Taco Bell tests bizarre new FRENCH dessert in last ditch effort to win customers back

Taco Bell is taking one of France's most elegant desserts and giving it an unmistakably fast-food makeover as it trials a bizarre new Creme Brulee Crunchwrap Slider in a bid to tempt customers back through its doors.

The Mexican-inspired chain is testing the sweet treat at participating restaurants in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where diners can get their hands on the unusual creation for just $1.99.

The experimental dessert swaps Taco Bell's traditional savory fillings for a creamy vanilla center, wrapped around a crispy cinnamon sugar mini tostada and folded into the brand's signature hexagonal Crunchwrap shape inside a warm grilled flour tortilla.

To complete the French-inspired twist, the dessert is finished with a crackly caramelized cinnamon-sugar topping designed to mimic the crisp bruleed sugar crust found on a traditional creme brulee.

The snack contains 170 calories, 5g of fat, 27g of carbohydrates, 10g of sugar and 3g of protein.

The launch comes as Taco Bell looks to inject excitement into its menu with a string of limited-time offerings after unveiling more than 20 new products during its annual Live Mas Live event earlier this year.

While the Crunchwrap Supreme has long been one of Taco Bell's signature menu items, this marks the first time the company has experimented with turning the handheld favorite into a dessert.

Creme brulee, which translates to 'burnt cream,' originated in France and traditionally consists of a rich vanilla custard topped with a thin layer of caramelized sugar that's cracked with a spoon before eating.

Taco Bell has replaced the silky custard with a portable vanilla filling while incorporating cinnamon sugar throughout the dessert to make it easier to eat on the go.

The company hopes the unusual mash-up will appeal to younger diners who have embraced increasingly adventurous dessert combinations and social media-worthy menu launches.

Food writer and content creator Bailey Fink, who sampled the dessert at Taco Bell's annual fan and media showcase event, Live Más, earlier this year was an instant convert.

'That is insane,' she said after taking her first bite. 'The inside is like a custardy vanilla flavor and you get that sugar tortilla. This is all I ever need in dessert from Taco Bell.'

While Fink was impressed, the unusual menu item has divided opinion online. 

Some fans have said they 'can't wait' to try it if it rolls out nationwide, while others questioned whether the fast-food giant should be attempting a classic French dessert at all.

One Reddit user admitted: 'My roommate and I live for the TB novelty stuff. We are exactly who they make this nonsense for.'

Another joked: 'I will camp out in front for that crème brûlée Crunchwrap slider.'

Others were more skeptical. One commenter quipped: 'More like Crime Brulee.'

Another questioned the logistics behind the dessert, writing: 'How the hell are they gonna have fast food line cooks using a torch to caramelize sugar? Ain't no way.'

Elsewhere on social media, some consumers said the product looked 'like poison', while others questioned who would actually order it.

Food reviewers who sampled an early version have been more optimistic.

Hunter Reis, writing for Tasting Table after trying the dessert at Taco Bell's Live Más Live showcase, described it as his favorite sweet offering from the event.

He wrote that 'the sweetness of the caramel lent itself well to the soft and cinnamon-topped tortilla wrapper, making for a wholly pleasant snack.'

For now, the Creme Brulee Crunchwrap Slider remains a regional test item, with Taco Bell expected to use customer feedback and sales performance to determine whether it earns a nationwide rollout.

If successful, it could join a growing pipeline of experimental desserts the chain has teased for 2026, including a Milk Bar Birthday Cake Empanada and Strawberry & Cream Mexican Pizza Bite, as Taco Bell continues searching for its next viral menu hit.