Top 3 Fast Food Ice Creams You Should Avoid

Fast-food ice creams can be unhealthy because they are often high in sugar, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives.

Many contain excessive sugar, usually exceeding daily recommendations, and are loaded with saturated fats that can contribute to heart disease and weight gain.

Some large servings pack over 1,000 calories, making them calorie-dense with little nutritional value.

They also contain artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, which may cause digestive issues.

Here are some of the most unhealthy ones based on calorie, sugar, and fat content:

1. Baskin-Robbins REESE’S Peanut Butter Cup Layered Sundae

This sundae from Baskin Robbins has three scoops of REESE’S Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream, topped with layers of REESE’S Peanut Butter Sauce, chopped REESE’S Peanut Butter Cups, and hot fudge!

It is exactly as it sounds: a calorie bomb with an incredibly high fat and sugar content.

Just check out the detailed ingredient list provided by BR:

REESE’S Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream: Cream, REESE’S Peanut Butter Cups [Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Skim Milk, Milk Fat, Lactose, Soy Lecithin, PGPR), Peanuts, Sugar, Dextrose, Salt, TBHQ and Citric Acid (Preservatives)] {May Contain Traces of Tree Nuts (Almond, Coconut), Egg, Wheat}, Nonfat Milk, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Contains 2% or less of: Whey Powder, Cellulose Gum, Mono and Diglycerides, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Polysorbate 80, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Annatto (Color); REESE’S Peanut Butter Sauce: Peanuts, Peanut Oil, Sugar, Contains 2% or less of: Salt, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Canola, Cottonseed, and Soybean Oils), Cornstarch; REESE’S Peanut Butter Cup Topping: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Skim Milk, Milk Fat, Lactose, Soy Lecithin, PGPR), Peanuts, Sugar, Dextrose, Salt, TBHQ and Citric Acid (Preservatives) {May Contain Traces of Tree Nuts (Almond, Coconut, Pecans), Egg, Wheat}; Hot Fudge Topping: Corn Syrup, Sugar, Water, Refined Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Nonfat Dry Milk, Cocoa processed with alkali, Modified Corn Starch, Salt, Baking Soda, Ascorbic Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Soy Lecithin; Whipped Light Cream: Cream, Milk, Sugar, Dextrose, Nonfat Milk Solids, Artificial Flavor, Mono and Diglycerides, Monoglycerides, Carrageenan.

(“Baskin-Robbins,” 2025)

It’s full of additives and artificial flavors, making it a highly processed food item.

2. Dairy Queen Reese’s Pieces Cookie Dough Blizzard (Large)

Another one on the list is made with Reese’s chocolate.

This Blizzard is packed with Reese’s Pieces chocolate, cookie dough, and peanut butter topping, blended with a soft swirl of ice cream—it’s an absolute sugar and fat bomb!

One large Blizzard has 1650 calories, which is close to what most people require in an entire day!

Here is the detailed nutrition info:

Here is the ingredient list provided by Dairy Queen, which shows how many additives and chemicals go into the making of this blizzard:

Artificially Flavored Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream (Milkfat And Nonfat Milk, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Whey, Mono And Diglycerides, Artificial Flavor, Guar Gum, Polysorbate 80, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate), Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: Enriched Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Margarine (Palm Oil, Water, Soybean Oil, Salt, Mono & Diglycerides, Colored with Annatto. Citric Acid added as a preservative, Vitamin A Palmitate, Natural Flavor.), Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin [Emulsifier], Vanilla Extract), Brown Sugar, Butter (Cream, Salt), Powdered Sugar (Sugar, Corn Starch), Natural Flavor, Water, Salt, Reese’s® Pieces (Sugars (corn syrup solids, dextrose, corn syrup), Partially defatted peanuts, Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Palm kernel oil, Salt, Shellac, Modified cornstarch, Soy lecithin, Artificial color, Vanillin (artificial flavor), Carnauba wax, Milk), Peanut Butter Topping (Peanuts, Cottonseed and/or Peanut Oil, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Salt, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil).

(“REESE’S PIECES^® Cookie Dough Blizzard^® Treat,” 2024)

3. Cold Stone Creamery Signature Creations Dough for It!

(Gotta Have It Size)

The third one on our list is this Dough for It! creation in size: Gotta Have It.

This Cold Stone creation is made with Classic Cookie Dough Ice Cream, Chocolate Chips, Cookie Dough, and Sugar Crystals, making it incredibly calorie-dense and high in sugar.

It has 1230 calories per serving, which is one entire ‘Gotta Have It’ size.

Its sugar content is high: 120 g, which is more than four times the daily recommended limit for women (25g) and three times that for men (36g).

Here is the detailed nutrition info:

Are All Ice Creams Bad?

Not necessarily. A small portion of ice cream can be enjoyable if consumed in moderation.

If you love any of these flavors, opting for a smaller portion or a lighter mix-in combo can be a better choice!

However, healthier alternatives include:
✅ Smaller portions (e.g., kid-sized servings)
✅ Low-fat or dairy-free options (e.g., fruit-based sorbets)
✅ Homemade ice cream using natural ingredients