CAKE!!!

There is something you need to know about me…I love cake.  I pretty much have a sweet tooth in general (I’ve never met a dessert that I didn’t like), but for me, cake is taken to a whole new level.  I love it!  While I definitely have my favorite flavors (strawberry, red velvet, plain white, and this awesome coconut cake that my friend makes), I will pretty much eat any cake set in front of me.  If you ever think something is a bit off and you wonder if my body has been overtaken by aliens, set a piece of cake in front of me and see how I respond.  If it’s eaten within 3 minutes, you know everything is ok.

My love isn't just with the cake, though.  I love...I mean LOVE frosting.  Joe's mom has this fantastic frosting recipe and she used to always bring me a big container of it whenever she would come visit.  Finally she just gave me the recipe, so now I always keep a container of it in the freezer.  If I'm having a rough day and need a little pick-me-up I scoop some frosting into a bowl and eat it with a spoon spread it on graham crackers.

Several months ago, long before our Christmas trip to Disney World, I read an article about must have foods in Disney World.  On the list was a Cake Cup from the Cheshire Cat Café.  The second I saw the picture I knew I had to have this cake.  Thus began my quest…eat this, and any other cake I happen to find while visiting the Disney World Theme parks.

The list begins with our first cake in Magic Kingdom…The Be Our Guest Restaurant cupcake topped with “the gray stuff.”

 When planning our trip, lunch at this restaurant was at the top of Ella’s list of “must-do’s.”  We waited in line for nearly 2 hours to finally get in for lunch, so we were definitely going to make the most of it.  We ate in the Castle Gallery.  The cupcake was divine and as Ella says, "Mom, the gray stuff really IS delicious!"

Next we hit up the Cheshire Cat Café.  I want to be very clear about something.  This is NOT a cupcake.  It is a cake cup.  A large plastic cup filled with alternating layers of cake and icing.  To make this cake cup even better…it had strawberry icing and strawberry gel filling.  Please note that strawberry is my absolute favorite kind of cake.  Heaven. In. A. Cup.  I gave Ella a couple of bites, but other than that I ate the entire thing.  Even the fondant rose on top.  Sometimes I find myself dreaming of this cake cup.  I will definitely hit up this Cafe the next time we head to Magic Kingdom.  And next time I'll get the chocolate flavor too, just for good measure.

  

We spent our 3^rd day at Hollywood Studios and ate lunch at the Backlot Express Restaurant.  While there I spotted a sign advertising 2 special cupcakes.  A carrot cake cupcake topped with Olaf, and a gingerbread cupcake topped with Mickey ears and a Santa hat.  I couldn’t decide which one I wanted, so I did the only logical thing…I ordered both.  These cupcakes were huge!  Even with 3 of us eating them we still weren’t able to finish.  While I enjoyed the gingerbread cupcake, I was really partial to the carrot cake.  It took me back to my Boston days when I had this awesome roommate who made amazing cakes.  She made a carrot cake that was beyond delicious.

   

There you have it, my Disney vacation in cake.  I’m sure there is more cake out there that I didn’t get to try.  The next time we go I will make it my mission to try every kind of cake in the parks.  It’s my commitment to you to keep you informed.  I’m a giver like that.

I realize that I did not mention any cake from Epcot.  Either I didn’t visit the right places in Epcot, or they do not offer the delectable cake options the other two parks offered.  Also, I have recently seen a commercial that features a Darth Vader cupcake that will be offered during Star Wars week at Disney World.  I am jealous that I don't get to try this cake.  Chocolate and peanut butter...YUMMY!  Our next visit must be during Star Wars week.