A waffle cone without ice cream is a light and crispy wafer that provides a crunchy edible bowl for holding creamy frozen desserts. Waffle cones are a popular choice for serving ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, and other chilled treats. But how many calories are in a plain waffle cone when it doesn’t contain any ice cream?
The Average Calorie Count for Waffle Cones
Most standard-size waffle cones contain around 60-70 calories without any ice cream inside. However, the exact calorie count can vary depending on factors like:
- Cone size – Jumbo cones have more calories than cake cones or kiddie cones.
- Thickness – Thicker, denser cones contain more calories than thinner, lighter cones.
- Brand – Different brands use slightly different recipes and ingredients.
As a general guideline:
- A cake cone or kiddie cone has about 30-50 calories.
- A standard cone has around 60-70 calories.
- A large jumbo cone may have 80-100 calories.
So a single regular waffle cone without ice cream provides 60-70 calories, on average. This is a relatively low calorie treat on its own.
Waffle Cone Ingredients and Nutrition Facts
Waffle cones are made from just a few simple ingredients:
- Flour – Usually wheat flour, providing carbohydrates, protein, iron, and B vitamins.
- Sugar – Granulated white sugar adds sweetness and carbohydrate calories.
- Oil/butter – A small amount of vegetable oil or butter for richness.
- Eggs – Eggs help bind the batter and provide protein.
- Leavening – Leavening agents like baking powder cause the cones to rise.
- Vanilla – Vanilla is added for flavor.
- Salt – A pinch of salt enhances overall flavor.
Based on these typical ingredients, here is the general nutrition information for a standard 60-calorie waffle cone without ice cream:
| Nutrition Facts | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 60 |
| Fat | 2g |
| Saturated Fat | 1g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 15mg |
| Sodium | 105mg |
| Carbohydrates | 12g |
| – Fiber | 0g |
| – Sugars | 7g |
| Protein | 1g |
As you can see, waffle cones are low in fat and protein and contain no fiber. Most of the calories come from carbohydrates, specifically sugar. The main nutrients are trace minerals like iron from the enriched wheat flour.
Calories in Waffle Cone vs Cake Cone vs Sugar Cone
While traditional waffle cones are the most common type of ice cream cone, some other cone varieties include:
- Cake cones – Cake cones have a finer, more cake-like crisp texture. They tend to be lower in calories with around 30-50 calories per cone.
- Sugar cones – Sugar cones are made from a crisp sugar wafer and are thinner and crunchier than classic waffle cones. Each cone has around 50-60 calories.
- Waffle bowls – Waffle bowls are like an extra-large waffle cone shaped into a bowl for holding more ice cream. Bowls can have 150-200 calories each.
So in comparison:
| Cone Type | Calories (average) |
|---|---|
| Cake Cone | 40 calories |
| Sugar Cone | 55 calories |
| Waffle Cone | 65 calories |
| Waffle Bowl | 175 calories |
As you can see, waffle cones and sugar cones have very comparable calorie counts. Cake cones tend to be slightly lower in calories, while waffle bowls have significantly more calories due to their larger size.
Calorie Differences Between Waffle Cone Brands
While waffle cone calories range from 60-70 per cone on average, there can be slight differences depending on the brand. Here is a comparison of calorie counts by popular waffle cone brands for a standard-size cone without ice cream:
| Brand | Calories |
|---|---|
| Joy Classic Waffle Cones | 70 calories |
| Keebler Waffle Cones | 60 calories |
| Kroger Waffle Cones | 60 calories |
| Market Pantry Waffle Cones | 63 calories |
| Nestle Waffle Cones | 66 calories |
| Safeway Waffle Cones | 62 calories |
| Trader Joe’s Waffle Cones | 65 calories |
As you can see, most major brands of standard waffle cones contain 60-70 calories. Store brand cones from places like Kroger, Safeway, and Market Pantry have similar counts. The calorie differences between most brands are minor.
Factors That Increase Waffle Cone Calories
There are a few factors that can increase the calorie count for waffle cones beyond the average 60-70 calories:
- Large size – Jumbo cones that are much bigger than a standard cone will be higher in calories.
- Double cones – Some specialty double waffle cones that are stacked can have over 200 calories.
- Thick cones – Some gourmet waffle cones are made extra thick and dense, increasing calorie density.
- Additional toppings – Cones with chocolate drizzle, sprinkles or other toppings will be higher in calories.
- Sugar add-ins – Some cones may have mix-ins like cinnamon sugar for extra flavor and calories.
Sticking with a standard plain single waffle cone without any toppings will provide the lowest calorie option at around 60-70 calories.
Ways to Reduce Calories in Your Waffle Cone
If you are looking for ways to lighten up your waffle cone treat, here are some tips to reduce the calories:
- Choose a cake cone instead of a waffle cone.
- Opt for a kiddie or cake cone rather than a full-size cone.
- Order a plain cone without chocolate, sprinkles or other toppings.
- Select a lower-calorie ice cream like sorbet or frozen yogurt to fill your cone.
- Ask for your cone with one small scoop instead of two or three scoops.
- Share your cone with a friend or loved one.
- Savor each lick of your cone instead of eating it too quickly.
Using portion control and avoiding toppings are simple ways to shave off some extra cone calories.
Health Impact of Waffle Cones
Are waffle cones unhealthy? In moderation, waffle cones can be part of a balanced diet. Here is some perspective on the health implications of waffle cones:
- Waffle cones are low in fat and contain no trans fat when eaten plain.
- They provide some minerals like iron, as well as traces of B vitamins.
- However, they are fairly high in refined carbohydrates and added sugars.
- The carbs offer quick energy, but little lasting nutrition.
- Cones are low in fiber, protein and most vitamins and minerals.
- Portion control is important when enjoying waffle cones due to the high sugar content.
Overall, waffle cones should be viewed as an occasional treat food rather than a daily dietary staple. But when eaten in moderation alongside an overall healthy diet, they can be incorporated into your meal plan.
The Bottom Line
So how many calories in a plain waffle cone without ice cream? A single standard waffle cone contains around 60-70 calories on its own. This calorie count is based on the typical ingredients and nutrition information. Exact calories may vary slightly by cone size, thickness, and brand. But most plain waffle cones clock in right around 60-70 calories for a standard single cone. While not loaded with nutrients, waffle cones can be enjoyed occasionally as part of an overall balanced approach to eating when portion sizes are controlled.
