T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – The Dole Whip Becomes A (Delicious) Cake

There are some snacks at Walt Disney World that are just so iconic that they are not only “must-haves”, but they are the source of obsessions and dreams for many people (myself included sometimes – I admit it!). The Dole Whip is FOR SURE one of those – it’s a Disney snack that people line up for rain or shine, no matter how long the wait – it’s worth it. And if you’re at home and wishing for the perfect dole whip-inspired dessert, wish no more – as it is here. The Dole Whip Cake has arrived to make all your dreams come true:

There were actually quite a few steps to making the cake – there was the cake itself, the filling, and the frosting – both of which required stove time, fridge time, and then mixing too – but I would say overall it was worth it – the cake turned out moist and flavorful, and the frosting was rich and creamy. It was a winner with my big man and my little man:

…Ok so maybe this cake won’t actually make dreams come true, but it certainly can curb those “I miss Disney world” blues that you might experience post-trip, and it is also the absolutely perfect thing to bring along to that summer picnic you were invited to and had no idea what you were going to bring – dole whip cake is here to solve that dilemma! TGIF – and happy baking!

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – Top WDW Ice Cream Treats

June has arrived! And Even though the calendar says it’s not officially summer yet, I personally have always thought of June as summertime – which around here in Upstate NY means climbing temperatures, and humidity too! It’s been in the 80’s all this week, and it’s a nice departure from the lackluster Spring we have been having. One of my favorite ways to celebrate the arrival of summer is with ICE CREAM – it’s the perfect way to cool off on a hot day!

Speaking of hot days….the start of June also means the start of the heat at Walt Disney World – and those of you who head to Disney in the summer months can expect not only high temperatures, but also humidity that is so thick you feel like you’re wearing it like a winter coat! Ice cream is vitally important on those hot summer days at the Disney Parks, and here are a few of my personal favorites:

If you’re super into ice cream (which, let’s face it, who isn’t?), you can try and tackle the “Kitchen Sink” served at Beaches and Cream – it features vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee and mint chocolate chip ice creams smothered in ALL THE TOPPINGS – and while it technically serves 4, I have heard rumors of people finishing it off on their own!

If you’re not sure you can handle the full size sink, then this Mickey’s Kitchen Sink might be a better pick for you – and it comes in a super adorable souvenir “sink” that you can take home with you!

The smell of the Ghiradelli ice cream parlor in Disney Springs hits you long before you reach its entrance – and even if there’s a long line (which there often is) – it’s WELL worth the wait! I personally love the Gold Rush Sundae – ice cream smothered in amazing house made hot fudge and peanut butter – but there are plenty of other delicious options to choose from here

Ok well this one isn’t technically “ice cream” – but the citrus-y taste of a dole whip or float is the perfect way to cool off on a hot day

And of course there’s the classic Mickey Bar – vanilla ice cream covered in chocolate, in the shape of everyone’s favorite Mouse – it’s an iconic treat that’s a must have for me every time I’m at Disney!

Ice Cream (like most everything else) tastes better at Disney World, and there are plenty of places to find this cool treat all over WDW – whether it’s in a cone, on a stick, in a cup, or in a sink – there’s plenty of ice cream options to help satisfy your sweet tooth AND keep you cool while you tour the WDW Theme Parks

TGIF – and happy (almost) Summer!

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – Feeling “Spring-y” Thanks To The Epcot Flower And Garden Festival!

It’s almost April, it’s officially been Spring for almost a week now – and to me, this is a big deal. Not because I love spring (I actually don’t, oddly enough), but because this winter has been BRUTAL for the Northeast US – and I am SO over it. All of the signs of spring give me hope – including the signs that are popping up at WDW – like the 2014 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival – a sure sign of Spring, this annual festival runs from March 5th -May 18th, and features beautiful topiaries, thousands of flowers, amazing landscaping, presentations by your favorite HGTV stars, and tons of great food too! The food part is relatively new, as the festival has started to add more “food booths” – featuring fresh and locally grown produce delivered in new and delicious ways!

Here is just some of what you can expect to see at this year’s festival:

Flowers, characters made of flowers, delicious food, rum spiked dole whips – what a way to celebrate spring!

TGIF

Delicious Disney Desserts– At Home!

I have written before about various Disney cookbooks and online resources like Magical Recipes where you can go to get Disney recipes, and I have to say, I really do love recreating these at home – especially the desserts! I love baking (I love it so much I even blog about it), and I love recreating Disney treats at home too, so I decided I would pull together a list of my faves to share with you:

Top 5 Disney DIY Baked Goods:

 

 

 

Double Chocolate cookies – These are easy to make, and delicious – who doesn’t love chocolate plus more chocolate? You can find these at The Main Street Bakery in Disney’s Magic Kingdom – pair them with a tall glass of milk and you have a delicious snack (or breakfast perhaps? No judgment here)

 

Butterfinger Cupcakes – These are simply amazing – it’s a chocolate cupcake with a fudge center, and its topped with a mound of whipped frosting covered in a chocolate shell encrusted with butterfinger pieces. It’s a lot to take in, but it’s a perfect snack to share (or not share, depending on how hungry you are!). You can find these at Starring Roles over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Carrot cake cookies – a must try at the Writer’s Stop in Hollywood Studios – with two moist cookies encasing a mound of delicious frosting – this treat will satisfy that sweet tooth of yours for sure

Chocolate peanut butter sandwich – graham crackers and peanut butter and chocolate combine to make the perfect treat (not to mention one that’s easy to recreate at home!). These squares of yumminess can be found at the Main Street Bakery in the Magic Kingdom

 

 

Dole Whip –Ok, so this one doesn’t technically count as “baking”, but it IS a Disney cult classic that is loved by all – it’s simple, refreshing, and tropically delicious

I also write weekly articles over at Chip and Company and I have been doing a series on Disney DIY recipes, which has been super fun, to research recipes used at the Parks and try them out and write about them – talk about a delicious experiment!

I highly recommend you give these and my others over at Chip and Co a try at home – whether you are having a party or you’re just hungry for that Disney Magic!

Adult WDW – A Dole Whip With A “Twist”

The 2013 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is in full swing, and in addition to the tons of beautiful topiaries, celebrity appearances, and live concerts – there are also some deliciously unique fresh food offerings, like BBQ meat and craft beer pairings, Mexican tapas, and much more, including this beauty:

The Rum Spiced Dole Whip

So they take the traditional Dole Whip and add some delicious Siesta Key Spiced Rum for a delicious adults-only treat!

Head over to the Pineapple Promenade booth for this and other delicious treats – like pineapple upside down cake, and a non alcoholic version of the Dole Whip is available here too

And what could be more perfect than enjoying a delicious frozen Dole Whip with Rum while walking around Epcot and taking in all the sights and sounds?