If you haven't heard of Gideon's Bakehouse, let me fill you in on the (not-so-) secret.
This little tiny shop located at Disney Springs in Orlando is home to some of the most delicious treats I have ever had the pleasure of consuming.
Half pound cookies. Need I say more?
Just a little background....
Steve Lewis, the bakery creator, was searching for some baking inspiration when he happened upon what he thought was an antique cookbook circa 1898. When he opened the fragile book, the margins were filled with faded notes and doodled images from what appeared to be a young boy who had dreams of becoming a baker. The name written at the back of the book was “Gideon.” Mr. Lewis decided to honor that original book owner's wishes with the name Gideon’s Bakehouse™. When you enter this fantastic shop, you will find the shelves are lined with somewhat odd works of art, aging books, and curious antiquities from the Victorian era.
While they are famous for their half pound cookies, they do also have specialty cake slices that barely fit on a plate and fancy coffee. Fun fact- the menu changes monthly!
This establishment is so popular, they instituted a virtual line for entry. When we arrived at about 3pm on a Sunday, the wait was approximately 3 hours. 3 hours for some cookies, you say? Yes, yes I did.
And let me tell you.... THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY WORTH THE WAIT!
Here is how it works. You arrive at Disney Springs and head straight to Gideon's Bakehouse. You will see a friendly employee standing to the left of the entry taking names and cell phone numbers to be added to the virtual line queue. You will be provided an approximate wait time, which was pretty accurate in our experience.
Once you get on the coveted list, you are free to roam Disney Springs. Shop, eat (but not too much), enjoy the sites. But keep your phone close, because you will receive a text when it is your turn. Once you receive the magical text, head back to Gideon's to enter the line.
The socially distanced line moves quickly; you will be inside within a few minutes. You will be provided a menu to help you decide what you would like to order.
Please note, as much as you may want to order the entire store, you will be limited to 6 cookies per guest. For those of you who are not great with math, that is a whole 3 POUNDS of cookies.
My favorite is the Original Chocolate Chip. The sea salt sprinkled on top of all those chocolate chips...swoon!
They package them up in a cute box, and send you on your way. They recommend eating them within 3 days. I was able to bring some home to share the love!
Gideon's Bakehouse should be a "must do" for your next trip to Orlando. I have been dreaming of these cookies since I devoured mine.
What would be your cookie of choice? 🍪 Have you tried Gideon's Bakehouse yet?
When you are ready to plan your vacation, please contact a Skye's the Limit Vacations Travel Advisor!
