Unicorn Churros (CEC Menu Item)

The Unicorn Churros are a Chuck E. Cheese's menu item that were introduced on April 8th, 2019.^(1)(2)(3) The item currently consists of five churros dusted with three different flavors of sugar: cotton candy (pink), sour apple (green), and blue raspberry. Their packaging fittingly bears the likeness of Ronnie the Unicorn.

History

The Unicorn Churros were first announced on March 28th, 2019, ahead of their debut on April 8th. This was one day ahead of National Unicorn Day on April 9th - on that day, customers who bought 30 minutes of "all you can play" time would receive an order of churros for free.⁽²⁾ In addition, the company launched a social media campaign to promote the new item, offering prizes to people who posted pictures of themselves with their hair in a unicorn horn (alongside the hashtag "#UnicornItChallenge").⁽³⁾ Comments from Chuck E. Cheese's officials (including then-CEO Tom Leverton) indicated that the item was in part meant to cash in on the popularity of unicorns at the time.⁽⁴⁾⁽⁵⁾ While the churros were originally only available for a limited time (specifically until June 6th),⁽²⁾⁽³⁾ they instead became a permanent item. Later communication from the company often treated them as a seasonal item, sometimes grouping them with the Rainbow Lollipops (CEC Menu Item), the Unicorn Cupcake (CEC Menu Item) , the Unicorn Cotton Candy (CEC Menu Item) , and/or the Rainbow Ice Dippin' Dots (CEC Menu Item) (all of which were only offered in the spring).^(6)(7)(8) However, Wayback Machine archives of Chuck E. Cheese's menu show that the churros consistently remained on the menu year-round. In April 2020, the Unicorn Churros were offered for $3 as part of a special "$5 or less" carry-out menu.^(9)(10) This would end between June 20th⁽¹¹⁾ and the 25th.⁽¹²⁾ The item would receive two significant changes no later than June 10, 2021: it would come with five churros instead of four, and its price would increase from $3.99 to $4.99.⁽¹³⁾