21 Best Fast Food Desserts To Order in 2024
When sweet cravings hit, it's likely people start searching for the best fast food dessert across the United States. While almost every gourmet restaurant presents an elaborate dessert menu after a meal, fast food chains can conjure up delectable creations, too. America is home to many popular fast food chains that ensure meals can end on a sweet note.
Some prefer cold and creamy ice cream, while others opt for warm and sticky apple pie or a fresh bowl of fruit. Whatever the craving, this list of the 21 best fast food desserts in the nation will help satisfy those sweet desires and set those sweet tooths to smiling.
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The 21 Best Desserts at Fast Food Restaurants
1. Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists
Taco Bell's Cinnamon Twists have a crispy, light texture and are coated in a generous layer of cinnamon and sugar. For those craving something crunchy and sweet, these twists are available year-round and rank among the best fast food desserts. Don’t forget to check the Taco Bell secret menu to see how you can tweak these treats to your liking.
2. McDonald's Hot Fudge Sundae
A timeless classic, the McDonald's Hot Fudge Sundae remains one of the best fast food desserts, available year-round at all locations. Indulge in creamy vanilla soft serve smothered in decadent hot fudge, easily accessible through the drive-thru. For added texture, opt for a sprinkle of peanuts. McDonald’s, renowned for its iconic burgers, also boasts some of the best desserts in fast food.
3. Chick-Fil-A Chocolate Fudge Brownie
The chocolate fudge brownie at Chick-fil-A stands as one of the best fast food desserts. With its moist interior, crispy outer coating and rich chocolate flavor, this delectable brownie is the perfect post-meal treat. Its perfect size ensures you can savor every bite. For an added thrill, explore the Chick-Fil-A secret menu menu to uncover other sweet surprises.
4. Domino’s Lava Cake
The decadent richness of Domino’s Lava Cake earns it a top spot among America’s best fast food desserts. Served warm, with a molten chocolate center that oozes with sweet luxury upon each bite, it's a true delight for chocolate enthusiasts. This dessert, resembling a gourmet creation, proves that even pizza shops can deliver exceptional sweet treats. And who says dessert can't be dinner?
5. Popeye's Strawberry Biscuit
The Popeye's strawberry biscuit is a seasonal item typically introduced in spring to celebrate the incoming warm weather. It’s one of the best fast food desserts as it puts a sweet spin on Popeye's signature Southern biscuits, featuring the same buttery, flaky dough complemented by fruity strawberry bits and luxurious icing on top. Be sure to check the Popeye's secret menu to see what other goodies you can find.
6. Jack in the Box Mini Churros
Sometimes, simplicity is key and Jack in the Box's mini churros embody just that. These bite-sized delights are the epitome of the best fast food dessert for those seeking uncomplicated pleasures. Soft, fried dough coated with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar creates a pile of irresistible goodness. Churros, a timeless classic, have a knack for hitting the spot without overwhelming sweetness, making them the perfect on-the-go snack.
7. Wendy’s Frosty
The Wendy's Frosty has remained a classic and one of the best fast food desserts for years, solidifying Wendy's position as one of the best fast food dessert restaurants nationwide. This creamy treat, a cross between a milkshake and ice cream, remains a refreshing choice throughout the year. As one of the earliest items on Wendy's menu, the Frosty continues to delight customers and is likely to remain a staple for years to come.
8. Carl’s Jr. Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake
At Carl’s Jr., patrons are treated to one of the best fast food desserts available: the strawberry swirl cheesecake. By fast food standards, this cheesecake is a decadent delight, boasting a rich texture and the perfect balance of sweetness. Enhanced by a delightful strawberry swirl, it stands as the ultimate dessert choice for cheesecake enthusiasts.
9. Popeye's Cinnamon Apple Fried Pie
The filling of this pie is as rich as its name suggests. Popeye's ventures into dessert territory with creations that push boundaries and the cinnamon apple fried pie is no exception. The sweet apples complement the spiciness of the cinnamon and the warm, crispy crust on the outside, making it one of the best fast food desserts available.
10. Shake Shack Tiramisu Frozen Custard Shake
S​​hake Shack is renowned for its creamy custard shakes and among its offerings is the exclusive Tiramisu Frozen Custard Shake, available only at select locations. This delectable shake stands out as one of the best fast food desserts available, boasting notes of coffee and creamy mascarpone. Topped with whipped cream, cocoa and a ladyfinger cookie, it offers a truly indulgent experience for dessert aficionados lucky enough to find it.
11. Subway Footlong Cookie
The Subway Footlong cookie combines the flavors of a traditional cookie with the soft texture of cake, making it a warm and inviting treat perfect for sharing among friends. This dessert earns its popular rating for its deliciousness and ample size, securing its place among the best fast food desserts. While cookies are a timeless favorite, the innovation of a footlong cookie elevates this classic treat to new heights.
12. Sonic Blasts
For those passing by Sonic during their daily errands, a visit yields access to one of the best fast food desserts: Sonic Blasts. These treats celebrate the love for favorite chocolate bars and the craving for indulgent ice cream. Also, each Blast can be customized with candy pieces, ensuring a personalized treat. For even more excitement at Sonic, check out the Sonic secret menu to see the other sweet, secret creations that fans have conjured up.
13. Burgerville Fresh Strawberry Shake
Burgerville's Fresh strawberry shake offers a delightful strawberry flavor akin to its seasonal berry shakes, yet remains available year-round. If one craves the creamy, cold allure of a milkshake, this stands out among the best fast food desserts. When summer arrives, a visit to Burgerville is in order.
14. Taco Bell Cinnabon Delights
Offering a different taste and texture than the Cinnamon Twists, these delightful bites are soft, buttery and doughy and filled with a rich, frosty filling. They are crispy and golden on the outside and rolled in cinnamon sugar. This is one of the best fast food desserts that also doubles as a breakfast item. We won’t tell anyone if you decide to start your day with these little pieces of heaven.
15. Shake Shack Maple Snickerdoodle Shake
The maple Snickerdoodle shake at Shake Shack replicates the taste of a Snickerdoodle cookie and strives to capture the essence of autumn. Be warned that this shake is very sweet, so you may not be able to finish it in one sitting. Of course, you may choose to share it with a friend. However you choose to enjoy it, it’s one of the best fast food desserts available.
16. Jollibee Peach Mango Pie
For a unique and fruity dessert experience, look no further than the Jollibee peach mango pie. Offering a departure from the traditional, this treat surprises with its blend of sweet mango and tart peach flavors making one best fast food desserts for fruit lovers. Encased in a thin, flaky pastry, the filling provides a burst of flavor with each bite. Jollibee stands out for its exceptional desserts, as evidenced by the extraordinary taste and quality of the peach mango pie.
17. Chick-Fil-A Frosted Lemonade
This seasonal treat makes its grand appearance in the summer and is one of the best fast food desserts to beat the heat. It’s a wonderful hand-spun concoction of Chick-Fil-A’s lemonade and its signature Icedream dessert. It’s perfect on a hot day to cool off and satisfy a sweet craving.
18. Dairy Queen Funnel Cake
Dairy Queen brings everyone's favorite fair treat to the fast food scene with its funnel cake. This ingenious offering provides the fluffy and crispy goodness of a fair-style funnel cake, available year-round. While it's only offered at select locations, every bite is worth the potential extra laundry from icing sugar. Topped with creamy soft-serve, strawberries and a generous dusting of icing sugar, it's a treat that funnel cake fans won't want to miss, earning its place as one of the best fast food desserts.
19. Auntie Anne’s Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Nuggets
Auntie Anne’s, a global chain renowned for its sweet and savory soft pretzels, offers a variety of toppings and dips to accompany its treats. The cinnamon sugar Pretzel Nuggets are so delectable that they rightfully earn a spot among the best fast food desserts. For an added twist, try them with a cream cheese dip. But beware, once you start, stopping becomes a challenge. Consider yourself warned.
20. Domino’s Marbled Blondie Cookie and Brownie
Perhaps unsurprisingly, famed pizza brand, Domino's, earns its second spot in this list of best fast food desserts. How? The Domino’s Marbled Blondie Cookie and Brownie: a delightful treat that deserves more than a little attention. Loaded with blondie bits that impart a salty, buttery flavor, it stands out as one of the best fast food desserts available at a pizza franchise.
21. White Castle Gooey Buttercake-on-a-Stick
For those fortunate enough to live near a White Castle or stumble upon one during their travels, the Buttercake-on-a-Stick is a must-try. The novelty of having cake on a stick alone makes it one of the best fast food desserts. No utensils are required — just dive right into the goodness. This super rich and moist cake boasts a hint of sweetness and a buttery flavor that creates a heavenly symphony of taste. Rest assured, this dessert is bound to win your heart.
From creamy soft-serve ice cream to warm, gooey pies, this comprehensive list offers a tantalizing array of sweet treats for anybody on the hunt for the best fast food desserts. Sometimes, desserts don't receive the attention they deserve, especially in the fast food world where savory often reigns supreme, but with this list, that changes today.
Now armed with 21 delectably sweet options to explore, it's time to embark on a taste-testing adventure at fast food restaurants in your local area. Sample each dessert and discover your new favorites. With such a diverse selection, there's something for every palate to enjoy.
For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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