Photo: Tim Boyle (Getty).
Since a burger, fries and a Coke aren’t filling or caloric enough, our fast food restaurants need a dessert menu, as well. Some boast just a few key items, while others go on and on like an overly caffeinated coworker. When all is said and done, however, dessert is probably the most highly anticipated part of any meal. After all, “save the best for last” isn’t such a widely used expression for no reason. Without dessert, a meal simply isn’t a meal. Hence, why we’re ranking the ten best fast food favorites from the biggest chains around the world. You may not agree with our order, but just try to tell us that these items don’t deserve to be named among the very best of the sugary sweets that round out dinner. Or any meal, for that matter. Heck, we’d eat any of these all by themselves.
The Best Fast Food Desserts, Ranked
So there you have it, folks. One dessert to rule them all. But as always, be sure to let us know which you thought deserved the #1 spot.
And now for some more tasty treats that are totally healthy: The Definitive Ranking Of Brand Name Potato Chips
10 Best Fast Food Desserts
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10. Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake – Carl’s Jr.
It’s not easy being a cheesecake when there’s a whole factory of competition out there. And we’re not even touching upon what goes down in Brooklyn. Regardless, Carl’s Jr. has got itself a mighty little piece of cake -- creamy and savory with the sweetness of strawberry peeking through. They may need babes to sell their burgers, but this bodacious dessert can amply sell itself.
Photo: carlsjr.com
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9. Chocolate Turnover – Arby’s
The phrase, "nothing lasts forever" is most heartbreaking when we’re talking about warm, flaky chocolate-filled desserts. Such is the case with Arby’s Chocolate Turnover, a temporary item on the menu which has left a lasting impression. Their steadfast cherry and apple varieties are commendable options, but it is the impermanent chocolate delectable that will always turn our head. Even though the franchise swims in an ocean of meat, this tasty treat makes even the most virtuous vegetarian dive through the doors.
Photo: Francis Dean/Corbis (Getty).
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8. Hershey Sundae Pie – Burger King
It’s hard to understand why this piece o’ pie is packaged up more securely than a bottle of Children’s Tylenol, but maybe the King set out to prove that customers would go to great lengths to get at this delectable treat. Pretty as a picture and light as air, the Hershey Sundae Pie is a thing of beauty to bite and behold. Just because it didn’t come from grandma’s oven, that doesn’t mean this pie won’t disappear just as quickly the minute it hits the table.
Photo: bk.com
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7. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Blast – Sonic
Some reservation should be given to a fast food restaurant that co-opts a mass produced treat or candy to put in their own dessert and tries to pass it off as an original menu item. However, the taste of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup is so intoxicating that any attempt to argue that point further is lost in the haze of a sweat and salty dream.
Photo: sonicdrivein.com
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6. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard Treat – Dairy Queen
That’s a mouthful. Which is what you want the minute you sink your spoon into any Blizzard Treat. The varieties are endless -- from Salted Caramel Blondie to Pecan Cluster to Banana Split. And the recently introduced Royal Blizzard has a hidden reservoir of goo in the center. But give us the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and this Blizzard will make us feel all warm inside.
Photo: Andrew Burton (Getty).
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5. Cookies – Subway
While other fast food restaurants dangle ice cream or candy bar bits or hot pies and oozy cakes in front of their clientele, Subway simply satiates them with cookies. Though they may look ordinary, the taste and quality jolts you like an express train (after the woman at the counter handed me my three, she literally grabbed one of her own and ate it before we finished our transaction). Raspberry cheesecake, white chip macadamia nut, and gingerbread are some of their most appealing offerings, but really, just a classic chocolate chip sure does the trick.
Photo: Tim Boyle (Getty).
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4. Cinnamon Twists – Taco Bell
You may not find them on the dessert menu, but don’t let that stop you from thinking this isn’t an after-meal treat. It looks like a churro, and after making a run for the border, you might mistake them as such. But this is a crispy snack all its own, replete with cinnamon and sugary goodness. It would take one heck of a tall border wall to get between us and these twists.
Photo: tacobell.com
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3. Chocolate Overload Cake – Jack In The Box
Small in stature, this attractive looking dessert in the shape of a bundt cake has a lot going for it. Moist, dense, and rich with chocolate taste, this cake is better than most that would bill themselves as gourmet. Forget the brownies, boys and girls, this handheld chocolate treat is worth a round of applause.
Photo: James Leynse/Corbis (Getty).
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2. Chocolate Frosty – Wendy’s
Wendy, she don’t get bogged down with a superfluous dessert menu. There’s not many choices here, because for those seeking treats, the choice is clear -- the Frosty is a must have. No swirl of flavors, no M&Ms or cookie crumbles needed. A Frosty is served up as one flavor, thank you. Though they now come in vanilla, chocolate was the original flavor, and the best.
Photo: Eugene Gologursky (Getty).
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1. Oreo McFlurry – McDonald’s
Some folks McSwear by their sundaes. Others McOvate their apple pie. But when push comes to McShove, what they’re really flocking for is the McFlurry. With many in their arsenal, one stands out above the rest -- the Oreo. Take America’s favorite cookie and America’s favorite fast food restaurant, and together you’ve got a combination that no outside force can beat. McMasterful, you might say.
Photo: Joe Raedle (Getty).
