Editor’s Note: The Drunken’ Donuts have been removed from the menu.

All right, all; it’s time for some serious DONUTAGE!!

Just last week I once more headed over Bay Lake and through the woods to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The Territory Lounge beckoned with a sweet menu item that I couldn’t resist trying.

I know. So tough. But someone has to bring you all the latest, right? 😉

This laid-back spot is one of my favorite places in all of the World to relax while enjoying some truly spectacular pub grub. Rarely crowded and always staffed with the most excellent cast members (Yay, LouAnn!), I still think that Territory Lounge is one of the best kept secrets at Disney World.

But when Kathie F. tipped me off recently that she and her husband had enjoyed a new-to-me dessert offering here, that guaranteed I would be visiting the bar sooner rather than later.

The menu had changed a little since our last review. Gone were the Tuna Tataki and the Asian Steamed Buns. The Chicken Wings were back, replacing their predecessor, Chicken Lollipops. (The lollipops were basically just wings, though, so I’m not sure what’s up with the weird name.)

Onion Soup has joined the team as well, and the Wild Mushroom Flatbread has returned by popular demand. And because they’re awesome — the Northwest Charcuterie and Sharp Cheddar Beer Fondue are still alive and kicking!

But the most interesting change on the menu is the addition of two desserts. One is a favorite of ours from the Artist Point kitchens: the Artist Point Berry Cobbler. And the other one was what I was after on this evening: DONUTS. And not just any donuts… Drunken Donuts! (Disclaimer: I have no idea why there’s an apostrophe after Drunken in the menu. I’m leaving it off in my review due to my uber-grammatical tendencies, but if one of you can tell me why it belongs there, I’ll happily add it.) What makes them “drunken?” A dee-licious dipping sauce, or “glaze,” that’s served on the side. More about that in a minute.

The donuts come delivered beignet-like in a paper bag — and the tell-tale signs of oil seeping through hints at the freshness.

I love how they dressed up the plain white bag with a Territory Lounge stamp!

Your job? Shake up the bag to make sure your donuts are evenly coated with cinnamon and sugar!

Peering into the bag — after the sweet, deep-fried smell and heat hits you in the face — you see the golden donuts and a generous amount of cinnamon and sugar.

A closer look shows you the tiny imperfections that are the hallmark of handmade goods. These, my friends, did not come from the local donut plant.

Once they topple out of the bag and onto the platter, you can really see how lovely they are, and you also spy a sweet little surprise: donuts and donut holes! Woo! (Yes, my friend arranged these into a very Disney fashion, complete with hidden Mickeys!)

And these are every bit as delicious as you would expect — nay, require — expensive donuts to be. Ever-so-slightly crunchy on the outside from the frying and sugar, and yeasty but soft on the not-too-sweet inside.

But my favorite part of all of this…

Was the dipping glaze!! You all know how much I LURVE dipping sauces, and this one was out of this world. OK; here’s what it’s made of:

butter

Grand Marnier

maple syrup

Yep. That’s it! A three-ingredient wonder. Sigh…I can almost taste it now.

So, the verdict: are these donuts worthy of the steep price tag? Well, they are pretty fantastic. And served in the whimsical way that they come to your table, with all of the charm of the Territory Lounge, I say yes. For $10, you get six donuts and six donut holes – plenty to satisfy the sweet tooth (if not the appetite) of 2 or more people.

As an alternative to a table service dessert (usually costing no less than $7 a pop) or a park treat, I’d say this is a good one. And a relaxing one, at that.

Would Drunken Donuts be on your Disney dessert wish list?? Let us know below!

