REVIEW: Dairy Queen S'mores Blizzard (June 2013 Blizzard of the Month)

As part of Dairy Queen’s promotion campaign for summer, they recently announced S’mores would be their Blizzard of the Month for June. According to their executive vice president of marketing, “We are bracing for a frenzy at our restaurants this summer, particularly as our fans experience the new S’mores Blizzard Treat. The S’mores Blizzard Treat tested off the charts. Our Research & Development Department spent years perfecting this flavor, including getting the chocolate bars just right.” Along with their signature vanilla soft serve, they whip in crunchy Honey Maid graham crackers and rich chocolate chunks filled with gooey marshmallows. As usual, I opt for the medium so I can get a sizable portion to spoon through.

The S’mores Blizzard ranges from 420 calories for the mini all the way up to 1420 calories for the large and my medium still comes in at a hefty 1060 calories for the whole cup. My local Dairy Queen has been pretty good up to this point, but after I paid my $3.69 plus tax and pulled around, I was a little disappointed with what I saw compared to the previous two I’d purchased. Both my Choco Covered Pretzel with Peanut Butter and Choco Peanut Butter Brownie Blizzards had both been filled to the brim with big mix-ins, but I could hardly even see anything poking out of the top of the S’mores one. My worries were immediately alleviated after pulling my bright red spoon out of the center and seeing the chocolate and crackers that came with it. The peanut butter and vanilla base used in the others I’ve had were much lighter in color than the darker soft serve featured here (even though there aren’t any hints of having used anything other than their signature vanilla). Much like the small fudge flakes had done in others, the crumbs of the graham cracker give the ice cream an incredible texture. Although it’s nothing like the feel of a freezer-bought pint, the soft consistency and warmer serving temperature allows the flavors to immediately come to fruition instead waiting for an ice cream to break down first.

The flavors of the graham cracker have not only added a beneficial texture, but they've also given the base a strong finish of sweet honey. If you can’t get your fill of graham crackers from the ice cream itself, they’ve made sure to also include larger hunks to finish off the job. They provide a gritty, crunchy consistency and the familiar taste of the famous Honey Maid brand. The last component comes in the form of those chocolate bars their executive vice president of marketing had been bragging about earlier. These fudge chunks are stamped with the DQ logo and are included in a large amount. I usually cringe at the sight of big blocks of chocolate, but unlike store-bought ice cream, these aren’t frozen solid and break down easily as soon as you start chewing. The milk chocolate on the outside masks an interior that has been filled with a small sampling of marshmallow flavored filling. When combined with some of the graham cracker infused ice cream, there’s no denying the authentic S’mores taste. Dairy Queen’s Blizzard of the Month for June is an excellent addition to some of the other summer-inspired flavors we’ve been seeing as of late.

Where I Found It: Dairy Queen
Grade: A