Welcome back DFB author Wendy with another delicious review.
Today we’re going back to Epcot’s Germany Pavilion to visit Karamell-Küche!
Let’s stop in and taste what’s new!
It’s somewhat hard to believe that this little corner of the World is just over three years old, since a stop at Karamell-Küche has already become a tradition for caramel fans…
…and chocolate fans.
Did I mention popcorn fans?
Oh, and any guests who might like ridiculously yummy things in general ;).
Tucked into this small space are almost more golden caramel goodies than one can fathom. It’s no wonder the nearly ever-present queue line draws to a halt fairly often. After all, it’s difficult to make a lightning-fast decision when you come upon something like this:
How can they possibly fit one more piece of sweet, buttery caramel goodness inside that case?
Well, my friends, that’s a trick question… because they haven’t added one. They’ve added FIVE! And I am SO excited to share each one with you!
We’ll start with the Caramel Cheesecake with Chocolate… mainly because that’s where I actually started. I mean, what self-respecting cheesecake fanatic could wait to try this?
This little number is exactly what cheesecake lovers would expect and hope for: a rich, creamy vanilla cheesecake with a traditional graham cracker crust, altered only by the veritable pool of caramel in the center.
While the name obviously mentions chocolate, it is only present in the milk chocolate circle placed on top, featuring the signature Werther’s golden “W.”
I really wanted to get a cross-section picture for you, so you could see for yourself the depth of the caramel within the cheesecake. However, the minute I sliced the cheesecake, the caramel started to ooze in such a way that the best I could capture was this:
It is a sight to behold :). The only thing that trumped the sight was the taste: the cheesecake and caramel could have stood well enough on its own, but the chocolate was a delicious little accompaniment. I recommend eating it right along with the cheesecake, instead of snatching it off first thing and chomping it whole, no matter how tempted you may be!
Next, we’ll sample the Caramel Toffee Bark!
The first thing to greet the eye is the layer of dark chocolate on top, swirled with white chocolate.
Where, however, is the item’s namesake? Where is the toffee? It is hidden under a pile of caramel that is so generous and gooey that it literally spills over every side and corner of this little gem.
Caramel Toffee Bark is truly a thing of decadence. It reminded me of a really good truffle – it’s a small confectionery (not quite two square inches), but it is so rich and buttery that a little bit is all you need for a full experience.
The Caramel Toffee Bark, by the way, is eligible as a snack on the Disney Dining Plan, as are the Salted Caramel Fudge Brownie and the German Chocolate Chip Cookie. Wait, what are those? I’m glad you asked!
The Salted Caramel Fudge Brownie brings something to the table for those who want their caramel fix but might be craving something a little less sweet.
Yes, it is a brownie with ample drizzles of caramel on top, so certainly there is some sweetness here. But the sugar is balanced by the presence of the salt in the brownie batter (you won’t spy the salt on top, as you will with the Chocolate-Covered Sea Salt Caramel).
I found this one to be a bit dry and a little too dense for my preference, but I appreciated how the caramel really stood out here.
The name of the German Chocolate Chip Cookie brings to mind, of course, German Chocolate Cake.
As I bit into the cookie, I discovered why. Elements of German Chocolate Cake (specifically coconut and walnut) are interspersed throughout. And my cookie was wonderfully moist in the center.
The final new addition is the Caramel Apple Tart.
As she was ringing up my purchase, the Cast Member helping me said, “If you really wanted to try something German, this is it. It’s so good.”
I’ll admit: of all the new items, I was least excited to try the Apple Tart. After all, we don’t come to Karamell-Küche for fruit. We’re here for dessert! We’re here for decadence! We’re here because our Advanced Dining Reservation at Via Napoli isn’t for another hour and a half, which is plenty of time for a snack or five ;)!
You know what? I was so wrong. In fact, the Caramel Apple Tart may have been my favorite of the bunch… and that’s saying something.
Thin green apple slices are flavored with spice, bathed in caramel and scooped onto a warm, buttery pastry. I detected cinnamon and nutmeg – it tastes like autumn :). The pastry resembles more of a biscuit than a tart in a traditional sense, and the portion size is fantastic.
As I cut into it, the pastry appeared rather dense.
But when I grabbed a bite, it returned to its flaky goodness.
Even after I’d finished the pastry, there were plenty of apple slices left over. I used those to scoop up the little rivers of caramel in the container, and I ate Every. Last. Piece.
So, there you have it. Five new reasons to stop by Karamell-Küche on your next trip to Epcot… as if you needed another ;).
In the comments below, please let us know which new menu items you’d like to try!
Emma(scotland) says
OMG…. I am there in 16 days!! The line was soooo long the last time, I didnt wait. So going to wait this time lol! Thanks for review 😉
Debi says
Oh my goodness! Yum! I am there in 11 days and very much looking forward to trying the caramel apple tart and the German chocolate chip cookie! I’m half German and can honestly say I do not care much for German food, other than sour kraut and desserts! 😉
Amy says
Wow! 28 days to go, and while I was definitely making a caramel chewy bar one of my first stops, I now must make a second trip to Germany for some Apple Tart! It’s health food, right? An apple tart a day keeps the doctor away….or something like that. 🙂
Denise says
I’ll be there in 31 days and we had so much we planned to eat at Epcot, we weren’t even going to stop here. Well that plan has changed. I think I have to try the German chocolate chip cookie and the apple tart! Can’t wait!
SharonCW says
O.M.G. My favorite place for a snack in all of the World just got better. 17 days until I can spend every single penny on my Disney Visa rewards card (and every snack credit on the DDP) at this place. I literally did a litte dance in my office chair when I saw this article.
Katie says
All of these treats look amazing, but I’m looking forward to trying the caramel popcorn!
Jen says
I was there last January and had a brownie with caramel drizzle. Very disappointing, the brownie was stale and tasteless. It looked soooo good but tasted awful, I will be trying something else next time because my sweet tooth can’t help it self but never the brownie 🙁
Chuck says
I discovered this place last month and fell in love with it!!! All of the sweets are so incredible! Next year I’m staying at the Boardwalk and I plan on coming here like 100000 times on that trip!!!
Lisa Z. says
We should start a list of the “”Seven Deadly Sweet Spots” at WDW and this one could be at the top or near the top for its caramel decadence.
Amy says
Jen, I had the same experience with the brownie – not good. Luckily, I was only two steps out the door and I walked back in and told the staff. They apologized and let me choose something else. I chose the chewy bar with the shortbread crust and it instantly became my favorite! It’s my first stop off the plane now. Brownie lovers, go get a Brownie paw at AK. DON”T SKIP THIS SPOT, though. There’s plenty of decadent goodness here! Caramel may become your new chocolate!
Scott from Solon, OH says
Even with Food & Wine in full swing, your marvelous review and pictures will have me visiting Germany for caramel! Thank you
Angelina says
That Caramel Apple tart looks like heaven! The cheesecake looks good too although I think they should take chocolate out of the name if they only have it as garnish/decoration…
Jill D says
OK so at the end of my trip when I have a ridiculous amount of snack credits left…i am going to caramel heaven!
Pam says
I’m there in 3 days! I can’t wait to try 1 or more of these new items. Thanks for the informative review.
Essie says
I LOVE this shop! I make the Caramel Shortbread Bars at home to hold me over to my next trip. Of the 5 new ones, I would like to try the Caramel Chocolate Bark. Thank you for this uber yummy article, although my keyboard can’t take too much more drool.
Jenn says
If I were really rich and had a private jet, I would so fly to Orlando so I could have these fabulous caramel treats whenever I wanted! I’m not ashamed of putting that in print either!!!
Karen says
I’ll be there in 10 days! This place is one of many on my “must try” list! I am going to have to really think about my “eating strategy” because I don’t want to miss a thing! That Caramel Apple Tart and the Cheese Cake are right up my alley!
Carol says
That caramel apple tart is on my must-try list for our next visit! I love apple and I love caramel so this is a no-brainer! 😀
Wendy says
If I order one of everything, how many snack credits will I use?
Hypothetically, of course!
Ashley says
Oh, those all look fabulous! I bought a couple caramels there on the last day of our trip last year but didn’t eat them until we were home – and immediately wished I’d bought way more than I did because they were so good.
Lucy says
I save all my DDP snacks to buy the salted chocolate caramel but I feel I need to broden my caramel horizon! The new options do look good.
Andrea G says
I tried the german chocolate chip cookie a few days ago and it was okay but I probably wouldn’t get it again (my husband thought it tasted a little dry). The carmel corn is my favorite with the german chocolate caramel being the next best thing! Can’t wait to try the new carmel apple tart soon.
Karen from Ohio says
When I was at the World in April, we bought 2 large bags of Karamell Corn our 1st night – and four of us devoured them by the end of the evening while watching IllumiNations. We bought 2 more large bags a few days later to take home with us – they didn’t last until the next morning when we checked out of our resort!! My favorite (besides the popcorn) is the Caramel Apple Oatmeal cooke… sooo good!! I always buy 2 or 3 and portion them out so they last me almost a week; such a yummy treat – and they’re apple and oatmeal – that’s healthy, right?!?
Maureen says
These new additions look and sound delicious! This is my favorite place to go for sweets, I hope they still have the new stuff in April. We are staying at the BCV-and I will be stocking up for the room!
Ken Alegre says
Wow, those are cool additions to that store. I need to show this to my sister because she love caramel.
Shannon says
I can’t have a single thing here because I’m vegan. I really wish disney would make some options here. They taste as good as and sometimes better than the regular treats. Vegan desserts are delicious if done correctly. It’s a shame.
aristea lachase says
i love, love, love the caramel and dark chocolate covered with sea salt. i wanted to try so many of the yummy looking options but one bite of this caramel and i was hooked. bought some extra for home but they never made it. i can’t wait to go back and get some more