Back when I was in grades K-12 (it feels like forever ago even though I graduated just last year!), my mother would let me choose a reward at the end of each marking period. Now that I’m in college, I still get to ask for a “reward,” but only twice a year! For completing my first semester, I asked to try all of the desserts at Busch Gardens’ Mardi Gras celebration, and that was a great decision on my part, if I do say so myself!
The event is now over (the park has moved on to St. Patrick’s Day!), but it will probably be back next year, and a few of these dishes are likely to be at the Food & Wine Festival (April 12-June 12). Below, I’ve rated all of the Mardi Gras desserts, starting with my favorite. I didn’t eat any savory dishes because they weren’t vegetarian, but my mother and sister tried a few, and I added these photos at the bottom of the page. Enjoy!
My Favorite: Mini Mardi Gras Funnel Cake
This funnel cake was so good that I would love it if it became a permanent funnel cake option. It had cream cheese icing, raisins, pecans, and sprinkles. Next time, I’ll probably ask for no sprinkles to make it a little less sweet, but other than that it was delicious.
#2: Beignets
Beignets have become a favorite specialty item at Busch Gardens, and for good reason. For people who don’t live near New Orleans like me, I think this is a great alternative. They were served both at Das Edelweiss and Cafe Lulu, but the ones at the latter are a little better! At both locations, though, you get powdered sugar and a caramel drizzle on top!😋. If you missed it this year, they always have it at the Food & Wine Festival starting April!
#3: Banana Foster Cheesecake
I’d like to start by saying that the flavors in the cheesecake were excellent. However, the graham cracker crust was thicker than the actual cheesecake, which was really disappointing. Maybe it was just my serving, but hopefully next time there will be more cake, less crust!
#4: King Cake Cinnamon Roll
3 mini cinnamon rolls with loads and loads of sprinkles
The cinnamon rolls weren’t bad, but they didn’t compare to the other desserts. I’m not sure I would get these again, but if you really like cinnamon rolls it might be worth it. Oh, and if you love sprinkles, you’ll probably love this treat because, as you can see from the photo, there are loads!
Extras
My mother ordered the Shrimp Étouffée and Cajun Hushpuppies, while my sister ordered the Red Beans and Rice (separately). They enjoyed all of them, and I heard from my sis that the beans and rice were especially good.
Final Thoughts
If you’re ever on the fence about whether or not to purchase food from Mardi Gras, I can say this:
- The sample sizes are generous… I recommend ordering a few dishes and sharing
- I would order 3 out of the 4 desserts again
- There are sample packages to get more bang for your buck
- It’s always a great idea to check out BGW Fan’s latest review of the event
If you have any questions about the park, please feel free to leave a comment below!
