Fast food restaurants are best known for savoury snacks and fried goods – but sweet-toothed customers are certainly not neglected. Pretty much every chain serves at least one sweet treat, with special variations regularly joining the menu. From Tim Hortons’ Timbits and Taco Bell’s cinnamon twists to one-off and market-specific creations like McDonald’s corn pies, we rate the best fast food dessert items of all time.
Click or scroll through our gallery as we count down to the ultimate fast food dessert ever created. Have your favourites made our list?
Our ranking is based on reviews, accolades and the popularity of each item, taking into account sales, longevity and the reaction to the products at the time of their release.
Starting out as a market stand in Downingtown, Pennsylvania in 1988, this US-born chain was founded by real-life 'Auntie Anne', Anne F. Beiler, along with her husband Jonas. Since then, it's quietly expanded throughout America and across the globe, with branches in 30 countries including the UK, Ireland, India and Japan. The salty Original Pretzel is still a popular choice, but it’s the Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel that sees customers coming back for more. A sweet dough is proven, rolled, shaped and sprinkled with fresh cinnamon and sugar before being baked.
Only available at Hungry Jack's (as Burger King is named in Australia), the Storm is a rich, creamy sensation people can't get enough of. Similar to a McDonald’s McFlurry, this ice cream dessert is packed with biscuits, candy or sweet toppings. Hugely popular flavours include the Bubblegum Storm, Storm Cadbury Flake and the limited-edition Biscoff Storm. It's yet to be rolled out to Burger King locations around the globe, though we're sure it really would go down a storm.
Not to be mistaken for the brand's popular apple pie, the McDonald's Corn Pie quickly garnered a cult following after initially launching in Thailand. Its pastry case is packed with creamy corn, for the perfect sweet and salty finish to a McDonald’s feast. Due to rising demand, in 2018 the fast food chain launched the Corn Pie in South Korea for a limited time only.
If there’s one thing McDonald’s loves doing, it’s launching country-specific items, and India’s McSwirl is a fabulous example. Essentially, this is a softly whipped vanilla ice cream cone that’s smothered with a light, hardened chocolate covering. McDonald’s has unveiled a limited run of a McSwirl Butterscotch flavour several times over the past few years, on the back of customer requests, and it’s always a hot weather saviour.
Burger King’s desserts are often overlooked but, when the burger giants launched the Hershey’s Sundae Pie, fans clamoured to get a bite of the action. It’s made up of one part chocolate crust and one part chocolate crème filling, before being topped with a fudge drizzle and real Hershey’s chocolate chips. In 2021, Burger King announced the launch of a limited-edition shake version, and it was an instant hit.
American hamburger chain, White Castle, first opened in 1921, and is still best known for its Original Slider. But those with a sweet tooth can head here for its Cheesecake on a Stick. Just as the name suggests, this a frozen cheesecake dessert – on a stick. First launching as a fudge-dipped Valentine’s Day special in 2012, the dish has remained on the menu ever since, though its flavour has since changed to strawberry. Both a rich brownie and gooey buttercake option have launched in recent years, too.
Available in select countries, these warm, crunchy cookies are gooey in the middle and loaded up with milk chocolate chips. Several limited-edition creations have launched over the years, from the minty-centred cookies made with British wafer-thin chocolates, After Eight, to the 2020 festive orange chocolate edition, which was brought back by popular demand for another limited run in 2022.
It’s easy to forget that the American fast food chain, Five Guys, didn’t initially launch its now esteemed milkshakes when it first opened in 1986. In fact, the beloved burger spot went as far as to announce it wouldn’t be selling milkshakes, only relenting in 2014. These days, most locations sell the customisable milkshakes, with 11 free mix-in options available.
Founder Danny Meyer launched Shake Shack as a hot dog stand in Madison Square Park, New York City, back in 2001. Within a few years, the brand had amassed a loyal following, introducing its now-famous burgers, crinkly fries and, of course, milkshakes. The shakes are hand-spun (or whipped) rather than blended, resulting in a creamier finish. They come in classic flavours like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, alongside limited editions such as Chocolate Birthday Cake and Cornflake Chocolate Drizzle – part of a collaboration with NYC dessert hotspot, Milk Bar, in 2021.
Similar to McDonald’s legendary Apple Pie, Popeyes offers up its own version of the sweet treat – and some fans prefer it. The franchise regularly updates its dessert offerings with limited-run creations, including 2022’s deep-fried beignets, but the cinnamon-flavoured apple pie is a menu mainstay. The pastry coating is warm and crispy, loaded with a hot cinnamon apple filling and dusted with sweet cinnamon sugar.
You can’t go wrong with a crisp churro, and Jack in the Box has outdone itself with its bite-sized option. Since its initial launch in San Diego, California in 1951, the fast food chain has expanded across the USA. Mini Churros landed on the menu back in 2008 and have firmly stayed a treasured sharing item, perfect for groups. Expect dinky fried churros, dusted in a light cinnamon sugar coating.
Launched in Seattle, Washington in 1985, Cinnabon has since gone on to become a world-renowned baked goods chain. Now available in more than 50 countries, the Classic Roll has been the signature sell ever since. It’s a simple cinnamon bun created from freshly made dough, a healthy helping of Makara cinnamon (a special variety grown in Sri Lanka) and topped with lashings of signature cream cheese. While the brand has gone on to expand its offering, nothing has quite matched the original.
Krushers (Krushems in the UK) are effectively chocolate bars in milkshake form. Launching in 2009, they were quickly rolled out across around 2,000 restaurants around the world and picked up a loyal following – before mysteriously disappearing from menus in 2019. Petitions across Australia and New Zealand rolled out, campaigning for their return, but the milky drink has yet to resurface anywhere other than the UK. Containing ‘real bits’ of biscuit and chocolate, the thick shake-like drink is now widely available across Britain, with flavours including Milkybar and Oreo.
If you love cinnamon, you’ll adore Taco Bell’s well-loved Cinnamon Twists. Made using a mix of wheat flour, corn meal, rice flour and salt, they're shaped into a rotini-style pasta shape, deep-fried until puffed up and coated in cinnamon sugar. Replacing Taco Bell’s popular Cinnamon Crispas, a similar sweet triangular snack, Cinnamon Twists launched in 1988, and are still loved by diners today.
Dairy Queen may date back to 1940 but, for ice cream lovers, 1985 is the most important date in its timeline. This is when the lauded Blizzard landed on menus. The frozen soft-serve treat usually blends chunky chocolate, sweet sauces and chopped nuts into its cup, though you’ll find the chain pumping out new limited-edition flavours every month. Known for being super thick, Blizzards are often flipped upside down by staff before serving, to prove it won’t budge.
Filipino corporation, Jollibee, burst onto the scene in 1975, but its fame increased with the 1995 launch of its now legendary Peach Mango Pie. Made using real peaches and fresh Philippines-grown mangoes, the filling is swaddled with a crispy pastry coating. Now boasting locations across the globe, Jollibee added the dessert to menus in the UK and UAE in 2022, with pies selling out within weeks.
Similar to Timbits – the doughnut bites from Canadian chain Tim Hortons – Dunkin’ Donuts offers up its own miniature treats. Debuting on the menu in the early 1970s, Munchkins were originally created to use up excess dough made out of the chain’s famous doughnuts. Due to increased popularity, you can find various flavour options available, from classic glazed and cinnamon to powdered and even a seasonal pumpkin option.
Simple yet delicious, Chick-fil-A’s Icedream is a classic vanilla-flavoured frozen dessert served in a petite cone. Its origins date back to the 1940s, when the chain's founder S. Truett Cathy first served up the recipe at the Dwarf Grill (now known as The Dwarf House restaurant) in Hapeville, Georgia. Fast forward to today and this modest dessert is as widely enjoyed as Chick-fil-A’s Original Chicken Sandwich. A relatively healthy frozen dessert, the Icedream can’t actually be classed an ‘ice cream’ due to its ingredients, but that hasn't dimmed its popularity.
Established as Sonic Drive-In in 1953, Sonic is best known for its expansive drink offerings, including fan-favourite Cherry Limeade, and the Sonic Blast. Similar to Dairy Queen’s thick Blizzard dessert and McDonald's McFlurry, the Blast features soft serve ice cream with a mix of sweets, chocolate or biscuits churned into it. The menu regularly changes, but you’ll often find classics made with Oreo, Reese’s and M&M’s alongside limited-edition items.
For chocolate lovers, you can’t beat Domino’s Chocolate Lava Crunch Cake. Almost as famous as the chain’s pizzas, though not on the permanent menu, it first launched on menus in 2009 and was an immediate hit. Its crunchy chocolate casing is filled with oozy, melty chocolate fudge sauce. This Domino’s favourite pops up on menus across the world from time to time and, when it does, it’s always a popular option.
Arby’s, founded in 1964, may be better known for its slow-roasted beef rolls, but its signature Cherry Turnover is well worth a try. This freshly baked pastry has a sweet cherry filling, topped with a light white icing finish. Over the past few years, the Cherry Turnover has been joined by other flavours, including a popular apple option and the much-loved, but now discontinued, chocolate.
Whether you love the raspberry cheesecake or the vegan double chocolate, no Subway order is complete without a crispy on the outside, gooey in the middle cookie (or two). Dating back to 1965, Subway now serves up subs and cookies in more than 100 countries. In 2022, the franchise launched the world’s first footlong cookie for one day only, available in select USA locations. Teasers featuring a Subway and Cinnabon collaboration dropped in September 2023, suggesting further footlong desserts could become available.
Canadian fast food franchise Tim Hortons knows a thing or two about baked goods, but since introducing Timbits to its menu in 1976, there has been one clear favourite. These bite-sized doughnut balls are sweet, fluffy and totally moreish. Available at sites across the globe, the snackable sweet treats come in a variety of flavours, including blueberry, sour cream glazed, chocolate glazed, honey dip, old fashion glazed and the classic old fashion plain.
A staple around the world, the McFlurry is a crowd favourite. First created by Canadian franchisee Ron McLellan in 1995, this whipped, soft serve–style ice cream was test-marketed at certain stores in 1997, before being rolled out across American and Canadian locations a year later. Since then, global McDonald’s locations have introduced limited-edition and market-specific McFlurrys, from the classic Oreo to bubblegum squash (in Australia and New Zealand).
Launched by New Orleans French chef Vernon Rudolph in 1937, Krispy Kreme’s Original Glazed doughnuts are now enjoyed across the globe. Sweet and sticky, the light and fluffy dough is encased with its classic glaze. The recipe remains top secret and is still the franchise’s bestseller, partly due to the interactive glass display counter tempting customers in every store. In January 2021, a vegan Original Glazed alternative launched in the UK with much success, offering a delicious plant-based option inspired by the original recipe.
If there’s one fast food dessert that has stood the test of time, it’s the Frosty. The frozen dairy dessert has firmly held its prime status on the Wendy’s menu since opening its doors in 1969. Devised by Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas, it’s a blend of a soft serve and a milkshake. Thick enough to be eaten with a spoon, the original flavour combined vanilla and chocolate. In 2006, a plain vanilla variety was added, while seasonal takes have included 2022’s festive peppermint and 2023’s autumnal pumpkin spice.
McDonald’s legendary Apple Pie has graced its menus since 1968 and remains a firm favourite. This warming pocket-style treat has a cinnamon-laced apple pie filling encased with a crisp, flaky pastry crust. Traditionally fried, the chain introduced a baked alternative in 1992. While apple is the original, nowadays you’ll find various limited-edition, market-specific and seasonal iterations across the globe, including China's Taro Pie and America's Strawberry & Crème Pie.