When it comes to fast food ice cream, Burger King may not be the first name that comes to mind. But as a consumer retail expert and discerning shopper, I‘m here to tell you that BK‘s frozen treats are not to be overlooked. With a surprisingly diverse array of soft serve cones, sundaes, milkshakes, and specialty desserts, Burger King has quietly become a force to be reckoned with in the world of drive-thru ice cream indulgence.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll take a deep dive into all aspects of Burger King‘s ice cream menu. From sizing and pricing to ingredients and nutrition to limited-time offerings and brand partnerships, no stone will be left unturned. We‘ll also compare BK‘s ice cream lineup to other major fast food players, and explore some fascinating facts and figures along the way. So grab a spoon (or a straw) and let‘s dig in!
Soft Serve 101: Burger King‘s Cones and Cups
The cornerstone of Burger King‘s ice cream menu is undoubtedly their classic soft serve. Available in a basic cake cone or cup, this creamy vanilla treat is simple, satisfying, and easy on the wallet.
A small BK soft serve cone clocks in at a mere 89 cents, making it one of the most affordable ice cream options in the fast food arena. For comparison, a small cone at McDonald‘s will set you back $1.00, while Wendy‘s charges $1.19 for their Jr. Vanilla Frosty.
Size-wise, Burger King‘s small soft serve cone is a modest 4 oz, while the cup contains a slightly more generous 5.7 oz portion. This puts BK‘s servings on the smaller side compared to competitors like Dairy Queen, where a small cone contains a hefty 7 oz of soft serve.
But what about the quality and ingredients of Burger King‘s soft serve? While the primary component is dairy (skim milk and milk fat), it does contain a number of additives and stabilizers to maintain that signature soft serve texture and prevent melting. Here‘s a closer look at the full ingredient list:
Milk, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Whey, Mono & Diglycerides, Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate, Artificial Flavor.
From a nutritional standpoint, a small BK soft serve cone contains 140 calories, 5g of fat, 20g of carbohydrates, and 17g of sugar. The cup serving size bumps those numbers up to 201 calories, 7g of fat, 29g of carbs, and 24g of sugar. So while it‘s certainly not a health food, Burger King‘s soft serve can be an acceptable occasional treat when enjoyed in moderation.
It‘s worth noting that due to the presence of milk products, Burger King‘s soft serve is not considered vegan-friendly. It is, however, Kosher certified (as are the cake cones). But if you have a severe dairy allergy, it‘s best to err on the side of caution, as cross-contamination is possible in a fast food environment.
Sundae Funday: Burger King‘s Saucy Spins on Soft Serve
Want to upgrade your Burger King soft serve experience? Enter the sundae. This classic ice cream parlor favorite gets the fast food treatment with your choice of three saucy toppings: hot fudge, caramel, or strawberry.
Portion-wise, Burger King‘s sundaes clock in at a respectable 6.1 oz, with the sauce accounting for about 1.5 oz of that total. Pricing is also quite reasonable, with all three flavors ringing up at $1.59 across the board. That‘s on par with McDonald‘s ($1.49 for a 5.7 oz sundae) and a better value than Wendy‘s ($1.89 for a 5.3 oz sundae).
Nutritionally speaking, Burger King‘s sundaes range from 261 calories (strawberry) to 296 calories (caramel) to 315 calories (hot fudge). All three flavors contain a substantial 8-9g of saturated fat and a whopping 33-39g of sugar per serving. So while they may be a step up from a basic soft serve in terms of indulgence, they‘re definitely more of a once-in-a-while treat than an everyday snack.
Over the years, Burger King has also dabbled in more unique sundae offerings through limited-time promotions and brand partnerships. A few memorable examples:
- The Oreo Cookie Sundae: Vanilla soft serve layered with crushed Oreo cookies and hot fudge sauce, topped with a dollop of whipped cream.
- The Snickers Sundae: Vanilla soft serve drizzled with caramel and chocolate sauces, sprinkled with chopped Snickers pieces.
- The Twix Sundae: Vanilla soft serve swirled with chocolate and caramel sauces, studded with crunchy Twix cookie bar bits.
These specialty sundaes typically carry a slightly higher price tag ($2.19-$2.49) and are only available for a limited time while supplies last. But they showcase Burger King‘s willingness to have fun with flavor and texture combinations, as well as the chain‘s savvy in partnering with popular candy/snack brands to create buzz-worthy treats.
Shake It Up: Burger King‘s Decadent Drinkable Desserts
For those who like their ice cream sippable, Burger King offers a range of classic milkshakes in Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry varieties. Crafted with BK‘s signature soft serve blended with cold milk and flavored syrups, these shakes are rich, creamy, and generously portioned.
Sizes range from 12 oz (small) to 16 oz (medium) to a generous 20 oz large. That‘s a step up from McDonald‘s shake sizes (12 oz small, 16 oz medium, 18 oz large) and on par with Wendy‘s (12 oz Jr., 16 oz Small, 20 oz Large).
Price-wise, BK‘s shakes are a solid value. A small will set you back $2.49, a medium rings up at $3.09, and a large goes for $3.59 across all flavors. Compare that to Mickey D‘s ($2.29 for a small, $2.99 for a medium, $3.49 for a large) and Wendy‘s ($2.19 for a Jr., $2.69 for a small, $3.19 for a large) and it‘s clear that Burger King is competitive in both sizing and pricing.
From a nutritional standpoint, Burger King‘s milkshakes pack a predictably high caloric punch. A large chocolate shake, for example, clocks in at a whopping 760 calories, 22g of saturated fat, and 107g of sugar. The vanilla and strawberry varieties are only marginally lighter at 720-730 calories, 20g of saturated fat, and 87-98g of sugar for a large. So while they may be a delicious treat, BK‘s shakes are definitely more of a once-in-a-while indulgence than an everyday beverage.
One area where Burger King really sets itself apart in the milkshake category is through its frequent limited-time offerings and brand collaborations. Over the years, BK has partnered with a number of popular snacks, cereals, and candy brands to create truly unique and craveable shake flavors. Some standout examples:
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shake: Cereal milk-flavored shake topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch pieces.
- Lucky Charms Shake: Vanilla soft serve hand-spun with sweet Lucky Charms cereal pieces and crowned with whipped cream.
- Oreo Irish Mint Shake: Vanilla soft serve blended with mint-chocolate Oreo cookies for a refreshing twist.
According to industry reports, these limited-edition shakes have been a major sales driver for Burger King, with some specialty flavors boosting milkshake sales by as much as 25% during the promotional period. The novelty factor and Instagram-worthy presentation make them especially popular with younger consumers.
Beyond Cones and Cups: Burger King‘s Other Ice Cream Creations
In addition to the core soft serve-based treats, Burger King rounds out its dessert menu with a few specialty ice cream items. The most well-known and enduring of these is the Hershey‘s Sundae Pie.
First introduced in 2001 as a limited-time offering, this handheld dessert features a chocolate crust filled with chocolate soft serve and chocolate chips, topped with a swirl of whipped cream. The individual serving size and co-branding with Hershey‘s made it an instant hit, and it was quickly added to the permanent menu.
Today, the Hershey‘s Sundae Pie remains one of Burger King‘s most popular dessert items. Priced at $1.69 for a 4.76oz serving, it‘s an affordable indulgence that‘s easy to eat on the go. Nutritionally, it‘s a bit of a splurge at 330 calories, 14g of fat, and 41g of sugar, but that hasn‘t seemed to dent its appeal.
Over the years, Burger King has extended the "sundae pie" concept with other co-branded versions featuring popular candies. The Reese‘s Peanut Butter Cup Pie (chocolate crumbles and peanut butter soft serve in a graham crust) and the M&M‘s Chocolate Candies Pie (chocolate soft serve topped with candy-coated chocolates) have both made appearances as limited-time offerings.
Burger King has also experimented with other portable ice cream novelties, like the Snickers Ice Cream Bar (vanilla ice cream coated in chocolate, peanuts, and caramel) and the Twix Ice Cream Bar (vanilla ice cream enrobed in caramel and chocolate cookies). While not as iconic as the sundae pies, these handheld treats have added some welcome variety to BK‘s grab-and-go ice cream lineup.
The Scoop on Burger King‘s Ice Cream Sales and Popularity
So just how popular are Burger King‘s ice cream treats? According to a 2021 report from market research firm Technomic, Burger King is the fifth largest chain in the U.S. ice cream and frozen treat category, with an estimated $200 million in annual sales.
That puts BK behind behemoths like Dairy Queen ($3.9 billion) and Baskin-Robbins ($430 million), but ahead of other fast food rivals like Wendy‘s ($150 million) and Shake Shack ($40 million). And while ice cream may not be Burger King‘s core focus, it still accounts for a respectable 5% of the chain‘s total sales mix.
Interestingly, Burger King‘s ice cream sales tend to skew heavily towards classic soft serve cones and cups, which make up an estimated 60% of the chain‘s total ice cream sales. Sundaes account for another 25%, while shakes and specialty items like pies and bars split the remaining 15%. This stands in contrast to competitors like Dairy Queen, where Blizzards and other mix-in treats dominate, or Baskin-Robbins, where scooped ice cream and cakes are the top sellers.
From a demographic standpoint, Burger King‘s ice cream offerings tend to resonate most strongly with families and value-conscious consumers. The affordable price points and kid-friendly sizing make BK a popular choice for budget-minded shoppers looking to treat the whole crew. And the frequent promotions and limited-time flavors help keep things feeling fresh and fun for all ages.
That said, Burger King has also made some savvy moves to court a younger, more trend-forward audience with its ice cream menu in recent years. The co-branded sundae pies and cereal milk shakes, for example, tap into the nostalgic tastes of millennials, while the visually striking toppings and mix-ins (think colorful syrups and chunky baked goods) have made BK‘s ice cream inherently more "Instagrammable" – a key factor for the Gen Z set.
Fun Facts and Trivia About Burger King‘s Ice Cream
To wrap things up, here are a few interesting tidbits and trivia points about Burger King‘s ice cream history and offerings:
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Burger King first started serving ice cream in the early 1970s as part of its "Burger King Yumbo" line of desserts. The original soft serve was available in chocolate and vanilla flavors.
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In the 1980s, Burger King introduced "Burger Bundles" – combo meals that included a small soft serve cone as the dessert. This helped position ice cream as an essential part of the BK experience.
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The Hershey‘s Sundae Pie is Burger King‘s longest-running ice cream treat, having been on the permanent menu for over 20 years.
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In 2005, Burger King partnered with snack cake brand Twinkies for a limited-edition "Twinkies Pie" – a vanilla soft serve and Twinkies crumbles concoction that paved the way for future co-branded desserts.
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Burger King‘s soft serve has a uniquely dense and creamy texture thanks to a special "low air" manufacturing process. Most soft serve contains 30-45% air, but BK‘s clocks in at a mere 5% for a richer mouthfeel.
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According to Burger King, the most popular topping for their sundaes is hot fudge, followed by caramel. Strawberry comes in a distant third.
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In Japan, Burger King has offered some truly unique soft serve flavors over the years, including Pumpkin, Black Sesame, and even "Spam Flavor" (a sweet-salty mashup inspired by the canned meat product).
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Burger King‘s soft serve is Kosher certified, but their shakes and pie crusts may contain non-Kosher ingredients. Always check with your local restaurant for the most up-to-date info.
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The Burger King "Crown Card" – a gift card that entitled the holder to one free Whopper per day for life – also included a lifetime supply of free soft serve cones. Talk about a sweet perk!
So there you have it – a comprehensive deep dive into the world of Burger King ice cream. From classic cones to candy-studded shakes to handheld pie treats, BK proves that fast food can still be a serious contender in the frozen dessert space. With a focus on value, variety, and the occasional viral-worthy special flavor, Burger King has quietly carved out a cool niche for itself in the competitive landscape of quick-serve ice cream.
Whether you‘re a longtime BK devotee or a curious first-timer, there‘s never been a better time to explore the sweet side of the menu. Just be sure to pace yourself – with this many tempting options, it‘s all too easy to overindulge. But hey, that‘s what cheat days are for, right?
