I am SO excited!! Dessert!!!
Here’s the final post in our series based on the Food Network’s (very cool) show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate. As many of you know, due to some keen suggestions from readers we’re splitting our series up into different sections: breakfast, appetizers & side dishes, snacks & drinks, entrees (lunch & dinner), and desserts.
Today, we’re finallly taking a look at desserts! I’ve done my favorite brand of informal polling (i.e. posted questions on twitter and facebook 😉 ) to find out others’ experiences of the “Best Thing They Ever Ate” in Disney parks and resorts.
The following are the answers received from our readers about their favorite desserts! If your favorites aren’t here, please add them in the comments section below!
Yak and Yeti Cream Cheese and Pineapple Fried Won-tons: While I haven’t had the pleasure of trying these myself, you can bet Yak and Yeti is the first place I’m going when I arrive in September! (No kidding…it’s my first ADR…even before Liberty Tree Tavern lunch, and you guys KNOW how we feel about Liberty Tree Tavern lunch!)
Dole Whip: What better dessert than the Dole Whip!? This soft-serve loveliness won’t set your budget back that much — caloric OR financial! Better yet, you can get them in Disney World AND Disneyland!
Deep Fried Oreos: We can thank the legendary Chef TJ for these! Chef TJ spent a lot of time at Boma, and has since moved over to ‘Ohana (I’ve heard he’s moved to the Grand Floridian — can anyone confirm?), but he’s been known to create a plate full of delectable fried Oreos for many a Disney guest, myself included! Basically, these are simply Oreo cookies dipped in batter and fried so they’re warm and ooey-gooey inside. When we received ours one night many years ago at Boma, Chef TJ told us they were an old African recipe. 😉 Unfortunately, I don’t have a pic of these. If you’ve got one out there, send it along and we’ll post it!
Boma Zebra Domes: Nope, they’re not made of Zebra, I promise, but they do resemble the distinctive markings you see on these graceful African animals. Zebra domes are served at the Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Boma restaurant, and have been making a stir ever since their first appearance. With the main ingredient list including espresso, heavy cream, and Kahlua, you can see how decadent these taste and how addictive they are!
Hollywood Brown Derby Grapefruit Cake: A famous confection from Hollywood’s glamorous past, the grapefruit cake was invented at the original Hollywood Brown Derby and has been recreated in the most recent Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios. The story behind the cake was that it was made to fulfill a request for a “healthy” dessert by one of Hollywood’s renowned gossip columnists; at the time, the grapefruit diet craze was at its peak! The cake, with its cream cheese frosting and grapefruit sauce, has elements of tangy, sweet, and bitter, so it’s definitely a flavor symphony!
Ghirardelli Gold Rush Sundae: This incredible ice cream sundae event can be found at Disney World’s Downtown Disney Ghirardelli shop. The sundae is made with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, and melted peanut butter, and its topped with whipped cream, chopped almonds, and a cherry. If you like this, you’ll love the No Way Jose at Beaches and Cream — another confection created with melted peanut butter and hot fudge!
UPDATE: Please note that the Gold Rush Sundae is no longer being served at Ghirardelli’s as of March 2015.
‘Ohana Bananas Foster Bread Pudding: This gorgeous dessert is worth the price of the meal. It’s served at the Polynesian Resort’s ‘Ohana“>’Ohana restaurant and comes along with an all-you-can-eat price, which means you can keep asking for more (yay!). The dish begins with a moderately sweet bread pudding with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, but the real magic begins when you pour the little jug of bananas foster caramel sauce over the top. Outstanding, and simply one of my favorite desserts in Disney World.
Le Cellier Maple Creme Brulee: I’m not sure we can have a Best Of list that Le Cellier doesn’t feature prominently in! This time, a reader favorite is the Maple Creme Brulee. This creamy, indulgent dessert has a hint of maple syrup — one of Canada’s specialty ingredients, of course — but the sweetness isn’t overwhelming at all. If you’re a creme brulee lover, please, please try this!
Boulangerie Patisserie Napoleon: Epcot’s Boulangerie Patisserie won our Bakery Throw Down, so of course it would get a mention from our readers in the Best Thing I Ever Ate series! These Napoleons are light, airy, and oh-so-decadent! But Napoleon pastry is mostly air…and whipped cream is mostly air…and all that air has to cut down on the actual calories, right?
Liberty Tree Tavern Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake: Another of my favorite desserts makes the cut! This fantabulous Liberty Tree Tavern concoction of vanilla cake, chocolate chips, caramel sauce, and ice cream seems like the easiest thing in the world, but the taste will have you craving more as soon as you walk out the door. It is an incredible dessert. I can’t say enough about this one. Easy, simple, but incredible.
Tutto Italia Profiteroles: If you put ice cream into pastry and cover it with chocolate sauce, I’m pretty much a happy AJ, and apparently I have a few fellow profiterole fans out there! These Tutto Italia specialties have an incredible taste and texture — the melting ice cream slowly seeps into the pastry, and when you scoop it all up with the chocolate it’s just amazing. They have a similar item on the menu at Les Chefs de France. Both dishes are highly recommended.
Artist Point Berry Cobbler: This dessert has had several incarnations as the different chefs move in and out of the kitchen at Wilderness Lodge’s Artist Point, but almost every version has been a hit with guests. A very simple dish, the dessert usually consists of a heavy, cakey blueberry cobbler covered with seasonal berries like blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries and garnished with huckleberry ice cream. To read more and see my very own homemade version of the cobbler, check out this guest post I did over at Cookie Madness.net.
Sunshine Seasons Strawberry Shortcake: Since I started writing the Disney Food Blog I haven’t stopped hearing about this Strawberry Shortcake at Sunshine Seasons in Epcot’s The Land pavilion! I’ve never tried it, but I can’t wait to dig into what looks like an incredible dessert/snack/breakfast… 😉
Now, this is by no means an exhaustive list of the delicious desserts available in Disney restaurants and counter-service spots — it’s just a snap-shot list from a few of our readers! If you didn’t get a chance to chime in with your favorite, please add to the list in our comments section below! Have you had a not-to-be-missed dessert in Disney? Let us know your “Best Thing I Ever Ate in Disney!”
For other posts in this series, check out these links:
The Five Best Things I Ate in Disneyland
The Best Thing I Ever Ate at Disney!: Breakfast
The Best Thing I Ever Ate at Disney!: Appetizers and Side Dishes
The Best Thing I Ever Ate at Disney!: Snacks & Drinks
The Best Thing I Ever Ate at Disney!: Entrees
Photo Credits — All photos were submitted to the Disney Food Blog Flickr Pool:
Berry Cobbler courtesy C. Relacion
Chrissy says
The cream cheese and pineapple fried wontons are AMAZING. I’m not a big dessert eater, but when we go to Yak and Yeti, I make sure to have those! YUM! They’re served with strawberries and vanilla ice cream with a mint leaf. It’s making my mouth water just thinking about them.
My mom loves the grapefruit cake at the Hollywood Brown Derby, and I prefer the creme brulee from there rather than the one at Le Cellier.
Renee says
It’s not something that’s necessarly the Best Thing I’ve eaten, but I NEED to have a tye-dye cheesecake when I’m at Disney. For me that’s a pure WDW dessert and no trip is complete without it.
Jennifer says
I love the sticky toffee pudding at Rose and Cown!!!
Liz says
Mmmmm…..I’ve had most of these desserts and they are all fantastic!! The only two I haven’t tried are the fried wontons and the grapefruit cake, but I can remedy that on my next trip to Disney 🙂
Dana says
I’m going to second the tye-dye cheesecake—-it’s not the best cheesecake ever, but it is the most fun to eat! I always have to have one every trip as well. Does anyone remember the Twinkie Tiramisu that Pop used to have? It was heavenly as well!
My favorite thing is the chocolate dipped bananas you can get at almost any ice cream cart in WDW. For me, I always have to get one in the Animal Kingdom. And it’s a banana, so it’s almost healthy, right?
Melissa says
I usually just enjoy reading your posts, but I had to leave a comment this time. I have had those fried cream cheese wontons from Yak & Yeti and I totally agree that it was one of the best desserts that I’ve had. I’ve also had the berry cobbler from Artist Point, but the fried cream cheese wontons totally hit it out of the park. We are going to Disney in 11 days and that is the meal I am looking forward to just to get the wontons!!! thank you for posting them in your “Best Thing I Ever Ate” series!
Erin says
We just went to California Grill to celebrate our anniversary (July 26th). They had just added Chocolate Creme Brulee to their dessert menu on the day we had dinner (July 30). Neither of us were hungry enough for a whole dessert after dinner but it was TO DIE FOR!!!! I highly recommend. If it hadn’t had been such a classy restuarant, I would have licked the plate clean!
rhyeck says
My favorite dessert is at Whispering Canyon… APPLE-CARMEL PIE!!! The crust is made of sugar cookie dough. YUM!
Morgan says
I have to add to this list the gone, but not forgotten, House-made Lemon Curd with Sour Cream Ice Cream and Blueberry Compote at Jiko. Probably one of my favorite desserts of all time! And who doesn’t love a dole whip? But I must admit, I find Zebra Domes to be vile!
Heather says
Almond crusted cheesecake from narcoossees and choc wave from coral reef!
Erin De Santiago says
I still think the best thing I’ve eaten at Disney (besides any of my meals at Club 33, which of course are heavenly) is dim sum from Hong Kong Disneyland. Apart from being cleverly displayed, the quality of the food was on par with some of the better dim sum restaurants I have eaten at here in Asia.
http://www.examiner.com/x-43713-Worldwide-Disney-Theme-Parks-Examiner~y2010m4d9-Hong-Kong-Disneyland-Hotel-features-Disneythemed-Dim-Sum-at-Crystal-Lotus-Restaurant
Erin De Santiago says
I should clarify some of the dim sum dishes are desserts in Chinese culture, although probably not considered as such by others – Chinese desserts tend to be less sweet than Western desserts, which I like — makes me feel less guilty about pigging out!
Anna Skamarakas says
I love the Zebra Domes, and just wanted to share that if you don’t have time or can’t get a reservation at Boma, you can get them in the grab and go section at The Mara at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Thanks to my daughter, Brighid, who is in the Disney College program working at The Mara for that great tip – my big butt needed more immediate access to these delicious desserts!
Molly says
This is a great post! I haven’t had the grapefruit cake, but ther recipe for it is in one of the Disney cookbooks and I’ve always wanted to try and make it. I have reservations at the Hollywood Brown Derby in November, so I’ll have to try it out then.
Sassagoula Billy says
Again, no love for Kringla bakeri og cafe’s Rice Cream. I tell you, it’s THE hidden gem of the Walt Disney World Resort!
Southern Web Girl says
SO WITH YOU on ak and Yeti Cream Cheese and Pineapple Fried Won-tons. AMAZING! In my top 3 desserts, along with Cali Grill Meyer Lemon Cheesecake and Citrico’s Tropical Fruit Creme Brulee.
And Zebra Domes, Dole Whip, Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake, Le Cellier Maple Creme Brulee, and Ohana Bread Pudding … all wonderful!
I think we’ll have to try a counter service meal at Sunshine Seasons, that strawberry shortcake looks amazing! Amd the grapefruit cake … I’ve got to at least TRY it at some point, right?
Jill says
Oh the bread pudding!!! Could hardly walk after that meal but stuffed that pudding down my throat like I was getting paid to do it! Justified because it has a fruit in it! Love these lists, thanks!
Cody says
Desserts! My favorite! My favorite desserts from Around WDW include, Le Cellier’s Camp Fire S’mores… delish!, Orange Sunshine (i think that’s what it is) from Beaches and Cream, Molten Chocolate Cake from Cape May Cafe, and i loved the Chocolate/Raspberry Cake from Captain’s Grille….
Oh, and you did include my other favorites, the Profiteroles from Tutto Italia and of course, a Dole Whip
Lynne says
Ahhh…my strawberry shortcake! Just can’t find one anywhere else that is THAT good.
Betsy says
The ice cream/chocolate chip cookie sandwich at the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor or the Sleepy Hollow!!! (these places serve them with cookies fresh from the oven…the resort food courts have them but they are NOT as tasty)
Liz says
I think we need a “2nd best thing I ever ate at Disney” post 😉
Janna says
Hmmm – I may need to look into a Yak & Yeti ADR now…
I am also bookmarking this list!
I LOVE the Napoleon from France.
AJ says
Chrissy — I haven’t had the won-tons, but I can’t WAIT to try them. I went to Yak and Yeti when they first opened and had no idea of the loveliness!
Renee — We’re staying at Pop in two months and you KNOW I’m gettin’ me some tie-dye cheesecake! 🙂
Jennifer — I’m a recent convert to the sticky toffee pudding!
Liz — Definitely! The grapefruit cake takes some getting used to, but the cream cheese frosting helps with all that. 😉
Dana — How do you EAT those bananas? They’re rock hard! I always just end up gnawing on them until they’re all sticky 😉
Melissa — Thanks for commenting (you should do it more often!) 🙂 Have a wonderful trip in 11 days!! How exciting!!
Erin — NOT fair! I don’t have Cali Grill on the docket for this upcoming trip! NOT cool telling me there’s chocolate creme brulee!
rhyeck — I’m getting that in October, too! I’ve heard SO many great reviews about the Apple Caramel pie!
Morgan — You know I’m with you. That’s still one of my top three desserts in WDW EVER!
We’re the lemon curd twins.
Heather — YAY! Two more that I can try on my upcoming trip!
Erin D S — You’re just here to make everyone jealous that you get to go to all the exotic Disney parks, aren’t you? 😉
Anna — I love that feature that you can get the Zebra Domes (and hummus from Boma, too!) at the Mara! Thanks for the comment! Still planning on doing that interview!
Molly — Let us know what you think!
Billy — I got your rice cream right here! 😉 Agreed — a wonderful cult favorite in WDW!
SWG — Don’t forget you can try the grapefruit cake by ordering it take-out over at Starring Rolls (I think!)
Jill — Your comment made me laugh out loud! I love it!
Cody! We found things you’re not too picky to try! 😉 Just kidding, you know I’m picky, too, but I’ll try just about any dessert on the list!
Lynne — It looks amazing!
Betsy — I love me some homemade chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches!!
Liz — I think so, too! This might have to be a yearly series! 😉
CanadiansloveWDW says
the creme brulee @ le cellier is amazing ( too bad its going to be 2 meal credits starting next year) we are not going to ohana this year but the bread pudding is the best to my wifes annoyance i drank the remaining sauce from the pitcher it is that good.. i will have to try a dole whip this year… CANT WAIT ONLY 19 MORE DAYS
Katie says
I’m kind of embarrassed. My experience with desserts at Disney is VERY limited. Although your entry makes me wish it wasn’t. We’re definitely going to try the Cream Cheese and Pineapple Fried Wontons at Yak and Yeti…and unfortunately, we haven’t had much luck at getting ADR at the most of the rest of those restaurants, but we can always dream.
I have to second (or is it third or fourth?) the tye-dye cheesecake. Yum! There’s just something so magical and…Disney about that cheesecake. And I also love the churros from Cantina de San Angel (when it’s open).
Thanks for another great entry! I now have to go and read the other installments for The Best Thing I Ever Ate at Disney series. It’s one of my favorite shows and a GREAT idea for a series. Thanks again!
Heather I. says
I’d have to say the No Way Jose sundae at Beaches & Cream- so rich and decadent! And I agree with an above comment about the chocolate covered bananas throughout the parks, those always hit the spot for me!
Angela says
I made a reservation for Yak and Yeti for my upcoming trip JUST for the wontons. I’m probably just going to get an app for dinner just to make sure I have enough room for dessert. Hooo baby. It was years ago that I tried it, and I swear I have dreams of them still!
Oh and the Ohana bread pudding is also ohhh so wonderful! And zebra domes! Man, I love dessert. I second the chocolate wave from coral reef, it was fantastic!
Angela says
Although, based on the picture and comments… is the wonton dessert no longer with pineapple?! Strawberries instead?!!! Oh the horrors! The pineapple was hugely (um, after the cream cheese) what I loved about it. I’ll still get it, but darn that’s a disappointment. I’m not a big strawberry fan and I love love love pineapple.
Angela says
Oh, found the answer to my question. Pineapple is still there… and fried on the skewer with the rest, PHEW! Disaster averted.
Kerry says
We loved the S’More dessert from Le Cellier, it is so awesome! We did not like the grapefruit cake at the Brown Derby, we found it bitter. It was my birthday when we went to the Brown Derby and they served a special chocolate mousse cake type dessert, it was the other best dessert we’ve ever had at Disney! My entire family also loved the Ker’s Bread and Butter Pudding at Ragland Road in Downtown Disney, I make it at home often, we love Ragland Road.
Galloping Gourmand says
Due to my (non insulin) diabetes I spend much less time on desert at Disney than i should. I tend to snack on the occasional sweet but don’t eat them at sit down meals.
Those look lovely. Just… sigh… lovely.
Erin De Santiago says
HA HA AJ…I am the jealous one! I think I am going to gain 20 lbs going to WDW…I am completely jealous of you – I have only been to WDW two times in my entire life! Growing up DL California was not known for its food so I lived a deprived life, but making up for it now! LOL
marci says
I HAVE to try the fried wontons now that I’ve read this post! omg, sounds so good! Are they available at the to go/counter service area though or only at the table service restaurant?
and while everything on your list looks amazing, I have to vouch for the Ohana Bananas Foster Bread Pudding! Right now this is my favorite dessert on property! I am a bit sad that we won’t be eating at Ohana on our next trip because I will miss the dessert! It is literally like heaven on a plate.. so good in fact that last christmas season my family found the recipe online and recreated it at home. It was good, but not as good as eating it at the Poly! Great post!
Jeff C. says
MANGO PIE! I don’t even care for mangos but I had this at the Yak & Yeti 2 years ago and STILL talk about it…..
Dana says
I LOVE the best thing I ever ate series! I am actually keeping a “Disney Journal” and writing down all of the food I want to try once I’m there. (Dole whips and their float counterparts are high on the list.) I might even catch a ride or two between munching! 😉
Debra Peterson says
Oh, I have to go with the ‘Ohana Bread Pudding as a personal favorite, although I’ve quite enjoyed the Hollywood Brown Derby Grapefruit Cake as something I wouldn’t normally try.
I’m definitely putting Yak and Yeti Cream Cheese and Pineapple Fried Won-tons and the Artist Point Berry Cobbler on my list for a future trip – maybe January, Marathon Weekend (after I’ve earned the indulgences, of course).
For pure silly fun with a group, though, I just have to say folks should try the Kitchen Sink. It made me feel like I was 8 years old. 🙂
James Chapman says
AJ, I’m pretty sure that if you haven’t already done this, you seriously need to create some type of ‘The Best of List” that people can print and take with them to WDW for their dinning pleasure. I can’t speak for everyone else, but I’d love to know what is highly recommended by others when I’m trying to decide on what to order. 🙂 I think a small “DisneyFoodBlog Best Food Recommended by our Foodies” book/app is in order! I’d be more than happy to shoot the photos!!!
robin says
hey AJ! i’ve been MIA lately & am just now enjoying your posts. of all the desserts listed, the cream cheese & pineapple wontons sound the most innovative. i’m really looking forward to your pics & review! and i can’t wait to try them myself!!! 🙂
Josh says
The mention of the Deep Fried Oreos reminds me of the show I was watching on the Food Network one day a while back. It’s this place that lets you bring in any food item and they will deep fry them for you!
Out of all of these dessert items, the most exquisite that I have made is the Creme Brulee. They are actually quite fun to make!
By far, out of all of these items I would have to say that the Dole Whip would still have to be my favourite by far.
I’m a bit saddened that the Tigger Tail didn’t make the list though, as that is probably the best sugar high next to the Kitchen Sink. (hint, hint. ;))
Sheri Morris says
I can confirm that Chef TJ is at the Grand Floridan. My husband and I saw him there at 1900 Park Fare in January, 2011. He was not at O’Hana’s much to our dismay. We missed having him prepare the “tower of Vegan deliciousness” during our last trip!!!
Andrea says
LOVE this series and have jotted down many ‘must eats’ 🙂 I am not a dessert person but never miss the Cream Cheese and Pineapple Fried Won-tons…delicious!
Mandy Jansen says
Ooo… I had some of these on my February trip! The strawberry shortcake at Sunshine Seasons, Dole Whip (Float), ‘Ohana bread pudding… YUM! My mom had the Napoleon from the France pavilion. But I hate to say it… I tried the zebra domes and didn’t like them! The flavor was not what I expected and not to my taste. That leaves more for others, I suppose!
Now I want to try those pineapple won tons!
cindy says
When we visited in January, the Ohana bread pudding was on the buffet at the Grand Floridian dinner with Cinderella/Stepsisters/Stepmother, too! We had just been at Ohana the previous evening……….not a problem for me to eat it two nights in a row!
Kathy says
So many great ones listed but I’m with Jeff C. — the Mango Pie at Yak & Yeti is a big draw for our family. So delicious!
JoAnn says
I want to try the Yak and Yeti Cream Cheese and Pineapple Fried Won-tons. Do they sell these at the cafe or only the main restaurant?
AJ says
JoAnn — To my knowledge, they’re only sold at the Restaurant, not the cafe.
JoAnn says
I made an ADR at Yak and Yeti just to have the Cream Cheese and Pineapple Fried Won-tons for dessert.
Lenny says
By far the best dessert ever was the Chocolate Souffle with Peanut Butter ice cream or peanut butter syrup at Cal Grill and then at Flying Fish! My wife and I had it a number of years back, and from then on we would call before every trip and let them know we were coming. They would prepare it for us when we got there! It was amazing!!
Marcy says
Did I miss it or did no one mention the Everything AND the Kitchen Sink? Fun to eat with family & friends just for the memory alone of the huge pedestal sink serving dish and the tons of ice cream & toppings! Yes, it’s a huge version of your standard sundae, so may not rate up there with some of the more fancy desserts, but I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone for the memories alone! 2 scoops each: Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, 1 scoop each: Mint Chocolate Chip, Mocha, Angel Food Cake, Bundt Cake, Brownies, Oreos, Milky Way Candy bar pieces, Peanut Butter, Hot Fudge, Strawberry Sauce, Butterscotch, Caramel, Bananas, Cherries, Sprinkles and a WHOLE CAN of whipped cream. Yum!
David Seymour says
The Chocolate Wave at the Coral Reef is the dessert that stands out the best for me. Though I do like the little chocolate cakes you can get at some counter resturants. I liek to carry them around and eat them for a snack later so they are handy.
Thanks for the fun topic!
David