Coconut lovers, have I got a treat for you today!
And it’s located someplace rather unexpected: Gasparilla Island Grill in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
You see, Gasparilla Island Grill has never been a spot we’ve visited specifically to seek out dessert. Like, EVER. Gasparilla has always carried a couple of cupcakes in the refrigerated section, like the Pina Colada Cupcake and the German Chocolate Cupcake. But when you consider the fact that some really incredible dessert options are just a quick ride away via the Resort Monorail (like the Peanut Butter Pie at Contempo Cafe, or Dole Whips at Pineapple Lanai), Gasparilla’s offerings usually seemed pretty ho-hum in comparison.
However, when the counter service spot opened up again after its most recent refurbishment (no major changes to the guest area, other than the addition of Coke Freestyle machines), the dessert options had changed. And they’d been enhanced.
Gasaprilla Island Grill entrance
No longer relegated to a small row or two in the refrigerator, desserts now entirely take up a full bakery case next to the more traditional breakfast pastry selections. The cute-as-a-button Minnie Mouse Cupcake stands out right away.
Minnie Mouse Cupcake
She sits beside the Mickey Brownie.
Mickey Brownie
Both the Pina Colada Cupcake and German Chocolate Cupcake are still in the house.
Pina Colada Cupcake
German Chocolate Cupcake
As is the cheerful Lemon Blueberry Cupcake.
Lemon Blueberry Cupcake
New offerings also include the Chocolate Mousse Pie and the Almond Fruit Tart.
Chocolate Mousse Pie
Almond Fruit Tart
But I had my eye on the Coconut Pot de Creme.
Coconut Pot de Creme
It may not have the outstanding appearance of the Minnie Mouse Cake or the gorgeous Almond Fruit Tart, but I can’t resist anything that has “Coconut” listed as the primary ingredient.
Coconut Pot de Creme
And that coconut experience starts right from the top. They are a bit difficult to see against the peaks of whipped cream (dotted with vanilla bean seeds!), but large, fresh, unsweetened coconut flakes cover the dessert.
Coconut Pot de Creme
The coconut and whipped cream sit on top of a mildly sweetened vanilla and coconut custard. So, if you’re like me and don’t like a lot of other flavors competing with your coconut, you’ll probably dig this.
Coconut Pot de Creme
The shell is an exact match to the soft cookie-type shell of the Peanut Butter Pie over at the Contemporary. Only here, the custard has a rich, near-cheesecake consistency, as opposed to the pudding style of the custard in the Peanut Butter Pie.
Coconut Pot de Creme
And even though it’s not cheesecake, it resembles it even further in that it offers a mildly-sweet profile overall — matching the unsweetened coconut — rather than a super-sugary experience.
No joke — if this was an offering as a dessert at a Signature Restaurant, I would be happy with it. Fortunately, at $4.99 (or a snack credit on the Disney Dining Plan), you don’t have to pay signature prices for it.
So, the Coconut Pot de Creme finally fills in my long empty spot for a Monorail Loop Dessert Crawl, with the Peanut Butter Pie at the Contemporary and a Pineapple and Vanilla Swirl Dole Whip at the Polynesian filling in the rest! Which Monorail Loop desserts would you suggest 🙂 ?
Do you have any favorite eats on the Monorail Loop? Please let us know with a comment!
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The last two Decembers we have visited this place has been having renovations, so hopeful it doesn’t need any more and we’ll get to eat there this year for the first time.
That coconut pot de crème is one of my favorite desserts at Disney right now. Just had my first one last week. Amazing!
This looks wonderful.