My favorite Thanksgiving Disney Recipes for your family

Over the years, I've accumulated many recipes for my family holiday meals. The two most beloved in my home are the Sweet Bread and Macadamia Nut Honey Butter from Kona Cafe at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort and Carrot Soufflé from Disney's Contemporary Resort. Unfortunately, these aren't dishes you can still get at Walt Disney World, but I felt like being generous and sharing them with you!

Source: Disney Pictures

Kona Cafe sweet bread

& Macadamia Nut Honey Butter

Kona Cafe at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

Does anyone else remember when you used to get warm pineapple bread with the delicious butter when you sat down at Kona Cafe? It was incredible, and I miss it all the time. I'm not going to lie... I often gently request that they bring it back, but I don't think that's gotten any of us anywhere. I always devoured it immediately... and never even got a photo to remember it by. Thankfully, I still can make it at home.

The recipe is super simple and perfect to accompany any family dinner. I got both recipes from Chef Mickey: Treasures from the Vault & Delicious New Favorites by Pam Brandon and the Disney Chefs.

Source: The Lost Bros - 2019 Kona Cafe Review

KONA CAFE SWEET BREAD

Makes 4 (10 oz) loaves

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm pineapple juice (not more than 105 degrees; anything higher could kill the yeast)

• 2 tablespoons active dry yeast

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 3 eggs, room temperature

• 4 tbsp margarine, softened

• 4 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

• pinch of salt

Directions:

• Combine warm pineapple juice and yeast in the bowl of an electric mixer. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, until foamy. Add sugar, eggs, and margarine, and miz with the paddle attachment.

• Combine flour and salt ina separate bowl. Add half the flour mixture to the mixing bowl and mix on low speed. Remove bowl from mixer and add remaining flour mixture. Stir with wooden spoon until dough comes together and the flour is complete incorporated (NOTE: I don't do this... I just keep it low and add the rest of the flour.)

• Cover bowl with a slightly damp towel and allow dough to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into four equal portions. Form each portion into an ball and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cut an "X" about 1/2-inch deep into the top of each ball.

• Cover dough with towel and let rise for 45 minutes in the warmest part of your kitchen. After 30 minutes, pre-heat your oven to 375°F.

• Bake bread loaves for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm with Macadamia Nut Honey Butter.

Macadamia Nut Honey Butter

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup salted butter, softened

• 1/2 cup salted margarine, softened

• 2 tbsp honey

• 4 macadamia nuts

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Finely chop macadamia nuts and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 6 minutes or until toasted. Remove the nuts from the baking sheet and cool.

• Beat butter and margarine until creamy in an electric mixer with a whip attachment (or electric beaters). Add chopped macadamia nuts and honey, and mix well. Serve at room temperature.

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Carrot Soufflé

Disney's Contemporary Resort

This dish tastes like candy. It's better than any sweet potato casserole you've ever had and will make your family want more. I'm going to cheat here. I like Disney's Carrot Souffle a lot, but I think there's a better recipe out there... now I WILL share Disney's recipe in a photo below, but trust me when I say you want to go with mine. Disney's recipe for this extinct dish comes from the 1980s edition of Cooking with Mickey around our world. I bought this book on eBay a long time ago with the sole purpose of getting a drink recipe out of it.

This dish takes a little time, but it's worth it. My dad originally gave me this recipe, which quickly replaced my Disney one.

I'm pretty sure it's a running joke in my family that I can't get a good photo of my food...

Carrot Souffle

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 3⁄4 lbs peeled carrots

• 3⁄4 cup sugar

• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla

• 2 tablespoons flour

• 3 eggs, beaten

• 1⁄4 lb margarine, softened

• powdered sugar

Directions:

• Boil carrots until they are extra soft. Drain.

• While still warm, add sugar, baking powder, and vanilla. Whip with electric mixer or beaters until smooth.

• Add flour and mix well.

• Add eggs to mixture and mix well.

• Add margarine to mixture and make sure everything is incorporated.

• Pour mixure in a baking dish about half way up. This will rise, so you only want to fill it halfway. If you have some mixture remaining, pour into another dish. Do not waste this!

• Bake at 350°F for 1 hour or until top is lightly browned.

• Top with powdered sugar before serving.

This dish is great because you can make it the night before and serve it cold!

For anyone curious, here's Disney's Recipe!

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And there it is! My Thanksgiving gift to you! Which recipe are you going to try? If you try them, let me know in the comments!

Don't forget: if you're looking to start your vacation countdown, make sure to reach out! I'm happy to help you put an extra bit of magic under the tree this year for your family!