What is a Dilly Bar? Your 2023 Guide to DQ‘s Signature Ice Cream Treat

The Dilly Bar from Dairy Queen is a chocolate-dipped ice cream novelty that has remained a popular frozen treat for generations. Its simplicity is what makes it so iconic – creamy vanilla soft serve enveloped in a crispy chocolate shell. Let‘s take a deep dive into everything that makes this snack such a dilly!

Tracing the Revered History of an Ice Cream Legend

While ice cream novelties like Klondike Bars and Creamsicles have come and gone, Dilly Bars have had impressive staying power – they‘ve been on the DQ menu for over 65 years.

The concept for chocolate-coating soft serve on a stick originated in 1955 at the Dairy Queen in Moorhead, Minnesota. As company lore goes, a visitor exclaimed “Now, isn’t that a dilly!” upon seeing the creation, thus birthing the Dilly Bar name.

That Moorhead DQ shop still makes Dilly Bars daily using the same original recipe. In fact, they produce approximately 2,500 Dilly Bars each week – that‘s 130,000 bars every year!

The novelty has built legendary status over the decades. Today, Dairy Queen sells a staggering 11 million Dilly Bars annually across its over 6,700 locations domestically.

And Dilly Bars show no signs of decreasing in popularity. According to Dairy Queen‘s parent company Berkshire Hathaway, sales of frozen treats including the Dilly Bar increased over 6% from 2020-2021 amid the pandemic.

Dilly by the Numbers: Nutrition, Pricing and More

Let‘s crunch the numbers on key stats for Dilly Bars:

The standard chocolate Dilly Bar contains no gluten ingredients, but it is manufactured on equipment shared with gluten items. So guests with celiac disease or sensitivities should exercise caution.

Note that nutrition data and pricing may vary slightly across different franchised DQ locations.

Why Dairy Queen Fans Go Crazy for the Dilly

There are several reasons why fans have adored this chocolate-dunked frozen pop for ages:

1. Time-Tested Taste Profile

Dilly Bars offer the quintessential flavor contrast between sweet vanilla ice cream and rich chocolate. Each lick is cooling yet indulgent – simply a perfect match that withstands the test of time.

2. Portable Pleasure

The grab-and-go form factor makes Dilly Bars an ideal portable snack. Their individually wrapped packaging keeps hands mess-free while strolling at the zoo or playing at the park.

3. Build-Your-Own Potential

Part of the fun is customizing Dilly Bars to suit your taste buds! DQ guests have taken to rolling bars in rainbow sprinkles, crushed candy pieces and buttery toffee crumbs.

You can also request an additional drizzle of chocolate, caramel or strawberry topping over your Dilly. The customizable possibilities are endless.

4. Whimsical Charm

Between the silly name and popsicle-esque shape, Dilly Bars add a sense of playfulness to your ice cream experience. The treat‘s enduring popularity across generations shows how this whimsy sparks nostalgia and joy.

Innovating a Classic for the Modern Palate

While diehard fans remain loyal to the original chocolate-on-a-stick concept, Dairy Queen has unveiled modern twists to attract new audiences:

• The introduction of Butterscotch and Cherry Dilly flavors in the early 2000s widened the appeal beyond chocolate lovers.

• In 2019, DQ debuted "No Sugar Added" Dilly Bars with 40% less sugar than regular bars. This appeals to the large (and growing) market of health-conscious snackers.

• Most recently in 2020, DQ launched Non-Dairy Dilly Bars featuring a coconut oil-based outer shell and almond milk-based center. This attracts the plant-based crowd.

Early sales data shows promise for these alternative Dilly Bars. For example, Butterscotch Dilly Bars now make up 5% of total Dilly Bar orders.

Meanwhile, the Non-Dairy Dilly doubled DQ‘s prior expectations for alt-dairy treats in year 1. So we can likely expect ongoing innovation in this classic brand.

Dilly Bar Hacks from DQ‘s Biggest Superfans

The Dilly Bar‘s blank-canvas potential has sparked creativity and customization from DQ patrons over the decades. Let‘s spotlight some of the most iconic Dilly Bar innovations:

• The "Chip-Wich" – Nestling a Dilly Bar between two chocolate chip cookies for makeshift ice cream sandwich.

• "Dulce de Dilly" – Drizzling gooey dulce de leche caramel atop chocolate and cherry Dilly Bars.

• "Salty Sweet" Dilly – Rolling bar edges in crushed pretzels, toasted pecans or potato chip pieces. Salty and savory provide delicious contrast!

• "Fruity Dilly" – Dunking one half of watermelon or pineapple-flavored Dilly Bar in yogurt pieces or coconut shavings.

• "Red, White and Blue" – Swirling vanilla, strawberry and blue moon ice cream Dilly Bars on a stick for patriotic flair.

As you can see, there are endless options to make your Dilly Bar truly your own sensational summer snack!

The Delicious Verdict

However you choose to enjoy it – classic, customized or crafty – the Dairy Queen Dilly Bar remains one of America‘s most iconic and beloved ice cream novelties after over six decades.

Its timeless appeal spanning generations shows no signs of melting away anytime soon.

So next time you visit your neighborhood DQ, be sure to treat yourself to this legendary frozen dessert!