Summary of Top Snacks and Desserts at Universal Orlando
You are bound to develop a serious case of the munchies after experiencing the wild and wonderful rides at Universal Orlando. In between surviving an amazing adventure with Spider-Man and getting turned into a Minion, you are going to want to refuel and you just might crave something sweet. Fortunately, the resort’s two parks, CityWalk complex, and hotels offer plenty of great things on which to munch. In fact, there are so many decadent and delightful goodies, you’ll be thanking us for narrowing down the list to the top 10 best snacks and desserts.
Before we dive into the best munchies, “desserts and snacks” refer to (mostly) sweet items sold at food carts and stands as well as great meal-enders offered at quick-service and table-service restaurants. It also includes beverages, which have become a Universal specialty.
01. Butterbeer
Offered cold, frozen, and warm, butterbeer isn’t just delicious; it’s downright addictive. Since it was introduced, no trip to the Universal parks is complete without at least one cup of this heavenly treat. Sales of the beverage must be making the goblins at Gringotts Bank happy.
Try a butterbeer for yourself, and you’ll understand why the hype is for real. You’ll love the white and frothy topping that is poured over the frozen concoction (although you’ll inevitably get a white mustache). Between the cold and frozen versions, we recommend you go for the frozen. In the winter months, butterbeer is also available as a hot beverage.
- Served at multiple locations throughout both Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure
02. Milkshakes
Nearly everything on the menu at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen is scrumptious, including the savory dishes. However, the milkshakes are to die for. They are prepared with a wild and abundant collection of ingredients. For instance, the Red Velvet shake is prepared with an entire cupcake blended into the creamy beverage and is topped with… an entire second cupcake. An extra-wide straw is inserted through the center of the cupcake atop the shake so that you can slurp up the thick concoction. Yes, the shakes are decadent, but they are simply delicious.
Served at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen at CityWalk.
03. Butterbeer Soft Serve
Harry and his buddies are responsible for another ice cream treat at the resort that is heavenly. Whatever crazy-wonderful blend of butterscotch and other delicious ingredients Universal whipped up for its butterbeer drinks has been reformatted for soft serve ice cream.
This treat wins on two fronts: The flavor is yummy, and the texture and creaminess of the ice cream are superb. We rank this among the best soft serve we have had anywhere, not just at theme parks.
There are other soft serve flavors, and they may be great. Nevertheless, where else would you be able to get butterbeer-flavored ice cream? The “parlour” also serves hard ice cream, including intriguing flavors such as clotted cream, orange marmalade, and sticky toffee pudding. We have tried some of them, and they are quite good. However, the butterbeer soft serve is, um, magical.
- Served at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida
04. Strawberry and Peanut Butter Ice Cream
We understand if you’re thinking there’s too much ice cream on our list. However, this tasty treat, which J.K. Rowling mentioned in her books, is quite yummy. Strawberry and Peanut Butter may sound like an odd combination, but the two ingredients meld nicely as an ice cream flavor. It’s a delightful way to end a meal at one of Universal’s Potter-themed restaurants.
- Served at: Three Broomsticks in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure
05. Lard Lad Donut
If ice cream isn’t your thing, go for the Simpsons-themed pink frosted donut. This pastry comes in a ridiculously large size and is fairly engorged with grease (which we are reasonably sure is not, in fact, lard). While it’s quite sweet and heavy, if you love donuts, you’ll likely love Homer’s go-to treat.
- Served at: Lard Lad at Fast Food Boulevard in Springfield at Universal Studios Florida
06. Chocolate Cauldrons
Shaped like cauldrons, these hollow milk chocolates are filled with green marshmallow. While the color may raise an eyebrow, they taste absolutely wonderful.
- Sold at: Honeyduke’s in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure
07. Brain Freezin’ D’oh-Nut Sundae
The fine folks at Lard Lad take one of their gut-busting pink frosted donuts, slice it open, fill it with soft serve ice cream, and finish it off with a variety of toppings to create the super sweet treat known as the Brain Freezin’ D’oh-Nut Sundae. However, don’t blame the Springfield establishment if you get a brain freeze; it’s not like they didn’t warn you. D’oh!
- Served at: Lard Lad at Fast Food Boulevard in Springfield at Universal Studios Florida
08. Chocolate Frogs
Food items referenced in the Potter books and movies, such as Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans and pumpkin juice, are indeed available at Universal’s Wizarding World lands. Another popular treat that park visitors can indulge in is a Chocolate Frog. This solid hunk of milk chocolate (which, yes, is in the form of a frog) comes housed in a lovely pentagon-shaped box and includes a “wizard card.” Unless you have a major sweet tooth, eating an entire chocolate frog at one sitting might make you, um, croak.
- Sold at: Honeyduke’s in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure
09. Ice Cream Sundaes
Indulge us for one final ice-cream-related treat. Back in the day, as legend has it, talent agents regularly discovered ingenues at the real Schwab’s Pharmacy, offered them contracts, and turned them into movie stars. You won’t find any motion picture scouts at the facsimile Schwab’s (nor would you find any medications), but gooey, scrumptious sundaes await you.
Before these drug store chains overtook the industry, independent pharmacies like Schwab’s used to have lunch counters and soda fountains. They served ice cream and other goodies as well as dispensing drugs. It does seem odd by today’s standards, but you can discover what’s been lost by ordering a sundae with all the fixings at the mock Schwab’s.
- Served at: Schwab’s Pharmacy in Hollywood at Universal Studios Florida
10. Flaming Moe
One of the unique beverages on our list (and yet another Simpsons-themed entry), the Flaming Moe was inspired by an episode from the long-running animated series. Unlike the cartoon version, Universal’s Flaming Moe is non-alcoholic. The fruity drink is tasty; however, its real appeal is that it’s actually flaming. We suppose smoking would be a more accurate description. Each drink comes with something that makes it bubble, fizz, and release puffs of smoke.
- Served at: Flaming Moe’s and Moe’s Tavern in Springfield at Universal Studios Florida
