Anne Taylor
After being closed for almost a year due to COVID-19, Disneyland finally reopened to California residents only on April 30, 2021. If you still won’t be able to walk through those gates any time soon, though, you can at least make some famous Disney dishes at home.
Disneyland is known for offering some delicious and inventive foods to its visitors. While it certainly has its fair share of typical theme park food, many folks are surprised to discover the wide range of breakfast foods, fancy meals, and desserts available in addition to the standard hamburger and chicken nugget fare.
That’s why we’ve rounded up the recipes for some of Disneyland’s most famous eats. You won’t find any Dole Whip or Mickey Pretzels here—these are foods exclusive to the park in Anaheim, California. So, break out all those new kitchen tools you invested in over the last year and make your Disney food dreams come true!
Table of Contents
Monte Cristo
The Monte Cristo is one of the most, if not the most, popular meals at Disneyland. You can find it at Cafe Orleans, Blue Bayou Restaurant, and, occasionally, at Smokejumpers Grill. This sweet, salty, and savory sandwich is deep-fried, covered in powdered sugar, then dipped in jam. It’s the ultimate indulgence you won’t be able to get enough of.
Frying at home can be a little intimidating, but this recipe walks you through everything, with plenty of pictures and information. Another bonus to making this sandwich at home is you can control the portion size. Most people split one of these at the park because they can only get down a few bites of this rich dish before giving up.
Pommes Frites
Almost as iconic as the Monte Cristo, you’ll find this appetizer at Cafe Orleans. Pommes Frites are french fries seasoned beautifully and served with a Cajun remoulade. They’re the best fries you’ll ever have (or close to it, at least).
This recipe calls for frozen fries, which taste just as good as the park version but without all the prep time of starting with raw potatoes. The remoulade has a lot of ingredients, but it’s easy to put together. Serve them hot and eat them with your Monte Cristo for a truly authentic Disneyland experience.
Churro Toffee
No trip to Disneyland is complete without grabbing some signature churro toffee. This delicious treat coats toffee in white chocolate and dusts it with a cinnamon/sugar coating for a flavor combination you didn’t know you needed.
You can find churro toffee at Marceline’s Confectionery and in most bakeries around the park. You’ll want to invest in a candy thermometer to ensure you don’t burn your toffee, which can be a bit of a tricky process.
This recipe also recommends you prep your ingredients ahead of time and work fast to get the perfect square shape right. You’ll get lots of troubleshooting advice on making toffee in this recipe, so it’s the perfect place to go if you’re craving these delicious treats.
Fried Pickles
Carnation Cafe is known for serving some of Walt Disney’s favorite foods. These fried pickles have been a classic menu item for ages, and it’s no surprise why. The full pickle spears contain lots of vinegar in each bite, and they’re complemented by the zesty house sauce that comes with each basket.
This recipe was released by Disney as part of #DisneyMagicMoments: Cooking Up the Magic, an effort the company made to support fans at home while the parks were closed.
Brisket Mac ‘N Cheese
Another authentic recipe released by Disney is this brisket mac ‘n cheese. It’ll quickly become a favorite at home. You can find it in the parks at Smokejumpers Grill and a slightly more elevated version at River Belle Terrace.
This recipe tops creamy macaroni and cheese with smoked beef brisket, crispy fried shallots, pickled red onions, and barbecue sauce. The result is flavorful, indulgent, and perfect for a special meal at home.
Corn Dogs
You might not think a plain corn dog could be that great, but Disneyland does something special with this kid favorite. Whether it’s the thick cornmeal batter, or its enormous size, this ain’t your run-of-the-mill school cafeteria corn dog.
You’ll find these at various locations around Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, including Corn Dog Castle, Award Wieners, and Little Red Wagon.
This recipe recreates Disney’s version just about perfectly. It also features a couple of twists you might find at the parks as well, including cheese sticks, which take this batter to a whole new level. Disneyland usually serves theirs with classic ketchup and mustard, but you can use whichever condiments you like.
Matterhorn Macaroon
There are a lot of great rides at Disney parks around the world, but only Disneyland has the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Inspired by the famous mountain in the Alps, this ride was the first roller-coaster at Disneyland and the first tubular steel coaster in the world.
The Matterhorn Macaroon is an adorable macaroon cookie shaped like the ride. It’s full of coconut flavor and covered in white chocolate to resemble the snowcapped mountain. It’s also one of the most affordable treats at Disneyland. This macaroon is one of those rare instances in which theme park food is both beautiful and delicious.
Fried Biscuits
Carthay Circle is a restaurant in Disney’s California Adventure known for its upscale California recipes. Always churning out innovative recipes, it was responsible for putting Disneyland on the map as an actual dining destination.
These fried biscuits made their way onto the menu a while ago and have stuck around due to their popularity. The recipe consists of a biscuit dough mixed with cheese, bacon, jalapeños, and spices. Everything is then deep fried to give you a melty ball of deliciousness that can be dipped in apricot-honey butter or eaten plain.
Churro Shake
This shake is only available at certain times of year and fans can’t get enough of it. The churro theme at Disneyland is always popular, and this shake is no exception. With ingredients like vanilla ice cream, vanilla pudding mix, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cake frosting, what can you expect?
This recipe calls for churro toffee to be served on top, which gives you a great excuse to make it again if you already ate your last batch. Add a red and white straw for the full experience and enjoy it on a hot day.
Grey Stuff Gateau
This version of Beauty and the Beast’s “the grey stuff” is a little different than what you can get at Walt Disney World in Florida—and most folks agree the former has the best version. While Disney World serves it on a cupcake, the Grey Stuff Gateau is made of a red velvet cake and raspberry center with “the grey stuff” piped on the outside. You can find it at the Red Rose Taverne.
Trust the song here—it really is delicious! The shortbread cookie on the bottom of the cake adds a nice crunch and ties the whole thing together. Feel free to buy a red velvet cake mix and premade shortbread cookie dough to speed up the process.
