Dessert Copycats That Are Better Than Your Favorite Fast Food Chains

There's something about fast food dessert that's hard to resist. After a cheesy burger or piping hot fries, or even your favorite fried chicken strips, there's nothing that hits the spot quite like a soft-serve ice cream concoction filled with cookies. Or maybe you'd prefer a baked good that's been sitting under a warmer all day, but somehow still tastes fresh and homemade thanks to the power of fast food magic. Or what about your favorite fast-food donuts? What about your favorite big-box store brand birthday cake? Is your mouth watering yet?

If you've ever wished and dreamed of a day that you could have these delicious desserts anytime you want them, with no trip to the drive-thru required, you're in luck. The creative recipe writers at Mashed have put together a collection of some of the best dessert copycat recipes that are — dare we say it? — even better than what you'll find at your favorite fast food chains. Check out these 16 winners that you can whip up right now.

Is there any fast food dessert that's as iconic as the Wendy's Frosty? Part of the original Wendy's menu, the Frosty is practically a piece of Americana. Thick, chocolatey, and perfect for dipping hot french fries, this is no mere milkshake. And if you've tried to replicate the recipe at home by, say, mixing up some chocolate ice cream and milk, you were likely sorely disappointed. 

That's because making a true copycat Frosty requires neither ice cream nor regular milk. Instead, our easy-to-follow, three-ingredient copycat recipe makes use of whipped dessert topping, chocolate milk, and sweetened condensed milk to create an at-home Frosty so good, you'll think you're still in the drive-thru lane.

How many times have you rolled up to the drive-thru at McDonald's, late at night, jonesing for an Oreo McFlurry, just to be told "the ice cream machine is down"? Why does that always happen? It's a feeling of defeat and disappointment like no other.

Avoid the disappointment and the drive-thru with our McDonald's Oreo McFlurry copycat recipe. With only vanilla ice cream, whole milk, and some crushed Oreo cookies, you can make a McFlurry that'll replace any need to visit McDonald's in the future. Plus, you can get creative and make other varieties of McFlurries as well by simply replacing the Oreos with other candies, from M&Ms to peanut butter cups.

Sure, it's technically breakfast, but who would turn down a Krispy Kreme glazed donut at any time of day? We certainly wouldn't, especially when you see that "Hot Now" sign in the Krispy Kreme window, indicating that fresh donuts are up for grabs. But if you find yourself always missing the "Hot Now" sign, make your own donuts at home and enjoy them piping hot anytime you like. 

Okay, it's true that our copycat recipe requires a bit of rising, dough mixing, and some deep-frying, but your efforts will be well rewarded with a rich, delicious donut in the comfort of your very own home.

The Dairy Queen Blizzard is every bit as iconic as the Wendy's Frosty or the McDonald's McFlurry. And when you're craving a Blizzard, only a Blizzard will do. 

When Dairy Queen is closed or if you don't want to brave the weather to get your ice cream fix, you can now whip up a batch of Blizzards at home with only two ingredients. Those would be a simple mix of vanilla ice cream and crushed Oreo cookies. You don't even have to stick to Oreos if you prefer a different kind of candy-based Blizzard. Our copycat Oreo Blizzard recipe makes it easy to achieve in practically no time.

If you love Nothing Bundt Cakes' pastries and bundt cakes, but you don't like the price quite so much, try making your own at home with our easy-to-follow copycat recipe. 

The super-moist, chocolatey cake comes together with the help of a few key ingredients: a cake mix, instant pudding, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Yes, the recipe really calls for mayo in a cake, which is a genius hack that helps to add moisture and just a bit of tang to the finished product. Trust us. The only special tools needed here are a bundt pan and a piping bag for the frosting.

It may look like a pretty simple sheet cake — white cake, white icing, a bit of sprinkles — but for anyone who's tried the beloved sheet cake from Costco, they know that this is a sheet cake unlike any other. But what if you could make it at home without the slog to the nearest Costco store?

We've formulated a Costco sheet cake copycat recipe that'll get you as close as possible to the real thing, at least until you have a reason to buy a whole sheet cake again. Thena gain, who really needs a special occasion for cake?

Pie? Check. Ice cream? Check. Whipped cream? Check. 

If it's a seasonal Dairy Queen Blizzard you're in the mood for, but it's not the season for pumpkin pie, no worries. You can still get your fix with our Dairy Queen Pumpkin Pie Blizzard copycat recipe. The recipe is far easier than you might think and you'll only need ice cream, vanilla wafers, milk, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice to make this at-home Blizzard. You'll also probably want a little whipped cream and nutmeg for a garnish, if so desired.

You might order a slice of Starbucks banana bread and enjoy every single crumb, but, before you know it, your slice is gone. Understandably enough, you've devoured it in the space of only a few minutes. 

Now, you could order multiple slices of Starbucks banana bread ... or you could simply learn to make your own at home and enjoy chowing down on an entire loaf of the good stuff. Our copycat recipe incorporates a few things your normal, staple banana bread recipe might not have. Those ingredients, like maple syrup and almond milk, make all the difference.

The McDonald's Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurry was only available in Canada and Australia when it first debuted in 2018, according to Business Insider. If you don't fancy a trip out of the country anytime soon, you can try this amazing-looking McFlurry for yourself with just a little bit of work in the kitchen. Our copycat Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurry recipe combines Cadbury Creme Eggs, vanilla ice cream, and heavy whipping cream for a decadent treat that comes together in fewer than 10 minutes.

A McDonald's dessert classic with a huge cult following, the Shamrock Shake delights diners every spring with its vibrant green hue and minty flavor. 

If it's not springtime and you're craving a Shamrock Shake, or you simply don't want to head out of the house to your nearest McDonald's, check out our copycat recipe. All you'll need is a little vanilla, milk, maple syrup, mint extract, and — of course — some green food coloring so that you get that classic Shamrock Shake mint green hue. It all comes together in fewer than 5 minutes.

Cake pops were a big trend several years ago and, while they're not as big in the most fashionable foodie circles nowadays, they're still a favorite dessert at Starbucks. If you're looking for a home baking project, why not try our Starbucks copycat cake pops recipe? 

This is a great project for an afternoon of baking, as you'll only need pretty standard pantry baking ingredients, plus some lollipop sticks. Once you have the hang of these basic cake pops, you can get creative with new flavors and inventive themes for any occasion or holiday.

Muffins are a good decision at every hour of the day, not just at breakfast. For its part, Costco is known for turning out some pretty awesome muffins that are moist, chocolatey, and simply ginormous. 

You can make these oversized treats at home with some help from our Costco copycat chocolate muffins recipe. All it takes is some typical baking ingredients that, if you're a frequent home baker, you likely already have on hand. Don't have a jumbo muffin pan? You can easily make mini or standard-sized muffins using the same recipe.

One of Starbucks' top treats come every fall is its delightful pumpkin scone. It's only too bad that this delicious baked good isn't available year-round. Or, isn't it? 

In order for us to get our pumpkin fix no matter the month, we put together a copycat Starbucks pumpkin scone recipe, ideal for enjoying with your morning cup of coffee or after dinner. Never made scones? Don't be intimidated. They're super-easy and take less than 30 minutes, including the baking time.

Alongside Starbucks' beloved pumpkin scones is another favorite pumpkin treat: the coffee chain's pumpkin bread. Even if you've never made pumpkin bread, this is one copycat recipe that you're going to want to try and then make again, over and over. 

Easy to put together and a lovely addition to any fall or holiday dessert spread, pumpkin bread is rich and filled with spices. It's also oh-so-comforting. Plus, this recipe only takes a few basic baking ingredients, alongside some pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Pop it in the oven and come back in an hour to a delicious fall-flavored treat whenever you want.

Okay, okay, we know. There are a lot of Starbucks copycat recipes on this list, but who can blame us? Starbucks makes some amazing desserts and baked goods, like this lemon loaf. With a flavor that's a bit like a pound cake, but with a bright burst of lemon zest, this copycat recipe gives you a moist, fall-apart-in-your-mouth cake that you'll want to eat for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner (and maybe after dinner, too).

It doesn't matter if you're enjoying one at the mall or at the airport. Nothing hits the spot quite like a Cinnabon cinnamon roll. Magically, they're nothing like the cinnamon rolls that you make at home — but that doesn't have to be the case. 

We've tested and tried and tasted it all in order to come up with a Cinnabon copycat recipe that gives you a delicious batch of cinnamon rolls that are so good they'll make you cry — tears of joy, of course. While you're at it, go ahead and slather on as much cream cheese frosting as your heart desires.