Several fast food chains have offered Dr Pepper shakes, but I had yet to try one.
Whataburger, whose locations are thousands of miles away from me, is one chain that comes to mind because every time its Dr Pepper Shake returns, I’m reminded of it via many Facebook and Instagram ads. The regional chain also sold a Dr Pepper Blackberry Shake last year. Another chain that comes to mind is Burger King, which has a location three miles from me. It had a limited time Dr Pepper shake, but I missed it.
So I wouldn’t feel FOMO, I instantly took the opportunity to try Jack in the Box’s Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream Shake, blended with Dr Pepper and strawberry flavors, then topped with whipped cream. While Jack in the Box isn’t the first to offer a shake flavored like the iconic soda, it is the first fast food chain to sell one flavored like Dr Pepper’s Strawberries & Cream soda, a permanent Dr Pepper variety.
With this being Jack in the Box, which loves to add Oreo crumbs to limited-time shakes, I’m surprised chocolate cookie crumbs didn’t find their way in here, too. I kid, but also not really, because Oreo crumbs really do find their way into a lot of Jack’s new shakes.
The menu item has a tan-pink color that my phone’s camera couldn’t quite capture, but it looks more appropriate at Sephora than in a sippable dessert. But I guess that’s what happens when you Bob Ross red strawberry syrup, brown Dr Pepper syrup, and white vanilla ice cream together.
As for its flavor, it initially tasted more like a telehealth appointment through my phone with Dr Pepper than a face-to-face office visit. The strawberry was stronger than the Dr Pepper most of the time. The difference was big enough that I could probably convince you it’s just a regular strawberry shake, if I could hide its Ulta Beauty foundation-like color. A light cream flavor was present, but I’m not sure whether it came from the whipped cream or the vanilla base.
But after mixing everything a bit more thoroughly, the Dr Pepper stood out a bit more, and the two main flavors had a better balance. The Dr Pepper syrup added a noticeable cherry note along with hints of the soda’s famous 23 flavors. I really began to enjoy it once that balance came together.
Jack in the Box’s Dr Pepper Strawberry & Cream Shake is a delightful, delicious treat. When mixed well, it gets across its Dr Pepper and strawberry flavors. It’s worth traveling a few miles to try it.
Purchased Price: $6.29*
Size: Regular
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 680 calories. No other nutritional information is available on the Jack in the Box website.
*Because I live on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.
