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I tried 13 desserts from Costco, and there are 9 I'd buy again

11 April 2025 at 20:29
Table full of Kirkland bakery desserts
Costco's bakery sections have tons of supersized desserts on rotation.

Paige Bennett

  • I'm trying to eat and review all of the desserts from Costco's bakeryΒ section.Β 
  • The Kirkland Signature cheesecake, tuxedo bar cake, and tiramisu cheesecake are amazing.Β 
  • I wasn't a fan of Costco's strawberries-and-cream or carrot-cake bar cakes.

From its $1.50 hot dog combo to the giant slices of pizza, Costco is known for having great deals on its own signature foods.

Outside of lunch, the wholesale retailer also has an impressive dessert selection full of great deals. But are the desserts actually any good?

Over the past few months, I've been visiting Costco's bakery section to try all the made-in-house desserts I could find.

Here's how they stacked up and which ones are actually worth buying.

Editor's Note: Product availability and cost may vary. The prices listed are what the author paid at the time the product was purchased.

Costco's classic cheesecake seems ready to be customized.
Kirkland Bakery cheesecake from Costco with slice out of it
Costco cheesecakes can be customized.

Paige Bennett

Costco's 12-inch cheesecake is a staple in the warehouse's cakes and pies section.

Although $19 is a good price for such a big cheesecake, it's one of the most expensive items I purchased.

The texture was so soft that my slice fell apart as I plated it.
Slice of Kirkland Bakery cheesecake from Costco
Costco's cheesecake would pair well with fresh fruit.

Paige Bennett

I liked that this cheesecake wasn't dense. Instead, it was incredibly fluffy with a texture that reminded me of a soufflΓ©.

It was so light that it started to fall apart when I pulled a slice onto my plate. The taste made up for the messy slice β€” this cheesecake was super creamy and not overly sweet, with a slight tanginess to balance its flavors.

I can't wait to try it again with fresh fruit.

I found the carrot bar cake around Easter.
Costco carrot bar cake
The carrot bar cake seemed promising.

Paige Bennett

During one shopping trip, I looked at desserts just a few weeks before the Easter holiday.

I found a pretty bar cake with layers of carrot cake and cream-cheese frosting, plus a smattering of toasted walnuts on top.

At $19 for a cake that's almost 3 pounds, it seemed like an affordable option to bring to a holiday gathering.

I had high hopes, but the carrot bar cake mostly just tasted like frosting to me.
Costco carrot bar cake next to slice of cake on plate
Costco's carrot bar cake had too much frosting, in my opinion.

Paige Bennett

I love carrot cake, but I wished this one had more flavor and moisture in the cake layers.

In my opinion, they were quite dry and tasted a bit bland. I wished the cake had a more spiced flavor.

For the most part, I could only taste the sweet, tangy frosting, which was nice but a little too much for the cake.

The chain's banana cream pie caught my eye with its caramel drizzle.
Kirkland Bakery banana cream pie from Costco
Costco's banana cream pie has a caramel drizzle.

Paige Bennett

The banana cream pie was about as big as the other cakes in this section, which are 10 inches, and cost $16.

This pie blew me away.
Slice of Kirkland Bakery banana cream pie from Costco
Costco's banana-cream pie was one of my favorite desserts.

Paige Bennett

The pie had a good balance of flavors and textures. The crunchy graham-cracker crust held together well and added a contrast to all the creamy layers.

I liked that the banana pudding had a natural taste, not an artificial one. The caramel on top added some depth in flavor, but it was subtle.

I wish there had been more caramel, and I think I'd slice some fresh banana on top for serving next time, but overall this was one of my favorite Costco desserts.

The chocolate-covered strawberries were available at a discount.
Chocolate-covered strawberries from Costco in plastic container
I managed to find some Costco desserts on sale.

Paige Bennett

The chocolate-covered strawberries were in their own little cooler toward the front of the bakery section, and they were marked down from $13 to $6.

On this trip, I went to Costco one day after Mother's Day, so I assumed these were leftovers from the holiday.

Some of the strawberries looked a little worse for wear, but I managed to find some that didn't look past their prime.

I couldn't taste much of the strawberries in these.
Single chocolate-covered strawberry on plate
I wouldn't buy chocolate-covered strawberries from Costco again.

Paige Bennett

The strawberries selected for this dessert were impressively big, yet they were no match for all of the chocolate they were dipped and drizzled in.

With each bite, I only tasted the rich, hardened chocolate, despite how ripe and juicy the berries were. I'd probably skip these in the future.

Costco's strawberries-and-cream bar cake has an impressive presentation.
Kirkland Bakery strawberries and cream bar cake from Costco
I thought the strawberries-and-cream bar cake sounded like a great spring and summer dessert.

Paige Bennett

Although this dessert was among the most expensive desserts I tried at $19, it was well worth that price based on presentation alone.

It has really pretty layers of strawberries, cream, and vanilla cake, plus striped white-chocolate decorations on top.

This cake seems to be a seasonal one that Costco sometimes brings back in the summer months.

The cake was just too sweet for my liking.
Slice of Kirkland Bakery strawberries and cream bar cake from Costco
I wish the cake had less strawberry filling.

Paige Bennett

I wished this one tasted as good as it looked. I expected it to be sweet β€” it is dessert, after all β€” but this cake was too overly sweet to me.

I think it would've had more balanced flavors if it had a little less strawberry filling and thicker layers of cream.

The tuxedo chocolate-mousse cake was another gorgeous dessert.
Kirkland Bakery tuxedo chocolate mousse bar cake from Costco
The tuxedo chocolate-mousse cake from Costco looked gorgeous.

Paige Bennett

Like the strawberries-and-cream cake, the tuxedo cake is a long, rectangular layer cake with a pretty design and white-chocolate decorations on top.

I loved the look of this $18 cake and thought it was the most attractive dessert I purchased.

The fudgy bits were my favorite part of the whole cake.
Kirkland Bakery tuxedo chocolate mousse bar cake from Costco
I'd buy Costco's tuxedo chocolate-mousse cake again.

Paige Bennett

This dessert is extremely rich and dense, with chocolate in mousse, ganache, and cake forms.

There were fudgy, brownie-like pieces between the layers of mousse and they ended up being my favorite part of the dessert.

I'd like more of the vanilla mousse filling to balance out all of the chocolate, and I'd probably serve this with some strawberries for a fresh element, but this is a tasty and impressive dessert I would buy again.

A bakery staple, the chocolate-chunk cookies come in a pack of 24.
Kirkland Bakery chocolate-chunk cookies in plastic package from Costco
The Kirkland Signature chocolate-chunk cookies seemed like a good value.

Paige Bennett

The chocolate-chunk cookies are a staple in the bakery section of Costco. I got 24 cookies for just $10, and I thought they'd be perfect to pick up for a potluck or other gathering.

They looked great, too β€” they seemed soft with some crispness on the edges.

The cookies had good flavor, but they need to be eaten with milk.
Kirkland Bakery chocolate-chunk cookies in plastic package next to plate with cookie on it
Costco's choocolate-chunk cookies had a good flavor.

Paige Bennett

Although I prefer baking my own cookies when my sweet tooth strikes, these were a fine alternative.

The cookie was soft without falling apart, and I liked that the chocolate had a strong, sharp flavor to cut through the sweetness of the cookie.

However, these cookies were a little dry, so if I bought them again, I'd also get milk to serve them with.

What I thought were cupcakes from afar were actually some very fudgy "mini cakes."
Kirkland Bakery fudgy mini cakes from Costco in plastic container
The Mini All-American Cakes at Costco cost me $9.

Paige Bennett

In the bakery section, I saw a pack of what looked like six cupcakes, but once I got closer, I realized they were pretty large cupcakes or "mini cakes."

The Mini All-American Cakes are seasonal, and a few packs were available during my shopping trip to Costco.

One cake in each pack had a red frosting heart. Most of the packs had the red frosting stuck to the container, but I did find one package with an unblemished frosting heart.

Every mini cake included a generous portion of super fudgy frosting on top, and the pack of six cost $9.

Despite the cute name, this was one intense dessert.
Kirkland Bakery fudgy mini cake from Costco on plate
The chocolate Mini All-American Cakes are incredibly rich.

Paige Bennett

I thought the tuxedo chocolate-mousse cake was chocolaty, but these mini cakes put that dessert to shame in terms of chocolate flavor.

It was so intense and rich I could only take one bite, and the chocolate flavor lingered for a long time in my mouth.

These mini cakes are best shared, and I'd need a lot of milk to finish even half of one. In the future, I'd skip these and instead grab a full-size chocolate cake.

The 10-inch chocolate cake was available in multiple different designs.
Chocolate cake from Costco decorated with tulip border
The Costco cake has marks where you can make 16 slices.

Paige Bennett

The 10-inch chocolate cake with chocolate mousse was available in a few different designs β€” no personalization needed.

There was a plain option, a birthday option, and a really cute springtime design with floral frosting decorations, which is what I ended up selecting.

This massive cake, which had light cutting guidelines for 16 slices in the frosting, was $16.

The mousse filling helped balance out the rich chocolate cake and frosting.
Slice of Chocolate cake from Costco on plate
The flower on top was a nice touch.

Paige Bennett

Although the chocolate cake and the mini cakes are similar, the chocolate mousse layer in the full-size cake added a much-needed lighter, creamy element to balance out the fudgy icing and rich cake.

Because of the added mousse, I'd be more likely to buy this cake again, even though I wasn't a huge fan of the mini cakes.

Costco's lemon-blueberry loaf looked great.
Kirkland Signature bakery lemon-blueberry loaf
The loaf has a pound-cake base.

Paige Bennett

I picked up Costco's 2-pound lemon-blueberry loaf in the spring.

The loaves looked incredible, with heaps of crumble topping and an icing drizzle all over. It also seemed like a good deal at $9.

This dessert offered bright flavors and a range of different textures.
Slice of Kirkland Signature bakery lemon-blueberry loaf
I was glad to see blueberries throughout the lemon-blueberry loaf from Costco.

Paige Bennett

I cut out a slice and was happy to see blueberries toward the top and middle of the loaf β€” they hadn't all sunk to the bottom.

The loaf itself was light and spongy with a good lemon flavor, which paired well with the chewy blueberries and crunchy crumble topping. I'd happily buy this dessert again, and I'd love to try it warmed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.

Costco improves on classic vanilla cake by adding a cheesecake layer inside.
Costco vanilla cake with cheesecake layer
Costco has a lot of customizable desserts.

Paige Bennett

I love vanilla cake and cheesecake, so I was particularly intrigued by Costco's 10-inch white cake filled with vanilla-cheesecake mousse.

The entire cake seemed like a great deal, too, at $16. It had a wavy frosting design that could easily be personalized with a message.

This cake was one of the best desserts I tried.
Slice of Costco vanilla cake with cheesecake layer
The cheesecake layer was excellent.

Paige Bennett

This was an instant favorite of mine, and I knew right away I'd buy it again for any celebrations I have coming up.

The cake was so light it reminded me of angel-food cake, and the cheesecake was rich, a little dense, and creamy. The thin frosting layer on top was just the right amount to keep the cake from being overly sweet.

It would be even better with fresh fruit on top.

The apple-berry pie included a mix of fruits and a (mostly) golden crust.
Apple Berry pie in clear case from Costco
The apple-berry pie cost me $16.

Paige Bennett

I was intrigued by this springtime pie, which is filled with apples, strawberries, and raspberries. It had a lattice crust that looked perfectly golden along the edges, but it was a bit pale in the center.

At $16, the pie was one of the more affordable desserts, especially considering how large it was at nearly 5 pounds.

This pie was one of the sweetest desserts I tried.
Slcie of apple berry pie
The Kirkland-Signature apple-berry pie wasn't bad.

Paige Bennett

The Kirkland Signature apple-berry pie will certainly satisfy a sweet tooth.

I found the filling, which was very thick, gooey, and sticky, to be extremely sweet. Even just a couple of bites of this pie felt overwhelming to me.

The outer parts of the crust were perfectly crisp and buttery and melted in my mouth. However, the paler center pieces were soft and slightly soggy.

I could see pieces of strawberry and apple in the filling, but the raspberries seemed to have broken down entirely. I also noticed a lot of seeds in the filling; I didn't taste or feel them in my bites, but they didn't look the most appetizing.

Still, the pie was good, at least in small quantities.

The tiramisu cheesecake was the most expensive dessert I found at Costco.
Tiramisu Cheesecake in container at Costco
Costco's tiramisu cheesecake weighs nearly 5 pounds.

Paige Bennett

Costco's classic cheesecake was a hit for me, so I had high hopes for a tiramisu version of it.

This variety had a simple, but pretty, design with piped whipped cream around the top and a light dusting of cocoa powder to mimic tiramisu.

This was the most expensive dessert I tried at $24, but it seems like it could serve a pretty big crowd, given it's 4 Β½ pounds.

This was one of my favorite desserts of the bunch.
Slice of Costco tiramisu cheesecake on plate
Costco's tiramisu cheesecake really impressed me.

Paige Bennett

Costco's tiramisu cheesecake was certainly worth the price.

The cheesecake had a crunchy, chocolaty base with a thick layer of coffee-flavored cheesecake and a top layer of whipped cream.

Its combination of fluffy whipped cream, rich and tangy cheesecake, and crunchy chocolate worked both texturally and flavor-wise.

The only things that would improve this cheesecake would be a side of sliced strawberries and a mug of piping hot coffee.

Overall, this was one of my favorite desserts from Costco.

There are only a few Costco desserts I'd skip during my future shopping trips.
Aerial view of table full of Kirkland bakery desserts
Costco's bakery section has been pretty impressive.

Paige Bennett

All in all, I'd buy nine of these 13 desserts again.

There's a tie for my favorite between the banana cream pie and the white cake with vanilla-cheesecake mousse. Both the classic and tiramisu cheesecakes are also high on my list.

I'd skip the chocolate-covered strawberries, strawberries-and-cream bar cake, the carrot bar cake, and the Mini All-American Cakes.

Of course, regardless of which desserts I'd buy again, I'd make sure to get them when I plan to be with friends or family because most of them were massive.

This story was originally published on June 3, 2024, and most recently updated on April 11, 2025.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I ate all 31 Blizzards at Dairy Queen and ranked the flavors from worst to best

7 April 2025 at 13:55
blizzard reviews
I've spent the past few years trying all of the Blizzards at Dairy Queen to see which was the best.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

  • A Dairy Queen Blizzard is made with thick, soft serve and a range of customizable mix-ins
  • As of April, I've had 31 Blizzards from the menu, including seasonal and limited-edition flavors.
  • I've ranked the Blizzards from worst to best, and my favorite flavor is still the seasonal s'mores.

Dairy Queen is one of Warren Buffett's most famous businesses β€” he bought it in 1997 β€” and it's worth millions.Β 

The chain hit record sales in 2021 and is still considered one of the leading dessert and snack chains in the US. However, at the core of its success might be one of its signature desserts: The Blizzard, a frozen treat blended with all sorts of mix-ins.

Blizzard flavors come and go, and I'm always hunting for the best one. So,Β since August 2020, I've been eating and ranking every Dairy Queen Blizzard I could get my hands on.Β 

Here's how the Blizzards I've tried so far stack up, ranked from my least favorite to my favorite.Β 

Editor's Note: This list includesΒ limited-edition and seasonal flavors that don't always return. Check the menu at your nearest location before trying to order any of the options below.

Cotton-candy Blizzard
cotton candy blizzard
Cotton-candy Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

The first problem with this seasonal Blizzard was the texture. It had these chewy, colorful bits of sugar that felt a bit off β€” like they weren't supposed to be in there, and a child added them in at the last minute.Β 

However, the unbearable sweetness of this Blizzard is what earned it a spot at the bottom of my list. This dessert just tasted like pure sugar and my teeth still hurt thinking about it.

I could picture younger kids absolutely loving this, but I can't see myself ordering this one again.

M&M Blizzard
m&M
M&M Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

Many people picture M&Ms when they think of a classic ice-cream mix-in. That symphony of crunchy, chocolaty bits with smooth, creamy ice cream is a kid's kryptonite on a summer afternoon.

My M&M Blizzard came exactly as expected β€” with the bite-sized candies slightly crushed and evenly dispersed throughout the vanilla. It was a simple yet satisfying option.

Even so, this Blizzard was pretty underwhelming, especially when compared to the other ones on the menu. I think it could've benefited from the addition of a brownie to make the chocolate flavor of the candies stand out more.Β 

Royal Rocky Road Trip Blizzard
rocky road blizzard
Royal Rocky Road Trip Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

Full disclosure: I don't care much for rocky-road ice cream, so I knew I wasn't going to be wild about this one from the start.Β 

Like rocky-road ice cream, this Blizzard contains all of the essential flavors: chocolate, peanuts, and marshmallow. This dessert has a single marshmallow core in the center of the cup with the ice cream around it and it comes with brownie chunks to offset the strong vanilla flavors.

I can see this being a dream for anyone who loves marshmallows, but I felt that the core overpowered the rest of the Blizzard.

At one point, I thought the peanuts were missing, but they'd really just collected at the very bottom of the cup, which made every bite pretty inconsistent.

Very Cherry Chip Blizzard
Very Cherry Chip Blizzard  from dairy queen
Very Cherry Chip Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson

This Blizzard absolutely lives up to its name. To me, it tasted exactly like a cherry slushie.

It's very, very sweet, but I didn't find that totally offputting. The bits of cherry in this offered a nice pop of tart flavor that made my lips pucker. My order also contained plenty of tasty chocolate chunks, which cut through some of that intense fruity sweetness.

I believe this Blizzard will appeal to a lot of people (Shirley Temple fans, looking at you), but it was too sweet for me to find it enjoyable beyond a few bites.

If I wanted a fruit-forward Blizzard, I'd go with the Raspberry Fudge Bliss.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Party Blizzard
Peanut butter cookie blizzard
Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Party Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson

I'm still confused about what the Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Party was supposed to be.

I thought it would have chunks of peanut-butter cookie dough, but it actually contained chocolate-chip cookie dough.

Peanut-butter topping was swirled into DQ's signature vanilla soft serve and β€” even more confusing β€” it had a crunchy peanut-brittle topping and sprinkles, which, for me, just added an awkward crunchiness.

Still, it wasn't bad. The sauce was blended so seamlessly into the vanilla soft serve that it tasted like peanut-butter ice cream. However, DQ would have more luck pairing peanut butter with something that would contrast its nutty flavor, like dark-chocolate brownies.

The one-note quality of this makes it seem like it was made for kids

Wonder Woman Cookie Collision Blizzard
Wonder Woman Cookie Collision 2
Wonder Woman Cookie Collision Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

With such a fun name, I had high hopes for this limited-edition Blizzard. Unfortunately, it underwhelmed me.Β 

Essentially, It's a hodgepodge of chocolatey flavors, but instead of using brownies as the dessert mix-in of choice, it's chocolate chip and chocolate-chocolate cookie dough, which are pretty much indistinguishable from each other.

This had potential, but the similar toppings didn't add much in terms of flavor. I have a difficult time distinguishing between this one and the regular cookie-dough Blizzard, which is disappointing.

Heath Blizzard
Heath Blizzard Dairy Queen
Heath Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

I was eager to try the Blizzard because I think Heath is an excellent, underrated candy bar.

The Heath candy bits were finely chopped and distributed well throughout the ice cream. This gave the entire Blizzard a strong toffee taste, which I personally loved.

However, the biggest issue with this one was the texture. Toffee is notoriously sticky and hard, especially when paired with a cold substance like ice cream.

As I ate my Blizzard, I noticed the small bits of the candy were getting stuck to parts of my teeth, which made me unwilling to finish it.

Oreo Dirt Pie Blizzard
Oreo Dirt Pie  Blizzard with gummy worms
Oreo Dirt Pie Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson

Although I personally never attended summer camp myself, I have many fond childhood memories of eating Oreo dirt pies at birthday parties.

Normally, the dessert is made using pudding as a base, but here, DQ is putting its own spin on this with its soft serve.

I appreciate the sentiment DQ was trying to convey here, and I'm sure kids will go nuts for this, but I'm not sold on the gummy worms being mixed into the ice cream.

As a topping? Fine. But I didn't care for getting random bites of chewy candy in my ice cream. There's already enough texture going on with the cookie pieces and fudge. Plus, it's not like they add that much flavor.

On a more positive note, I loved how the added extra fudge crumbles really doubled down on the chocolate flavor.

This costs the same as the regular Oreo Blizzard, so you're not necessarily out any extra money if you order this over the other. But for my money, I'd much rather get the regular Oreo Blizzard.

NestlΓ© Drumstick with Peanuts Blizzard
dairy queen blizzard
NestlΓ© Drumstick with Peanuts Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

This Blizzard brought me back to childhood days at my grandma's house.

I'd often dig in the back of the freezer looking for chocolaty Drumstick treats, only to devour an entire cone within a couple of minutes. And every time, my fingers (and the floor) would end up covered in a melted mess.

Years later, I'm still a fan of Drumsticks, but I rarely eat them to avoid dealing with that mess. Thankfully, DQ has solved that problem by creating a Blizzard with Drumstick bits blended right in that I can enjoy with the convenience of a spoon.

And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. As is the case with most of its Blizzards, the vanilla ice cream made for the perfect base, accentuating the peanut-waffle-cone-NestlΓ© chocolate flavor in the mix-ins. Peanut was definitely the predominant flavor, but it wasn't so overpowering that I didn't taste the chocolate.

I wish the peanut bits were larger, though, since they kept getting stuck in my teeth. I understand the peanuts on a drumstick are tiny as is, so there was no changing this.

Still, if you're looking for a peanut-butter dessert that's not too chocolaty or sweet, try this Blizzard.Β 

Picnic Peach Cobbler Blizzard
Picnic Peach Cobbler Blizzard
Picnic Peach Cobbler Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson

In my mind, peach cobbler brings to mind a dessert served warm, and topped with ice cream, so I was curious about this deconstructed Blizzard version.

Overall, this was so-so. The tiny chunks of cold cobbler were easily the star of the show, offering a buttery flavor that was delicious against DQ's basic vanilla soft serve and a shortbread-like texture that was pleasantly crumbly.

That said, I don't know if the peach-topping swirls worked for me. It could have been how my Blizzard was mixed, but I found the distribution of flavor wildly inconsistent β€” I had to dig around before I got any peach flavor.Β 

Oreo cookie Blizzard
oreo cookie blizzard dairy queen
Oreo cookie Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson

Although I enjoyed this Blizzard, it was essentially the same thing as cookies-and-cream ice cream.

On a positive note, DQ's signature vanilla soft serve tasted mellower and had a more delicate finish than what you'd find at the grocery store. I also liked that I could taste the icing bits in the Oreos.Β 

However, I probably wouldn't order this one again unless I was on the go and craving something familiar. For the price, I would rather purchase a pint of high-quality cookies-and-cream ice cream from the grocery store.

Mixing Bowl Mashup Blizzard
Beige DQ Blizzard with chocolate flecks - Mixing Bowl Mashup Blizzard
Mixing Bowl Mashup Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson

Given its name, I expected this would contain a mix of brownie and cookie-dough chunks, but sadly, it's just the latter.

The dough provided more texture than flavor under the blend of vanilla and chocolaty brownie-batter ice cream.

More than anything, this tasted like a Wendy's Frosty to me β€” not bad, just underwhelming.

Ultimate Cookie Blizzard
Ultimate Cookie Blizzard in cup
Ultimate Cookie Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson

Introduced in 2024 as June's Blizzard of the Month, this Ultimate Cookie Blizzard is made for people who appreciate lots of texture.

Featuring a blend of vanilla soft serve and Nabisco's finest β€” Chips Ahoy, Oreos, and Nutter Butters β€” every spoonful from start to finish contained some bit of cookie chunk. Yum!

Sadly, The Chips Ahoy cookies were barely detectable under the flavor from the Nutter Butter and rich cocoa notes coming from the Oreos.

I'm not complaining because it's all tasty, but I wouldn't call this as memorable or impressive as the Oreo brookie Blizzard.

Choco Brownie Extreme Blizzard
Choco Brownie Extreme
Choco Brownie Extreme Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

As a chocolate lover, I was surprised that I didn't like this one as much as I'd hoped. This Blizzard is proof that there can be too much of a good thing.

This comes with brownie pieces, chocolate fudge, and chocolate chunks. I enjoy all those things individually, but it's almost too much when they're all packed together in an 8-ounce cup.

It was clear to me that the chewy brownie chunks were the star of the show, and the other two chocolaty components didn't add much. The brownies were so fudgy that they blended together with the fudge chunks, too. Part of me feels like the fudge chunks were thrown in just to give this Blizzard its "extreme" name.Β 

The kicker of this dessert is that it came with vanilla ice cream β€” not chocolate β€” but I honestly couldn't taste it underneath all of the toppings.Β 

Butterfinger Blizzard
butterfinger blizzard
Butterfinger Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

This Blizzard consists of vanilla soft serve and a generous amount of nutty, scrumptious Butterfinger bits. I immediately noticed the little orange bits sticking out from the creamy soft serve, so everything looked like it had been mixed well.Β 

Taste-wise, this blizzard was good but not incredible. The candy bar (or bars?). was ground incredibly fine, which allowed the nutty flavor to blend seamlessly into the soft serve.

However, I felt the candy's chocolate coating got completely lost in the mixing process.

Snickers Blizzard
snickers blizzard
Snickers Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

The symphony of textures makes Snickers one of the US's most beloved candy bars, and the same holds true when it's paired with delicious vanilla soft serve.

Yummy chocolate, smooth caramel, and crunchy peanuts gave this one a pleasant blend of different flavors without overpowering the ice cream itself.

Of the candy-themed Blizzards I tried, this was one of the better ones.

Brownie-batter Blizzard
brownie batter blizzard
Brownie-batter Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

Don't ever try to tell me that brownie flavor and brownie-batter flavor are the same thing β€” they're not.

This Blizzard is evidence of that, as it had an almost malted flavor to it, which made it slightly sweeter than other chocolate ones. I absolutely loved it.

This tasted like someone froze a bowl of brownie batter. Even better, DQ was not skimpy about the brownie chunks. I got a bit of chewy, fudgy brownie in every single bite down to the bottom of the cup.

Reese's peanut-butter cup Blizzard
reeses blizzard
Reese's peanut-butter cup Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

As advertised, this Blizzard came with vanilla soft serve and noticeable chunks of Reese's peanut-butter cups.

As expected, everything tasted great. The Reese's chunks had that familiar melt-in-your-mouth flavor that I know and love. However, the further I got into my Blizzard, the fewer peanut-butter cups there were, and the less enjoyable it became.

Still, if I had to choose a candy-themed Blizzard, I'd probably order this one again over some of the others.

Peanut-butter puppy chow Blizzard
Dairy Queen peanut butter puppy chow bllizzard in a car with a red spoon in it holding creamy mixture and a chex cereal piece
Peanut-butter puppy chow Blizzard

Savanna Swain-Wilson

Puppy chow β€” or "muddy buddies" depending on where you grew up β€” is a common snack at many a childhood sleepover, movie night, holiday party, or school event. It's a treat made using basic cereal like Chex, melted chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar.

I'm not surprised Dairy Queen turned it into a mix-in. Still, I wasn't blown away by this flavor.Β 

It was tasty, and the peanut-butter flavor came through nicely on each bite. However, in my order, the few squares of puppy chow in the mix were clumped toward the bottom. Luckily, when I did eat a piece, it was delicious and nicely softened under the weight of the ice cream while still retaining a slight crispiness.

The pieces also added a subtle bit of salt that's missing with the Reese's Blizzard.

Oreo fudge brownie Blizzard
oreo fudge brownie blizzard
Oreo fudge brownie Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

Like the chain's traditional Oreo Blizzard, this comes with vanilla soft serve and chewy bits of Oreo cookies. The only difference is that this takes it to the next level by adding globs of yummy, fudgy brownies to the mixture.

This was good but it wasn't much of a standout to me because it seemed like the Oreos were reduced to the background.

The brownies dominated the dessert, which wasn't a problem for me as a chocolate lover, but it made me question whether the Oreos needed to be there.Β 

Turtle pecan-cluster Blizzard
tyrtle pecan dairy q
Turtle pecan-cluster Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

The blend of buttery pecans, caramel, and vanilla on this Blizzard was absolutely divine. I also liked that my order contained pieces of whole pecans.Β 

However, I found the chocolate fudge shavings to be unnecessary because they weren't noticeable at all. That said, this Blizzard earns high marks for its uniqueness and great taste.Β 

Caramel Drumstick with peanuts Blizzard
Caramel Drumstick with Peanuts
Caramel Drumstick Blizzard with peanuts.

Savanna Swain-Wilson

You may be thinking, "Wait a second, Dairy Queen has always had a Drumstick Blizzard with peanuts." Correct. This one is different β€” it has all that and caramel.Β Β 

The addition is very subtle. Visually, it looks no different from the other Drumstick Blizzard. However, as soon as I took that first bite, it was clear this was a huge step above the original.

The caramel topping was blended seamlessly into the ice cream, offering a touch of yummy sweetness that paired incredibly well with the peanuts and chocolaty drumstick pieces.

In all, it's a wonderful combination of slightly salty, sweet, and nutty flavors.

People who are hoping to get huge globs of gooey caramel might be disappointed. But if you want something that's delicious and sweet but not quite as intense as some of the candy-flavored Blizzards, this will hit the spot.

Oreo brookie Blizzard
Oreo brookie blizzard with red spoon sticking out of it in a blue dairy queen cup in a car
Oreo brookie Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson

Just when you think DQ hasn't done enough with Oreo, the chain adds tiny, dime-sized chunks of brownie-and-chocolate-chip-cookie hybrids. The more cookies, the better.Β 

Upon the first spoonful, I thought this Blizzard tasted like a typical cookies-and-cream one. But once I got a piece of the brookie, I understood why this was so special. The brookie pieces brought a yummy, fudgy chewiness that was absolutely delightful in contrast to the slightly crunchy Oreos.

The chocolate-chip-cookie component brought in a buttery sweetness that popped against the vanilla ice cream. It was kind of like eating chocolate-chip-cookie dough and cookies-and-cream ice cream with brownie chunks all at once. It was delicious.

Even though the chocolate was the standout flavor here, I didn't find it as intensely cocoa-flavored as the Oreo brownie Blizzard. Since the chunks of brookie are smaller than a coin, they didn't really overpower the Oreo flavor.

Oreo cheesecake Blizzard
dairy queen oreo cheesecake blizzard
Oreo cheesecake Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

Much like the cheesecake Blizzard, this came with a decent amount of cheesecake chunks. The only difference is that this one's also mixed with Oreo cookies.

I accidentally ordered this with chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla, but, even so, it tasted the same as the chain's vanilla soft serve but with a hint of chocolate syrup.Β 

In my opinion, this is a great option for the cheesecake lover who also wants a little bit of chocolate.

The ratio between the two ingredients was fairly even, which meant no one taste dominated the other. In fact, they enhanced each other. The cocoa in the Oreos popped each time I got a bite of them with the creamy cheesecake.

Chocolate-chip cookie-dough Blizzard
cookie dough
Chocolate-chip cookie-dough Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

Cookie dough is one of the most popular ice-cream flavors in the US, and I get why.Β 

The dough bits in this Blizzard were just the right size β€” and, best of all, there were so many of them. This Blizzard was heaven with a great ratio of ice cream to cookie dough.Β 

The chocolate fudge really made this Blizzard stand out from standard, store-bought cookie-dough ice cream from the grocery store.

The fudge made the ice cream chocolaty, which brought out the sweetness of the doughy bits.

Girl Scout Thin Mints Blizzard
Girl Scout Thin Mints Blizzard
Girl Scout Thin Mints Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

Frozen Thin Mints are a thing for a reason, and I'm glad DQ found a way to harness that perfectly cool, chocolaty deliciousness into a Blizzard.

Here, the ice cream had a delicate minty flavor that tasted like a dead ringer for the iconic cookie. The use of vanilla soft serve with mint swirled into it lends to a pleasant, refreshing sweetness that prevents this from tasting like toothpaste.

The bits of Thin Mint cookies were basically the cherry on top here: perfectly chewy, with their smooth chocolate flavor dancing on the creamy, cool vanilla-mint swirl.

This ended up being one of my favorite Blizzards. The addition of a fudgy chocolate swirl is the only thing that could make this even better.Β 

Raspberry Fudge Bliss Blizzard
Raspberry Fudge Bliss blizzard
Raspberry Fudge Bliss Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

My initial thought on seeing this Blizzard was that it seemed the most "adult" to me because it's the only one with actual fruit in it.Β 

By far, the best part of this Blizzard was the fresh raspberries. They added a layer of tartness that counteracted the intensity of the chocolate-fudge chunks.

I just wish there were more of them in the Blizzard because once I got a quarter of the way in, all that I tasted was vanilla and chocolate.

Frosted animal cookie Blizzard
frosted animal cookie blizzard dairy queen
Frosted animal cookie Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

This Blizzard has the perfect level of sweetness. The small amount of frosting on the animal cookies gave it just a hint of that sugary taste without being too much.Β 

The cookies also had a nice chewiness to them and they stood up well to the ice cream without getting soggy.Β 

Best of all, after a few bites, the colorful icing and sprinkles on the cookies melted into the soft serve, which made the entire thing taste like a delicious confetti cake.

Royal New York cheesecake Blizzard
Royal New York Cheesecake blizzard dairy queen
Royal New York cheesecake Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson for Insider

I'm always a fan of a good dessert within a dessert when it's executed well β€” fortunately, this Blizzard was a hit.Β 

The creamy cheesecake chunks made for a superb mix-in for Dairy Queen's soft serve: They had a slightly chewy yet smooth texture that stood up well to the ice cream. I also found that they had a pleasant, sweet flavor that didn't taste artificial or overly sugary.

However, it was the strawberry mixture in the center that seriously elevated this Blizzard. As soon as I got to the core, strawberry flavor began to seep into every corner of the cup, giving every subsequent bite a burst of berry flavor.

Dipped strawberry cheesecake Blizzard
Dipped strawberry cheesecake Blizzard
Dipped strawberry cheesecake Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson

Bright, fruity, and delicious. This Blizzard tasted something you'd pay big bucks for at a creamery.

The cheesecake chunks are plentiful and melt-in-your-mouth soft, and the fresh strawberry is blended so fine that it permeates through every corner of the ultra-smooth vanilla.

Give me 10 more.

S'mores Blizzard
s'mores blizzard
S'mores Blizzard.

Savanna Swain-Wilson

When two classics come together, you're bound to end up with something delicious. That's exactly what happened with the s'mores Blizzard, which is why it was my absolute favorite.

Unlike the Royal Rocky Road, which was overpowered by marshmallow, and Chocolate Brownie Extreme, which was too chocolaty, the s'mores Blizzard had just the right amount of everything.Β 

Instead of mini marshmallows, which can easily turn rubbery when cold, it has chocolate chunks that contain marshmallow filling. It also has graham-cracker pieces and graham-cracker dust that courses throughout the entire Blizzard, causing the ice cream to adopt that irresistible, toasty flavor.

Because of the graham-cracker dust, every bite tastes like a s'more. In other words, this Blizzard is the perfect summer treat, and I can't wait to order it again soon.

This story was originally published on August 17, 2020, and most recently updated on April 7, 2025.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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