Universal Orlando Resort Previews New Holiday Treats and Grinch & Minion Popcorn Buckets

As Universal Orlando Resort continues to get ready for the holiday, starting this Saturday, November 12 and running daily through January 1, 2023, Universal Orlando Resort presents its destination-wide Holidays celebration, including new and fan-favorite holiday-inspired menu offerings and two unique popcorn buckets inspired by Dr. Seuss’s the Grinch and “Despicable Me.”

Everyone loves the holidays especially when it comes to festive foods and holiday treats. This year,
Universal Orlando Resort offers holiday cheer cuisine, across the entire resort, for everyone. This year’s dishes include comforting classics, returning fan-favorite fare, and tasty new treats inspired by this year’s festivities.

Earl’s Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate Acorn Bomb (available at TODAY Café and Battery Park – located alongside the lagoon near Mel’s Drive-In): A holiday fan-favorite is back, now themed to the beloved, original Universal character – Earl the Squirrel. The delicious beverage consists of a chocolate acorn shell filled with salted caramel and mini marshmallows, served with Italian hot chocolate.

Roast Beast Sandwich (available at Circus McGurkus Café Stoo-pendous): Guests looking for comfort food flavors can savor the Roast Beast Sandwich – a mini meatloaf sandwich featuring French onion soup-dipped roast beef with a cheddar cheese sauce – and even a “secret” sauce – served on a pretzel bun. The Roast Beast sandwich comes with a side of french fries.

Other fan-favorite sandwiches return including a Holidays Leftover Sandwich. This sandwich is made with pressed artisan cranberry bread and filled with turkey and brie cheese. It also comes with a side of gravy for dipping the sandwich.

Also back for the holidays is the Chocolate Pressed S’Mores Sandwich. Good enough for a meal or dessert, this pressed sandwich consists of two slices of brioche bread, filled with chocolate ganache, marshmallow cream, and marshmallows. The edge of the sandwich is dipped in chocolate and garnished with graham cracker crumbs. As Ina Garten says, “How good is that?!”

Grinch-Themed Treats (available in Seuss Landing): Some of the traditional sweet flavors the season brings can be found in an array of unique Grinch-themed sweets, including a Grinch Hot Chocolate Bomb, a Grinch Ice Cream Sandwich, and Grinch cookies, among others.

The Grinch Hot Chocolate Bomb is a chocolate-shaped heart that has a dark chocolate bottom and green colored white chocolate top. On one side is a candy red heart. As hot chocolate is poured into the cup, the chocolate heart melts, just like the Grinch, but in this case, delicious mini marshmallows and more red candy hearts float to the top. It even comes in a specially themed white paper cup with the Grinch’s hand holding a red heart on the heat-proof band.

The Grinch Ice Cream Sandwich has smooth vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two large, thick and chewy green-colored sugar cookies. The top is lightly dusted with confectioners sugar and accented with a red candy heart.

Santa’s Cookies and Milk “Shake” (available at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen): An iconic holiday treat comes to life as a delectable milkshake with Santa’s Cookies and Milk “Shake,” complete with cookie butter & vanilla ice cream, mini chocolate chip cookies, and topped with a delicious chocolate Christmas tree and sprinkles.

And for the seasonal cocktail aficionados, a selection of specialty beverages is available in Universal Studios Florida including:

The Nutty Nog, the classic Holiday treat with a creamy, frozen eggnog base.

The Deluxe Nog, a luxurious Holiday drink served with Bacardi 8.

The Fire Nog, a delicious liquid cinnamon-cream treat using fireball cinnamon whiskey.

As we reported last month, The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast will be returning this year after a two-year absence due to the pandemic.

Tickets are on sale now for The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast. The buffet breakfast, which is held at Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous, will be held on select dates from November 12 – December 29, 2022, and features a breakfast buffet with themed food and breakfast favorites. In addition to a non-alcoholic beverage and specialty treats. Breakfast reservations are required and times are 9:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. Diners will also receive a digital download photo from one character interaction. Regular Ticket Prices: $41.99 per Adult + tax (Ages 10+). $26.00 per Child (Ages 3-9).

Once again, the incredibly immersive Holiday Tribute Store returns with four themed rooms inspired by Who-ville, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Earl the Squirrel and New York vintage holiday decor The store will be stocked with a variety of new merchandise that will make the perfect holiday gifts – such as a Grinchmas popcorn bucket, Grinchmas Loungefly backpack, Hogwarts House-themed holiday ornaments, Earl the Squirrel spirit jersey and more – plus a variety of unique sweet treats in each themed room.

The Grinch popcorn bucket has the Grinch with an up-to-no-good smile on his face. He is wearing a Santa hat and sits on a red scarf-like base. The bucket has a red carrying strap attached to two lime green rings on either side. The adjustable carrying strap is decorated with imagery from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” alternating with “Merry Grinchmas” and “Universal Studios” printed throughout.

The Minion-themed popcorn bucket is of Minion Bob, but instead of him carrying his signature teddy bear, he is holding a cute snowman. Sporting a Santa cap, Bob also comes with an adjustable red strap that is imprinted with Minion images.

Check out some of the other holiday offerings coming to Universal Orlando Resort this year:

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