Opening Summary
A DQ peanut buster is an ice cream treat from the fast food chain Dairy Queen. It consists of vanilla soft serve ice cream, fudge, peanuts, and peanut butter. The number of calories in a DQ peanut buster can vary depending on the exact size ordered. Generally, a small peanut buster has around 500-600 calories, a medium has 700-800 calories, and a large has 900-1000 calories. The exact calorie count depends on factors like the amount of soft serve, fudge, peanuts, and peanut butter included. Below is more detail on estimating the calories for different peanut buster sizes.
Calories for Small Peanut Buster
A small peanut buster at Dairy Queen contains approximately 500-600 calories. According to the Dairy Queen website nutrition information, a small peanut buster blizzard made with vanilla soft serve contains 540 calories. Here is a breakdown of the calorie estimates from each ingredient:
- Vanilla soft serve – Around 400 calories for the small size cup which is about 1 cup of soft serve
- Peanut butter – Adds about 50 calories
- Peanuts – Adds around 50 calories
- Fudge – Adds about 40-50 calories
So in total, the small peanut buster blizzard made with vanilla soft serve contains about 540 calories. The calorie count may be a bit higher or lower depending on the exact amount of each ingredient included. But overall, 500-600 calories is a reasonable estimate for a small peanut buster.
Calories for Medium Peanut Buster
A medium sized peanut buster at Dairy Queen contains approximately 700-800 calories. The medium size is larger than the small, containing about 1.5 cups of soft serve. Here is the calorie breakdown:
- Vanilla soft serve – Around 600 calories for 1.5 cups
- Peanut butter – Adds about 75 calories
- Peanuts – Adds around 75 calories
- Fudge – Adds about 50-60 calories
In total, this comes out to around 700-800 calories for a medium sized peanut buster made with vanilla soft serve. The exact amount can vary a bit depending on the restaurant and how generous they are with each ingredient. But the 700-800 calorie estimate should be a good guideline for a medium size.
Calories for Large Peanut Buster
A large peanut buster from Dairy Queen contains approximately 900-1000 calories. The large size contains about 2 cups of soft serve ice cream. Here’s a calorie estimate breakdown:
- Vanilla soft serve – Around 800 calories for 2 cups
- Peanut butter – Adds about 100 calories
- Peanuts – Adds around 100 calories
- Fudge – Adds about 60-75 calories
In total, this comes out to around 900-1000 calories for a large peanut buster made with vanilla soft serve. Again, the exact amount may vary a bit from location to location. But the 900-1000 calorie range should be a good general guideline for the large size.
Calories with Chocolate Soft Serve
The calorie counts provided above are based on peanut busters made with vanilla soft serve. If using chocolate soft serve instead, the calorie counts will be slightly higher. Here are the estimated calorie counts with chocolate soft serve:
- Small peanut buster with chocolate soft serve: 550-650 calories
- Medium peanut buster with chocolate soft serve: 750-850 calories
- Large peanut buster with chocolate soft serve: 950-1050 calories
The chocolate soft serve contains around 50-60 more calories per cup compared to vanilla soft serve. So that accounts for the slightly higher calorie estimates.
Lowest Calorie Options
If you are looking to get a peanut buster with the lowest calorie count, here are some tips:
- Order the small size
- Get it made with vanilla soft serve instead of chocolate
- Ask for less fudge and peanut butter, as these add extra calories
- Avoid adding toppings like sprinkles, whipped cream, or hot fudge which can add 100+ more calories
Ordering a small peanut buster with vanilla soft serve and minimal fudge and peanut butter is the best way to get this treat with the lowest calorie count.
Highest Calorie Options
On the flip side, here are some ways to create an ultra high-calorie peanut buster if you want to indulge:
- Order the large size
- Get it made with chocolate soft serve which is higher in calories
- Ask for extra fudge and peanut butter
- Add toppings like sprinkles, hot fudge, whipped cream, etc.
- Turn it into a parfait by layering it with brownies, cookie crumbles, banana slices, etc.
A large peanut buster parfait made with chocolate soft serve, maximum fudge/peanut butter, and multiple other toppings and mix-ins can end up containing well over 1500+ calories!
Nutrition Information Summary
To summarize the nutrition information:
| Peanut Buster Size | Calories with Vanilla Soft Serve | Calories with Chocolate Soft Serve |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 500-600 | 550-650 |
| Medium | 700-800 | 750-850 |
| Large | 900-1000 | 950-1050 |
As shown, the calorie count ranges from 500-1000+ depending on size and soft serve flavor. Keep this information in mind the next time you visit Dairy Queen to help make an informed selection!
Other Nutrition Facts
In addition to calories, here are some other nutrition facts on the peanut buster that are good to know about:
- Fat – A peanut buster is high in fat, particularly saturated fat. It contains 15-25g of fat depending on size. The majority comes from the soft serve.
- Protein – Around 5-15g of protein depending on portion. The peanut butter and peanuts contribute some protein.
- Carbs – Carb content is around 60-100g per serving. The carb sources are the sugar in the soft serve, peanut butter, fudge, and toppings.
- Sodium – Can range from around 160-320mg per serving.
- Nutrients – Provides some calcium from the soft serve. Also contains vitamins and minerals from the peanuts.
So in summary, peanut busters are high in calories, fat, carbs, and sodium. They have moderate protein and offer a bit of calcium and micronutrients. These nutritional facts are helpful to know if you are monitoring your diet!
Ingredients in a Peanut Buster
Here is an overview of the main ingredients found in a peanut buster blizzard from Dairy Queen:
- Soft Serve – The base is DQ’s signature soft serve ice cream. Available in vanilla or chocolate.
- Peanut Butter – Smooth peanut butter is blended into the soft serve.
- Peanuts – Roasted peanuts are mixed throughout.
- Fudge – Hot fudge sauce is swirled into the blizzard.
- Toppings – Optional toppings like sprinkles, whipped cream, or cherries can be added.
The combination of creamy soft serve, nutty peanut butter, crunchy peanuts, and fudgy sauce is what gives the peanut buster its classic taste and texture. The ingredients work together to create the perfect sweet and salty treat. Being aware of what goes into a peanut buster can help explain its nutritional profile.
Health and Diet Factors
Here are some health and diet factors to consider when deciding whether to indulge in a peanut buster:
- High in calories – A peanut buster can deliver nearly your entire day’s worth of calories in one serving. This makes it hard to fit into a reduced calorie diet.
- High in fat – Up to 25g of fat per serving is quite high, so it’s not ideal for low fat diets.
- Carb and sugar content – The 60-100g of carbs, much of which is sugar, is something diabetics and low carb dieters should watch out for.
- Allergens – Contains dairy, peanuts, and gluten, which makes it off-limits for those with food allergies or intolerances.
- Nutrients – Peanuts provide some protein, vitamin E, magnesium, and phytonutrients.
- Gluten-free – Can be ordered gluten-free by substituting a gluten-free brownie.
- Vegetarian – Contains dairy but no meat products.
Overall, while tasty, the peanut buster is high in calories, fat, and carbs, so it’s more of an occasional indulgence food. Those on special diets like gluten-free, low carb, and low fat may want to avoid it or limit portions.
Cost of a Peanut Buster at Dairy Queen
The price of a peanut buster blizzard can vary by location, but on average, here is what you can expect to pay:
- Small size: $2.50 – $4.00
- Medium size: $3.50 – $5.00
- Large size: $4.50 – $6.00
There are always deals and discounts available as well:
- Happy Hour – Half price blizzards certain hours
- Mobile App deals – Discounts when ordering through the DQ app
- Coupons – Print or email coupons for $1-2 off blizzards
- Weekly specials – Featured $2-$3 blizzard flavors each week
- Blizzard cake – Get a blizzard pie starting around $15
So while the base prices for a peanut buster are in the $2 to $6 range, there are usually ways to get it for less by taking advantage of specials and discounts!
Comparisons to Other DQ Blizzard Flavors
How does the peanut buster blizzard compare calorie and nutrition-wise to some other popular Dairy Queen blizzard flavors? Here’s a quick look:
| Blizzard Flavor | Calories (small size) |
|---|---|
| Peanut Buster | 540 |
| Oreo | 660 |
| Butterfinger | 670 |
| M&M | 500 |
| Heath Bar | 610 |
| Reese’s | 620 |
As you can see, the peanut buster is on the lower calorie end for a blizzard, though still quite high in calories compared to other desserts. Oreo and Butterfinger are the most caloric flavors. M&M is the lowest calorie option.
Peanut Buster vs. Milkshake Comparison
How does a peanut buster blizzard compare to a traditional milkshake? Here’s a quick nutrition comparison:
| Dessert | Calories | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peanut Buster Blizzard (small) | 540 | 17 | 76 | 12 |
| Chocolate Milkshake (small) | 530 | 15 | 68 | 10 |
The peanut buster and small chocolate milkshake are very close in calories and macronutrients. The peanut buster has slightly more carbs and protein due to the peanut butter and peanuts. But overall, they are quite similar nutritionally. The main difference is the thick, blended texture of the blizzard. So it comes down to whether you prefer athick milkshake-like dessert or a traditional milkshake!
Tips for Making it Lower Calorie
If you want to enjoy a peanut buster but reduce the calorie count, here are some tips:
- Order a small rather than medium or large
- Choose vanilla soft serve instead of chocolate
- Ask for easy or light on the fudge and peanut butter
- Skip extras like whipped cream and toppings
- Use a spoon to eat it slowly instead of drinking it quickly
- Split it with a friend
- Substitute frozen yogurt instead of ice cream
Following one or more of these tips can help you shave off a few hundred calories from your peanut buster treat!
Conclusion
A DQ peanut buster blizzard is a delicious ice cream treat, but one that comes with a hefty calorie price tag. A small peanut buster has about 500-600 calories, while a large can pack 900-1000 calories. This makes it hard to fit into some diets like low calorie or low fat eating plans. However, there are always ways to tweak your peanut buster order to make it less calorie-dense, such as choosing a small size, opting for vanilla over chocolate, limiting fudge and toppings, or splitting it with a friend. No matter how you customize it, enjoying a peanut buster blizzard as an occasional indulgence can be part of an overall balanced diet. Just be mindful of your portion size and accompanying nutrition facts.
