A Spoonful of Sugar: Winter Garden/Disney-area Sweet Spots
Here are some must-try sweets in Winter Garden and Disney!
(ROBERTO GONZALEZ)
Paleteria
426 West Plant St., Winter Garden
paleteriaorginal.com
Was there anything better during childhood than an icy cold popsicle on a hot summer’s day? Fruit-flavored pops, the kind that come in the plastic sleeves, push-pops of vanilla ice cream enrobed in tangy orange sherbet—we love ‘em all.
These days, gourmet pop makers like the Paleteria are taking these treats to the next level, however. Serving paletas, a Mexican and South American icy treat often made with fruit purees and juices, the cheery booth—a lovely little tricycle and cooler combo, actually—is located inside Plant Street Market. Flavors and combinations range from the customary, like coconut, strawberry and lime, to the unexpected, such as passion fruit with sweetened condensed milk. And don’t even get us started on the banana stuffed with Nutella. –BF
Sugar Rush Marshmallows
855 E. Plant St., Winter Garden
sugarrushmarshmallows.com
Marshmallows: they’re the fluffy clouds skitting across the blue sky of our childhood daydreams. Too much? Well, I can’t help it. Making marshmallows seems like a minor superpower to me. And in this case, the Wonder Women at the helm are wife and wife team Julie and Jean Summers, who created Sugar Rush Marshmallows “to make people happy.”
Whether you order for pick up at their Winter Garden kitchen location, have them shipped to your house, or catch the dynamic duo around town at a food truck pop-up or as part of a collab with other local makers, you’re sure to enjoy flavors like classic vanilla, churro, chocolate, bourbon and more. Fun novelties include their dreamy Rainbow Mallows (one component of The City’s Scoop, our fantasy treat on the cover!) and Marshmallow Mug Toppers, which melt beautifully into your hot cocoa. Many more mallow-centric treats await you, so be sure to follow Sugar Rush on Instagram for menus and more. –BF
(ROBERTO GONZALEZ)
DG Doughnuts
16131 W. Colonial Dr., Oakland
gdoughnuts.com
The “DG” in the name stands for “damn good.” One look at these incredible creations, and you’ll immediately understand why. To begin, each doughnut is roughly twice the size of garden variety pastries. But while size certainly matters, it takes a backseat to the artistic creativity and freshness that you experience at this small-batch, family-owned operation. Doughnuts are divided into two classes: Classic, which encompass your vanilla and chocolate glazed, your powdered sugar, your sprinkles and the like.
But the crazy—in such a wonderful, wonderful way—comes with the Fancies that rotate weekly. Try whatever is on offer the week that you visit, but recent flavors included Chocolate Cookie Butter (dipped in chocolate and topped with Biscoff Cookie Butter mousse and a Biscoff cookie), Jack Daniels Caramel Winter Apple (a combo of apple filling and vanilla icing with rosettes of dulce de leche, paired with a pipette of Jack Daniels Winter Jack Tennessee Whiskey) and so much more. With all of this decadence, it might be good to pair a visit to the shop, located in a quaint corner of a Chevron gas station in Oakland, with a ride or stroll on the nearby West Orange Trail. -BF
Amorette’s
1486 East Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista
disneysprings.com
Be their guest at Amorette’s Patisserie at Disney Springs! Amorette means “little love” in French, and that’s exactly the spirit behind all of the edible works of art you’ll find on display inside this quaint confectionery—from showstopping cakes to savory crepes. Pair your favorite sweet with a glass of bubbly, as Champagne and sparkling wine are sold by the bottle or glass.
The real winners at Amorette’s are their specialty cakes. Available only by pre-order (at least 48 hours in advance), these whimsical, Disney-inspired character cakes come in collectible hat boxes, boast bold designs, and are the perfect size for a small celebration. Characters include Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy, and all cakes are available in two flavors: chocolate chiffon cake with milk chocolate mousse and orange pate de fruit; or lemon chiffon cake with white chocolate mousse and strawberry pate de fruit. -CW
(ROBERTO GONZALEZ)
David Ramirez Chocolates
2154 Central Florida Pkwy, Suite B-8, Orlando
426 W. Plant St., Winter Garden
avidramirezchocolates.com
With two area locations, David Ramirez Chocolates is a convenient destination for chocolate lovers wanting to try local, handmade confections. Ramirez, who captained the 2009 U.S. Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie team, is a self-proclaimed chocoholic, and his passion shows through in a myriad of delights, from chocolates to macarons.
Indulge in boxed chocolates that come in an exciting assortment of flavors, with everything from blackberry tea and lemon blueberry to Florida orange and Key lime. In his shops, visitors can indulge in flavored coffees, gelato and specialty pastries as well, some that you must experience firsthand. After all, can you really go wrong with a chocolate-dipped croissant alongside your cappuccino? A delightful array of hot chocolate “bon bombs” are a new addition to the lineup, guaranteed to surprise and delight your valentine. -BF
