McDonald’s Ice Cream: Cone Price, Sundaes, Calories & Ingredients
A McDonald’s Vanilla Cone typically costs $1.29 to $2.43 and has 200 calories, while a Hot Fudge or Hot Caramel Sundae runs about $3.65 to $4.29 with 330 calories. This guide covers every soft-serve treat on the US menu with prices, full nutrition, ingredients and allergens, plus why the ice cream machine is so often down and how to pay less.
How Much Is Ice Cream at McDonald’s?
The Vanilla Cone is the cheapest ice cream at McDonald’s, usually $1.29 to $2.43. Sundaes cost about $3.65 to $4.29, so a cone is roughly half the price of a sundae.
| Ice cream | Typical price | Calories | Cost per 100 calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla Cone | $1.29–$2.43 | 200 | $0.65–$1.22 |
| Hot Fudge Sundae | $3.65–$4.29 | 330 | $1.11–$1.30 |
| Hot Caramel Sundae | $3.65–$4.29 | 330 | $1.11–$1.30 |
| McFlurry with OREO | $2.29–$2.99 | 410 | $0.56–$0.73 |
| McFlurry with M&M’S | $3.00–$4.50 | 570 | $0.53–$0.79 |
- Why prices differ: most US restaurants are franchises that set their own menu prices, so a cone in a big city often costs more than in a small town.
- Delivery costs more: McDelivery prices are usually marked up, and soft serve can melt on the way.
- Check your local price by choosing your restaurant in the McDonald’s app before you order.
Typical US prices reported online; your restaurant sets its own. Compare regional differences on our McDonald’s prices by state page.
McDonald’s Vanilla Cone
The Vanilla Cone is a single swirl of vanilla soft serve in a crisp, lightly sweet wafer cone. It’s the only hand-held ice cream on the US menu and the simplest way to try McDonald’s soft serve.
| Ordering option | What to know |
|---|---|
| Soft serve in a cup | Ask for the cone’s soft serve in a cup; it’s less messy for kids and in the car |
| Kiddie cone | A smaller cone that some restaurants sell; it isn’t on the national menu |
| Dipped cone | A chocolate-dipped cone isn’t offered on the US national menu |
| Topping on a cone | Some restaurants will pour hot fudge or caramel over a cone for a small charge |
The cone itself is made from enriched wheat flour, tapioca starch and sugar, colored with annatto extract and lightly leavened so it stays crisp.
Hot Fudge Sundae vs Hot Caramel Sundae
Both McDonald’s sundaes pair vanilla soft serve with a warm topping and have 330 calories. The Hot Fudge Sundae is the chocolate option, with more fat and fiber; the Hot Caramel Sundae has more carbohydrate and less saturated fat.
| Hot Fudge Sundae | Hot Caramel Sundae | |
|---|---|---|
| Topping | Chocolate fudge made with cocoa and nonfat milk | Buttery caramel made with corn syrup, milk and butter |
| Taste | Rich, bittersweet chocolate | Sweet, salted-butter caramel |
| Total fat | 10 g | 7 g |
| Carbohydrate | 51 g | 58 g |
| Extra allergen | Soy (from soy lecithin) | None beyond milk |
Searching for a McDonald’s chocolate sundae? That’s the Hot Fudge Sundae; there is no chocolate soft serve in the US. For a plain sundae, ask for vanilla soft serve in a cup with no topping.
McDonald’s Ice Cream Calories, Carbs and Sugar
A Vanilla Cone has 200 calories, 33 g of carbs and 17 g of added sugar. Each sundae has 330 calories, and its added sugar (34 to 36 g) is about double the cone’s.
| Per serving | Vanilla Cone | Hot Fudge Sundae | Hot Caramel Sundae |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 200 | 330 | 330 |
| Total carbs | 33 g | 51 g | 58 g |
| Fiber | 0 g | 2 g | 0 g |
| Total / added sugars | 23 g / 17 g | 44 g / 36 g | 41 g / 34 g |
| Fat / saturated fat | 5 g / 3 g | 10 g / 7 g | 7 g / 4.5 g |
| Protein | 5 g | 8 g | 7 g |
| Sodium | 80 mg | 170 mg | 150 mg |
| Calcium | 180 mg (15% DV) | 260 mg (20% DV) | 240 mg (20% DV) |
Calories in every soft-serve treat
Ice cream on a low-carb or low-sugar diet
- Low-carb or keto: none of these fit a keto diet; even the cone has 33 g of carbs with no fiber.
- Watching blood sugar: the cone carries the least sugar, and sharing a sundae halves its 51 to 58 g of carbs.
- Added sugar limit: the Daily Value is 50 g, so one sundae uses about 70% of it.
McDonald’s USA nutrition data. Add ice cream to a full meal with our calorie calculator.
What Is McDonald’s Ice Cream Made Of?
McDonald’s soft serve is real dairy. Its first ingredients are milk, sugar and cream, and McDonald’s labels it vanilla reduced-fat ice cream because it has less fat than standard ice cream.
| Ingredient | Why it’s there |
|---|---|
| Milk and cream | The dairy base; milk is the main ingredient |
| Sugar and corn syrup | Sweetness and a smooth, scoopable texture |
| Natural flavor | The vanilla taste |
| Mono and diglycerides | Emulsifiers that keep fat and water blended |
| Cellulose gum, guar gum, carrageenan | Stabilizers that stop ice crystals and help it hold its swirl |
| Vitamin A palmitate | Replaces vitamin A lost when fat is reduced |
The machine whips air into the mix as it freezes, which gives soft serve its light, fluffy texture. The recipe contains no gelatin or artificial colors.
Allergens and Dietary Needs
Every McDonald’s ice cream contains milk. The cone adds wheat and the Hot Fudge Sundae adds soy, while none of the three lists egg, peanuts or tree nuts as an ingredient.
| Milk | Wheat / gluten | Soy | Egg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla Cone | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Hot Fudge Sundae | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Hot Caramel Sundae | Yes | No | No | No |
Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan
- Gluten: the sundaes have no wheat ingredients, but McDonald’s doesn’t certify anything gluten-free and shares equipment.
- Vegetarian: yes, all three are suitable for lacto-vegetarians.
- Vegan or dairy-free: no; the soft serve is milk-based.
Full allergen charts for the whole menu are on our McDonald’s allergen menu. Confirm with your restaurant if you have a severe allergy.
Why Is the McDonald’s Ice Cream Machine Always Broken?
The machine usually isn’t broken. It’s often in, or stuck after, a long overnight heat-cleaning cycle, and when that cycle or another step fails, the machine locks itself until it’s serviced.
| Reason | What happens |
|---|---|
| Nightly heat cycle | The machine heats the mix to kill bacteria, then cools it again; this takes hours and can fail |
| Error codes | A failed step locks the machine, and the codes are hard for crew to clear |
| Repair access | Before a 2024 change, only the manufacturer, Taylor, could get past its software locks |
| Cleaning by hand | Parts must be taken apart and cleaned regularly, which takes the machine offline |
In October 2024 the US Copyright Office granted an exemption that lets third parties repair commercial food equipment such as these soft-serve machines. Independent sites like McBroken track which restaurants report the machine as down.
How to check before you go
- Check the app first: if cones and McFlurries won’t add to your order, the machine is down at that restaurant.
- Go earlier in the evening: the cleaning cycle usually runs late at night.
- Try a nearby location: each restaurant’s machine runs on its own schedule.
How to Save on McDonald’s Ice Cream, Plus Easy Hacks
The cheapest way to get McDonald’s ice cream is the Vanilla Cone with an app offer or Rewards points. A few simple orders also give you more for the money.
- App deals: look in the Deals tab for discounts on cones and sundaes; earn and redeem points with MyMcDonald’s Rewards.
- National Ice Cream Day: McDonald’s has offered free or cheap cones around the third Sunday of July in past years.
- Add it to a value order: a cone is one of the cheapest add-ons to a meal from the McDonald’s value menu.
- Float: order a cup of soft serve and a small soda, then pour the soda over it.
- More combinations: see our McDonald’s secret menu guide.
McDonald’s Ice Cream FAQ
When does McDonald’s serve ice cream?
All day, including breakfast hours, at most restaurants.
Is the soft serve the same in every McDonald’s dessert?
Yes. Cones, sundaes, McFlurries and shakes all use the same vanilla reduced-fat ice cream; shakes add flavored syrup.
Can you get McDonald’s ice cream delivered?
Yes. Cones, sundaes and McFlurries can be ordered through McDelivery at participating restaurants.
Can I get extra topping on a sundae?
Many restaurants add extra hot fudge or caramel for a small charge; you can customize it in the app.
How We Checked This Page
- Nutrition, ingredients and allergens: McDonald’s USA product pages for the Vanilla Cone, Hot Fudge Sundae and Hot Caramel Sundae
- Prices: Typical US prices reported online; each restaurant sets its own price
- Ice cream machine: Reporting on the US Copyright Office’s 2024 repair exemption
Menu Facts USA is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by McDonald’s Corporation. McFlurry, McDelivery and related names are trademarks of McDonald’s. If you have a food allergy, confirm ingredients with your restaurant before ordering.
