Gideon’s Bakehouse: Worth the Wait

Gideon’s Bakehouse has become famous for its scratch-made cookies that weigh nearly half a pound each. I couldn’t wait to try one!

Disney Springs

I’d heard a lot about Gideon’s Bakehouse for the past several months and knew that I had to stop by on my next trip to Orlando. Because I was staying at Port Orleans Riverside, it made sense to visit the Disney Springs location. I hopped on a ferryboat first thing in the morning and headed down the Sassagoula. I was there in about 10 minutes.

Gideon’s is located in The Landing, the section of Disney Springs with a nautical theme. The ferryboats usually stop at a dock at The Landing (fitting for its theme) so I expected to disembark there. Unfortunately that stop was closed and the only open dock was the one at Marketplace. I disembarked there and walked to Gideon’s. I really didn’t mind a slightly longer walk, especially considering the sizeable snack I was about to devour!

Gideon’s Bakehouse

It took me about 10 minutes to locate Gideon’s Bakehouse and it already had a line. I’d heard horror stories about lines that were hours and hours long. I braced myself as I settled into my spot at the end of the line. A cast member quickly greeted me, provided a menu with seasonal specials, and let me know the wait would likely be around 30 minutes. The line actually moved quite a bit faster than that.

When I stepped into the store 20 minutes later, it took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust. When I could finally see, I took a few moments to soak it in. I was in awe! The dark shop was filled with wonky bookshelves, quirky sketches, and the smell of heavenly baked goods! It’s a bit macabre, but in a playful way. I was definitely getting some Haunted Mansion vibes in that regard.

I learned that the owner of Gideon’s Bakehouse named it for the owner of an antique cookbook. The book had doodles in the margins and was signed by “Gideon,” so the shop’s creator decided to pay tribute with both the shop’s name and the aesthetic. I think that’s such a delightful inspiration!

And I think this shop is gorgeous.

The Cookie

I’ll be honest, selecting a cookie was a bit overwhelming. I was almost derailed by a giant slice of my first love, Red Velvet. I managed to stay the course and moved on to inspect the sample cookies.

Since they weigh nearly half a pound, I knew I’d have trouble finishing one, let alone many. I had to make my selection count. Finally I decided that the Original Chocolate Chip Cookie, a behemoth that looked like it was 85% chocolate chips, was probably the most commonly ordered and the one most likely to give me a true sense of how good the cookies really were. (My mom makes some great cookies, y’all.)

Once I got it in my hands, I was struck by how heavy it really was. I broke off a piece to try and noticed that the inside of the cookie had plenty of chips, too. It was delicious!

There was a softness to the center that almost seemed doughy, even though it was clearly cooked. It was moist, soft (but with structure), and full of chips throughout. It was perfectly cooked, too. I loved it.

It was a pretty amazing cookie. I had to talk myself out of finishing it; I knew my stomach would protest if I ate it all!

The Coffee

I’d seen cold brew on the menu and thought it would pair well with a sweet dessert. When I asked about what was in it, I learned that it is sweetened with maple syrup and an oat milk creamer. (It’s vegan!) Gideon’s doesn’t separate the syrup or milk, so it must be ordered as-is.

I typically drink my coffee black and was hesitant about ordering coffee with oat milk and syrup. Then I realized I wouldn’t have another opportunity to try it anytime soon. I went for it!

I made an excellent decision. The Classic White Cold Brew isn’t overly sweet and doesn’t taste like maple at all. It’s lightly sweet and very smooth. I enjoyed it as much as my cookie… and I finished it much faster!

Plan Your Visit

Gideon’s Bakehouse
1600 Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
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