Disney Dining: 'Ohana Bread Pudding at Walt Disney World's Polynesian Resort

Walt Disney World’s Polynesian Resort, in keeping with its status as a Deluxe Resort, encourages guests to experience the little luxuries at ‘Ohana, its Hawaiian-themed restaurant. A guest favorite, as well as something of a personal obsession for the Disney Travel Examiner, is the ‘Ohana Bread Pudding with Bananas Foster Sauce.

“‘Ohana” means family – as anyone who’s watched Disney’s “Lilo and Stitch” knows, and the restaurant serves its meals all-you-care-to-eat family-style and offers interactive entertainment for children. It’s a very lively, and somewhat noisy, atmosphere.

On the ‘Ohana dinner menu, which is served from 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. are a variety of grilled and skewered meats, mixed-green salad with honey-lime dressing, pork-fried dumplings and honey-coriander chicken wings, shrimp, lo mein noodles and sides with flavors influenced by Polynesian cuisine. ‘Ohana also offers a full bar for mixed drinks that complete that tropical feel. A children’s menu is also available.

But the highlight for guests, or at least guests with a sweet tooth that demands to be indulged is the ‘Ohana Bread Pudding. Served a la mode and drenched in the Banana Foster Sauce, it is moist (not soggy), dense, and laden with all the rich goodness one expects from a bread pudding.

Disney guests who would like to try ‘Ohana’s restaurant at the Polynesian Resort should make Advance Dining Reservations through the Walt Disney World Dining site or call 407-WDW-DINE.

For Disney foodies who want to try ‘Ohana Bread Pudding at home – the next best thing to be in Walt Disney World – here’s the recipe. It’s particularly tasty when made with ‘Ohana Breakfast Bread, recipe included, which adds a pineapple and coconut flavor. The ‘Ohana Breakfast Bread, delicious on its own, is served at Ohana's Best Friends Breakfast with Lilo & Stitch, the restaurant’s character breakfast.

The ‘Ohana Bread Pudding recipe, with Bananas Foster Sauce, comes via AllEars, which offers a substantial recipe index for Disney food.

‘Ohana Bread Pudding recipe, Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Ingredients

• 5 eggs
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 8 cups french or 'Ohana breakfast bread

Method

• In bowl mix eggs, milk, salt, sugar and nutmeg. Set aside.
• Cut bread in medium pieces, place on cookie sheet pan put in 350 degree oven.
• Bake bread until lightly toasted, about 15 minutes. Remove bread and place in egg and milk mixture.
• Place mixture in a greased 10-inch cake pan and bake at 325 degree for 1 hour.
• Let stand 5 minutes, serve hot with ice cream.

Banana Foster Sauce recipe, Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Ingredients

• 4 oz. sugar
• 4 oz. brown sugar
• 4 oz. corn syrup
• 4 oz. unsalted butter
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1cup spiced rum
• 1cup banana slices

Method

• Combine sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and half of heavy cream in a large pan. Bring to a boil and slowly add remaining heavy cream keeping mixture at a steady boil.
• Add spiced rum and flambe.
• Candy will brown slightly; cook 3 minutes until candy forms into a firm ball in cold water. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Add sliced bananas. Serve warm.

Author’s Note: There are several versions of ‘Ohana Bread Pudding available on the internet, often reflecting Disney’s changes to or development of a recipe. In such cases, I select AllEars versions because the site conscientiously updates its Walt Disney World restaurant menus and recipes. That recipe was then compared to various Disney websites for accuracy.

That said, Chef Brian’s version at A Taste for Disney is intriguing and his YouTube video for 'Ohana Pineapple Bread Pudding (see the embedded video at the bottom of this article) offers clear instructions. In the best spirit of bread-pudding baking – and eating – Disney foodies should feel free to experiment and taste test several versions!

Better yet, make your Disney favorite bread pudding recipe to send to the Disney Travel Examiner. I’ll be more than happy – oh, yes – to try your version and report back to readers.

Other Walt Disney World – Disney Dining articles:

• Walt Disney World's best ice cream
• Cinderella Chocolate Slipper dessert
• The Dole Whip Experience
• Pop Century's Tie-Dyed Cheesecake
• Hollywood Brown Derby and its famous grapefruit cake

This article is part of the Disney Dining series. You can also read other articles on Disney news, deals, and advice, or sign up for a free subscription to this Disney Travel column.