15 Beloved Theme Park Recipes to Try At Home
Ever wish you could replicate your favorite theme park eats at home? Here are some of the best theme park recipes you can try yourself! Fresh from the parks and straight to your kitchen.
Every theme park enthusiast has been there. You’re at home and missing or craving that one delicious treat from your home park. And, even if there is a nearby restaurant that serves something similar, it’s just not the same.
Good news is, I’ve collected a few theme park recipes from popular parks for you to enjoy at home. These official recipes are from the park’s themselves, and not just a copycat of the real thing.
Here are a few of the most popular recipes with step-by-step instructions and an ingredient list from parks including: Walt Disney World, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Kings Dominion, Dollywood, Universal Studios, Cedar Point, and Knott’s Berry Farm.
Enjoy!
Related Reading: Universal Studios Butterbeer Recipes: Regular, Alcoholic, Frozen, & Hot
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Savory recipes of German potato salad to sweet treat recipes of Black Forest cake–here’s how to make some of Busch’s fan favorite eats at home.
Hot Potato Salad
Ingredients:
- 6 large potatoes
- 1/4 pound bacon
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 2 cups water
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup pickle relish
- 1/4 cup chopped pimento
Instructions:
- Boil potatoes and then refrigerate for 6 hours
- Peel and slice potatoes
- Brown chopped bacon and chopped onions in a skillet until crisp
- Add cornstarch and water to bacon grease
- Stir until mixture thickens and let simmer for several minutes
- Stir in sliced potatoes and simmer until hot
- Serve warm
Black Forest Cherry Cake
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
- (filling) 2 cups black cherries canned in heavy syrup
- (filing) 2 tablespoons of Kirshwasser
- (frosting) pint heavy cream whipped
Instructions:
- Cream butter and sugar together, adding eggs and rest of ingredients
- Beat 3 minutes on high speed
- Pour into two 9 inch round cake pans that have been greased and floured
- Bake at 350°F for 30-50 minutes
- Combine filling ingredients
- Slice each cake horizontally to make four layers
- Spread whipped topping 1/2 thick around the edge on top of the first layer
- Fill the exposed center of the topping with cherry filling
- Place the second layer of cake on top and repeat whipped topping & cherry filling
- Place the third layer of cake and top with entire layer with whipped cream
- Crumble the fourth layer into fine crumbs and sprinkle around the side of the cake
- Pipe rosettes on the top of the cake using whipped cream
- Top each rosette with a maraschino cherry
- Garnish the center top of cake with remaining cake crumbs or chocolate curls
Verboltini
Ingredients:
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 1/2 oz triple sec
- 2 oz vodka
Instructions:
- Mix and chill
- Enjoy
Dollywood
Any time is the perfect time for country fried chicken and cinnamon bread. Your taste buds will thank you!
Country Fried Chicken
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 3 cups oil (omit if using an air fryer)
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 cups flour
- 1 chicken, sectioned
Instructions:
- Set fryer (or air fryer) to 350°F
- Whisk together all dry ingredients
- Rinse chicken in ice cold water and drain
- Completely coat chicken in dry ingredients mixture
- Cook chicken in the fryer for 12 to 15 minutes
(or until the chicken’s internal temp is 165°F)
Cinnamon Bread
Ingredients:
- two 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch loaf pan
- vegetable oil cooking spray
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 pound loaf thawed frozen bread dough
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup sifted powdered sugar
- 2 1/2 tablespoons water
Instructions:
- Coat two loaf pans with vegetable oil cooking spray
- Combine sugar and cinnamon
- Cut dough lengthwise into two pieces and make 4 crosswise slits in each piece
- Entirely brush loaves in butter
- Coat loaves in cinnamon sugar mixture
- In a warm place, let loaves rise for 30 minutes in loaf pans
- Set oven to 300°F
- Bake loaves for 35 minutes (until top is golden), turning the pans around once half way through
- Turn loaves out onto a rack while warm
- Mix powdered sugar and water to make the glaze
- Drizzle the warm loaves with the glaze
Holiday Wassail
Ingredients:
- 8 cups apple juice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 cups pineapple juice
- 1/3 cup honey
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in large saucepan
- Bring saucepan to boiling
- Reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for 10 minutes
- Remove cinnamon sticks and serve hot
Kings Dominion
Guest favorite treats using simple ingredients like donuts and… burgers?
Donut Burger
Ingredients:
- 4 glazed donuts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cups thinly sliced sweet onions
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 8 (3 ounce) burger patties
- 8 slices American cheese
- 2 strips cooked bacon
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Slice donuts in half lengthwise
- Combine butter and olive oil in saucepan over medium-low heat
- Add onions, salt, and pepper and cook for 40 minutes
- Add balsamic vinegar and cook for 20 minutes
- Cook burger patties to desired temperature, top with cheese to melt
- Place 2 patties on top of bottom slice of donut, top with onions, bacon, and top slice of donut
- Serve with desired condiments
Funnel Cake
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pancake mix
- 1 egg
- 2/3 cup water
- 3 tablespoons oil
- Enough oil to fill frying pan 1 inch
- Toppings of choice (strawberries, whipped cream, powdered sugar, chocolate sauce, etc.)
Instructions:
- Combined pancake mix, egg, water, and oil until smooth
- Pour 1 inch of oil in frying pan, sauce pan, or large pot
- Heat pan to 375°F
- Pour batter into oil in a circular motion
- Cook in oil for 1 minute, flip, and cook other side for 1 minute
- Remove from pan and top with desired toppings
Blue Cream Shake
Ingredients:
- 3 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 3/4 cup milk
- 10 drops blue food coloring
- 1 teaspoon raspberry extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
- Toppings of choice (i.e., whipped cream, crumbled waffle cone, etc.)
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to blender and mix until smooth
- Top with desired toppings
Disney Theme Parks
From Magic Kingdom to Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and to Disneyland Park, here are some easy Disney recipes so you can enjoy a little Disney magic at home.
Nudel Gratin
Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- pinch ground white pepper
- pinch nutmeg
- 4 oz shredded swiss cheese
- 4 oz shredded white cheddar cheese
- 1 pound cooked elbow macaroni noodles
Instructions:
- Set oven to 375°F
- Coat16 x 9 inch baking dish with nonstick spray
- Whisk cream, eggs, salt, pepper, and nutmeg together
- Combine all cheeses together in a separate bowl
- Remove 1 cup of cheese mix and set aside
- Mix remaining cheese mix with cream mixture
- Add cooked macaroni noodles to cream mixture and pour into baking dish
- Cover dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes
- Remove foil and sprinkle 1 cup of cheese mix over baked dish
- Bake for 15 minutes
- Cool for 10 minutes and serve warm
Giant Cinnamon Roll
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 2 packages yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 1/2 ounces instant vanilla pudding
- 2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 cups flour
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 8 ounce cream cheese softened (frosting)
- 1/2 unsalted butter softened (frosting)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (frosting)
- 3 cups powdered sugar (frosting)
- 2 tablespoons milk (frosting)
Instructions:
- Stir together water, yeast, and sugar until dissolved
- Mix pudding according to package instructions w/milk
- Blend 1/2 cup melted butter, egg, and salt into yeast mixture
- Gradually add flour and knead until smooth
- Place dough in greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 15 minutes in a warm place
- Punch down dough, cover, and let rise again for 15 minutes in a warm place
- Roll dough on a floured surface and completely brush with 1 cup melted butter
- Mix brown sugar and cinnamon
- Sprinkle mix over dough and roll up dough
- Cut through dough roll every 2 inches
- Place each roll in a buttered baking dish and let rise for 20 minutes in a warm place
- Bake in oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown
- Combine all frosting ingredients and mix until smooth
- Frost rolls while still warm
PB&J Milkshake
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons grape jelly
- 1/4 cup milk
- 3 cups softened vanilla ice cream
Instructions:
- Combine peanut butter and jelly and mix
- Combine milk, ice cream, and pb&j mixture in blender
- Mix until smooth and serve
Bonus Recipes
It wouldn’t be a theme park recipes article without some of the best dishes in the industry.
Universal Studios’ Butterbeer
Ingredients:
- 2 liters cream soda chilled
- 1/4 teaspoon caramel extract
- 1/4 teaspoon butter extract
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup butterscotch topping
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions:
- Mix cream soda, caramel extract, and butter extract
- Separately, whip heavy cream until it forms stiffened peaks
- Add butterscotch topping and powdered sugar to the whipping cream
- Pour caramel cream mixture into jar and top with butterscotch cream topping
Cedar Point’s Caramel Apple Fritters
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups chopped apples
- 1 pound funnel cake batter
- 11 oz water
- caramel sauce to taste
- powdered sugar to taste
- crushed peanuts to taste
Instructions:
- Whisk together funnel cake mix and water
- Mix in chopped apple pieces
- Drop one scoop of mixture into 350°F oil
- Cook fritter on either side for 2-3 minutes, until golden brown
- Drain fritter for 20 seconds and powder with powdered sugar
- Garnish with caramel sauce and crushed peanuts
Knott’s Berry Farm’s Boysenberry Ice Cream
Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 3/4 cup milk
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons Knott’s Boysenberry Punch
- purple food coloring
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients together
- Churn ice cream for 30 minutes
- Transfer ice cream to a freezer safe container to harden
There are scores of more theme park recipes across park cookbooks, magazine articles, and their own blog posts! I can’t tell you how many I’ve tried over the years. There have been countless nights dedicated to replicating one tasty treat or another from the parks.
This post shall be the first of many exploring all of the different theme park recipes you can try at home. And for the many fan favorites whose trade secrets haven’t been unearthed yet, I’ll also be sharing the best dupes around. People have to get their fix of a Disney dole whip somehow!
What are your favorite theme park recipes you make at home? What parks and dishes do you want me to hit on next?
For more ways to enjoy the parks from home, check out:
4 Easy Butterbeer Recipes: Original, Alcoholic, Frozen, & Hot
The Famous Dollywood Cinnamon Bread Recipe
10 of the Most Remarkable Home Decor for Theme Park Lovers
5 of the Best Theme Park YouTube Channels
Thanks for reading!
That Cinnamon Bread at Dollywood is everything! 🤤 Can’t wait for my next visit!
I usually skip the food and go straight for the coasters. Might give some of these a try next time, though.
I’m going to try the giant cinnamon bun recipe! It will take me back to Epcot!
Be sure to grab a Schofferhofer from the store too for the ultimate Epcot at home night!