If you are heading to EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays this season, you already know the festival’s menu options are packed with desserts. But if you want two treats that feel worth the stop without overwhelming your palate, I have a pair of recommendations that stood out during my recent visit.
Panettone Holiday Trifle
First up is the Panettone Holiday Trifle from the “Favorites of Festivals Past” booth located at CommuniCore. Priced at $5.25, it takes inspiration from traditional Italian panettone, a sweet, airy bread usually baked with raisins, candied citrus, and butter. Instead of serving the bread whole, EPCOT’s version breaks it down into a layered trifle that feels familiar yet different in a delicious way.
The trifle starts with a base of light, silky eggnog custard. Luckily, the eggnog flavor is subtle rather than intense, so it complements the rest of the dessert instead of overpowering it. On top is a cranberry cherry compote that hits a great middle ground. It has enough tartness to feel festive, but the cherries help balance the cranberry so it never leans sour. A generous swirl of whipped cream adds fluffiness to the top, while sugared cranberries and almonds bring in a crunchy texture that tie the whole thing together. It feels warm, cozy, and seasonal without being too heavy.
It’s a true festival favorite for good reason, as it’s my personal all-time favorite in all my years of attending Festival of the Holidays, period.
Holiday Sugar Cookie
If you prefer something simpler, the Holiday Sugar Cookie at Connections Cafe might be more your style. This cookie is only available at EPCOT’s Starbucks location and has quietly become one of my favorite holiday treats at Walt Disney World over the last few years.
For $4.79, It is a straightforward sugar cookie with a semi-soft texture and a light lemon flavor. It reminds me of buttery old-school Italian bakery cookies or even those lightly-lemony cookies that used to come in McDonald’s Happy Meals (she’s classy, I know). It is nostalgic and comforting in the best way. The festive sprinkles bring a little extra happiness, too!
These cookies are pre-bagged and sold at the counter, which makes them perfect to take home or refrigerate for later. Even better, they count toward the Holiday Cookie Stroll, so you can enjoy one now, save another for later, and still move closer to earning your festival prize.
If you try either one this season, let me know what you think. Happy snacking!
