Strength is the capacity to break a Hershey bar into four pieces with your bare hands – and then eat just one of the pieces. ― Judith Viors

Like many Disney fans, I have a sweet spot for Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival. When I worked at Disney World in 2010 I was 20 years old and unable to enjoy the margaritas and sweet liqueurs with my friends. Instead, I substituted libations with desserts. I know, what a hard life, eh? Whether you’re underage, or simply don’t like to drink, there are so many dishes and beverages at Food & Wine that you’re bound to find something you enjoy. This year, I put my extensive sober experiences to good use and made the goal to highlight all the great chocolate desserts featured at the festival. Combine these treats with Epcot’s positive pledge for a promising tomorrow and you’re in for a cozy night at Disney World. In the end, I will provide tips for making the most out of your trip to the festival, including some favorite non-chocolate snacks and drinks.

Chocolate Model of Toy Story Land at The Chocolate Experience

Sweet Dark Chocolate Raspberry Torte – The Chocolate Studio

When you head into World Showcase, there is a cluster of kiosks off to the right. This where you can find popular booths like Active Eats, Flavors of Fire, and the Chocolate and Cheese studios. The most popular dessert is the Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle with warm whiskey-caramel sauce, which looked amazing. This time, I took the Cast Member’s advice and tried the Sweet Dark Chocolate Raspberry Torte with whipped cream and paired it with Disney’s suggested alcohol, a 10 year Croft Tawny Port.  The chocolate torte didn’t disappoint and was worth the investment. I would say the next time I go, I’d like to try the truffle because although the torte was good, it wasn’t incredibly innovative. Nothing wrong with a good piece of chocolate cake though!

I wanted to try the Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea & Chocolate Shake but knew I could only handle so much decadence. I was happy to discover the kiosk was handing out recipe cards for this dessert. Now we can all make it at home!

Additionally, my mom sprung for the Cheese Trio and the Maple Bourbon Boursin Cheesecake with a glass of the rosé nearby at The Cheese Studio. Topped with maple bourbon whipped cream and caramel, the cheesecake ended up being my favorite dessert at the festival!

Cheese Trio Contents:

1) Profiterole topped with Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese and Orange Apricot Jam

2) Smoked Salmon Pinwheel with Boursin Shallot and Chive Cheese and Everything Seasoning

3) Strawberry Macaron with Boursin Pepper Cheese

Ghiradelli Drinking Chocolate – The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to Bar (Festival Center)

Don’t miss everything the Festival Center has to offer for Food  & Wine! This is where you can pick up festival merchandise, try a sparkling mimosa at Shimmering Sips, and grab Annual Passholder merch. At The Chocolate Experience, Ghiradelli’s takes you on a journey through the history of chocolate and on display are intricate chocolate models of Black Panther, Toy Story, and Coco. My Food & Wine must-do was the Ghiradelli Drinking Chocolate. $3.50 may seem steep for a sip of chocolate, but the chocolate is incredibly rich. You won’t need much more than the small cup they provide. Imagine a cup of cocoa and multiply that level of richness by two. It was very decadent and super delicious!

Chilled Coffee Featuring Godiva Chocolate Liqueur – Belguim

True coffee and chocolate lovers will adore this underrated dessert beverage. I wasn’t expecting it to be much, but it ended up surprising me. It tasted like a cup of ice cold chocolate milk with a hint of coffee. I couldn’t taste the alcohol at all, which could be a good or bad thing.  If you’re so stuffed from Piggy Wings and want a pick-me-up with a splash of liquor, this is a really yummy choice. If you are just starting your desert journey, the kiosk also serves Belguim waffles with chocolate ganache and whipped cream.

Croissant Doughnut with Chocolate Hazelnut Cream – Taste Track

I want to shake the hand of the person who invented the Cronut. The croissant/donut hybrid is sweeping the nation’s diners and now Epcot has a kiosk dedicated to this beautiful creation. I opted for the Croissant Doughnut covered in chocolate hazelnut cream (Nutella) and raspberries. The texture is somehow both flaky and moist. It’s a phenomenon that must have been crafted by America’s smartest engineers.  In addition to the hazelnut cream, you can get the cronut topped with chocolate and marshmallows, sprinkles, or cinnamon sugar. For an additional $2 you get a scoop of gelato!

This is all the chocolate we could handle in a two-day span, so here is a complete list of all other chocolate treats we couldn’t get to this year!

Austrailia – Lamington: Yellow Cake Dipped in Chocolate & Shredded Coconut

Craft Drafts – Florida Beer Company Passport Triple Chocolate Milk Stout

Flavors from Fire – Chocolate Picante – Dark Chocolate Mousse with Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder, and Mango

Ireland – Warm Chocolate Pudding with Irish Cream Liqueur Custard

Italy – Cannoli filled with Sweet Ricotta, Chocolate, and Candied Fruit

Morocco – Chocolate Baklava: Rolled Phyllo Dough with Toasted Almonds and Dark Chocolate Sauce

Shimmering Sips Mimosa Bar (Festival Center) – Chocolate Stuffed Croissant

Active Eats – Energy Bar Bites: a mixture of Chocolate, Nuts, Dried Fruit and Dates

The Almond Orchard – Banana Almond Soft-serve Sundae with Fresh Berries and Chocolate Almond Streusel

Coffee might get you out of bed, but chocolate can be your best friend when you’re stressing out at work and sinking into your couch. But, maybe you’re not a chocolate lover. As promised, I wrote a separate post with some pro-tips to help you make the most out of the Food & Wine experience with some delicious, non-chocolate items available this year. Read the guide to Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival 2018 here. If you have any questions regarding the snacks I reviewed or Food & Wine in general, please comment below! I love any excuse to talk about food!

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