What Ice Cream Machines Does Dairy Queen Use to Make Blizzards?
Dairy Queen's iconic Blizzard is famous for its soft texture, various mix-ins, and flip-or-free campaign, where employees turn Blizzards upside-down before service to demonstrate how thick they are. That popularity is reflected in consumer opinion. In a national survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, 39 percent said Dairy Queen offers the best frozen treats, ranking it ahead of McDonald’s and Sonic. In its debut year of 1985, over 175 million Blizzards were sold, and the beloved dessert remains popular to this day.1 So, what machines does Dairy Queen use to create such a popular treat? And how does Dairy Queen create its unique Blizzard texture?
Demand is especially strong in the Midwest and Southwest, where 46 percent and 43 percent of respondents, respectively, rank Dairy Queen as their top choice for frozen treats. This underscores the need for fast, reliable soft-serve equipment, starting with the innovative soft serve machine.
How Dairy Queen Soft Serve Machines Work?
Like most ice cream machines, soft serve machines begin with a batch of cream-based mix, which is stored in a product-holding container. Dairy Queen uses premade mixes for consistency in each batch. This liquid mix is transferred into a chilled tube with a rapidly moving agitator that freezes the cream while preventing ice crystals from forming, creating the Blizzard's uniform texture. From this tube, the soft serve is ready to be dispensed. This design helps Dairy Queen maintain fresh soft serve that's ready to be dispensed on demand, giving them the base needed to create Blizzards.
After the soft serve is dispensed into a cup, Dairy Queen employees add toppings like chocolate, peanut butter, and fruit syrup, then place the cup in a Blizzard mixer, similar to a milkshake mixer, that whips the mix into a Blizzard's signature "snowstorm" look.
The Benefits of Dairy Queen Blizzard Machines
Soft serve Blizzard machines are built for high output and consistent results, helping operators serve the perfect Blizzard every time.
Common features found in Dairy Queen soft serve machines include:
- Simple Operation: Easy, lever-pull design for controlled output
- Quick Service: Many models produce several hundred servings per hour
- Quick Freezing Time: Helps reduce downtime when the machine runs out of product
- Special Features: Include low-product light, multiple hoppers, and adjustable agitator speed
- Gravity Fed: Uses gravity to dispense product
Dairy Queen milkshake mixers provide more benefits:
- Multispeed Feature: Lets you customize blend consistency for different menu items
- Strong, Balanced Motor: Reduces vibration and equipment wear and tear
- Countertop Design: For ease of use and a small footprint
- Cup-Activated Switch: Facilitates user operation and safety
- Fixed Agitator: Thoroughly mixes toppings and soft serve without pulverizing them
How Dairy Queen Blizzard Machines Can Improve Your Commercial Kitchen
If you're looking to create unique dessert experiences, a commercial soft serve machine and milkshake mixer may be what you need. Not only do these machines deliver consistent results in high-volume operations, you can also use them as launching points for intricate desserts similar to Dairy Queen's Blizzard. Experiment with frozen coffee drinks, soft serve with unique, blended-in toppings, or frozen yogurt.
Find Soft Serve Machines at KaTom to Create Tasty Soft Serve Treats
Explore KaTom's selection of soft serve machines and milkshake mixers to create irresistible, crafted desserts comparable to Dairy Queen's Blizzards. Shop leading brands like Saniserv, Spaceman, Vitamix, and Stoelting, the manufacturer that created the first soft serve machine for Dairy Queen.2
References
- The History of Dairy Queen Blizzards. Backthen History. Accessed May 2025.
- Products. Stoelting. Accessed May 2025.
