9 Criminally Underrated Fast-Food Desserts That Are a Total Steal

Fast-food drive-thrus can be a saving grace when a craving hits. This is especially true for people on a time crunch or if you’re trying to stretch your fast food budget.

We’ve scoped out some of the most criminally underrated fast-food dessert options for you. These nine desserts just so happen to be budget-friendly as well.

Pie is not a dessert you can find year-round in most places. Imagine a pie with a chocolate crust and filling topped with fudge drizzle and Hershey’s chocolate chips.

Now, imagine you don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to enjoy it. Drive up to Burger King and grab a slice of this decadent, surprisingly satisfying dessert for just $2.69.

If you grew up in the South or have traveled there and tasted some of its best, then you may have happened upon a sweet potato pie that set a high expectation.

But Bojangles has a sweet potato pie that is impressive in its flavor. The pastry is usually soft with crisp edges, topped with cinnamon butter, and filled with pureed sweet potato.

This dessert is incredible right out of the bag. Grab one for just $1.50 or packs of two, six, and twelve.

Popeye’s has always done biscuits right. They’re fluffy and moist and have an incredible crunch to the outer layer.

They stay fresh for a while, and we rarely leave the drive-through without ordering several to enjoy over the next couple of days.

Their strawberry biscuits use the original biscuit recipe, but they add bits of real strawberries and vanilla icing on top.

You can also get your fix on a budget, as they are available for $1.79 each, two for $2.99, and $5.39 for a pack of four.

White Castle is best known for its signature sliders, but it has expanded from its cheeseburger origins to include chicken, breakfast sandwiches, and more. Who knew that they would also have an incredible brownie?

If you want a soft, chewy brownie packed with chocolate chips and flourished with fudge, this drive-thru treat will satisfy your cravings.

White Castle offers slices of its fudge-dipped brownie, a gooey butter cake, and a strawberry swirl cheesecake for just $1.55.

Craving a sweet treat, even though Arby’s is known for its meats? Well, they have a great solution for that as well. Order one of their signature $2 apple turnovers!

Even if you are an apple pie purist, you might be surprised at the flakiness of the pastry on this dessert. The ratio of apple pie filling to pastry is pretty balanced, which isn’t a common find in fast-food desserts. 

The icing on top adds a sweet kick that makes the flavor that much more fun.

Did you know you can add a cookie to your order at Wendy’s for only $1? Most locations give you the choice between three flavors, chocolate chunk, oatmeal raisin, and sugar.

They’re considerably bigger than McDonald’s famous cookies and maintain their softness, even after being refrigerated and moving around for a day or two.

Pro tip: Don’t wait. Eat these cookies fresh. They're incredible reheated and even just room temperature, but they’re next-level when fresh.

Craving chocolate? Chick-fil-A has a heavenly, fudgy rectangle with semi-sweet chocolate morsels inside. At participating locations, you can grab an individual slice for $2.25 or a whole tray for $3.25.

Not only does Chick-fil-A solve individual cravings with this dessert, but grab it in bulk on the way to your next shindig to get everyone else’s eyes on this best-kept secret!

If you can believe it, Chick-fil-A does another dessert really well, just at a slightly higher price point. The catch is you can only get this dessert seasonally.

In the warmer months, Chick-fil-A’s handspun peach milkshake is vibrant and refreshing. It is made with its Icedream dessert and peaches. Whipped cream and a cherry top this exceptional dessert. For a limited time, it is available for just $5.15.

It can be difficult to trust a fast food chain that tries to do everything. But Carl’s Jr. has been doing everything quite well for a long time.

A Western Bacon Cheeseburger, teriyaki burgers, zucchini burgers, chicken tender wraps, fresh lemonades. You name it, they’ve got it.

Carl’s Jr.’s strawberry swirl cheesecake is one of the best things on their entire menu. A buttery graham cracker crust holds a thick, delightful cheesecake filling on top.

While some desserts can be eaten on the road, we suggest sitting down to savor this slice, which costs about $4.

Most fast-food drive-throughs carry sweet treats at a $5 or under price point, so there isn’t a lack of desserts on the market. But there aren’t many that can top the delicious steals above.

So the next time you’re sweet tooth comes calling, save money shopping for a box of sugary indulgence you’ll regret and swing by your favorite fast-food joint for a quick fix instead.