For a place best known for its soft-serve and swirl-topped cones, Dairy Queen has packed a lot of unusual and surprising history into its nearly 85 years. With secret recipes, failed health kicks, upside-down gimmicks, and more than a few scandals, DQ is a fast-food institution with more layers than a Parfait Cup. On that note, let’s look at 10 fascinating facts about this iconic ice cream chain.
1. It’s not technically ice cream
That creamy cone you get, legally, doesn’t qualify as ice cream. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines, ice cream requires a minimum of 10% butterfat, and Dairy Queen’s soft serve has 5%.
This makes Dairy Queen’s offering “reduced-fat ice cream” under current FDA labeling guidelines, which replaced the older “ice milk” designation. That’s why it’s officially called “soft serve” for branding consistency. It’s not a marketing gimmick, but a technical requirement that ensures DQ complies with FDA regulations.
2. The recipe is locked in a safe deposit box
DQ is tight-lipped about what goes into its soft serve. The original formula is supposedly kept under literal lock and key, with just a few people holding access. Even now, the ingredient list on their website does not specify quantities, so the original formula remains a trade secret.
3. Blizzards didn’t appear until 1985, and were a hit out of the gate
For decades, DQ has stuck to offering just cones, sundaes, and shakes. Then the Blizzard made its debut, inspired by St. Louis custard stands that served theirs upside down. In its first year, over 175 million Blizzard drinks were sold, and it remains their most significant menu success by far.
4. The upside-down thing isn’t just for fun
Turning a Blizzard upside down isn’t just meant to be a party trick; it’s essentially proof of how thick the soft serve really is. At many stores, if an employee doesn’t flip your Blizzard, you get to have it for free.
However, the catch is that the policy only applies at specific participating locations, and policies vary from one location to another. Some places only flip one Blizzard per order (e.g., drive-thru), and employees may even issue coupons or slips for free or discounted Blizzards if challenged.
5. Green tea is their top Blizzard flavor in China
While Oreo reigns supreme in the United States, international tastes differ. In China, the bestseller is green tea, not cookies or candy bars, but rather Matcha and soft serve. It’s a reminder of how global the brand has become and how local tastes still shape the menu.
6. They tried frozen yogurt (and failed)
In the ’90s, DQ introduced the Breeze, a lower-calorie Blizzard made with frozen yogurt. It did not go well. Not because it tasted bad, but because nobody ordered it. The yogurt would often spoil before it could even be used, and by 2000, it disappeared from menus.
7. They once got into it with Mark Cuban
Back in 2002, NBA team owner Mark Cuban said a league official wasn’t “even fit to manage a Dairy Queen” after a controversial game. DQ clapped back by inviting him to try it, so he showed up, scooped cones, and admitted that despite how easy it looks, perfecting the spiral-like Q-shaped swirl is way more challenging. PR win: Dairy Queen.
8. Dilly Bars aren’t always made in-store anymore
If your Dilly Bar comes in a sealed plastic wrapper, it’s mass-produced off-site. Employees dip the handmade ones, which usually come in a paper sleeve, featuring a signature swirl in the center. It’s a small detail, but longtime fans notice the difference.
9. One franchisee once served chemically tainted soft serve
In 2024, a manager at a Kentucky location allegedly forced employees to eat soft serve contaminated with cleaning chemicals. Several individuals had to be taken to the ER, and the incident led to a formal investigation, raising more questions about oversight across DQ’s numerous franchises. Subsequently, the franchise owner, Steve Caudill, terminated the manager and cooperated with investigators.
10. The largest Blizzard ever made weighed over 8,000 pounds
In 2005, DQ created a record-setting 22-foot-tall Blizzard in Springfield, Massachusetts, which weighed more than four tons (8,260.85 lbs), setting a Guinness World Record for the largest blended soft-serve dessert. The flavor was Oreo, Dairy Queen’s most popular mix-in at the time, and the event raised funds for the Children’s Miracle Network.