownie Batter Heart-Shaped Donut: Filled with brownie buttercream that oozes into your mouth, and a classic glazed with chocolate frosting and festive sprinkles on top. 
  • Cupid’s Choice Donut: A heart-shaped donut filled with Bavarian Cream, topped with strawberry icing and festive pink and white sprinkles.

    

     We tried the Brownie Batter donut, which is a Dunkin seasonal fan-favorite. We thought it rich and delicious, though there was a lot of unevenly spread batter inside, which may not be for everyone. We didn’t like the chocolate explosion that occurred as soon as we took a bite, however, we think it was worth the hype it received. Despite the messy factor, it was soft and perfectly sugary. It mimics the taste of licking the spoon when making brownies at home! Overall, we gave this treat a 7/10.

Crumbl Cookie:

Crumbl Cookies stepped up this year by adding the Dubai chocolate trend to one of their cookies. Their menu for this week is below.

• Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Brownie: Their classic brownie with crunchy kataifi filling and pistachio cream, topped with milk chocolate and fresh strawberries.
• Strawberry Heart Cake: A heart-shaped strawberry cake with strawberry cream cheese frosting. 
• Salted Caramel Cheesecake Cookie: A graham cracker cookie topped with cheesecake frosting, lots of caramel, and sea salt.
• Valentine’s M&M’S Cookie: A classic warm cookie with red, pink, and white M&Ms.
• Conversation Hearts Pink Sugar Cookie: Their classic pink sugar cookie that is an almond sugar cookie with pink frosting and a conversation heart topper as festive decor.

  

We tried the Conversation Hearts Pink Sugar Cookie, a staple for Crumbl, and for a valid reason. The almond flavor in the frosting is very distinct. It’s doughy and sweet, mimicking the taste of a cake. The cookie base itself was dense, holding up well under that thick layer of frosting. The decor on top was so festive and cute, however, it was quite heavy and dry. If you aren’t a fan of strong sweetness, this might be a skip for you. We would give this treat a 5/10. 

Dairy Queen:

DQ kept their tradition going and brought back some mourned flavors. They also added budget-friendly treats for this year’s Valentine’s menu:

• Red Velvet Cake Blizzard: The February “Blizzard of the Month.” It’s a blend of rich red velvet cake pieces and silky cream cheese icing swirled into vanilla soft serve.
• Valentine’s Cupcakes (2 for $6): A “Treats for Two” deal. These are mini versions of their famous Fudge and Crunch cakes, with layers of vanilla and chocolate soft serve and a signature crunchy center.
• Triple Truffle Blizzard: A chocolate-lover’s dream with three types of truffles (caramel, peanut butter, and fudge) blended with cocoa fudge.
• Cupid Cake: A heart-shaped Blizzard cake specifically designed for two people to share.

  

We tried the Red Velvet Cake Blizzard, and unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype. While the texture was nice and creamy, the flavor was a letdown. It truly just tasted like vanilla soft serve with cake chunks thrown in. We didn’t get any of that signature red velvet cocoa flavor, and the aftertaste was not to our liking. It’s an okay choice if you just need a quick sugar fix, but if you’re looking for an authentic red velvet treat, this isn’t it. We gave this treat a 3/10.

The Final Valentine’s Verdict

After hitting these four spots, we learned not all the treats are worth the hype. We encourage you to try some of these items, but definitely hit Starbucks this year! It was definitely our favorite based on both its flavor and aesthetic. Dunkin is a close second if you don’t mind the mess! Since we only tried a few items, don’t let our “mismatches” stop you from exploring! While the Red Velvet Blizzard and Pink Sugar Cookie weren’t for us, hidden gems like the Dubai Chocolate Brownie or the Cloud Lattes might be your perfect match. We hope this guide saves you from a sugar heartbreak! Grab a Frappuccino, take a gamble on a new flavor, and have a sweet Valentine’s Day!