Dilly bars are a popular frozen dessert treat consisting of a dill pickle flavored ice cream bar dipped in chocolate. They were first created in 1984 by Dairy Queen as a fun, limited time offering but became so popular they were added to the permanent menu.
Dilly bars appeal to pickle lovers and those looking for an indulgent, sweet and salty treat. However, with around 200 calories and 20 grams of sugar per bar, they aren’t the healthiest option. This leads many people to wonder – do they make a sugar-free version of Dilly bars?
The Original Dilly Bar
Let’s first take a look at the nutrition facts and ingredients of a classic Dilly bar:
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size: | 1 bar (2.5 oz) |
| Calories: | 200 |
| Total Fat: | 11g |
| Saturated Fat: | 7g |
| Trans Fat: | 0g |
| Cholesterol: | 25mg |
| Sodium: | 170mg |
| Total Carbs: | 24g |
| Sugar: | 20g |
| Protein: | 3g |
As you can see, an original Dilly bar contains 200 calories, 11g of fat, 170mg sodium, 24g carbs and 20g of sugar.
Ingredients
The ingredients in a classic Dilly bar are:
– Milk ingredients (milk, cream, whey powder)
– Sugar
– Chocolate coating (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, milk, soy lecithin, vanillin)
– Water
– Corn syrup
– Whey powder
– Vegetable oil
– Dill pickle juice concentrate
– Guar gum
– Locust bean gum
– Cellulose gum
– Carrageenan
So the original Dilly bar contains sugar in both the ice cream base and the chocolatey coating. The sugar contributes to the sweet, indulgent taste but also packs on calories and carbohydrates.
Do They Make Sugar-Free Dilly Bars?
Now getting to the main question – do Dairy Queen or any other brands make a no sugar added, sugar-free version of the Dilly bar?
Unfortunately, the original Dairy Queen Dilly bar does not come in a sugar-free or low sugar variety. The recipe relies on sugar to provide the characteristic sweet and salty flavor.
However, some other frozen dessert brands have created their own take on a sugar-free dill pickle ice cream bar:
Atkins Endulge Treats
The Atkins diet brand has a line of low carb frozen treats called Endulge. Their treat called Dill Pickle Pop has just 1g net carbs and 0g sugar per pop. It’s sweetened with sucralose and contains milk, cream, whey protein and natural flavors.
No Sugar Added Dilly Bar by Smart Sweets
Smart Sweets makes low sugar gummy bears, sour strips and other candy. They have a No Sugar Added Dilly Bar with erythritol as the sweetener. Each bar has just 1g sugar and ~5g net carbs.
Nick’s Dill Pickle Bars
This brand offers keto-friendly, low carb ice cream bars. Their Dill Pickle Pop bars have no sugar added and are sweetened with stevia and monk fruit. Each bar contains just 1g net carbs.
Enlightened Dill Pickle Bars
Enlightened’s snack-size Dilly Bars are sweetened with erythritol and monk fruit extract. At just 40 calories and 1g sugar per bar, they are a lower calorie option.
So in summary – Dairy Queen’s original Dilly bars do not come in a sugar-free version but there are sugar-free and low sugar alternatives from brands that offer keto and diabetic friendly frozen treats. The sugar-free versions use sweeteners like erythritol, stevia, monk fruit and sucralose rather than sugar to reduce calories, carbs and glycemic impact while still providing sweetness.
Nutrition Comparison
Here is a nutrition comparison of the original Dairy Queen Dilly Bar versus some sugar-free versions:
| Dilly Bar Brand | Calories | Total Fat | Net Carbs | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy Queen (original) | 200 | 11g | 24g | 20g |
| Atkins Endulge | 80 | 6g | 1g | 0g |
| Smart Sweets | 110 | 5g | ~5g | 1g |
| Nick’s | 140 | 13g | 1g | 0g |
| Enlightened | 40 | 1.5g | 2g | 1g |
As shown, the sugar-free Dilly bars provide a significant reduction in sugar, carbs and calories compared to the original high sugar version. By swapping sugar for artificial sweeteners, you can enjoy the dill pickle taste with far less impact on blood sugar and waistline!
Ingredients in Sugar-Free Dilly Bars
Now let’s compare the ingredients list of the original Dairy Queen Dilly Bar to some sugar-free options:
Dairy Queen ingredients: Milk, sugar, chocolate coating (sugar, cocoa, milk, soy lecithin, vanillin), corn syrup, whey, vegetable oil, dill pickle juice, guar gum, locust bean gum, cellulose gum, carrageenan
Atkins Endulge ingredients: Water, polydextrose, milk protein concentrate, soybean oil, palm kernel oil, milk, cellulose gel, mono & diglycerides, natural flavors, cellulose gum, sucralose, potassium sorbate, lactic acid, colors. CONTAINS: MILK.
Smart Sweets No Sugar Added ingredients: Water, erythritol, milk protein concentrate, vegetable oils (palm kernel, palm), natural flavours, milk fat, modified milk ingredients, mono and diglycerides, dill juice powder (dill juice, maltodextrin, cultured dextrose), carob bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan, sucralose, gelatin, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, sorbitol, mannitol. Contains: Milk.
Nick’s Keto ingredients: Water, erythritol, butter fat, whey protein concentrate, palm oil, natural flavors, sea salt, basil leaf extract, stevia leaf extract, monk fruit extract. Contains: milk.
Enlightened Ingredients: Skim milk, erythritol, buttermilk, cream, water, polydextrose, milk protein concentrate, egg yolks, natural flavor, locust bean gum, monk fruit extract, guar gum, carrageenan, dill juice concentrate.
The main differences are the replacement of sugar with non-nutritive sweeteners like erythritol, stevia, monk fruit and sucralose. They also contain soluble fibers like polydextrose to provide texture and lower net carbs. Besides that, they contain similar dairy ingredients for rich creaminess.
Taste and Texture
How does the taste and texture of sugar-free Dilly bars compare to the original high sugar version? Here is a rundown:
Sweetness
When you remove 20 grams of sugar, the sugar-free Dilly bars can’t be as sweet. Many people find they have 40-50% less sweetness. The sweetness comes more from the chocolate coating rather than the ice cream. They aren’t overly sweet but satisfy if you have a minor sugar craving.
Pickle Flavor
The dill pickle taste is milder in the sugar-free versions. Some brands use dill pickle juice or powder to provide pickle notes, but the original has stronger briny, sour flavor. The no sugar options focus more on creaminess.
Creaminess
Brands like Nick’s, Enlightened and Smart Sweets use a good amount of milk fat and cream for a rich, indulgent melt-in-your-mouth texture. Atkins Endulge has more of an icy texture with less fat. If you prefer a creamy treat, stick with the higher fat options.
Coating
The chocolate or flavored coatings help improve the sweetness of no sugar added bars. Brands like Smart Sweets have a thick, crunchy coating that makes up for less sweetness in the ice cream. Atkins and Nick’s have a thinner coating.
Overall Taste
While you’ll miss some of the sweetness, if you love the pickle-chocolate combo the sugar-free Dilly bars still satisfy. The lack of sugar helps the natural flavors shine. They won’t taste exactly the same but are a close low-carb alternative.
Cost Comparison
Here is how the price of sugar-free Dilly bars compares:
Dairy Queen Dilly Bars – $2.39 for a single bar or $3.99 for a box of 4.
Atkins Endulge – $4.99 for a box of 4 bars
Smart Sweets Dilly Bars – $5.29 for a box of 5 bars
Nick’s Keto Bars – $4.99 for a box of 4 bars
Enlightened Bars – $4.99 for a box of 8 snack-size bars
The sugar-free ice cream bars cost a little more than the regular Dairy Queen Dilly bars. You’ll spend around $1-1.50 more per serving for the no sugar added versions. This extra cost is worth it if you’re monitoring carbs and sugar!
You can sometimes find coupons for Enlightened, Atkins and other brands which helps lower the price. Overall the difference isn’t too significant considering the nutrition benefits.
Where to Buy Sugar-Free Dilly Bars
Here are some places you can find sugar-free, keto-friendly Dilly bar options:
Grocery Stores
Check the freezer section at grocers like Safeway, Kroger, Publix, HEB, etc. Many carry Enlightened, Nick’s, Smart Sweets or Atkins frozen treats.
Online Stores
You can shop online for sugar-free Dilly bars at Walmart.com, Amazon.com, Netrition.com and other ecommerce sites. Online offers wider selection but watch for melting in transit.
Big Box Stores
Warehouse retailers like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s sometimes have deals on Enlightened ice cream bars if you buy in bulk.
Health Food Stores
Stores specializing in healthy eating like Sprouts or Whole Foods Market may stock sweetener-free, low carb novelty ice cream bars.
Specialty Markets
If you have local health-focused grocers like Earth Fare or Central Market, check there for sugar-free treats.
Final Verdict
In summary – if you love the creamy, sweet-salty flavor of Dilly bars but want to avoid excess sugar, there are some great alternatives. Brands like Enlightened, Smart Sweets, Atkins and Nick’s make tasty no sugar added Dilly bars.
They use sugar replacements like stevia and erythritol to provide sweetness while keeping net carbs and calories low. The texture is rich and creamy but not overly sweet. And they cost just slightly more than the regular Dairy Queen Dilly bars.
While they don’t replicate the exact Dilly bar taste, the sugar-free options satisfy the craving for a chocolate-covered pickle ice cream treat without spiking your blood sugar. So next time a pickle and chocolate craving strikes, reach for one of these smart swaps!
