Not all fast food sweets are created equal. Some desserts are warm, gooey perfection—others taste like regret in a paper bag.
This list ranks 20 fast food desserts from worst to best, judging flavor, texture, and whether they’re worth the calories.
Expect bold flavors, surprising winners, and a few delicious throwbacks.
20. Burger King’s Dutch Apple Pie
The crust arrives oddly chewy with a faintly microwaved texture that distracts from the spiced filling. Tart apple chunks try their best but get lost in the syrupy sweetness.
There’s a hint of cinnamon warmth, but not enough to redeem it. It’s a pie that feels more like a side dish than dessert.
19. Sonic’s OREO Cheesecake Shake
Chunks of OREO sink fast in a dense swirl that barely resembles cheesecake. The flavor is overly artificial, leaning too sweet too soon.
It’s heavy, cloying, and lacks any real tang. The texture borders on sludge if it sits for more than five minutes.
18. KFC’s Chocolate Chip Cookie
Soft and warm out of the bag, but oddly waxy once cooled. Chocolate chips melt nicely but feel sparse in the dough.
It tastes fine in a pinch but disappears from memory instantly. A textbook case of fast food mediocrity.
17. Dairy Queen’s Non-Dairy Dilly Bar
Coconut-based ice cream gives it a strange, slick mouthfeel. The chocolate coating cracks nicely but tastes more like wax than cocoa.
It’s trying hard to be a vegan win, but it lands flat. A good idea in theory that falters on flavor.
16. Wendy’s Sugar Cookie
The cookie arrives pale and puffy, with sprinkles that scream grocery store bakery. The bite is dry and lacks any buttery richness.
Sweetness is cranked too high without balance. It tastes like a festive prop more than a dessert.
15. Jack In The Box Mini Churros
These cinnamon-dusted tubes pack a crunch with gooey centers that ooze sweet filling. They’re fried just enough to give texture without grease overload.
A hint of caramel in the center makes them more exciting than expected. They’re tiny, but they punch above their weight.
14. Chick-Fil-A’s Frosted Lemonade
Tart lemonade blended with vanilla ice cream sounds dreamy but ends up tasting like melted sherbet. The clash of citrus and dairy feels off.
It refreshes at first sip, then overstays its welcome. Fans love it, but it’s an acquired taste.
13. Arby’s Cherry Turnover
The flaky pastry shell is golden and light, but the neon-red filling tastes like pie from a vending machine. Still, it has nostalgia going for it.
If you love bright fruit flavor and don’t mind extra sugar, it works. Otherwise, it’s more artificial than appetizing.
12. Subway’s White Chip Macadamia Cookie
Buttery with a soft-bake bite, this cookie brings sweetness with white chocolate chips and crunch from roasted nuts. It often comes fresh and chewy.
It’s sweet without being too rich, though it veers toward bland. A solid standby that rarely disappoints but never wows.
11. Panda Express Fortune Cookie
Dry, brittle, and slightly sweet, this classic isn’t about taste—it’s about the message inside. Still, it offers a quick sugar fix.
Crunch it with tea or skip it altogether. It’s tradition, not indulgence.
10. McDonald’s Apple Pie
The crust stays crisp thanks to deep frying, and the filling is gooey with chunks of cinnamon-dusted apple. It’s nostalgic, fast, and surprisingly tasty.
It won’t rival grandma’s, but it delivers comfort. This is fast food Americana at its most iconic.
9. Starbucks Cake Pop
Dense and sugary inside with a firm chocolate shell, it’s a dessert that’s more cute than filling. Kids love the fun presentation.
The texture borders on doughy, but the taste is indulgent. One bite is often enough.
8. Popeyes Strawberry Biscuit
Sweet glaze coats a buttery biscuit packed with real berry bits. It’s flaky, soft, and more pastry than bread.
That contrast between tart strawberries and syrupy glaze hits just right. It’s messy, indulgent, and deeply Southern.
7. Sonic’s Cheesecake Blast
Thick cheesecake base blended with chunks of graham cracker and cream swirl creates a rich, icy dessert. It’s better eaten with a spoon.
There’s a decadent balance between tangy and sweet. It’s bold, heavy, and built for sweet tooths.
6. Dairy Queen’s Blizzard
This iconic dessert blends soft-serve with endless mix-in combos, from Reese’s to brownie dough. It’s thick enough to turn upside down.
The balance of crunch, cream, and customization makes it a fan favorite. It’s fun, frosty, and always delivers.
5. Culver’s Frozen Custard
Creamier than standard ice cream, this Midwestern classic uses egg yolks for richness. The vanilla version is silky with pure, clean flavor.
It’s soft, dense, and satisfying without needing fancy toppings. Custard fans know—it’s the gold standard.
4. Chick-Fil-A’s Milkshake
Thick, hand-spun shakes with whipped topping and a cherry on top feel old-school in the best way. The cookies and cream version hits hard.
Creamy, dense, and not overly sweet, they’re a sip of nostalgia. These shakes are worth lingering over.
3. Shake Shack Frozen Custard Shake
Velvety custard blended into a creamy shake gives more weight and flavor than most. Chocolate, vanilla, and limited-time flavors rotate.
It’s indulgent but never too much. This is what fast food dessert looks like when it grows up.
2. Wendy’s Chocolate Frosty
Part shake, part ice cream, the Frosty has a malty, cocoa-rich base that’s instantly recognizable. It’s meant for dipping fries.
Thick, creamy, and surprisingly restrained in sweetness, it satisfies without overdoing it. A fast food icon that still holds up.
1. McDonald’s Hot Fudge Sundae
Soft-serve vanilla topped with warm chocolate fudge makes for a classic combo. The sauce is rich and pools perfectly at the bottom.
It’s simple, comforting, and endlessly reliable. This dessert tops the list for taste, nostalgia, and price.