Would you like sweet potato fries with that? (Burger King/AP)
Would you buy a bacon sundae? Burger King is betting you will.
The fast-food chain famous for the Whopper will introduce the limited-time dessert on Thursday as part of its new summer menu. The 510-calorie sundae—vanilla soft serve topped with fudge, caramel, bacon crumbles and a piece of bacon—has 18 grams of fat and 61 grams of sugar.
Earlier this year, Burger King rolled out an expanded menu with healthier fare—fruit smoothies, wraps and salads—with an advertising campaign featuring soccer star David Beckham. The bacon sundae, available through Sept. 3, would seem to be a strategic move in the polar opposite direction—and something akin to Jack in the Box's 1,081-calorie bacon milkshake, which debuted in February.
It also seems to be an attempt to answer Taco Bell's wildly popular Doritos Locos Taco, which became "the most successful product launch in the chain's history" after 100 million were sold in the 10 weeks following its launch in March.
Taco Bell, for its part, is going "upscale." The "Cantina Bell" menu, debuting in July, will have "fresh ingredients such as black beans, 'fire-roasted' corn salsa, cilantro rice, pico de gallo and citrus- and herb-marinated chicken that many consumers have come to associate with Chipotle," according to Advertising Age.
Burger King's summer menu also includes a Memphis pulled-pork BBQ sandwich, Carolina BBQ Whopper or chicken sandwich, Texas BBQ Whopper or chicken sandwich, sweet potato fries and frozen lemonade.
The bacon sundae, it's worth noting, is downright healthy compared to the Krispy Kreme bacon cheeseburger—a 1,500-calorie behemoth that replaces the buns with doughnuts.
That burger, popularized by Paula Deen, originated at a Massachusetts state fair.