Croque Glace

Ice cream has always been a staple of summer. Cones, cups, floats, and sundaes, you name it, and it has staked its claim to the longest and hottest days of the year. It should come as no surprise then that in 1984 President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday in July, this year it falls on Sunday, July 17, as National Ice Cream Day. While it feels like every single day is a national day of recognition for something, I think we can all agree that ice cream definitely deserves its day in the sun.

Walt Disney World is filled with tons of ice cream dishes to satisfy your need for treats, but today we’re looking for the one ice cream delight that gussied up ice cream and made it a truly fanciful dessert. There’s no other place to look for the best in Walt Disney World ice cream than L’Artisan des Glaces. And there’s no other dish quite as extraordinary as the Croque Glace.

What is the Corque Glace? It is the fanciest ice cream sandwich you’ve ever had the pleasure of sinking your teeth into. You take your favorite flavoring of ice cream, topped with chocolate or raspberry sauce, and then placed inside a brioche that is then pressed and warmed. We’ll get back to the ice cream in just a moment, but, the brioche is worth talking about on its own for a minute. The rolls or buns, however you’d like to distinguish them, are freshly baked throughout the day. Each on is extremely light and airy, the equivalent of a bread pillow as it were. The outside is crisp and flaky, and each bite is perfectly chewy. Let’s be honest, the French have been doing bread for a long time, and they are the experts here, so this is an excellent example of what brioche should be.

Now, back to the ice cream! As you get to choose between the two sauces and you get your own choice of ice cream, you really are one of the chefs responsible for making sure that the right flavor combination comes through. Of course, with the variety of ice creams changing regularly at L’Artisan des Glace, the possible combinations could potentially be overwhelming. One of my favorite combinations, however, is the Cinnamon with Caramelized Pecans ice cream and top it with the chocolate sauce. While I found this arrangement in late spring, it tastes just like Christmas. You have the chocolate sauce mixing with the cinnamon and the rich creaminess of the ice cream to create a flavor that is close to a perfect cup of hot cocoa. Throw in the caramelized pecans, which have softened to a tender state from the caramelization, and you can have Christmas in July, or all year round, if you like!

Ice cream has long been a staple of the Walt Disney World diet. From Citrus Swirls and Dole Whips, to Mickey Bars, or sundaes on Main Street, U.S.A., ice cream is included in some of our fondest memories. Like all kinds of cuisine, ice cream has been stepping up in a big way around Walt Disney World to offer up unique and innovative options for those seeking something new and high quality. Should you find yourself in Epcot roaming through World Showcase on one of these hot July afternoons, especially if it happens to be on National Ice Cream Day, I guarantee you’ll find a new go-to ice cream sandwich if you stop by L’Artisan des Glace for a Croque Glace.