8 Healthiest Desserts From Your Favorite Fast Food Chains
Sure, fast food doesn't have the healthiest of reputations—it's more about the ease and convenience of grabbing a quick and tasty meal. When it comes to your sweet tooth, many chains are known for their indulgent desserts, from Burger King Hershey's Sundae Pie to Subway's new footlong cookies. While these treats are undeniably delicious, they're not always the healthiest options. However, for those times when you find yourself at the drive-thru and craving something sweet, there are some smarter choices available.
One thing to keep in mind: Fast food restaurants increasingly offer smaller portions or lighter versions of their popular desserts, allowing you to satisfy your cravings without overindulging. These options can be a great way to enjoy a treat while still maintaining balance in your diet.
After all, the saying "everything in moderation" is popular for a reason! It's totally fine to enjoy a stop at your local fast-food joint every now and again. When you do indulge but want to avoid going overboard, it helps to know your options. That's why we've scoured the nutritional information for dessert options at popular fast food chains. The following treats offer a taste of sweetness without the excessive calories, sugar, or fat content of their more decadent counterparts, proving that you can have your cake (or cookie, or ice cream) and eat it too!
McDonalds: Chocolate Chip Cookie
As McDonald's healthiest dessert option, this warm, gooey cookie contains 170 calories, 22 grams of carbs, 8 grams of fat, and only 15 grams of sugar. Also, the treat contains small amounts of potassium, calcium, and iron, to give you a little bit of the good stuff.
Burger King: Soft Serve Cup
Luckily for us, Burger King's ice cream machines don't seem to succumb to the dreaded break down that has plagued Micky D's for years, so you'll always have the option to order up a cup of soft serve. Creamy, soft, and only 180 calories, a swirl of this is low in fat (5 grams total with 0 grams of saturated fat) and cholesterol and even has 4 grams of protein.
Starbucks: Cookies & Cream Cake Pop
This convenient treat is made with chocolate cake that's blended with sandwich-cookie buttercream and cookie bits, and then dipped in white chocolate coating and topped with a dark chocolate cookie crumb. Although it tastes decadent, it's bite-sized, meaning it clocks in at only 140 calories. It has only 7 grams of fat, 20 grams of carbs, and 15 grams of sugar.
Chick-fil-A: Icedream® Cup
The fast-food chain's infamous non-ice cream alternative, Icedream, is pretty much a low-fat version of soft serve. However, it's not technically ice cream due to its low butterfat content, which is what makes this dessert the healthiest at the restaurant. With an old-fashioned vanilla taste, a cup of this creamy treat only contains 3.5 grams of fat, 4 grams of protein, and 140 calories.
Wendy's: Classic Chocolate Frosty
Practically synonymous with Wendy's, the chain's Classic Chocolate Frosty is also the fast-food giant's healthiest dessert option on the menu. Wendy's take on a milkshake, the Frosty contains 9 grams of fat, 310 calories, and 10 grams of protein. Add to that the calcium, iron, and potassium you get, and you can feel pretty good about sipping on one of these for a treat. Just note that it does have a high sugar and carb count—55 grams and 65 grams respectively!
Dunkin': Sugared Donut or Munchkin
Famous for, well, donuts, Dunkin' has a seemingly never-ending array of flavors to choose from. While you can certainly snag a tiny munchkin or two if you just want a taste (these range in calories from 50-70 and are low in sugar), if you want a full-size donut, the sugared is your best bet. With just 210 calories, 11 grams of fat, and 5 grams of sugar, the sugared donut is surprisingly one of the least sugary options on the menu. It contains significantly less sugar than some other donuts (which can have up to 34 grams) and has the lowest carbohydrate content by far.
Domino's: Cinnamon Bread Twists
Among Domino's three dessert offerings, the Cinnamon Bread Twists stand out as the best choice for those looking to avoid a sugar overload. Using Domino's dough, which is then twisted and baked, the resulting dessert is drizzled with cinnamon and sugar and served with a side of vanilla-flavored icing. A serving size, which is two twists, contains 250 calories and only 6 grams of sugar. Other options have more than three times the amount of sugar!
Dairy Queen: Small Vanilla Cone or Misty Slush
When it comes to America's favorite frozen treat spot, Dairy Queen has no shortage of options—Blizzard anyone? While the popular frozen treat may be a fan favorite, it's certainly not known for its nutritional qualities. Instead, you can opt for a Small Vanilla Cone, which has just 220 calories, 7 grams of fat, and 6 grams of protein (for comparison, blizzards can set you back anywhere from 340 to 1650 calories). On the other hand, if sugar isn't a concern, you can order up a Small Misty Slush at only 200 calories, which does indeed have a whopping 50 grams of sugar, but zero fat and cholesterol.
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