Ah, summertime. Its backyard barbecues and lazy days poolside provide hours of fun in the sun, but all that heat can leave you feeling lethargic. Cool down and perk up with one of these six sweet, cold summer desserts. They’re all available at your local drive-thru, and they’re all under five bucks.
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Hershey’s Sundae Pie: $1.69 at Burger King
Ice-cold and velvety, Burger King’s Hershey’s Sundae Pie is pure bliss for chocolate lovers everywhere. It all starts with a crunchy chocolate cookie crust piled high with a cream cheese and chocolate creme filling. Generous dollops of sweet whipped topping sprinkled with Hershey’s chocolate chips finish off the masterpiece. And you’ll finish it off too, probably in record time, because it’s just that delicious.
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Blizzard: $4.69 for a Large at Dairy Queen
You can’t possibly go wrong with a DQ Blizzard for dessert. Featuring 15 different flavors, you could stop in once a week all summer and experience a new and tasty treat each time. You’ve got your Oreo and your Cookie Dough, your Banana Split, and your Strawberry Cheesecake. If you love good old classic candy bars, you’ll adore the Butterfinger, Heath, Snickers, or M&Ms Blizzard. The Turtle Pecan Cluster is sweet ’n’ nutty, and the Salted Caramel Truffle is sweet ’n’ salty. If chocolate is your go-to favorite, you’ll want to order the Brownie Batter Blizzard for a religious experience you’ll want to keep coming back for.
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Apple Pie a la Mode: $1.99 at McDonald’s
Summertime wouldn’t be summertime without at least one heaping helping of apple pie a la mode. This summer dessert is so All-American it’s a bona fide cliche. While McDonald’s doesn’t actually serve apple pie a la mode, they do serve apple pie, and they serve vanilla ice cream cones. Either eat this delectable dessert double fisted-style, alternating bites, or get home quick and spoon the ice cream from the cone over the pie and enjoy it with a fork.
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Root Beer Float: $3.29 at A&W
Another All-American classic, the famous A&W Root Beer Float is a bubbly, creamy treat that waxes nostalgic with every sip/bite. Sweet vanilla ice cream melts slowly in a glass of ice-cold root beer as you dig your way down. The minute this float is gone, you’ll want another, which is why we recommend you enjoy your treat in-house.
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Strawberries & Creme Frappuccino: $4.95 for a Venti at Starbucks
If summer had a flavor, it would probably taste like strawberries. See for yourself whether the Strawberries & Creme Frappuccino embodies summer for you. A sweet strawberry puree is tossed into a blender with a handful of ice, schlepped into a crystal clear cup, and topped with a mountain of whipped cream. It’s a light, fresh summer treat that’ll warm your heart and cool your belly.
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Hand-Mixed Classic Shake: $$4.59 for a Large at Sonic
Summer isn’t summer until you’ve had your first Sonic shake of the season. Sonic’s Classic Shakes are made with real ice cream and hand-mixed with one of eight flavors. The result is a thick, creamy, ice-cold concoction that goes beautifully with a little (or big!) snack of fries.
Summer Desserts Are a Sweet End to a Steamy Day
Don’t let the heat of summer get you down. It’ll be cobbler season soon enough, so when the heat’s on, use it as an excuse to indulge in a cold summer dessert. You’ll come away cool and satisfied and ready to get back out there and milk your summer for everything it’s got.
