A Oreo Blizzard from Dairy Queen is a popular frozen dessert that combines soft serve ice cream with Oreo cookie pieces. But with its creamy ice cream and sweet cookie chunks, the Blizzard can also pack a caloric punch. So just how many calories are in a Oreo Blizzard? Let’s take a closer look.
Calories In A Small Oreo Blizzard
A small Oreo Blizzard contains between 530 – 860 calories, depending on the precise ingredients and toppings.
According to Dairy Queen, a small (12 oz) Oreo Blizzard made with vanilla soft serve contains:
- 530 calories
- 18 grams of fat
- 14 grams of saturated fat
- 95 milligrams of cholesterol
- 130 milligrams of sodium
- 81 grams of carbohydrates
- 65 grams of sugar
- 4 grams of protein
So in its most basic 12 oz size with vanilla soft serve, an Oreo Blizzard clocks in at 530 calories. But the calorie count can increase from there depending on customizations.
Added Toppings
Adding extra toppings like sprinkles, hot fudge, or caramel will tack on additional calories to the base 530 calories. Here are some common Oreo Blizzard calorie counts with toppings:
- With hot fudge: 660 calories
- With caramel: 640 calories
- With sprinkles: 560 calories
So toppings can add anywhere from 30 – 130 calories onto the base Blizzard.
Different Soft Serve Flavors
Using a chocolate or specialty soft serve like Snickers also boosts the calorie content. Here are the calorie counts for a small Oreo Blizzard made with different soft serve flavors:
- Vanilla: 530 calories
- Chocolate: 620 calories
- Snickers: 860 calories
The chocolate and Snickers varieties pack in an extra 90 – 330 calories over vanilla soft serve. So opting for vanilla is the lightest choice when customizing a Blizzard.
Calories In A Medium Oreo Blizzard
A medium (16 oz) Oreo Blizzard with vanilla soft serve contains:
- 700 calories
- 24 grams of fat
- 18 grams of saturated fat
- 125 milligrams of cholesterol
- 160 milligrams of sodium
- 108 grams of carbohydrates
- 87 grams of sugar
- 6 grams of protein
So a medium is around 170 calories more than a small. And similar to the small size, toppings and soft serve flavors can further increase the calories:
- With hot fudge: 820 calories
- With caramel: 800 calories
- With sprinkles: 740 calories
- Chocolate soft serve: 790 calories
- Snickers soft serve: 1050 calories
Calories In A Large Oreo Blizzard
Finally, a large (20 oz) Oreo Blizzard made with vanilla soft serve has:
- 860 calories
- 29 grams of fat
- 22 grams of saturated fat
- 155 milligrams of cholesterol
- 210 milligrams of sodium
- 132 grams of carbohydrates
- 106 grams of sugar
- 8 grams of protein
So a large Blizzard packs in around 160 more calories than a medium, and 330 more calories than a small. Here are the calories with toppings and alternate soft serve flavors:
- With hot fudge: 980 calories
- With caramel: 960 calories
- With sprinkles: 900 calories
- Chocolate soft serve: 1010 calories
- Snickers soft serve: 1210 calories
Lowest Calorie Options
To get the lowest calorie Oreo Blizzard possible, go for:
- A small size (12 oz)
- Vanilla soft serve
- No extra toppings
This clocks in at just 530 calories. Here are some other tips for lightening up your Blizzard:
- Skip the cone. Opt for a cup instead to eliminate around 170 calories
- Ask for half the normal amount of Oreo pieces to cut around 80 calories
- Request less soft serve
- Share your Blizzard with a friend
Highest Calorie Options
On the flip side, here are some ways to create the highest calorie Oreo Blizzard possible:
- Get a large size (20 oz)
- Use Snickers soft serve
- Add toppings like hot fudge and sprinkles
- Keep all the Oreo pieces
- Get it in a cone
- Don’t share!
This can bring a Blizzard up to around 1210 calories – more than double the calories of a base small size.
Nutritional Pros and Cons
So what are the nutritional pros and cons of an Oreo Blizzard?
Pros
- Provides calcium from the soft serve
- Contains some protein
- Oreos offer a bit of iron
Cons
- High in saturated fat and sugar
- Large sizes and toppings ramp up calories and carbs
- Oreos lack nutritional value beyond iron
- Soft serve is mostly empty calories and fat
Overall, while tasty, Blizzards pack a lot of calories for not many nutrients. The high sugar means they digest quickly, causing hunger soon after eating. So it’s best to enjoy Blizzards occasionally as a treat, not an everyday snack.
Comparing Oreo Blizzard Calories to Other Desserts
How do the calories in an Oreo Blizzard stack up against other popular desserts?
| Dessert | Serving Size | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Oreo Blizzard (small) | 12 oz | 530 |
| Ice cream sundae | 1 cup | 330 |
| Slice of apple pie | 1/6 pie | 410 |
| Chocolate cupcake | 1 cupcake | 260 |
| Sliced cheesecake | 1 slice | 370 |
| Brownie | 1 brownie (2″x2″) | 180 |
A small Oreo Blizzard generally has more calories than other common dessert items. Only a full slice of cheesecake or pie would exceed it. So while delicious, a Blizzard is one of the more calorie-dense dessert choices out there.
Calories In Blizzard Versus Daily Needs
To provide more context, here is how the calories in a Blizzard stack up against recommended daily calorie intakes:
- Small Blizzard (530 calories):Equals 27% of a 2,000 calorie diet
- Medium Blizzard (700 calories): Equals 35% of a 2,000 calorie diet
- Large Blizzard (860 calories): Equals 43% of a 2,000 calorie diet
As you can see, a large Blizzard makes up nearly half of someone’s recommended daily calories. Even a small accounts for over a quarter. So Blizzards can pack a hefty caloric impact, especially when consumed frequently.
Daily Calorie Needs by Age and Gender
Daily calorie needs differ based on age, gender, and activity level. Here are some average recommended intakes:
| Age/Gender | Sedentary | Moderately Active | Active |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child (4-8 years) | 1,200 – 1,400 | 1,400 – 1,600 | 1,400 – 1,800 |
| Pre-teen (9-13 years) | 1,600 – 2,000 | 1,800 – 2,200 | 2,000 – 2,600 |
| Teen Male (14-18 years) | 1,800 – 2,600 | 2,400 – 2,800 | 2,800 – 3,200 |
| Teen Female (14-18 years) | 1,600 – 2,400 | 2,000 – 2,400 | 2,400 – 2,800 |
| Adult Male (19-30 years) | 2,400 – 2,600 | 2,600 – 2,800 | 3,000 – 3,200 |
| Adult Female (19-30 years) | 1,800 – 2,000 | 2,000 – 2,200 | 2,400 |
As shown, children and teens generally need fewer daily calories. So a Blizzard makes up a greater percentage of their recommended daily intake compared to adults.
Ways To Burn Off Blizzard Calories
If you want to indulge in an Oreo Blizzard while maintaining your daily calorie goals, here are some estimates for how much exercise it would take to burn off those tasty calories:
- Small Blizzard (530 calories):
- 94 minutes of walking
- 60 minutes of jogging
- 45 minutes of swimming laps
- 55 minutes of biking
- Medium Blizzard (700 calories):
- 125 minutes of walking
- 80 minutes of jogging
- 60 minutes of swimming laps
- 70 minutes of biking
- Large Blizzard (860 calories):
- 154 minutes of walking
- 98 minutes of jogging
- 75 minutes of swimming laps
- 90 minutes of biking
As you can see, enjoying a frosty Blizzard doesn’t mean you have to derail your fitness goals. But try balancing it out with extra activity for the day to prevent excess calorie intake.
Healthier Ways To Satisfy A Sweet Tooth
If you’re looking for something sweet, there are healthier alternatives to a Blizzard that curb a sweet craving while providing more nutritional benefit. Some options include:
- Greek yogurt parfait with fresh fruit
- Fruit smoothie made with Greek yogurt
- Apples with peanut butter
- Frozen banana “ice cream” blended from bananas and milk
- Dark chocolate square
- Handful of nuts with dried fruit
Mix and match whole foods like fruit, yogurt, nuts, and a square of dark chocolate for a more balanced sweet snack or dessert.
Key Takeaways
So in summary, key facts about Oreo Blizzard calories include:
- A small Blizzard has 530 calories with vanilla soft serve. Extra toppings and soft serve flavors can bring this up to 860 calories
- A medium Blizzard has 700 calories. With toppings and chocolate or Snickers soft serve it can contain up to 1050 calories
- A large Blizzard contains 860 base calories, or up to 1210 calories loaded up
- Oreo Blizzards pack more calories than many other popular desserts
- Blizzards make up a large percentage of recommended daily calorie needs, especially for kids
- To burn off a Blizzard, plan for 30-90 minutes of exercise depending on the size
- Opt for healthier alternatives like yogurt and fruit to satisfy sweet cravings sometimes
Oreo Blizzards are a delicious ice cream treat. Just be mindful of portion size and toppings to keep calories in check. Balancing out intake with extra activity can let you enjoy these creamy, cookie-filled delights guilt-free!
