We’re all about snacks lately on DFB, and we recently shared a list of our Top 12 Salty Snacks at Disney World! We came up with a couple of obvious choices (Popcorn!), but we also surprised some of you with other outside-the-box suggestions, like the Sleepy Hollow Waffle Sandwiches.
Out of that post, however, there came a fantastic suggestion from a DFB reader: we needed a list of sweet-meets-salty recommendations, too! I mean, you know how much I lurve some sea-salty sweets. 🙂
And so today, we answer that challenge! Presenting, the DFB Top 14 Disney Sweet-Salty Foods (and Drinks!).
And yep, this one spans BOTH coasts. You’re gonna love it…
King Cupcake
When I first heard about the King Cupcake at Everything Pop Food Court, I absolutely couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.
A chocolate cupcake with banana pudding filling, peanut butter frosting, and candied bacon? Yes, pls.
So what’s up with this daring (for Disney) cupcake? I tried it…and I loved it!
King Cupcake from Everything Pop Food Court
The name is, of course, an homage to the King himself, Elvis Presley, and his love of peanut butter and banana sandwiches. But throw in the sweet-salty candied bacon, and you have the makings of a truly epic cupcake. You will be all shook up. (Ba ha ha ha!) I guarantee.
Chocolate-Covered Sea Salt Caramel
Ah, this is one of my favorites…and one of Disney’s truly hidden gems if you ask me. If you are seeking a few perfect bites of decadence, then look no further than the Chocolate-covered Sea Salt Caramel at Karamell-Küche in Epcot’s Germany.
(Seriously. This one could have a commercial made for it. One of those ads where the chick, like, shuts the door and locks it so that she’s all alone with her chocolate-covered caramel? You know what I mean.)
Chocolate-Covered Sea Salt Caramel at Karamell-Küche in Epcot
This is the quintessential sweet salty treat — super sweet caramel enrobed in chocolate (your choice of milk or dark), and sprinkled generously with crystals of sea salt. Each bite is the perfect combination of flavors and textures.
I’ve been known to walk around Epcot with one of these in my camera bag taking surreptitious bites throughout the day. Just sayin’.
Cinnamon-Glazed Nuts
If you’re looking for a sweet-salty treat that also packs a protein punch, then Cinnamon-glazed Almonds and Pecans are the indulgence for you.
We’ve spotted the treats in Epcot and Magic Kingdom, and our guest author Joey B. wrote about them just recently in a review of Animal Kingdom’s Dino Diner Snacks as well.
Cinnamon Glazed Almonds
Sweet, salty, and spicy, you smell these amazing pecans and almonds before you see them — and then you must have them!
And because they’re a snack that really stays with you (AND they don’t melt — a snack requirement in Orlando through most of the year), they’re perfect to tide you over until that next advanced dining reservation.
Monte Cristo Sandwich
No list of sweet salty favorites would be complete without paying tribute to what is quite possibly the best sandwich on the planet: the Monte Cristo Sandwich at Cafe Orleans in Disneyland. While not technically a “snack,” — it’s hard to finish this even as a meal — it’s still an awesome addition for any of you sweet-salty lovers out there.
Monte Cristo Sandwich
Also available at Blue Bayou, this is probably the closest that a sandwich ever came to being a donut! 😉
Thick, rich bread envelops a combination of ham, turkey, and swiss cheese. Once the whole thing is dipped in an egg batter, it’s fried to a beautiful golden brown, topped with powdered sugar, and served with berry puree for an ideal flavor combo.
House-Made Chips and Huckleberry Honey at Territory Lounge
The Territory Lounge at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is home to some of my all-time favorite pub grub anywhere, ever. But when I’m craving a sweet salty fix, then I head straight for the House-Made Northwest Potato Chips with Trio of Dips.
House-Made Northwest Potato Chips with Trio of Dips at Territory Lounge
The incredible thick-cut chips come with a trio of dipping sauces, and they are all out of this world. But when you’re ready for something sweet, reach for the Huckleberry Honey! The sweet, rich sauce is delicious — and really beautiful, too! And where else in Disney are you going to get huckleberries?
Of course, we could also add to this sweet-salty list the combo of Territory Lounge’s Sharp Cheddar Fondue served with Apples and Dried Fruit! Now that’s the menu item of my dreams…
Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel
You’ll have to grant me some latitude on this one…but how could we write this post without discussing the Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel?
While this isn’t an overtly salty pretzel — the dusting is more sugary than savory — I’d still make an argument that the unsweet, ever-so-slightly salty pretzel dough is a good foil for the slightly sweetened cream cheese filling that you find inside.
Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel
These mammoth snacks make a fantastic alternative to a breakfast pastry if you want to have a bite on the go, or they’re big enough to share as a snack.
Find them at the Lunching Pad in Magic Kingdom, the Fife & Drum Tavern at Epcot, and Pretzel Garden at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Sea Salt Caramel Hot Cocoa at Ghirardelli Soda Fountain
Last fall, when I first tasted the Sea Salt Caramel Hot Cocoa at Ghirardelli Soda Fountain, it was so incredible that I ran home and wrote about it that very day.
Immediately, it was elevated to “must have treat” status. It’s that good.
Ghirardelli Sea Salt Caramel Hot Cocoa
Steaming, old-fashioned cocoa is topped with a generous crown of whipped cream, and then drizzled with caramel sauce and sprinkled with crystals of sea salt. It’s almost too pretty to drink. Almost.
The perfect indulgence on a cool night (or anytime a/c is available!), it’s worth skipping the incredible ice cream sundaes (at least once) to check this out.
Griddled Greek Cheese at Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival
We are already busy gathering info for the 2013 Food and Wine Festival!! The 2012 Food and Wine Festival Marketplace Booths were as popular as ever and we know that 2013 will be even better!
One of our favorite booths year after year is the Greece Booth, and of all the fab food you can find here, the Griddled Greek Cheese is not-to-be missed. Salty cheese, griddled until golden, is topped with a generous drizzle of honey and sprinkled with pistachios.
Griddled Greek Cheese with Pistachios and Honey
And it’s JUST as good as it sounds. Actually, it’s better.
Simple and spectacular, if you can’t wait until this year’s festival to indulge in this one (we’re crossing our fingers it returns!), then check out this handy recipe!
Mango Chili Paleta
I’ll confess right here: when I tried the Mango Chili Paleta at Epcot’s La Cantina de San Angel, I wasn’t a big fan. There was a little too much salt and spice, and not enough sweet from the mango to balance the flavors for me. (I know! I was shocked too!)
Mango Paleta with Chili
BUT — we know that this is a very popular flavor combo for lots of you and wanted to included it in our list! I’d love to hear your opinion if you’ve had the chili mango paleta.
And it’s a bit off topic, but while I wasn’t crazy about that one, the lemon-lime and coconut versions completely rocked!
Caramel Popcorn at Big Top Treats
When salty, buttery popcorn meets warm, sweet caramel, magic happens. And that magic is Caramel Popcorn.
But this isn’t your garden variety, out-of-the-box version. It’s the house-made yum version that you get when you visit Big Top Treats in Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland.
Big Top Treats Caramel Corn
Sweet, crunchy, and fresh, you’ll love strolling around the new Storybook Circus area and munching on this generous portion, which is enough to share. If you want to.
And, of course, there’s a pretty spectacular version of fresh caramel corn over at Epcot’s Karamell-Küche, too; so you can get both and compare!
Margaritas…Anywhere!
You knew I had to do it! I mean, how can you discuss sweet and salty and not mention Margaritas?!
And while there are no shortage of margaritas to be found at Disney (check out our Disney Margarita Gallery for some of the best!), our favorite spot for this salt-meets-sweet beverage is La Cava del Tequila in Epcot’s Mexico.
One of the most awesome things about the specialty margaritas at La Cava is all the fresh ingredients that go into them.
Magic Blue Margarita at La Cava del Tequila
But just when you think they couldn’t be any better, they also often feature incredible flavored salts, like Hibiscus Himalayan, or my favorite — Tagin Chili Powder Salt. It’s the perfect fusion of salt + kick!
Salted Hot Caramel at Prost Holiday Kiosk
For the third year in a row, guests were thrilled to see the Prost Kiosk materialize during the winter holidays at Epcot. But in 2012, they offered a more extensive menu that was so amazing I hope it becomes a permanent Christmastime fixture!
While everything at Prost looked delicious, the crave-worthy treat for me was the new Hot Salted Caramel. This rich, steaming cup tastes like straight up melted caramel in a cup!
Hot Salted Caramel at Holiday Prost Kiosk in Epcot's Germany Pavilion
Incredibly thick and rich, with just a hint of saltiness to balance the buttery caramel, I have since had dreams about this incredible drink. Here’s hoping that this one comes back in 2013. If it does, I will be the first one in line!
Spicy Peanut Caramel Apple
How does a caramel apple stand out above the crowd? When it’s got a kick of spice to balance the sweet flavor! Enter the Spicy Peanut Caramel Apple in Disneyland!
I’ve eaten plenty of Disney candied apples, and I’ve never tried anything quite like this one! It seems simple — a thick, sweet butter caramel-coated apple, rolled in chopped peanuts that have been generously dusted with a salty spice mixture! Genius!
Spicy Peanut Apple
I will say that this caramel apple may not be for the kids in the crew — unless yours have grown up with an affinity for cayenne! But I find the combination of sweet/salty/spicy to be the perfect indulgence, and it’s a great way to balance a treat that can be sweet overboard sometimes.
PB&J Burger at ESPN Club
Think you’ve seen it all when it comes to burgers? Then you haven’t tried the PB&J Burger at ESPN Club!
What looks like a bacon burger has a whole lot more going on! Underneath that innocent looking bun, you’ll find bacon and beef — but also peanut butter, grape jelly, and jalepenos!
PB&J Burger at BoardWalk's ESPN Club
A fusion of comfort food and kid food, this new experiment also gets a little pop of spice from the jalepenos making for a truly unexpected combination. It’s at once familiar and like nothing you’ve ever tasted! Whether you love it or hate it, it’s worth a try just to say you did it!
Whew!! I’m stuffed…how about you?! Those are our top 14 Sweet-Salty eats in Disney parks and resorts, but we can’t wait to hear about YOUR additions to the list! What are we missing out on?
Are you a fan of this super-trendy flavor combination? Leave us a comment below and tell us your sweet-salty Disney favorites!
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I agree about the commercial! The woman could wear a flowing satin gown, and she should lock the door and sit down to her chocolate-covered sea-salt caramels and begin to eat them sensuously. But that’s not all. Then . . . she hears a knock at the door and a smooth, mysterious, masculine voice (this part will be played by Podcast Brad) entreating her to let him in. She won’t even look up from her caramels; she’ll just say, “Brad, unless you’ve got a spicy peanut caramel apple on a stick or some house-made chips and huckleberry dip, then you’re out of luck today, big boy!” Whimpering is heard outside the door.
YUM!!! This is my favorite list ever – everything looks so good! My favorite sweet/salty ish thing I tasted on my last trip has to be the chewy caramel bar from Werthers in Epcot – the shortbread was buttery and salty, and then the sweet chewy caramel on top…wow. I just love these suckers so much, and I’m so happy that I can make them at home! (Recipe on the Werther’s website 🙂 )
Drool… I am so gonna use this as a check list in September.
Wow, so many wonderful yummy foods and snacks. I just wish that WDW would get the Monte Cristo, that was my all time fav from the Blue Bayou.
Thank you for the great pictures too.
🙂
The dark chocolate caramel with sea salt is seriously the best snack at WDW. I crave it all the time. I have tried other brands and they pale in comparison. Whenever we are in Epcot, I tell everyone if we get separated, I can be found at Karamell-Kuche. Everything there is amazing, but these little beauties are the cream of the crop.
This is an AMAZING list. Howevs, I think I’m staying away from that PB&J Burger. That scares me a little.
OMG, I LOVE a good sweet/salty combo! I haven’t posted on your blog in FOREVER, but this entry made me have to leave a comment. I agree with you on the Chocolate-Covered Sea Salt Caramel – so yum! But I’ve got to say.. I’ve NEVER heard of the Griddled Greek Cheese! My mouth is watering just looking at it.. thankfully for me I’ll be at Food and Wine fest this year too! Thanks for making me aware of yet another great treat at WDW!
BTW, speaking of salty and sweet… is there kettle corn available anywhere in WDW?
I bought a sea salt caramel….put it in my purse ‘for later’. Then forgot about it, until the next day when I was on the Magical Express.
Found the surprise and thought I’ll just try a piece of this.
Then another.
Then another.
Then another.
I have pretty good self control, but all that nonsense went out the ME window with what is a wonderful piece of heaven. Ate the entire thing before I got to MCO.
I’m not sure I would classify the nuts or pretzel as sweet and salty. I only taste the sweet on those items. They are good though.
As for the monte cristo being the closest thing to a donut, I’m not so sure about that. At Tom + Che they make grilled cheese sandwichs on a sliced glazed donut. Haven’t tried one myself yet.
OK, I’ve now heard about it, read about it and seen comments about it. In July, I WILL be trying the chocolate-covered sea salt caramel for the first time. I prefer dark chocolate but maybe I’ll just have to buy both to compare…in the spirit of fairness to milk and dark chocolate. I’m not a sweet or salty snacker, I’m both so your list will slowly be chipped away at on upcoming trips. As for the Monte Cristo, that scares me a bit (I think because of the powdered sugar). Maybe I’ll ask for it on the side next time we’re at DLR.
I wish they had a monte cristo like that at Disney World. SO. much. yum.
My husband had that mango chile pop two years ago and thought it was pretty good; I did the coconut and would recommend it to anyone looking for a different kind of cool treat. However, his favorite snack is without doubt the cinnamon-glazed nuts–perfect for walking around. A word of warning though: one year we found peanuts in the mix, so if you’re allergic, you might want to give them a pass. But do try the Karamel Kitchen, which has wonderful treats, with or without salt. The dipped huge strawberries are fantastic.
They’ve got the almonds and pecans in Hollywood Studios too, I was there 2 weeks ago and had some while watching Fantasmic! They also have them in a stand on the boardwallk! They’re delicious- definitely recommend!
I have to be a little careful with sugar, but that Carmel and hot chocolate is TO DIE FOR. Totally worth crossing from pre diabetic to diabetic for.
Yum! I Love the sea salt caramel hot cocoa. I’m looking forward to trying the monte cristo sandwich at Disneyland in August.
These are all so good looking; I’m now dreaming of a Monte Cristo sandwich which is so hard for me to find anywhere….oh well. Another delicious sweet and salty treat that I love and that you can get in WDW is the simple milk chocolate covered pretzel. They’re just so good!
I tried the chocolate covered sea-salt caramel from Epcot’s Germany pavillion last November. And i would fly back to the U.S just for that!!
OMG. I am going to have to try that burger. AJ you rock!!! You always have great info.
This is my first time posting.I couldn’t pass it up!The Magic Kingdom used to have the Monte Christo sandwich many years ago in the restaurant that was in the location where Tony’s Town Square is now.I don’t remember the name,but it was sponsored by Oscar Mayer.Little Oscar would make an appearance and he gave everyone a hotdog whistle ring! So much fun! Maybe the Plaza Restaurant could add it to their menu!It would be awesome! My favorite salty-sweet snack is still the milk chocolate salted carmel,YUM!
OMG-I have to try that Germany caramel/salt chocolate square!!!!
i have to agree that the (dark) chocolate covered caramel with sea salt from Karamell-Küche in Epcot’s Germany is the best!! however, i cannot understand how you only have 1 in your camera bag nibbling on it all day. i miss them so much i shove the 1st one in my mouth and immediately drool all over the place and then i nibble on 1 or 2 more. and as many as i purchase to bring back home to n.y….well, they never make the trip home. these are awesome!
They used to have the Monte Cristo sandwich at the Oscar Mayer Restaurant in Disney World right as you went into Main Street. The restaurant is gone and so is my favorite sandwich. No one else makes a Monte Cristo like that. Please bring it back to DW.
Ooooh, they have a Pretzel Garden?! I need to try that one. I have had the cream cheese pretzel from the Lunching Pad. Yum to that one! A mention of price range would be a welcome addition to your lists I think too.
The Monte Cristo is served at Disneyland’s Blue Bayou on the lunch menu only. However, it is sold on the lunch and dinner menu just across Royal Street at Cafe Orleans. I have had both and they are exactly the same, the only thing you are missing at Cafe Orleans is the ambiance.
Hot Salted Caramel drink is awesome. We had it Dec 2013. Loved it!
While most of these are making my mouth water, the PB&J burger is something I would stay away from. They say Cincinnati-ans have stomachs of steel because we can easily eat cheese & chili on top of spaghetti or hot dog, but anyone who can eat that burger has a true steel stomach… Now I’m craving the almonds!!
I think the best I’ve had by far was the sea salt and caramel sundae at Ghiradelli. It was the BEST sundae I have ever had. I did have the salted caramel from Germany, too. Also ridiculously good.
Could you please ask Karamell Kuche in Epcot to make an extra large batch of Dark Chocolate Caramel covered with Sea Salt in May/June please? 🙂
I’d read numerous times that the Monte Cristos at Cafe Orleans and Blue Bayou were the same, so to economize, my boyfriend and I always went to CO. Well, last summer we decided to splurge and got a reservation at BB, and their MC was VERY different from the one at CO! The one at CO is still very good (we also like their all-cheese version!), but the one at BB was amazingly scrumptious! I think it was the different bread they used that made the difference, and the fact that it just seemed lightly fried (maybe in a pan?) instead of deep-fried. I have photos of both that I’d be glad to post to show the differences.
How does the Big Top popcorn compare to the caramel corn at California Adventure? I have been craving that stuff for you a year now and I am waiting for Disney World to start serving it some day.
Anna — Here’s my review of the big top popcorn: http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012/10/08/review-house-made-caramel-corn-and-more-at-big-top-treats-in-the-new-fantasyland/. I really do prefer Karamel Kuche’s version!
There are glazed nuts in Disney’s Hollywood Studios too, at nut cart in somewhere around the hat, maybe in front of the animation courtyard.
And you can also find cream cheese pretzel in the cart just on the right of the Great Movie Ride too! :))