Gingerbread Beignets and Pumpkin Pie Hot Chocolate

I've been enjoying the holidays in Disneyland and California Adventure. The decorations throughout both parks are pretty remarkable. 

There are also plenty of seasonal treats. I snapped these pictures above while on my way to try some of them in New Orleans Square.

Of course, I had to back to the Mint Julep Bar to try the gingerbread beignets. This is the 3-pack for $4.19. You can look back at my original and pumpkin beignets posts if you missed them.

It's almost too cute to eat...,but that didn't stop me. I really liked this flavor as well. If you like gingerbread, then you will like these.

Here's a shot of the inside of a beignet. You just have to go and try them yourself. Don't forget that you can also order them at Cafe Orleans.

The beignets are even better with some hot chocolate (or coffee if you prefer). I decided to get the pumpkin pie hot chocolate again since I heard how much someone else enjoyed it. The one that I got from my previous post did not come with whipped cream. For this reason, I decided that I needed a do-over.

This already looked much better to me. Whipped cream and a  little bit of shaved chocolate were placed on top. It really made all the difference. I enjoyed this one a lot more than the first time. The subtle pumpkin flavor mixed with chocolate is delicious. It tasted really good along with the gingerbread beignets. This was a perfect chilly afternoon treat.

Pumpkin Beignets

The last time I was at Disneyland, I had to get some pumpkin beignets from the Mint Julep Bar. Getting some seasonal treats at Disneyland has become one of my favorite things to do.

We took a seat at the French Market right next to the Mint Julep Bar after picking up our order.

I ordered a 6-pack of the pumpkin beignets to share with my brother again and a large ice water (I love the holiday cup). The 6-pack is $7.19 and the 3-pack is $4.19 before tax.

Here's a look inside the bag after receiving the order. They look and smell really good. I could smell the warm pumpkin spice wafting out of the bag. Before digging in, I had to make sure that they were evenly coated with the powdered sugar. In my original Mickey Beignets post, you can read my instructions on how to do this. :)

The pumpkin beignets did not disappoint. In fact, I think I like them even more than the originals. I really enjoyed the flavor of the pumpkin spices. They are worth the sugary mess.
And now for the Christmas season, they are also offering gingerbread beignets. I'm really looking forward to trying these too. Don't worry, I'll be sure to post about those soon.

Disneyland Pumpkin Fritters

Well, it is fall and Halloween Time at Disneyland. This means that there are some great foods to celebrate this time of year. I have only been able to try one of them so far. I picked up some pumpkin fritters from the Royal Street Veranda. It is a little quick-service window located in New Orleans Square next to Pirates of the Caribbean. As you can see in the picture above, it is the place that sells gumbo (at least that how I remember it).

Here's a look at the menu. It's small, but that doesn't stop this window from being quite busy throughout the day. I hear that the gumbo is pretty good, so it's on my list to try another time. Anyway, since the fritters are seasonal, they are only listed on a small sign at the window. They cost $3.99 and you can get an Annual Passholder discount.

Once I got my order, I went to find a place to sit and enjoy it. It was a busy Sunday and the seating is limited at Royal Street Veranda. I decided to walk over to Critter Country and find a table at Hungry Bear Restaurant. They have lots of tables and it's very peaceful.

I picked a table on the top level towards the back. There is a great view of the boats cruising down the Rivers of America from the whole dining area. I took this picture of the Sailing Ship Columbia from my table. 

Time to dig in! The pumpkin fritters are covered in cinnamon and sugar and served with an apple cider caramel custard dipping sauce. They are delicious with or without the dipping sauce, but I loved them with it. 

Here is a close-up of the cinnamon and sugary goodness on the outside.

And a close-up of the inside. There are real chunks of pumpkin in there. I was pleasantly surprised at how good they are. The pumpkin fritters were well worth the $3 and change that I spent. Now, I want to go back for more. There are only 2 more weeks before they go away.

I'll leave you with a picture of the Mark Twain Riverboat making it way past the Hungry Bear Restaurant. Such a relaxing sight. 

Mickey Beignets

While on a recent trip to Disneyland with my brother and a friend, we decided to walk over to New Orleans Square to get some Mickey-shaped beignets. Unless you know to look for them, they can be easily missed. You can purchase them at the restaurant Cafe Orleans or at the Mint Julep Bar. Cafe Orleans is a sit-down restaurant with views of the Rivers of America and New Orleans Square with popular menu items such as the Monte Cristo sandwich and pommes frites. When you order beignets here, they are served with a raspberry coulis and a vanilla bean creme anglaise.

On this occasion, we opted for the quick stop at the Mint Julep Bar before heading over to ride the Haunted Mansion. The Mint Julep Bar is tucked in a little corner behind the French Market restaurant near the New Orleans Square Train Station. The beignets come in a 3-pack for $3.99 or a 6-pack for $6.99. When you pick up your order at the window, you get your beignets and lots of powdered sugar in a paper bag. Make sure you grab some napkins.

Above is a picture inside the bag of the 6-pack that my brother and I shared. You'll want to evenly distribute the powdered sugar to cover each of the beignets. To do this, hold the bag folded closed at the top and shake. Be careful because some of the powdered sugar will make it's way out of the folds at the bottom of the bag. Then, you are ready to enjoy.

Here is a close up of a delicious, fluffy, pillowy beignet. If you have never had one, the closest comparison would be a warm doughnut covered in powdered sugar. In my opinion, it tastes a little more unique than a doughnut and this one is shaped like Mickey. What's not to like? I must warn you that you will get powdered sugar all over the place when you eat these. You will need the napkins to dust it off of you. It's a small price to pay for such a wonderful treat.

If you are heading the parks soon, they will be offering pumpkin beignets for the holiday season. I can't wait to try those. Look for this post coming up! 

Healthy lunch in New Orleans Square at Disneyland

During a trip to Disneyland a couple weeks ago, I tried the Na Awlin's Salad from the French Market for the first time. I wanted something light and healthy since I knew I would be eating some more indulgent foods later. 
The menu described the salad as a lettuce medley, julienned yams, Granny Smith apples, caramelized pecans, lentils, and tart cherries with a citrus vinaigrette. The price is $10.99. It was hand tossed right in front of me when I ordered. I really enjoyed it. I usually go for a salad with chicken or beef, but this one didn't need it because it was very filling. I loved how the vinaigrette tied in all the flavors really well. I even cleaned my plate(this is rare). And I believe it was a vegan dish which is a great option for many guests. It is also served with your choice of jalepeño cheddar cornbread or a dinner roll. I chose the cornbread. I was not as much of a fan of the cornbread. The flavor just was not what I was expecting. Next time, I would get the roll. 
I will probably be enjoying this again this summer while listening to the live jazz band that plays in the seating area and watching all the people moving about New Orleans Square.