Dairy Queen Caramel Shake: Calories, Sizes & Details
The Dairy Queen Caramel Shake is the richest of the four core shake flavors. DQ’s menu page describes it as world-famous soft serve blended with milk and “rich, buttery caramel,” served under what the company calls a fluffy cloud of whipped topping. If the vanilla shake is the quiet base of the lineup, the caramel shake is its sweetest, most dessert-forward expression.
The caramel here is a syrup blended through the drink, not a drizzle on top — the whole shake takes on a smooth tan color and a deep, buttery sweetness. It is noticeably the heaviest of the four core flavors: at 550 cal for a Small and 980 cal for a Large, it tops the official nutrition table for this group. That richness is the point, though — DQ markets it as an unapologetic treat, and the numbers reflect that.
Like the rest of the lineup, it comes in Small, Medium, and Large, and any size can be ordered as a malt. The malt version blends in malted milk powder, which DQ’s nutrition table lists at 60 cal (Small), 80 cal (Medium), or 110 cal (Large) on top of the base shake. Caramel also appears elsewhere on the DQ menu — in sundaes, the Caramel MooLatté, and as a cone dip — but the shake is the only caramel drink built on plain soft serve and milk.
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At a glance
| Detail | Caramel Shake |
|---|---|
| Menu name | Caramel Shake or Malt |
| Sizes | Small, Medium, Large |
| Base | DQ soft serve, milk, caramel syrup |
| Finished with | Whipped topping |
| Malt option | Yes — malted milk powder blended in |
How it’s made
According to DQ’s menu page, the build is soft serve blended with milk and rich, buttery caramel, finished with whipped topping. The caramel is mixed through the drink rather than layered, so every sip carries the same buttery flavor. It is served cold in a cup with a straw, like every other shake on the menu. Compare it with the rest of the lineup in our shake flavors guide.
For a lighter take on the same base, the Vanilla Shake skips the caramel entirely; the Chocolate Shake lands somewhere in between.
Caramel shake nutrition
These figures come straight from DQ’s official US nutrition table (figures current as of September 3, 2026). The caramel shake is the highest-calorie of the four core flavors at every size — worth knowing before you order the Large.
| Size | Calories |
|---|---|
| Small | 550 cal |
| Medium | 750 cal |
| Large | 980 cal |
Ordered as a malt, add 60 cal (Small), 80 cal (Medium), or 110 cal (Large), per the “Make It A Malt” entry in the same table. See how it stacks up against a full order in our calorie calculator, or browse the complete figures in the Dairy Queen nutrition hub.
Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in a Dairy Queen Caramel Shake?
A Small has 550 cal, a Medium has 750 cal, and a Large has 980 cal, per DQ’s official US nutrition table — the highest of the four core shake flavors.
What is the Dairy Queen Caramel Shake made of?
Per DQ’s menu page: world-famous soft serve blended with milk and rich, buttery caramel, finished with whipped topping.
Can I get the caramel shake as a malt?
Yes — it is sold as “Caramel Shake or Malt.” The malt version blends in malted milk powder (60 cal / 80 cal / 110 cal extra by size) for a thicker body and malted-milk flavor.
Does the caramel shake contain dairy or common allergens?
Yes — it is a dairy drink. DQ’s allergen table flags milk and soy for the caramel shake. If you have a food allergy, confirm with the restaurant before ordering.
Dairy Queen is a trademark of its respective owner. This independent website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dairy Queen.
Sources
- Dairy Queen official US nutrition page (dairyqueen.com/en-us/nutrition/treats/) — Caramel Shake calories (Small 550 cal, Medium 750 cal, Large 980 cal), “Make It A Malt” add-on (60 cal / 80 cal / 110 cal by size), allergens milk and soy; figures current as of September 3, 2026. Verified October 2026.
- Dairy Queen official food & treats nutrition page (dairyqueen.com/en-us/nutrition/food-treats/) — corroborates the shake nutrition table. Verified October 2026.
- Dairy Queen Caramel Shake or Malt product page (dairyqueen.com/en-us/menu/caramel-shake-or-malt/) — official recipe description (soft serve blended with milk and rich, buttery caramel, whipped topping) and shake-or-malt option. Verified October 2026.