One of my favorite things about Dairy Queen is their mysterious and delicious crunchy topping. I’m not entirely sure what the crunch topping is, but it involves sprinkles, nuts, and something akin to toffee bits. I found a tub of the crunch topping at a local baking store called U-Bake. If you’re interesting in making these cupcakes, use the almighty Google to search and I’m sure you’ll be able to source some of the topping. I really do think that if you can’t find something through Google, it doesn’t exist!
Anyway, I wanted to make a cupcake that reminded me of Dairy Queen. I went with a box mix for the cupcake and made the icing with ice cream. Yes, ice cream. And it was amazing. I topped the cupcake with the crunch topping.
Dairy Queen Cupcakes
Icing recipe source: sweettoothsweetlife.com
Print Recipe
1 box cake mix (plus required eggs and oil)
1/3 cup butter, softened
4 oz, cream cheese, softened
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup vanilla ice cream
2-4 Tablespoons milk
5-1/2 cups confectioners sugar
Crunch topping
1. Make cupcakes according to box directions and cool entirely.
2. Make the icing: Allow 1/4 cup of ice cream to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. Beat butter and cream cheese with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add vanilla extract and mix to combine. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Mix in ice cream and gradually add milk until you reach your desired consistency.
3. Pipe icing onto the cupcakes. I used a large round tip.
4. Dip cupcakes into the crunch topping and enjoy!
Ice cream in the icing!! I think my life may have just changed. I’m going to have to try that asap!
Hi! These cupcakes look delicious! How creative! My favorite treat at Dairy Queen is the crunch cone, but most locations discontinued them! I would love to be able to create them at home! I live in Wisconsin as well and know of the U Bake stores. What U Bake location did you find the crunch topping at? I looked in Janesville but they didn’t have it :( thanks!
Hi! I bought mine at the Oshkosh U-Bake. I’ve also heard that WalMart and Baskin Robbins sells the crunch coat topping. And I would imagine you could ask your local DQ to sell you a bowl full of it :) Hope that helps!