I got the same ice-cream sundae from Cold Stone Creamery, Dairy Queen, and Carvel. Ivy Carbone I ordered hot-fudge sundaes from Cold Stone Creamery, Dairy Queen, and Carvel. I loved the thick hot fudge on the one from Dairy Queen, even though the sundae itself was simple. However, the version from Carvel was nearly perfect, and I'd definitely get it again. Nothing screams warm weather quite like an ice-cream sundae. And although the classic combination — typically ice cream, hot fudge, and whipped cream — seems pretty basic, I was curious to see which dessert chain does it best. So, I visited my local Cold Stone Creamery, Dairy Queen, and Carvel locations and ordered a medium hot-fudge sundae at each chain. Here's how it went. Prices may vary by location. First, I visited Cold Stone Creamery. Ivy Carbone My first stop was Cold Stone Creamery, an ice-cream chain known for its menu of preset Signature Creations. However, diners can also create their own concoctions with a selection of ice-cream flavors and topping mix-ins. Since I didn't see a hot-fudge sundae specifically listed on the menu, I decide to make my own. I asked for a "love it" — which is what the brand calls its medium cup — of vanilla ice cream with hot fudge and whipped cream. I was disappointed by the amount of fudge on my sundae. Ivy Carbone The sundae from Cold Stone Creamery cost $9.68 and left me a little disappointed. The ice cream itself was pretty good, but when I think of a hot-fudge sundae, I usually imagine a healthy serving of thick, warm chocolate sauce. However, the version from Cold Stone only had a slight drizzle of room-temperature fudge on top. Next time I return to Cold Stone, though, I'll probably stick to one of the tried-and-true Signature Creations. Next, I headed over to Dairy Queen. Ivy Carbone Like Cold Stone Creamery, Dairy Queen has a signature menu item: the Blizzard. These blended creations are made with soft-serve ice cream and a variety of customizable mix-ins. The chain also offers classic soft-serve options and sundaes. In sticking to my original mission, I ordered the medium hot-fudge sundae, which included just ice cream and fudge. I couldn't get enough of the warm, thick fudge. Ivy Carbone Although Dairy Queen's hot-fudge sundae didn't come with whipped cream or a cherry, I was impressed by the copious amount of delicious fudge. It was thick, hot, and chocolatey. The vanilla soft-serve was good too, and had a delightfully airy texture. At $6.79, this was the cheapest — and simplest — of the three ice-cream treats I tried. For my final stop, I went to Carvel. Ivy Carbone Finally, I went to Carvel, a chain known for its ice-cream cakes, soft and hard ice-cream options, and blended treats. When I ordered a hot-fudge sundae here, I finally heard the golden words I'd been hoping for — "Would you like whipped cream and a cherry?" Yes. Yes I did. In my opinion, Carvel provided the perfect hot-fudge sundae. Ivy Carbone The $8.52 sundae from Carvel delivered everything I was looking for — vanilla ice cream, hot fudge that was actually hot, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. The ice cream had a rich, creamy, and almost nostalgic flavor to it. The fudge was good, too, but I definitely preferred the thicker version from Dairy Queen. Overall, though, this was a really solid hot-fudge sundae — and the clear winner out of the three options I tried. Read the original article on Business Insider