Copycat Dairy Queen Crunch Cone, aka “Crunch Coat” recipe, is the best ice cream topping ever!
One of my favorite childhood memories is going up to Dairy Queen on a hot summer night after helping Dad mow the lawn and getting an ice cream cone coated in Crunch Cone. Then, all the DQs in the area got rid of the Crunch Cone topping a few years ago.
This is my favorite ice cream topping ever. I remember the last time I ate it at Dairy Queen; sadly, they no longer serve this famous topping here in Fort Collins, CO, or even in nearby cities or states {lol}. For years, I have mourned this loss.
I can even vividly remember the last time I ate Crunch “Coat.” It was at my Aunt Ditta’s house; she had a 5-gallon container. I can even remember what the cardboard box looked like. I was relieved she had it and anxiously awaited my next visit. When I returned, I found it was gone… and silently cried.
To try and recreate it in college, I sometimes stir Rice Krispies cereal with sprinkles in my ice cream as it was the closest I could get. I would eventually stir in chocolate, too, after realizing it just wasn’t the same. Chocolate makes everything better, right?! Thankfully, I have the recipe now, but I always have hot fudge sauce available for friends to top their ice cream with so that you can save as much as this fantastic ice cream topping for yourself as you can.
A reader recently told me that the original Crunch Cone recipe has a crushed-up cone in it, which is why it is called Crunch Cone. While I didn’t grow up with it that way, I can’t wait to make this addition and share another fantastic ice cream topping recipe.
So here it is, the long-awaited, well at least for me, Copycat Dairy Queen Crunch Cone recipe. I can’t wait to overindulge this summer on this.
So I decided to try to recreate it – a rush of memories came back to me. I love to serve this topping alongside my Best Ever Hot Fudge Sauce. This is my favorite combo, but my Waffle Cone Sundae Ice Cream Cake, Cookies & Cream Nutella Ice Cream, and Chocolate Orea Ice Cream Cake don’t fall far behind.
Looking for some other ice cream toppings to impress the ice cream lovers in your life? Try these: Best Ever Hot Fudge Sauce, Easy Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream Topping, Salted Caramel Sauce, Homemade Pineapple Ice Cream Topping, and Peanut Butter Ice Cream Topping.
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Copycat Dairy Queen Crunch Cone
Ingredients
- 2 cups praline peanuts
- 2-3 tablespoons multi-colored sprinkles
Instructions
- In a food processor pulse praline peanuts a few times, until it resembles coarse crumbles, do not over process.
- Pour peanuts into a bowl and add sprinkles, you can add more or less based upon your taste, we like more. Mix the peanuts and sprinkles together and serve. Top on top of ice-cream in a bowl or roll your ice-cream cone in the mix, I tend to press it in, making sure to get the most Crunch Cone per bite.
Notes
This recipe was originally posted in March 2015 and has since then been updated.
Okay, I’m officially in awe right now. I totally didn’t realize DQ had this… however, our local DQ closed and the closest one is about 10 miles away (not far, but not convenient, ya know) so I didn’t even know this existed. About to remedy that, um, YESTERDAY. I must have this!
Hayley – you will love it girl. xo San
We still have at in my southeast Nebraska Dairy Queens. Love crunch coat.
You’re lucky! Sometimes our local DQ has it for a limited time, it is good for sure!
I appreciate this recipe so much. But I do think you should stress that people should have the proper time to grieve the loss of the original crunch topping before they make this replacement. For mental health
If you are still in Ft. Collins and few like taking a trip to the wonderful Sandhills of western Nebraska, the Dairy Queen in Alliance still serves these. You can also take a drive out to see the world famous Carhenge while there!
I know the DQ’a here in northwest Indiana no long have them they were my favorite cone
Hayley I totally understand your sadness when you no longer could get crunch coat!!! I.absolutely love it.I live in Beaver meadows PA. And we have it at woodies ice cream. I am always buying extra cup fills.So thank you very much for sharing your recipe. But to my surprise,I am going to need more. Because they will be closing soon.But I found it on Amazon.so I will be purchasing lots of it to last me.The biggest bad they have is a pound. So I am going to look in other places.Thanks again. Have a blessed weekend Enjoy your krunc coat lol
you can order the original crunch cone topping here http://www.msconcession.com/mid_states_concession_supply3_012.htm
Holly – you are the best. xo San
Lice-cream?…. ewwwwww
James – lol that would be disgusting. Thanks for the catch. San
I have been craving this for years, I wish they would bring it back (original recipe). It was from my childhood (late 1960’s), I remember it fondly and they had a special machine to put the topping on the ice cream cone if I remember correctly it looked something like a mini clothes drier when they turned it on they would but the ice cone inside it, the wheel would spine and the topping would fall from section to section and hence fall onto the ice cream cone, but I remember it being almond flavored.
I’m so happy I found this, this is my husband’s must have’s lol he gets a peanut buster parfait with crunch on the side. Well needless to say I asked for a cup and it wasn’t much of a cup and they charged me $2.99 for it. He says to me that’s it we need to find this online lol
I cab buy a 30lb bag for just under $40 or now I can make it for him. Thanks for sharing.
Where can you buy the praline peanuts ?
Tucson, AZ still serves crunch cones. But I been all over the US and no one else does. So whenever I visit my family in Tucson it’s a must have!
What?! I was there recently and didnt ask because I figured they didnt have it either…bummed….but I did get eegees…
I order it in a blizzard when I get to DQ. Never enough though!
We have them in OH. Just had one last week! Never get to old for a krunch kote cone!! The original krunch kote is made with pieces of cone too.
Just pulled over in Richmond Indiana to the one and only DQ that still makes the famous crunch cone that you all are speaking about. I grew up on it as a kid and have such vivid memories of this cone. Got my husband hooked on it while we were in college. My mind is jumping for joy because this DQ sells the crunch cone mixture by the ounce. I just had a large crunch cone for the first time with the crunch mixture all the way to the bottom.. YUMMY YUMMY! Then I bought a pound to take back to Tennessee. Best $6 I ever spent! Happy happy happy!
Sandra! Best recipe ever, thank you! Just so you know, the Loveland store carries it…our family will make the drive from FoCo just for the crunch coat! My fav. 🙂
Thanks for the fun post!
I remember the DQ store on Federal (about 72nd st) had the Crunch Cote and it was my all time favorite. I was thinking about this tonight and found your post. I was in Denver today and found something i thought would close but it was no where near it. Now back in SD, i have something to try tomorrow. Thank you
What a GREAT idea! My kids would love these!
I hope they do!
How fun, my kids would be all over this!
Thanks, enjoy!
I can’t believe I’ve been so out of the loop and never knew this existed!! It looks so yummy!
Now you know! I hope you like it!
I’m pretty sure once my kids see this, I’ll have a huge mom win! So perfect now that the weather has warmed up!
I hope they enjoy it, thanks!
I love a good copy cat recipe, they always turn out better than the original.
I hope this one does for you, enjoy!
My kids would love this!
I hope they do! Enjoy!
Those sprinkles make this dssert so pretty!
Don’t they?! Enjoy!
This is my favorite thing ever!! IF you can find a DQ that is not a brazier (meaning they sell hot food) They’ll have the crunch topping! Luckily there is one 20 minutes from here. And to the person that posted the link to buy it… that was like Christmas in May!!!!!
So lucky! It’s definitely awesome that they sell it bulk, it’s so delicious!
These look so cool! Nice one
Thanks!
I have not tried the topping yet, it sounds yum! Thank you for sharing the recipe! i will definitely try it!
I hope you like it!
Holy moly this looks amazing I can’t wait to try !
Doesn’t it?! Enjoy!
Oh wow it will surely be a favorite for my kids! Definitely want to try it out!
They’ll love it for sure! Enjoy!
YES I love this so so much!!
Thanks!!
I am definitely making this treat this weekend! Easy and perfect for summer!
What a fun recipe! Always enjoy making a good copycat recipe; my kids will love this!
Thanks, I hope they do!
So I googled the Dairy Queen Crunch Coat and came across your blog. I live in Severance and they have Crunch Coat at the Dairy Queen in Downtown Longmont and a friend owns the Dairy Queen in Estes Park and she just ordered it for her store 2 days ago. Maybe a road trip?
Oh yes! My friend found it in Loveland as well recently, I was so excited and drove there that same week. It was dreamy. I live in Fort Collins, so hello CO neighbor. 🙂
This has always been my favorite thing from there, thank you so much for sharing!
Oh my, this is such a fun recipe! My kids would love it!
This is so fun! I can’t wait to make it with my kids!! They are gonna LOVE it! Thank you!
I need to try this Dairy Queen Crunch Cone immediately, it looks so good!
Oh my goodness! My kids loved this recipe and was so excited to make these with me! Beyond excited to make these again this summer! Such a great summer treat idea!
Only one word to explain it -AMAZING. My wife and I including my kids loved it… but I added extra peanut butter we love peanut butter…. So Yummm!!!
If you still live in FoCo there is a DQ in Wheatridge , CO that serves crunch coat still.