Free Birthday Treats That Help You Celebrate More and Spend Less

Disclosure: Grounded in Thyme earns a small commission from some affiliate links at no extra cost. Full Disclosures & Disclaimers.

Free Birthday Treats ~ Ice Cream & Sweet Treats Edition

Who doesn’t love a FREE Sweet Treat?
Your birthday is the perfect excuse for ice cream, cake, and a little extra joy. We’ve gathered the best spots offering free and discounted birthday sweet treats—because you’re a big deal, and your birthday deserves dessert. You just have to play the game a tiny bit.

Make sure you do all the things to get your FREE & Discounted Birthday Ice Cream & Sweets. Download our FREE Birthday Checklist!

Free Birthday Ice Cream & Sweet Treats List

This is always a work in progress, check back often!

Applebee’s – FREE birthday dessert Sign up for Club Applebee’s.
Arby’s – Birthday Perk with Arby’s Rewards which typically includes a free dessert like a milkshake with the purchase of another regular-priced item.
Bakers Square – FREE slice of pie when you sign up for their eClub.
Baskin-Robbins – FREE Scoop after your first qualified purchase & Free Scoop on your birthday!
Ben & Jerry’s – FREE scoop of ice cream on your birthday.
BJ’s Restaurant – offers a birthday reward where members of their Premier Rewards PLUS program can receive a free Pizookie® available seven days before or after their birthday.
Buca di Beppo – FREE Colossal Brownie Sundae during your birthday month with the purchase of a pasta, entrée, salad, or pizza when you sign up for their eClub. Additionally, new eClub members get a free small pasta shortly after joining.
Carrabba’s Italian Grill – FREE dessert and other exclusive offers for members celebrating their birthday. Joining the program allows you to enjoy these perks during your birthday month

Carvel – Carvel Fan Club members start enjoying sweet perks from day one. You’ll get a Buy One, Get One FREE sundae just for signing up, plus a free birthday reward.
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen – FREE dessert for members of their eClub on their birthday.
Cheesecake Factory – FREE slice of cheesecake on your birthday with any purchase. However, you must make a food or beverage purchase to qualify for this reward.
Chick-fil-A – Chick-fil-A One rewards program members can receive a FREE item on their birthday, which varies by membership tier.
Chili’s – FREE dessert on your birthday for members of their My Chili’s Rewards® program.
Cold Stone Creamery – A welcome Buy One, Get One FREE Creation, 25 Bonus Points loaded to your account (that’s halfway to a $5 Reward!) and a reward every year on your birthday when you sign up.
Crumbl Cookies – Silver Status Member and above enjoy a FREE Single voucher to use on your birthday.
Dairy Queen – offers birthday rewards to members of the DQ® Rewards program, typically including a FREE treat like a Blizzard. To receive this offer, you must complete at least one order of $1 or more within 45 days leading up to your birthday while signed into your account.
Del Taco – offers a Birthday Reward earns a Regular-Sized Shake with any purchase.
Dippin’Dots – FREE Dippin’Dots on your birthday.
Krispy Kreme – FREE donut for joining with any purchase and birthday a sweet birthday gift.
Olive Garden – FREE dessert on your birthday when they dine with them, when you sign up.
Panera Bread – FREE pastry or sweet for members of the MyPanera Rewards program.
Papa John’s – Birthday Reward during your birthday month with a FREE dessert.
Popeyes – FREE apple pie when they share their birthday with the restaurant. Join the Popeyes Rewards program.

How to cash in on Free Birthday Sweet Treats!

I know. Signing up for email lists feels like inviting clutter into your life. But hear me out.

Most birthday rewards only go to loyalty members—email, app, or rewards program required. My best advice?
Sign up about a month before your birthday.

Does it mean you can’t do it the week of? No.
Does it mean some places won’t recognize your birthday in time if you wait too long? Unfortunately… yes.

Think of it like giving the system time to notice you exist.

If a place you love has an app, go ahead and download it—even if you swear you won’t use it again until next year.

Why?

Some birthday drinks live only inside the app
Some rewards won’t show up in email at all
Some places require you to “activate” the offer

Is it mildly inconvenient? Yes.
Is a free latte or cocktail worth it? Also yes.

Birthday rewards usually start rolling in 1–7 days before your birthday. Not always on the actual day, which feels rude, but okay.

Check:

Email (including promotions + spam folders)
App notifications
Rewards sections inside apps

Pro tip from someone who’s missed a free drink before:
Set a calendar reminder to check your rewards.

Future-you will be grateful.

Some birthday drinks are:

🎁 Totally free, no strings attached (angels walk among us)
🧾 Free with a small purchase
⏳ Only valid for a few days

None of this is bad—it’s just good to know before you’re standing in line emotionally committed to a free drink that requires a snack purchase.

Still a win. Just a slightly different kind.

The Bottom Line

Your birthday is not the time to be financially responsible in spirit—only in strategy.

Join the programs. Download the apps. Watch your inbox. Read the fine print.
Then celebrate another year of being a functional-ish human with a drink you didn’t fully pay for.

Celebrate more. Spend less.
And if you stack three (or more) birthday deals in one day?
I support you. Fully.

Want to save even more on your birthday?
Check out ALL our Birthday Freebies!

Know of a place that we missed! Let us know in the comments!