What’s a walk around World Showcase these days without stopping in Germany’s Karamell-Küche?
After all, it’s the one place where every single item is built around the same awesome ingredient: caramel. Werther’s Caramel, to be specific.
In fact, you can even take a moment or two to check out the wall to your left upon entering the Caramel Kitchen (once you’re past the window, that is). It’s a mural depicting the timeline of the company, which had its start in the German village of Werther. It’s quite the history lesson.
Of course, you probably won’t.
Because if you’re anything like me, you’re going to be entirely distracted by all the choices held inside the bakery case (not to mention the buttery fragrance of caramel wafting through the air)!
Karamell-Kuche bakery case
That bakery case full of caramel goodness is one reason I don’t mind the typically long lines here. It gives me more time to peek over shoulders and heads in front of me to decide what I want. It takes some time! But having sampled just about everything in that case (and some more than a few times — I’m lookin’ at you, Chewy Caramel Shortbread Bar), I decided to go with something I hadn’t tried before.
Or two things, because… well, do you really need a reason why here ;)?
Anyway, one item I hadn’t chosen previously was the Caramel Cluster Milk Chocolate Pecan; which, I’m guessing, should probably be called the Milk Chocolate Pecan Caramel Cluster…but that’s just splitting hairs.
Caramel Cluster Milk Chocolate Pecan
At first glance, you think you have it pretty much figured out: a dollop of hardened milk chocolate over a layer of caramel covering the pecans. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing…
Caramel Cluster Milk Chocolate Pecan
And just so can have one more look at
that layer of caramel, uninterrupted, here’s the back of the treat:
Caramel Cluster Milk Chocolate Pecan (sans chocolate)
Still, I hadn’t selected it previously because I just figured the emphasis would be on the pecan. Give me a Caramel Bacon Square or a Chocolate-covered Sea Salt Caramel… you know, basically a pile of caramel with some other stuff tossed in for good measure (and, yes, depth of flavor, too… but you get my drift).
Well, guess what? I was mistaken. Just have a look at this!
Caramel Cluster Milk Chocolate Pecan
That is NO JOKE, right there. It’s practically ALL caramel down to the bottom. I know the picture really speaks for itself, but allow me to confirm what you’ve already guessed: the caramel is once again allowed to steal the show, while the chocolate and pecan add some more sweet-and-saltiness — and a nice bit of crunch — to intensify the already sweet-and-salty goodness of that delicious pile of caramel.
While I had knowingly overlooked that one for some time, the cookies at Karamell-Küche rarely escape my attention. The Caramel-filled Chocolate Cookie and the Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cookie (so, SO good) are tried-and-true favorites, so this time I went with the German Chocolate Chip Cookie with Pecans. I’d had one good run with pecans already today, so why not give ’em another go?
The gist here is that the key ingredients you associate with German Chocolate Cake are included here (coconut, pecans, and chocolate in the form of chips), with the added bonus of a gorgeous drizzle of caramel — the signature of every cookie at Karamell-Küche.
German Chocolate Chip Cookie with Pecans
I’m all for the flavor combo here — it comes together well and really does bring to mind the classic cake. Just like a German Chocolate frosting (mmm…. frosting!), the pecans here are very finely chopped so they provide nutty flavor but simply blend in regarding the texture.
German Chocolate Chip Cookie with Pecans
Speaking of texture, though, overall it just didn’t do the trick this time. I found the cookie to be uncharacteristically dry. For that reason, I’m still giving my top cookie pick to the Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cookie.
Still, it helped me knock off one more in my quest to sample everything in that case. At this point, there’s not much left… but I’m still open for recommendations 😉 . What’s YOUR favorite thing at Karamell-Küche? Please chime in and let me know!
What gets your vote for top choice at the Caramel Kitchen? Please let us know with a comment!
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I was lucky enough to have to ‘spend’ several stored up snack credits on my first WDW trip when we arrived at this spot. We got several things to sample/share but our overwhelming favorite was the caramel pecan bar! Sooo good!
Definitely the caramel shortbread bar will always be my favorite. But that pecan bar looks great too! Everything looks amazing there. I’ll have to make myself try something new on my next visit! (PS The Werther’s website has the recipe for the chewy caramel shortbread bar…I’ve made them a few times and they are just as delicious as the version found in Epcot! Of course the only downside is that you’re not at Epcot, soo…)
The Caramel Cluster Milk Chocolate Pecan is my all time favorite at Karamell-Kuche. I always have at least one every time we visit Epcot and take one or two back to the room for later with a glass of cold milk. You know, if Karamell-Kuche had guest rooms I’d stay there for my entire vacation:) Now that’s a dream vacation!!!
Did you contribute that finger print to the back of the caramel cluster (I hope!) or do they come like that from when the CMs make them (I hope not!)?
We haven’t made it past the dipped fruit and marshmallows yet. My son, who has autism, had refused marshmallows all his life (texture) until we found them covered with chocolate and drizzled with caramel here. Now his favorite sweet treat! (They have a similar treat at Goofy’s Candy Co. in DTD, but bonus: on a plastic Mickey straw.) We have also tried the huge dipped strawberries (fantastic) but my favorite is the pineapple, so rich and sweet (in a good way) that I could only eat half of it and had to save some for later. What a great place to indulge with a snack credit!
The rice krispie treat! Best one on the property and covered with their delicious caramel. It’s so huge, the cast members will cut it into six pieces. One of those pieces alone is still a big serving. I buy it, have them cut it and box it, and take it home to enjoy after vacation. Great use of a snack credit!
Last visit, it’s been a couple years, we tried the Caramel popcorn. I found it a huge disappointment, the popcorn was almost “stale” and far too chewy/gummy, I’m guessing it’s the Florida humidity?? Any idea if they have “fixed” this?? It had great flavor, but I was bummed about the texture.
I agree with Steve. I’d like to book a one week stay living over the caramel kitchen for my next visit. I love the caramel shortbread bar, but just about anything in this place would make me happy. Caramel, pecans and milk chocolate….it’s a beautiful thing.
I am literally sitting in my room at Boardwalk Villas polishing off the last few bites of a caramel filled chocolate cookie. I have to have 1 or 2 every time I’m here!
The caramel cluster looks like something I would not be willing to share. That is going to be on my must try list when I go in October.
🙂
Had the caramel cluster milk chocolate pecan there last month. My sister and I both LOVED them!! Does anyone know if you can get their products by mail order?