2022 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
The 2022 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is back with some old favorites and new options. While the Festival of the Holidays does not offer nearly as many options for gluten-friendly, paleo, keto, and dairy-friendly diets as other festivals, you should be able to find something yummy to try.
Please remember that there is always an inherent risk of cross-contamination at the food booths. The booths are small, and food preparation is in shared kitchens. If you have an allergy, it is best to err on the side of caution. When in doubt, ask to speak to a chef.
I once again met with the wonderful Chef Donald to discuss the menu items. We covered dairy, gluten, soy, and corn in this discussion. Remember, the ingredients listed are only the ones of concern that we ask about. If you have other allergies or intolerances, make certain to ask. You will see some other ingredients listed below, as they were part of our coverage last year and are still the same this year, such as onions, canola, and garlic. Again, do not take these as a complete list of ingredients.
As suppliers may change during the festival, please know that the listings below are based on what was available at the start of the 2022 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. Please double-check with a chef before making a purchase.
We omitted Shanghai Holiday Kitchen, as nothing is gluten-friendly at this booth.
Also, the cocoa used on the property comes with a gluten warning.
A bonus for Passholders is a 10% discount on Tuesdays.
American Holiday Table
Slow-Roasted Turkey with BEN’S ORIGINAL Stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and Cranberry Sauce: Omit the gravy, crispy onions, and the stuffing for a gluten-friendly dish.
- Turkey – corn syrup, brown sugar, flavorings
- Stuffing – breadcrumbs, soybean oil, dairy, soy lecithin
- Potatoes – dairy
- Green Beans – onions, canola
- Cranberry Sauce – corn syrup
- Gravy – soybean oil, flour
- Crispy onions – gluten
Blackened Catfish with Hoppin’ John and comeback sauce (GF) – also dairy-free
- Catfish – canola
- Hoppin John – canola
- Comeback sauce – soy, corn
Bavaria Holiday Kitchen
Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl with steamed baby vegetables and marble potatoes – omit the bread bowl for a keto-friendly, gluten-friendly dish. There is cornstarch in the cheese, along with white wine, nutmeg, cayenne, heavy cream, salt, gruyere, and swiss cheese. You also get zucchini, baby carrots, and potatoes.
Chestnuts & Good Cheer
This booth is new this year and brings an assortment of cinnamon-glazed nuts (pecans, almonds, cashews). All items at this booth are gluten-friendly, and dairy-friendly – and it smells really good when you pass by. There is also no soy or corn.
- Cinnamon Glazed Nuts – sugar, salt, cinnamon, artificial vanilla
- Fire Roasted Chestnuts – sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg
Holiday Hearth
Peppermint bark – this gluten-friendly treat contains sugar, corn syrup, soy lecithin, dairy (whole milk powder), and natural vanilla, along with peppermint oil and red dye 40.
Holiday Sweets & Treats
Peppermint shake – contains dairy (milk, cream) and corn syrup. It is gluten-friendly.
L’Chaim Holiday Kitchen
Pastrami on Rye with house-made pickles and deli mustard – You can make this a gluten-free item if you omit the rye bread. You will still get a nice-sized serving of pastrami with house-made pickles and deli mustard. The house-made pickles have changed this year, as shown below.
- The pastrami is not for people on a low-fodmap diet due to the garlic in the brining solution (it also contains sodium nitrate for those avoiding nitrates). There is sugar in the brine. If those are not issues and you are on a keto or paleo diet, go ahead and enjoy.
- Pickles contain shallots, dill, white vinegar, and salt.
Potato Latkes – these gluten-friendly items come by themselves or with smoked salmon. They use a plant-based sour cream that contains coconut cream and other ingredients.
- Potato latkes are also vegan and contain onion, nutmeg, salt, just eggs, mung bean paste, canola oil, soy lecithin, sugar, and other spices.
- Potato latkes with smoked salmon: the salmon contains light brown sugar and molasses, and there are capers, onions, and eggs included.
Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen
Good news, the Giant Tostada de Barbacoa is once again gluten-friendly as it is prepared in a dedicated fryer, per Chef Jesus. That made us happy as this is always one of our favorite festival items. It did not disappoint!
Giant Tostada de Barbacoa (GF) – The tortilla is a tlayuda – hand-made in one specific region of Mexico.
- The delicious toppings include Braised barbacoa beef, chipotle black bean puree, salsa verde, queso cotija, crema Mexicana, and pickled onion. Everything is made fresh each day, and there is no sugar in this dish. You can omit any items necessary to fit your diet. Dairy-free dieters can omit the crema and queso. We always enjoy this dish.
Cochinita Pibil Tamal (GF): Cochinita pibil in corn masa, Pipián sauce, queso cotija, and crema Mexicana. There is no soy in this dish. The meat inside was sooooo good, and so was the sauce!
Le Marche De Noel
Macaron en Sucette, Ganache à la Menthe Poivrée et aux Chocolats Valrhona: Macaron lollipop with peppermint and Valrhona chocolate ganache
- Sadly, the macaron has little red decorations that contain malt extract, leading to a gluten warning.
Les Halles
Macaron Christmas Tree – same warning as above.
Mele Kalikimaka Holiday Kitchen
- Lomi Lomi Salmon served with tomatoes, onions, salmon roe, yuzu mayonnaise, and yucca chips (GF): dairy-friendly. Contains soy in mayonnaise, onion, and garlic in the salmon. There is no corn in this dish. See the photo here.
- Haupia – Hawaiian coconut pudding with candied macadamia nuts and coconut – contains eggs, coconut, guava puree, sugar, corn starch, and dairy. The macadamia nuts contain sugar and soy lecithin and can be omitted.
I am still upset with the head of the pastry department for making the Haupia not gluten-friendly with the addition of a slice of cake at the bottom. However, if you are not worried about cross-contamination, you can eat the pudding from the top, as you will see how it peels off in the photo below. I hope they consider removing the cake next year. It is wonderfully delicious and refreshing.
Nochebuena Cocina
IMPOSSIBLE Chorizo Tamale with plant-based cotija cheese and spicy red Chile sauce (GF):
- Contains corn and soy
Pernil: Mojo Pork with tostones and ketchup-mayonnaise (GF), also diary-free
- Pork: Canola
- Tostones: soybean oil and canola – can omit
- Ketchup-mayonnaise: egg, corn
Refreshment Outpost
Peanut Stew with sweet potatoes, mustard greens, and roasted peanuts (GF) (DF)
- With the exception of the peanuts, this dish is top 9 safe. There is no canola.
Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen
Mochi Cake: Gooey rice cake made with rice flour and served with Hojicha cream, strawberry, tangerine, and sweet beans
- Contains lots of dairy, corn, sugar, rice flour, and coconut – I was not a big fan of this item
Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina
Once again, you can get gluten-friendly grilled kebabs of lamb or chermoula chicken. The carrot-chickpea salad contains carrots, chickpeas, golden raisins, almonds, garlic, onion, mint, and cilantro. If you cannot have the salad, you can ask for one of their dips on the side – depending on the supply and how busy they are.
- Lamb Kefta (GF) – contains soy, egg, corn, and many types of spices, along with canola oil. The garlic sauce contains soy, garlic, and corn – you can omit the sauce. The meat itself does not contain onion or garlic for those on low-fodmap diets.
- Chermoula Chicken (GF) – contains chicken thighs in a chermoula sauce. The sauce contains canola, onion, spices, tomato, white vinegar, green olives, capers, and lime.
- Hummus – chickpeas, sesame oil, tahini, canola oil, salt, and lemon juice.
- Zhoug – parsley, garlic, jalapeno, onion, cilantro, cumin, cardamom, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and salt.
- Chermoula dip – sauce contains canola, onion, spices, tomato, white vinegar, green olives, capers, and lime.
Tuscany Holiday Kitchen
Salmone alla Siciliana: Cured salmon tartare, Sicilian blood orange, pistachios, basil, and almond oil.
For the price ($8.50), this dish is tiny. It is keto and paleo-friendly, but definitely not my favorite.
Yukon Holiday Kitchen
The booth here contains one item that you can alter to make it gluten-friendly – the Seared Scallops.
Seared Scallops with Parsnip Silk, Apple Chutney, and Hazelnut Croquant
- Parsnip silk: butter, butter blend (soy) – omit parsnip silk for gluten-friendly
- Apple chutney: dairy, onion, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and other ingredients
- Maple glaze: no soy or gluten this year
If you omit the parsnip silk, the dish is gluten-friendly. Omit the parsnip silk and apple chutney for GF and DF.
Hopefully, the information provided here can help you make some tasty and safe decisions at the 2022 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. Please remember always consult with a chef to be certain that something is safe for you. For pictures of some of the carry-over items from the past, click here.
Check out more about the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays here.