It’s officially time to put the “holly” in Universal Studios Hollywood! The most wonderful time of the year is finally upon us, and with that, a delicious, seasonal menu. As always, the theme park has rolled out an abundance of snacks, treats, and drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) bursting with warm, cozy flavors.
The holidays are all about tradition and nostalgia. So don’t worry — fan favorite treats like the Max Dog, the 2 Sizes Too Small Cupcake and the Grinch’s Heart Lemonade will be available for purchase again this year. (Check out our holiday food and beverage guide from last year to get a refresher on those festive sips and bites.) But the holidays are also about creating new traditions. Which, for us, means devouring new treats, duh.
Check out what’s new on the Universal Studios Hollywood holiday menu for 2024. And while you’re here, get the full scoop on the holidays at the theme park and CityWalk with Discover Universal’s complete guide.
WHO PUDDING
When it comes to developing recipes for Universal Studios Hollywood, culinary and executive chef Julia Thrash Chef Julia has a few different avenues in. Sometimes she begins with a flavor profile inspired by an event or an IP (intellectual property); sometimes she creates a dish inspired by a character or a story; and other times, she literally recreates a dish that appears in a movie. The Who Pudding, brand new to Grinchmas this year, is one of the most fun iterations of that third strategy that I’ve seen at Universal.
“We literally took the inspiration directly from the animated film,” says Chef Julia, referring to a treat that’s featured in the 1960s animated TV special, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” “We were like — ‘Oh, yeah. We can definitely recreate that.’”
Chef Julia and the team began with the visual, then backed into the flavor profile a) that tasted good, of course, and b) whose coloring matched that of the unnamed dessert in the animated movie. The result is The Who Pudding: strawberry and raspberry pudding filled with strawberry and raspberry jam, and cream cheese mousse. And it looks positively Who-tastic, doesn’t it?
WHO-VILLE PRESENT COOKIE
Like the Who Pudding, the Who-ville Present Cookie began with a visual. Chef Julia and the team love the Seussian look of presents toppling over each other and, because it’s the holidays, they decided to make a cookie about it. The resulting Who-ville Present Cookie is a sugar cookie baked with festive sprinkles and topped with icing. Because what’s better than a pile of presents you can eat?
COCOA COOKIE
Following the cookie trend (spoiler: it’s the holidays, there’s no shortage of cookies at Universal this time of year), Chef Julia wanted to make a cookie that tasted unlike any other at the theme park. “We wanted to bring in a flavor profile that we didn’t have represented somewhere else on the menu,” says Chef Julia. “We have peppermint, we have caramel — what else could be represented?”
The result: the brand-new Cocoa Cookie. The chocolate cookie is made with warm spices, dark chocolate coating, and is topped with sprinkles and mini marshmallows. Don’t get me wrong — a sugar cookie absolutely hates to see me coming. But there’s something extra special about a cookie that tastes like a mug of hot chocolate.
FELIZ NAVIDAD
If you’ve spent the holidays in California, you know it’s not exactly the classic, snowy, winter holiday of the collective imagination. (Think: palm trees, 75 degrees, and Santa on a surfboard.) Christmas in SoCal hits different — in the best way — and the Feliz Navidad cocktail celebrates that. The beverage features bright, tropical flavors, with pink lemonade, sparkling lemonade, and guava purée, with a green sugar rim and two gummy Christmas trees as a garnish. The drink is available as a cocktail or a mocktail — the alcoholic version includes vodka and gin. (Tip: if it’s in a neon yellow cup, it’s a cocktail.)
MEXICAN COFFEE
This festive take on an espresso martini is bound to keep you wide awake for all of the holiday fun at Universal — but an interaction with the Grinch can accomplish that, too. The Mexican Coffee is made with reposado tequila, espresso liqueur, chocolate liquor, coffee and Ibarra simple syrup, and topped with whipped cream and cinnamon powder. Part cocktail, part dessert — what could be better?
ORR…NICE
When Universal Studios Hollywood’s senior manager of food shared services, Erick Massman, makes holiday cocktails, he starts with the scents and flavors that give you that cozy, fireside feeling, like apple and cinnamon. “It’s those really warm, comforting flavors,” he says. “I know whenever I smell anything like that, I’m instantly transported to the holidays.” While he writes the Universal Studios Hollywood beverage program year-round, Erick reserves these flavors for holiday beverages.
The Orr…Nice really delivers with the comforting flavors. This bourbon-based cocktail includes amaretto, lemon juice, cinnamon, chocolate bitters and ginger ale — and if that wasn’t cozy enough for you, it’s topped with a gingerbread biscotti.
WINTER MOJITO
Some drinks taste like the holidays, and some drinks look like the holidays. If you’re in search of the perfect distillation of winter in a glass, look no further than the Winter Mojito. The coconut-based mojito — made with rum, coconut milk, lime juice, mint and sparkling lime yuzu — is topped with a blue cucaçao floater. “It really has a fun winter look with that blue running down and mixing with the white,” says Erick, “It just kind of screams holiday.” The Winter Mojito is also topped with a mint sprig (it’s a mojito, after all) and pomegranate seeds, giving it a festive twist on a Caribbean classic.
ABUELO’S REGALO
The Abuelo’s Regalo encompasses all warm, cozy, oh-so-Yuletide flavors. Made with tequila, pear brandy, spiced apple cider, pear juice and ginger beer, with a churro sugar rim and dried cinnamon apple chip Christmas trees, this cocktail will (emotionally, spiritually) send you straight under the tree on Christmas morning. The name of this drink translates to “grandpa’s present,” giving it a fun, cheeky twist — “Grandpa gets to sip some tequila on Christmas morning,” says Erick. Cheers to that!
Note: Menus are subject to change and specialty items may not be available throughout the entire event.
What are you most excited to eat and drink at Universal Studios Hollywood this holiday season? Let us know in the comments.
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