Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

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Birthday Treats

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I have been going to Dairy Queen on my birthday for about 50 years. It’s a simple, sweet tradition that started when I was seven years old in central Illinois (the same year I received my lime green 3-speed bicycle).

The first Dairy Queen opened in 1940 in Joliet, IL, not far from Chicago, where I was born.  Dairy Queen’s international headquarters is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, near where I live now. Currently, there are more than 7,000 locations in the United States, Canada, and more than 20 other countries. I hope there is one near you.

When I was a kid, birthday girls (or boys) brought treats to class on their birthdays. Having a summer birthday, I didn’t get to do that very often, so I thought it would be fun to make up for that now. It’s my birthday on Wednesday, and I’m bringing the treats!

Back then, my favorite treat was a Hot Fudge Sundae. Since Blizzards were introduced in 1985, a Turtle Pecan Cluster Blizzard has been my choice.

What about you? Comment below with your favorite birthday treat (from DQ or elsewhere) and I’ll pick 5 readers to win $5 DQ e-gift cards (available for US or Canada only—my condolences if you don’t have a Dairy Queen near you. ) I know it’s not a large amount, but enough that your next Sundae or Blizzard is on me. 😊 (Please leave your email address with your comment in this format: julie(at)julieklassen(dot)com.)

Happy Birthday to me!

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Julie Klassen

JULIE KLASSEN loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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Comments

  1. I cannot decide on a favorite birthday treat, a hot fudge sundae sounds good. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday!

  2. Happy birthday, Julie!! Mine is on June 25th, so we can sweet treat together. As for a favorite…I don’t often have cake or anything on my birthday. I may treat myself to an ice cream cone this year though. There is something about a cone that makes me feel like a kid again. You have inspired me.

  3. Happy Birthday, Julie! All the guys in my family love a DQ cake to celebrate their birthdays. I can go along with that!

  4. Happy Birthday Julie! When I was young, every year we’d go to the Madison, WI zoo and then to Ella’s Deli for ice cream and a carousel ride. I loved it! My favorite treat was a banana split. Have a wonderful birthday!!

    dmandres5 (at) gmail (dot) com

  5. My favorite bday treat is chocolate ganache cake!!! Yummm. My bday is the day after yours 🥰🎂🎉

  7. My favorite treat is almost always a cookie. I LOVE cookies of most every kind. For birthday treat, I think it would be iced sugar cookies (notice the plural). I love DQ Blizzards! Heath Bar would be my favorite.

  8. When I was a little girl, my favorite DQ treat was a pink Starkiss. 🙂 Now my favorite DQ treat is a Heath blizzard made with chocolate ice cream. 🙂

  9. Happy Birthday! My favorite Birthday treat is chocolate cake with peanut butter icing. If my birthday were in the summer, I would probably say ice cream. Your books are a special treat all year round.

  10. My favorite birthday treat was Bill Knapp’s chocolate cake with fresh strawberries. Although the restaurant closed up I can still buy the chocolate cakes at my local grocery store freezer. My favorite DQ treats still are today the chocolate soft serve with mint and marshmallow topping and cherry dipped chocolate cone.

  11. My birthday is in January and being born in Kansas I usually had to celebrate amongst lots of snow so we never went out. My favorite treat is chocolate cake with chocolate icing. Hope you have a wonderful birthday and thanks for the chance to celebrate with you.
    aimmesser(at)yahoo.(dot)com.

  12. What a fun tradition! I had a summer birthday too, so never got to bring treats to school to share. My favorite DQ treat is a cotton candy blizzard. Happy Birthday, Julie!! wassjw(at)yahoo(dot)com

  13. Happy Birthday!! I do love a good blizzard but my favorite birthday treat is cake! A good birthday cake is the best with ice cream on the side. And I do have a DQ in my town!

  14. My favorite treat is either an Oreo cookie blizzard or a chocolate sundae made with chocolate ice cream! Have a great birthday.

  15. Buster bars were my favorite as a kid. And as an adult I have loved their Butterfinger blizzards.

  16. Happy birthday, Julie! I was just thinking about Dairy Queen yesterday. Love hot fudge sundaes!

  17. My favorite great at Dairy Queen is a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard and I also just love a plain vanilla cone. Going to Dairy Queen is my all time favorite treat. Thanks for this amazingly generous giveaway.

  19. My favorite birthday treat is dinner out. While my husband often treats me to an elegant dinner at a charming French restaurant not far from us, I’m happy eating out at any number of places. A friend often sends fruit dipped in chocolate, which I love.
    susiesellner(at)gmail(dot)com

  20. Julie, how did I not know this about you?! I want to know which Dairy Queen is your favorite, the one you frequent, in the Twin Cities area? Can I meet you at your favorite one? When we visit DQ, I usually have a hot fudge sundae with peanuts. I also love cherry dilly bars! Happy Birthday my friend! suzypalen@hotmail.com

    • suzypalen(at)hotmail(dot)com

      I forgot to mention that PIE 🥧 is my favorite birthday treat!

  21. Happy Birthday! I agree with you about the blizzard as my favorite. Also, like Oreo. Haven’t had either in too long! This makes me want to go to DG. Have a blessed day.

  23. Happy Birthday, sweet Julie! 🙂
    No need to enter me in your drawing – – I just wanted to wish you a wonderfully sweet birthday! 😉
    And yes—hot fudge sundaes are sooo good – – I hope you’ll enjoy one (or a Blizzard treat) tomorrow!
    Hugs, Patti Jo

  25. Happy Birthday, Julie!

    Mini blizzards are the perfect size for me. So many tasty choices!

    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

  26. I love this tradition!
    Over the years we have had DQ cakes, especially for lake month birthdays.(summer)
    My current favorite DQ treat is a Heath blizzard.
    ottenhoffs(at)gmail(dot)com

  28. Dairy Queen has the *best* soft serve, and I love their hot fudge or chocolate dipped cones. However, my favorite birthday treat is now (this year will be the 2nd year running) Sally’s Baking Addiction’s Dark Chocolate Mousse Layer Cake. So worth waiting a year for (okay, maybe just 6 months – my mom’s birthday is thankfully halfway through the year and she likes the same).

  30. Happy birthday, Julie! The two food items I enjoyed the most at Dairy Queen are no longer offered. When they introduced the Blizzards, I immediately got hooked on the Hawaiian Blizzard. They are gone. About a year ago, my wife wanted to go riding on a Sunday afternoon because she had been staying in a lot more than usual. The nearest DQ is about 30 miles away. I checked their online menu and we decided the Turkey BLT sounded scrumptious. We went and enjoyed. I decided that was my favorite sandwich of anything I had ever eaten at DQ. About three months ago, I stopped at a DQ specifically for a Turkey BLT. They no longer serve them. I can’t imagine such delicious items as a Hawaiian Blizzard and a Turkey BLT not being popular which leaves me wondering why they no longer offer either of those.

  31. Dairy Queen holds special memories for me, too. Mostly because that was one of the places my now-husband worked many years ago while we were dating. : ) The ice cream was good, too; especially those hot fudge sundaes. But they did pale in comparison to the handsome young man behind the grill!

  32. Oh…how rude of me to forget…Happy Birthday, Julie! I have so thoroughly enjoyed your books. May you keep on writing for years to come.

  33. Happy Birthday Julie, from one June birthday to another–mine is on the 29th and the day after I start my new job as an aide at our local library! My favorite DQ treat was always the DQ Chipper Sandwich–vanilla ice cream between two chocolate chip cookies, rolled in chocolate chips. Alas, they no longer carry it here, so I just love a good old-fashioned chocolate milk shake!
    lfallon320(at)gmail(dot)com

  34. Happy Birthday!My favorite birthday treat is regular old yellow birthday cake with white buttercream icing. My favorite DQ treat has always been the Peanut Buster Parfait. Yum. Now I will be craving one.

  36. Happy Birthday!
    I would get you a Buster Bar. That’s always been my favorite.

  37. Happy Birthday! My favorite Birthday treat from DQ is the ice cream cakes! Love the crunchy chocolate layer!!

  38. Happy birthday! My 3 boys have summer birthdays but lucky for them their school celebrates half birthdays.
    My favorite birthday treat is angel food cake with Raspberry whipped frosting made with fresh raspberries (frozen counts as fresh right🤔).
    My favorite DQ treat is the Royal New York cheesecake…. even got my hubby asking for it too.

  40. Mmmm ice cream! Girl Scouts Thin Mint Blizzard would be my pick. My email address is courtpitts78(at)gmail(dot)com.

  41. Georgia mud fudge blizzard! Not advertised everywhere, but most DQ will still make it! ❤️

    Happy birthday, Julie!

  42. Happy Birthday Blessing!!
    I loved your tradition on going to DQ!
    I too have a Summer birthday so I wasn’t able to bring treats growing up either. It’s ok though!! My favorite at DQ is a medium chocolate cone dipped in Chocolate! Super yum!

  44. Happy birthday! I have an end of summer birthday, so rarely got to bring treats to school too. Growing up we used to love to get the dipped cones from DQ – butterscotch was my favorite. Now I like to get the individual size DQ cakes 😋 (although my mom’s caramel cake is still my favorite birthday treat!)

  45. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! What is there NOT to like at Dairy Queen!? One of my favorites is the Peanut Buster Parfait! 🙂

  46. Happy birthday!
    My favorite is an m&m and oreo mixed blizzard from DQ or a oreo shake from Andy’s frozen custard.
    Kthope89(@)gmail(dot)com

  48. Happy blessed birthday! I, too, have a summer birthday and missed bringing treats to school. It just wasn’t the same bringing them on the last day of school. Now I love having a summer birthday when I can enjoy being outdoors. Now I’m craving my favorite DQ treat – an Oreo blizzard!

  49. We have a Dairy Queen near me and every time I go there I get a Oreo blizzard. Your my favorite author got all your books. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUILE

  51. Happy Birthday! I like any treats that have chocolate in them.
    una(dot)ireland(at)gmail(dot)com

  53. Happy Birthday, Julie! I love DQ also. I put myself through college debt-free by working at DQ. Great place, wonderful memories, met my BFF there. 🙂 I love a number of their special items, but my favorite birthday pick right now would be their Brownie Dough Blizzard or if I am in a savory mood, their chicken strip basket. Best chicken strips around! gbessire(at)bessires(dot)com

  54. My bday is in January and DQs are closed here in Michigan. But when they open in the spring, I’m one of the first in line! I’m a simple kind of person and usually just go w/ a twist cone. But I do like peanut buster parfaits. Happy Birthday to you, Julie!

  57. Happy birthday! My mom loved the same blizzard you do! I love the Peanut buster parfait!Yum!

  58. DQ is mom’s favorite!!! She is 84 and won’t be with us much longer as she has too many health issues. But a Reese’s Blizzard brightens her day and the 20 minute drive is worth the smile. And at this point what will it hurt — just don’t tell the doctors or the elder abuse folks.

    • I won’t tell! Sounds your dear Mom deserves all the treats she can get. Reminds me of the times I took my Dad chocolate malts to the nursing home. You didn’t leave your email address, Marie, but if you contact me at julie(at)julieklassen(dot)com, I’ll email a gift card so you can buy your mom a blizzard.

  59. Happy Birthday, Julie! My favorite DQ treat is the Hawaiian Blizzard. Unfortunately they no longer offer it.

  60. Happy birthday!! My favorite birthday treat is an ice cream cake from dairy queen. I also enjoy the Reese cup blizzard.
    sarah_purcats(at)hotmail(dot)com

  61. Happy Birthday!! I hope you have a wonderful day.

    My favorite treat at DQ is a hot fudge Sunday. The fudge at DQ is soooo good.

    mapenn26(at)outlook(dot)com.)

  62. Happy Birthday! I hope you enjoy celebrating your special day!
    My favorite treat at DQ is anything mint – I especially like the new mint blizzard with Girl Scout Thin Mints.

  63. I love their blizzards! I love the cotton candy and the brownie ones!

    Enjoy your birthday treat!

    kaileybehrendt(at)gmail(dot)com

  64. Happy Birthday, Julie!

    I love peanut butter rice krispie squares for a birthday treat. So sweet and delish!

    new_every_morning(at)yahoo(dot)com

  65. That’s a fun tradition! When I was growing up we went to Farrell’s ice cream parlor, but they closed years ago. My favorite DQ treat is also a Blizzard, but I fancy the Heath Bar variety. My email is rhemabaugh(at)Gmail(dot)com.

  67. Happy Birthday, Julie.
    I asked for a DQ birthday cake for my 80th birthday – not until March 2022, but my daughter surprised me with one this year!! It was the first one I ever had and it was delicious.
    At DQ I usually get a blizzard, but the flavor varies with what is available and what “strikes my fancy” that day. Not too long ago they opened a new DQ about a mile from my place!!
    AELeatherman(at)aol(dot)com

  68. Happy Birthday, Julie. My fave DQ treat growing up was the hot fudge brownie delight. Mmmm.

  69. Happy Birthday! I have loved Dairy Queen all my life!I worked at one in Sioux Falls, SD many years ago. I still remember my older brother getting his first blizzard in Waseca, MN. It was Oreo and I was awestruck when it was handed to him upside down. One of us commented how it looked like dirty ice cream. When I was little I would always get a cherry Dilly Bar or Mr. Misty. Nerds blizzards were delicious but I haven’t been able to find one in years. So now I either get a Heath blizzard or chocolate sundae.

  70. Happy birthday. Me being from Canada I love my tim hortons ice Capps. But from Dq I’d agree on the peanut buster

  71. Happy Birthday Julie My favorite is The DQ Hot Fudge Sundae Thank you for such an amazing treat! Sarahbaby601973(at)gmail(dot)com

  72. I love so many treats that it is impossible to choose a favourite, but DQ is always enjoyable! We enjoy their cakes, but specialty treats are also amazing. I might ask for a Turtle Pecan Cluster blizzard next time in your honour and in memory of your birthday! Hope your day is special!

  73. Happy Birthday 🎂 I think that’s a great tradition!I like anything ice cream, but I usually go for the strawberry cheesequake. Hope you have a wonderful day!

  74. Happy Birthday!!! I don’t know anyone that doesn’t like Ice cream. And I have a Dairy Queen right around the corner from me. For my Birthday it’s normally a Birthday Cake and Ice Cream!
    I hope you have a wonderful day!!
    Erin Burke

  75. Happy Birthday, Julie! I love DQ Blizzards. They are soo good! Thank you for sharing and for bringing treats to celebrate your special day. I hope it was amazingly awesome.

    mrsmcafee17(at)gmail(dot)com

  76. It’s the cookie dough blizzard for me! Happy Birthday!

    Dmcoffey2001(at)yahoo(dot)com

  77. Happy Birthday! My favorite would be Hot Fudge Sundae, but I haven’t had one in years. Next to that would be either ice cream cake or cheesecake or just soft serve (I cannot decide).

  78. Happy birthday, Julie! Favorite Dairy Queen treat as a child — probably hot fudge sundae. Now, favorite birthday treats — hugs from loved ones and readings books by favorite authors with cup of tea in hand!
    snybev(at)Gmail(dot)com

  79. My favorite birthday treat is a cheesecake. Yum! My favorite DQ treat is an Oreo blizzard. Happy birthday to you and thanks for sharing your treat with us!

    My email is coricrews (at) gmail (dot) com

  80. Happy Birthday 🎶🎂. My birthday was last week. Ever since I can remember we have had angle food cake, strawberries and ice cream for my birthday. However, DQ is my favorite and we do have more than one within easy driving distance 😊. I love a Reeses Pieces Blizzard, although they are very hard to get now. I have tried your favorite and have certainly enjoyed it as well!Thanks for sharing your birthday treat with us.
    bettimace(at)gmail(dot)com

  81. Happy Birthday! My favorite DQ treat is small Blizzard wiry chocolate ice cream and Reese Peanut Butter Cup!! My email ia carlsonheather6@gmail.com
    I love your books and thank you for all you do for the inspirational fiction genere!!

  82. My favorite is yellow cake with chocolate frosting! Unfortunately only my husband shared a taste for it. I share my birthday week with my two grandmothers and usually Easter so we always go with what they want.

    May you have the happiest birthday!
    Jenshops04(at)gmail(dot)com

  83. My birthday treat was ways what my grandfather called Nothing Pie. Because it was like eating nothing. I was a teen before I knew it was actually caked a whipped Jell-O pie. 😃 Happy Birthday!!
    mws_ping at yahoo

  84. My favorite DQ treat is a crunch cone 🙂 Happiest of birthdays to you! juliesaffrin(@)gmail(.)com

  85. I love to get a DQ ice cream cake to share with my family on my birthday. I also love DQ Buster Bars. Happy Birthday Julie! Hope your day is filled with blessings!
    bmekash3(at)gmail(dot)com

  86. Happy birthday! I love the photos! I usually go for a blizzard as well. Snickers, butterfingers, heath…Tasty and cool! 🙂

    angelecolline(at)yahoo(dot)com

  87. Happiest of Birthdays to you!!! I just had a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard last night. It’s my favorite!!! Hope your day is just amazing!! I think I’ll reread my favorite scenes in your books today!!!

  88. Happy Birthday, Julie!! We are almost birthday buddies as mine is tomorrow. My fave blizzard has always been the banana split, but some don’t make that one anymore. 🙁 I’m usually pretty happy with any flavor as long as it has chocolate. Wishing you a day full of blessings!

  89. Happy Birthday, Julie! My birthday is June 28, so we celebrate close together.
    When I was a kid, I loved Hot Fudge Cake from Shoney’s. Since they aren’t in business anymore, my new favorite is Double Chocolate Fudge Coca Cola Cake from Cracker Barrel.
    scruggs2 (at) Comcast (dot) net)

  90. Happy birthday!!

    Love hearing the background of DQ. My go to blizzard is vanilla with pecans.

    showmetexatyahoodotcom

  92. Happy Birthday! At DQ, I love the Turtle Pecan Cluster Blizzard, too. I also love cheesecake but the rest of the family is not a fan.

  94. My favorite birthday treat growing up was always my mom’s homemade German chocolate cake. Now my favorite birthday treat is to eat something other than corned beef n’ cabbage for dinner on my St. Pat’s birthday. Birthday girl gets what birthday girl wants, right? I like the DQ sundaes, too! What a wonderful tradition you have! Hope it was happy!

  97. Happy Birthday! I love a good vanilla cake with whipped icing. Hope your birthday is going swell!
    Absity2020(at)outlook(dot)com.

  98. Happy Birthday! We have DQ’s everywhere in Ohio. I would have to say my favorite bday treat from there would be a Cookie Dough Blizzard made with chocolate soft serve. Yum! Hope you had a wonderful day! bookgirl929(at)gmail(dot)com

  99. My favorite birthday treat overall is German Chocolate Cake but, my favorite current DQ treat is a cookie dough blizzard with a chocolate base and some chopped nuts added too! I used to work at DQ many moons ago and if I’m at a place that has self-serve ice cream I can still make the famous curly-Q on top! Happy, Happy Birthday to you Julie! My favorite author. Best wishes to you…Always!!

  100. Happy Birthday birthday 🥳 What s fun idea! Thanks for sharing you’d tradition. When we were kids we used to ride our horses to DQ to get soft serve cones. The horses loved them too 😂. My favorite now is the oreo /cookie blizzard 😋
    jmhatley(at)comcast(dot)net

  101. They are only available a short time in the fall but Pumpkin Pie Blizzards are the best thing ever! The rest of the year my favorite is Butterfinger Blizzards!

  102. Happy Birthday to one of my favorite authors! I hope it’s a very blessed year for you!

    My favorite is the simple chocolate dipped cone. 🥰

    elizabeth.nabejar(at)twomen(dot)com

  103. First off, Happy Birthday!!! I like a really good chocolate cake, like maybe something from LaMadeleine or a really good bakery. Sometimes my hubby or one of my sons makes me a cake, but not always. I’ve never had a DQ birthday treat, but fortunately there is a DQ fairly close to my house. Maybe I need to start a new tradition!

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