The 14 Most Outrageous Theme Park Desserts Ever

If you are visiting theme parks solely for the rides, you are sorely missing out. Many of us are seeking out a different sort of thrill — and it doesn't involve roller coaster-induced G-force. We've come a long way from the standard ice cream cone and churro because thanks to the golden age of social media, we never have to settle for the mundane. Theme parks are continually one upping themselves by creating sweet masterpieces that are bigger, better, and more outrageous than the next — because no one came home from vacation to rave about the boring one-scoop vanilla cone they enjoyed.

We've traveled from sea to shining sea to unearth the most bonkers of all desserts. No stone (or cone) has gone unturned in our pursuit for a slice of sugar-laden heaven. If you're in the market for a 25-pound apple pie or an ice cream sundae so big it uses an entire can of whipped cream, you've come to the right place friends. Get ready to max out your daily allotted calories (and then some) in one glorious sitting. Consider this your theme park bucket list. You're welcome.

Located just outside the gates of Hersheypark, you'll find Hershey's Chocolate World — a mecca of all things chocolate. Home to the Hershey brand's largest candy store on earth, it's basically your golden ticket to visiting Willy Wonka's whimsical candy factory, but in real life. Here, you can get your hands on hundreds of different candies, including a 5-pound candy bar. The absolute best way to induce a sugar coma is at their expansive food hall.

Drop any preconceived notions that you may have about a food court because you won't find a basic pizza stand or fast-food Chinese here. Indulge in homemade desserts, including massive cookies, and even a soft pretzel so large it's served inside a pizza box alongside Hershey's special dark chocolate peanut butter ganache for dipping — there's also alcoholic beverage and candy pairings. 

While that is all fine and dandy, it's their newest offering that has made all of our candy-coated dreams come true. You can now stuff your own one-pound Reese's peanut butter cup with whatever your heart desires. The Reese's Stuff Your Cup experience allows you to be the captain of your own destiny as you mix into an empty chocolate cup pretzel bits, marshmallows, Reese's piece, sprinkles, and even miniature Reese's cups. Your creation is completed with fresh Reese's peanut butter direct from the factory that's situated just down the road. The experience is guided by highly trained "tasteologists."

Walt Disney World, in Central Florida, is 25,000 acres of fun offering literally hundreds of dining options, from standard theme park fare to AAA five-diamond fine dining. They also know a thing or two about creating buzz and hype surrounding food — fans have been known to wait hours in line just to grab a cookie or the latest limited-edition cupcake. While everyone is well aware of the holy greatness that is Dole whip, which has since become synonymous with Disney parks, you'll have to venture to one of the property's many resorts for something truly worthy of over-the-top status.

Only available at cult favorite Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, located at Disney's Beach Club Resort, guests pine for reservations months in advance to indulge in what could best be described as a literal mountain of ice cream. The kitchen sink sundae is made up of 28 ingredients, including multiple flavors of ice cream, fudge, syrups, candy, cake, cookies, and an entire can of whipped cream. To take this one step further, it's all assembled in a serving dish that mimics a kitchen sink. You'll want to grab your crew if you hope to tackle this one as it's designed to serve up to six people. Ordering this one is a true *experience* as you'll also be delighted with a whimsical presentation — don't worry, we won't spill the beans.

With Dolly Parton as its dreamer in chief, it is of no surprise that imagination seems to be the only limit when it comes to Dollywood's culinary team delighting us with their decadent dining options. The East Tennessee theme park, set to the backdrop of the stunning Smoky Mountains, is home to several globally recognized roller coasters, but most importantly, some serious comfort food. Southern hospitality is embraced and showcased throughout the park with hungry guests ready to dig into award-winning barbecue pork sandwiches or banana pudding made from Dolly's own family recipes.

You don't have to go any further than the Spotlight Bakery, just inside the park's gates, for a true you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it dessert. Just one slice of their famous 25-pound apple pie can feed a family of four. This monstrosity of a dessert requires over 40 apples (that's about 20 pounds) and 3 cups of brown sugar. Available by the slice or as an entire pie (they'll even throw in the skillet it's cooked in), it's made from scratch resulting in a melt in your mouth flaky slice of perfection. Dollywood will even ship it straight to your home for $189.99. They sell on average 29 of these tantalizing full pies each year with it being a popular option for Brides and Grooms seeking something out of the ordinary to serve their wedding guests.

When visiting Universal Studios Orlando or Universal Studio Hollywood, we suggest whizzing right past the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and straight to Springfield. The Simpsons-themed area of the park is an absolute fever dream and a must for fans of the loveable, albeit slightly kooky family. If you're looking to coat the stomach before heading into Moe's Tavern for a crisp pint of Duff Dry — it's true, you can really sip on Duff beer here — the only natural place to stop is at Lard Lad donuts. You can't miss it and its giant ambassador.

The Big Pink is what you're ordering from Lard Lad Donuts — and its fit to feed your entire family. This massive yeast donut is straightforward, but outrageous in presentation. It is generously coated with sweet, brightly-colored frosting and loads of sprinkles. They'll occasionally make other flavors of the day, like Oreo or S'mores, but we always go with the classic. The donut itself is incredibly moist, and prime for the socials.

Everything is awesome (sorry, but we had to) at LEGOLAND California Resort and its sister parks in Florida and New York. Inspired by everyone's favorite childhood toy, the parks are home to family friendly attractions but it is one of their food offerings that have landed these parks national attention. For the true building blocks of a good time at the theme park, Granny's Apple Fries is a must for anyone visiting. It originated at their first park in California in 1999 but proved to be so popular it can now be found at all three U.S. parks.

But, hold up ... what exactly is an apple fry? Basically, green apples are sliced into fry-like shapes before being lightly battered and fried to a golden hue. They are coated (generously might we add) with cinnamon sugar before being served blissfully warm with a dipping side of caramel sauce. It's about as perfect as a piece of fruit can get. The park's top seller is the apple of our eye on its own but with the addition of cool soft-serve vanilla ice cream an absolute home run and should be #1 on your list of LEGOLAND must-eats.

We couldn't discuss theme park desserts without mentioning a true classic: the churro. That would be practically sacrilegious. Over at the house of the mouse in Southern California, Disneyland is the mecca of churros. They do them and they do them extremely well. What's so magical about eating a stick-like formation of deep-fried dough at the happiest place on earth? Simply put, you are not limited to the standard cinnamon sugar variety here. Disneyland carries a solid rotation of flavored and specialty churros, like peppermint and sugar cookies. They also roll out the red carpet for some seriously impressive varieties for the holidays, like a pecan pie churro.

There's one churro that may leave you scratching your head because it is totally outrageous, but somehow works. That would be the spicy caliente churro from Senor Buzz's churro cart at Disney California Adventure. The bright red hued dessert hits the tongue with a powerful, fiery flavor that gives off major cinnamon Red Hot vibes. It's unique, a little out there, and a welcome switch up from the standard churro.

Located on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, Cedar Point is America's premiere destination for some of the most pioneering, industry-forward roller coasters in the world. Home to some drool-worthy eats, you'll want to take a break from their line-up of 18 G-Force-inducing coasters for their famous funnel fries. The twist on the amusement park staples features made-to-order funnel pieces in a fry shape that are coated with powdered sugar. Dare we say perhaps our preferred method of devouring funnel cake as it's totally portable and much easier to pop in your mouth than the standard version — not to mention the usual variety is an absolute mess. 

According to CP Food Blog, you can grab these hand-held pieces of fried heaven at several carts throughout the park. Pro tip: to bring their funnel fries to the next level, grab a scoop of the locally famous Toft's ice cream. The family-owned and operated dairy giant has been making creamy, high-quality homemade ice cream for over a century.