Hello there! Lily, here. I'm the littlest frog in the family but the one with the biggest sweet tooth. One of my favorite things to do at Universal Studios Hollywood is finding all of the tastiest treats that are almost too cute to eat. Almost. That’s right. I've tried them all (over multiple visits of course — Mommy Frog does limit my sweets each visit, and she makes me share with my brother, Tad). But I enjoyed every finger-licking bite!
The Tastiest Universal Studios Hollywood Treats
Many of the fun Universal Studios Hollywood treats are based on movie and television characters. Now there are treats inspired by Super Mario Bros. in Super Nintendo World! You'll find many fun things to try that are based on the Minions, the Simpsons, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and more. Some are even inspired by famous, movie and television settings. And some yummy treats are available simply because they taste good. You'd better eat your vegetables so that your parents will let you have a treat! Hop along so you can find out what kinds of fun treats are in store for you. The hard part will be making a decision about which to get!
Minion Treats in Super Silly Fun Land
If you're taking your tadpoles, your first stop for Universal Studios Hollywood treats should be Super Silly Fun Land. There, you will find the Minion Café, where the minions are cooking up some fun Universal treats (and other creative food concoctions). As for me, I'll take one Minion cookie, please, and some Nutella banana pudding! There are even more fun treats (such as Felonious Floats) and you can find flavored Minion cotton candy nearby. This location has some fun food, so if you want more of a meal, then hop over to Mommy Frog's post on the yummiest foods at Universal Studios Hollywood, since I'm covering just desserts today!
You can work off all that sugary energy from your treats by winning prizes, splashing around in the water play area, and going on the Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem ride. Mommy Frog has even more tips for entertaining small children at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Cool off with Frozen Treats
Nothing refreshes you more on a hot day than a frozen treat. In the heat of the day, enjoy ice cream, shakes and even frozen Butterbeer.
We love the zany shakes and sundaes at Studio Scoop in the Lower Lot and swirled soft-serve ice cream at Phineas Q. Butterfat’s Ice Cream Parlor in Springfield U.S.A.
Fans of Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream in Diagon Alley in Orlando are celebrating the new Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Counter's arrival to Hogsmeade in Hollywood. Head into Honeydukes to get a cup or waffle cone of soft-serve ice cream swirled with one of 10 flavors: Butterbeer, Banana, Chocolate, Mint, Orange, Vanilla, Toffee Nut, Granny Smith Apple, Pistachio and Toffee Apple.
Thirsty and hot? Sip on a Kwik-E-Mart frozen Squishee to cool off. You can find Squishees at several spots around Springfield U.S.A.
Eat a Giant Doughnut Like Homer Simpson
Tad is a Simpson’s fan so he toadally dug into one of the giant “d’oh nuts” (get it?) from Lard Lad’s Donuts. Homer would be so proud. You can also find giant boxed Lard Lad Donuts in some other locations, restaurants and even as part of an ice cream sundae at Phineas Q. Butterfat’s. At Krusty Burger, Tad had a laugh at the fact that milkshakes are made with 100 percent mammal milk. Mmmm … mammal milk. If you plan to buy a shake in the park, bring your own straw or grab a spoon. The new paper straws just didn't work for us when it came to shakes.
Tad may not be old enough to order a Duff beer, but he got a kick out of the Flaming Moe in Moe's Tavern. This nonalcoholic fizzing orange drink has dry ice at the bottom and appears to be smoking!
Dig into Funnel Cake
We, tadpoles, can’t have all the fun, so be sure to help your parents find yummy Universal treats, too. Your parents will probably enjoy a funnel cake with the topping of their choice at the Hollywood & Dine or Mel's Diner. We tried strawberry and whipped cream. You might even have to offer to help your parents finish it.
Power Up with Super Nintendo Desserts and Cream Sodas
In the Lower Lot, enter the Warp Pipe to get to Toadstool Cafe in Super Nintendo World, where you can find Nintendo themed desserts:
- ? Block Tiramisu — It's a tiramisu-flavored mystery block with cookies on the outside and soft cake with a white chocolate Power-Up inside.
- Mt. Beanpole Cake — It's a multi-layered Italian cookie cake with a matcha mousse. It tastes like Neapolitan to me.
- Princess Peach Cupcake — This funfetti cupcake is covered in pink buttercream frosting and glitter, and is topped with Princess Peach's chocolate crown. There is a hidden red jam in the middle.
- Super Star Lemon Squash — This Toadstool Cafe drink has honey lemon soda with mango stars and assorted tropical boba.
There are also Super Mario Bros. themed sweet drinks just outside Super Nintendo World:
- Princess Peach's Peach Soda
- Mario's Strawberry Soda
- Luigi's Green Apple Soda
They each come in a matching character cup and straw decoration.
Power Up Café
You can also get some savory Super Nintendo snacks and fizzy drinks in the Upper Lot at Power Up Café!
Here are the snacks:
- Super Mushroom Calzone: Mushroom-shaped calzone filled with pepperoni, sausage, mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. (We found this to be the most flavorful item and new Frog Family favorite!)
- 1-Up Mushroom Calzone: Mushroom-shaped calzone filled with spinach, green pepper, mushroom, mozzarella cheese and basil pesto. (A decent meatless choice.)
- Fire Flower Pretzel: Fire Flower-shaped pretzel served with chipotle cheese, mustard and white queso dipping sauces (Even though this themed pretzel cute, we would opt for a less expensive, and much tastier, salted pretzel elsewhere in the park.)
- Super Star Popcorn: Butter popcorn topped with edible glitter
Additionally, there are some bubbly beverages. You can drop in the toadally adorable Power Up sugar shapes to change the color and flavor of these drinks:
- Super Mushroom Fizz: Lemon-lime soda with strawberry popping pearls and a strawberry Super Mushroom Power Up
- 1-Up Mushroom Fizz: Lemon-lime soda with green apple popping pearls and a lime 1-Up Mushroom Power Up
- Fire Flower Fizz: Lemon-lime soda with orange popping pearls and a mango habanero Fire Flower Power Up
- Super Star Fizz: Lemon-lime soda with lemon popping pearls and a mango pineapple Super Star Power Up
Get Snacks at City Snack Shop
Now that Cinnabon moved to CityWalk, the City Snack Shop filled that space with yummy goodness. You can usually get house-made beignets, cookies, giant Bavarian pretzels and more. If you hoppen to visit during the celebration for the 60th anniversary of the Studio Tour — April 26 through Aug. 11, 2024 — you'll find some retro snacks here:
- Glam Tram Cookie
- Film Reel Cookie Sandwich
- Giant 60th Pretzel
- 60th Celebration Cookies
- Banana Breath Popcorn
Oh, and did we mention the shop is temporarily transformed into a Glamor Tram?
Theme Park Favorites
Churros are a mainstay at SoCal theme parks. You can find a variety of flavored churros around the park, as well as popcorn or cotton candy that's Minion-themed or shaped like Marge Simpson's hair.
Tasty Treats in Universal CityWalk
The fun desserts don’t stop when you leave the park. There are also some very delectable Universal City Walk treats, too. Popcornopolis is exploding with more than just popcorn! The chocolate-covered pretzels are rolled in nuts and caramel. You can also order caramel apples, animal-themed candy apples and chocolate-covered strawberries there, too. See … fruit can be a treat! You can’t eat all of that yourself, so offer to get some for the family to share. The frog apple was too cute for our frog family to pass up.
If you have a sweet tooth, hop into IT'SUGAR candy store for vintage and novelty treats. At the other end of CityWalk (near Curious George and the E.T. parking structures), spring for some creative doughnuts at Voodoo Donut.
Treat Yourself to Wizarding World Sweets
You may be a muggle (non-magical person), but you can enjoy special wizard candies from Honeydukes sweet shop. That's where you can stock up on your Chocolate Frogs, Fizzing Whizzbeees, Acid Pops, Exploding Bonbons, Peppermint Toads, Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans and more. You can also choose from handmade treats such as Butterbeer fudge, pumpkin pasties and no-melt ice cream. Speaking of ice cream, you can now get soft-serve ice cream at the Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream-Counter inside Honeydukes!
Some of our favorite desserts (and meals) in the park can be found at The Three Broomsticks. Swoop by and dig into gooey Butterbeer potted cream or English delights such as warm sticky toffee pudding with ice cream.
Of course, one of the most popular treats in Hogsmeade is Butterbeer. You can find this sweet drink in restaurants and at certain carts in the land. Butterbeer comes frozen or cold most of the year. You can also try hot Butterbeer during the holidays and colder months of the year. Now you can get a drink that was previously only found in the Wizarding World in Orlando — Fishy Green Ale! This minty drink, with hints of cinnamon, has blueberry "fish eggs."
If you would like to get a look at some of these snacks and other quick bites in action, check out Tad's YouTube video of the Top 10 Snacks at Universal Studios Hollywood. Warning! This could make you really hungry!
Universal Studios Hollywood Treats During the Holidays
If you hoppen to be visiting during Grinchmas in December, or during the holiday season starting in late November and ending in early January, then you might want to wear your stretchy pants for all the fun holiday treats available! The park offers frogtastic treats such as Grinch cupcakes, holiday cookies, holiday doughnuts, peppermint hot chocolate and hot Butterbeer, to name just a few. Hop over to our guide to celebrating Christmas at Universal Studios Hollywood to learn more.
There are so many unique Universal Studios Hollywood treats that it's hard to decide which ones to buy. I personally think it's best to get several different eats and share them with your family and friends. Mommy Frog always says to share with my brother, Tad, so we did a good job of sharing our Universal Studios Hollywood treats. This way, we got to sample a couple of different ones without getting a bellyache. Hope you'll do the same next time you're at Universal. Hoppy eating!
Which Universal Studios Hollywood treats are you adding to your must-try list? If you're planning a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood or any of the Southern California theme parks, be sure to check out our discount Universal Studios tickets, touring plans plus our top tips to maximize your time in the park!
Stay sweet,
