Don't get blinded by these 2024 solar eclipse food deals, specials in Texas
As Texans frantically prepare for Monday's solar eclipse, cooking may be the last thing on our minds. Whether you're hosting an event or enjoying the natural phenomenon with loved ones, here's some food deals.
Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme has a Total Solar Eclipse doughnut available Friday, April 5 through Monday, April 8.
SunChips
SunChips may have "sun" as part of its name, but the snack brand won't be eclipsed during the event. The snack brand has a special eclipse-timed snack hitting right during the big event – and it won't be available in stores.
You can only get SunChips Solar Eclipse Limited-Edition Pineapple Habanero and Black Bean Spicy Gouda chips by going to SunChipsSolarEclipse.com beginning at 1:33 p.m. CST on Monday, April 8 — approximately when the eclipse begins in the U.S. — to get a free bag, while supplies last.
“Total solar eclipses are rare and special events, and I hope people can take a moment out of their busy daily life to pause and enjoy the incredible sight. That's why I'm so excited that SunChips is commemorating this rare celestial event by offering fans a chance to get in on the fun with their exclusive Solar Eclipse flavor," said astronaut and researcher Kellie Gerardi, who teamed with the snack brand.
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Burger King
Here's a way to eclipse your appetite. On Monday, April 8, members of Burger King's Royal Perks loyalty program can text the word ECLIPSE to 251251 to get a special buy-one-get-one-free Whopper offer redeemable April 8-15 in the BK app or on the Burger King website. You can join the Royal Perks program in the app or on BK.com.
Click here to find a Burger King near you.
Pizza Hut
On the day of the eclipse, Monday, April 8, get any large pizza for $12. You can create your own pizza (up to 10 toppings) or order any of Pizza Hut's recipe pizzas, as well as Thin ‘N Crispy, Hand Tossed Pizza and Original Pan Pizza. (Offer good for carryout, dine-in and delivery.)
Click here to find a Pizza Hut near you.
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Blue Moon
Fans of the Molson Coors-owned Belgian-style wheat ale can get a special Eclipse Sips kit ($25) to celebrate the eclipse. You get special black light coasters and a flashlight, four Blue Moon pint glasses and some "Moon Dust" to make your beer glow. The kits will be sold starting Wednesday, April 3, at 11 a.m. CST on the Blue Moon website (kits will arrive before April 8).
7-Eleven
7-Eleven is selling solar eclipse glasses at participating stores and will give members of its 7NOW Gold Pass subscription delivery service a free pair with any order between now and April 8, while supplies last. Then, all day on Monday, April 8, subscribers can get a whole pizza for just $3.
Benefits of 7NOW Gold Pass ($6.95 per month) include free delivery, double rewards points and more member perks. (Look for the 7NOW Gold Pass banner on the 7NOW app home screen to sign up.)
Click here to find a 7-Eleven near you.
Dippin' Dots
Order Dippin’ Dots online on April 8 and get 25% off. The discount is available online only at www.dippindots.com.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
To celebrate the eclipse, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is launching a special Punk Stargonaut collection of "four out-of-this-world flavors," including the pinkish Nebula Berry, tropical-flavored Cosmic Bloom, grape and currant-tasting Purple Star Born and Supermoon, a previously available flavor described as reminiscent of the taste of cereal milk.
The collection becomes available at noon on Thursday, March 28, on the brand's website and comes with four pairs of Jeni’s branded eclipse glasses. That same day the flavors are also available in Jeni's locations, where you can add fizzy and popping Space Dust candy topping, and, starting April 5, get free Jeni's branded eclipse glasses.
Click here to find a Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams near you.
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Marco's Pizza
From Monday, April 8, to Sunday, April 14, Marco's Pizza customers can get 50% off all menu-price pizzas using promo code ECLIPSE with orders made online and in the app.
Click here to find a Marco's Pizza near you.
Moon Pie
With a name like MoonPie, you know the snack brand would have something special planned. You can order a limited-edition MoonPie Solar Eclipse Survival kit ($9.99) with four chocolate mini MoonPies and two pairs of Eclipse Glasses on Shop.MoonPie.com. Glasses also sold separately for $1.99. (These limited-edition kits are available at all Dollar Tree locations, participating Walmart stores and select grocery stores, too, while supplies last.)
Also available online and in stores: a limited supply of special “blackout boxes” of a dozen chocolate, vanilla or banana mini MoonPies for $3.99.
Moon Pies were the snack of choice on Instacart during the last solar eclipse in the U.S. on Aug. 21, 2017. Searches for Moon Pies increased 2000% over its yearly average during the 7-day period leading up to that eclipse, the delivery service says.
“Food plays such an important role in how we mark special moments – whether for holidays, sporting events or cultural moments – so it makes sense that people are looking for the perfectly-themed snack to add some whimsy and joy to their eclipse experience," said Instacart’s trends expert Laurentia Romaniuk in a statement. "You heard it here first – the official snack of the solar eclipse is Moon Pies!”
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The next highest snack to see increases during the 2017 eclipse period were black and white cookies, up more than 100%.
Oh, MoonPie has a fun pro wrestling-themed Sun Vs. Moon '24 video you can check out, too.
Perfect Bar
Timed to the eclipse, Perfect Bar is debuting a new flavor, Chocolate Brownie, with some specials. It will be 20 years until the next total solar eclipse in the U.S., so Perfect Snacks is giving shoppers 20% off the Chocolate Brownie Perfect Bar through April 12 (no promo code needed) on the website. Those within the eclipse's path of totality can get 50% off the Chocolate Brownie Perfect Bar on April 8 on the site (valid when you have signed up for text notifications).
Online orders for Chocolate Brownie bars come with free Eclipse glasses, while supplies last. Chocolate Brownie bars are also available at select grocery stores and nationwide retailers such as Target and Walmart.
Insomnia Cookies
Insomnia Cookies is giving away one free classic cookie with a $5 purchase in-store or online on April 8. And the late-night cookie chain has brought back its limited-edition Moon Cookie Cakes for the eclipse. Available through April 8, the crescent-shaped cake is made with two classic cookie flavors (choices include M&M's and double chocolate mint).
Click here to find an Insomnia Cookies near you.
Raising Cane's
Visit a Raising Cane's that lies within the eclipse's path of totality and get a free Texas toast with every combo purchased. Also on the morning of Monday, April 8, visit the Raising Cane's website for a chance to win free Raising Cane's for 20 years (entries close at 10:59 a.m. CST). Every entry also gets a mobile code for a free toast, good April 8-14.
Click here to find a Raising Cane's near you.
Schlotzsky's
Schlotzsky's, which has more than 300 locations, will have $2.99 small The Original or Fresh Veggie sandwiches all day on Monday, April 8. (Deal is good in-store at participating locations only. Taxes, add-ons and extras excluded. Limit 10 per order per person. Catering excluded.)
Click here to find a Schlotzsky's near you.
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Smoothie King
Smoothie King has a special eclipse-themed drink, too: the Eclipse Berry Blitz. The smoothie, available March 27 through April 8, is made with bananas, wild blueberries, apples, blueberry juice blend, white grape lemon juice blend, protein blend and blue spirulina, a blue-green algae powder.
Customers who buy an Eclipse Berry Blitz at a Smoothie King location within the path of the solar eclipse will also a free pair of Smoothie King-branded eclipse glasses (only available March 27-April 8 at participating locations within the eclipse's path of totality while supplies last).
Click here to find a Smoothie King near you.
Snapple
Just in time for the eclipse, Snapple has a new flavor, Elements Sun, with flavors of starfruit, orange, and nectarine.
Sonic Drive-In
Sonic Drive-In is serving the Blackout Slush Float, a new limited-edition drink timed to the eclipse – it's available through May 5. Made with flavors of cotton candy and dragon fruit, then topped with white soft serve and blue and purple galaxy-themed sprinkles, the float delivers an "out-of-this world experience," the fast-food chain says.
Sonic will also be handing out free solar eclipse viewing glasses with every purchase of the float, while supplies last.
Click here to find a Sonic Drive-In near you.
Twin Peaks Restaurants
The Dallas-based chain, which has about 115 locations in the U.S. and Mexico, is giving out free eclipse glasses on April 8; guests can also enjoy some "cosmic" brews and cocktails.
Click here to find a Twin Peaks near you.
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Tiff's Treats
The Austin-based cookie shop will deliver special eclipse mixes between April 1-8 with pre-orders available now. The cookie bundles, which come in varying counts from a dozen to a small tray of 72, feature lemon sugar cookies and double chocolate chip cookies. When stacked, the chocolate cookie looks like the moon covering the lemon sugar sun.
Click here to find a Tiff's Treats near you.
Kerbey Lane
From April 1-9, Austinites can enjoy a Kerbeyclipse Pancake, which is "a cocoa chocolate chip pancake baked inside a crisp buttermilk pancake topped with powdered sugar and Hershey’s chocolate drizzle," according to a statement from Kerbey Lane.
Click here to find a Kerbey Lane near you.
Austin Beerworks
The beer company is producing a limited-time hazy IPA called In the Path of Totality in collaboration with Meanwhile Brewing Company and Zilker Brewing Company. Austin Beerworks is also part of a collective of bars across the U.S. that will be in the eclipse's path of totality. That includes spots in Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Ohio, Vermont, and more.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Solar eclipse 2024: See deals on Moon Pies, pizza and more in Texas