I went all the way to Walt Disney World to try the legendary Epcot cosmic cheesecake at Space 220. After the first bite, I knew this dessert was worth the trip.
I Recreated Disney’s Epcot Cosmic Cheesecake, and It’s Out of This World
Published on Jun. 13, 2025
It’s officially Cool Kid Summer at Walt Disney World with endless activities and delicious foods for guests of any age. In fact, I recently visited Disney with my two little girls, and all three of us had a blast! Disney is known for its legendary theme parks and incredible resort hotels, but the huge array of edible experiences deserve their own spotlight.
One of our favorite activities was the immersive dining experience at Space 220 restaurant inside Epcot. It is an attraction-meets-restaurant that is home to the Epcot Cosmic Cheesecake. Guests receive their boarding pass and then “blast off” from Earth 220 miles into the sky to a space station. The doors open to reveal an other-worldly experience filled with stars, astronauts and some of the best dishes in the galaxy.
Many come for the prix fixe lunch or dinner menu, but they stay for the dessert. When the cosmic cheesecake was delivered to my table, I dove right in. It was so incredible, I couldn’t wait to try and recreate it back at home. It has since joined a long list of copycat Disney recipes I keep on rotation. You have to try the grilled cheese recipe from Toy Story Land, the molasses crackle cookies and even Walt Disney’s favorite dessert.
What is a cosmic cheesecake?
Luckily, when I visited the restaurant, I was able to speak with the pastry chef to get the inside scoop on how this iconic dessert is created. She said that Epcot Cosmic Cheesecake has been their bestselling dessert from the beginning. Plus, it also just happens to be gluten-free! She said it starts with a classic New York-style cheesecake base that is surrounded by gluten-free cookie crumbs and a raspberry gel. All of this is under an edible chocolate dome that is decorated with edible shimmer and celestial sprinkles.
How is it made?
The components seemed simple enough, so I took notes and came back home ready for some kitchen experimentation. That’s what’s so fun about making some of the Disney parks copycat recipes or Disney movie copycat recipes. It’s a way to get excited before a Disney vacation, or a unique way to reminisce about your trip when you get home.
While this stunning restaurant dish looks daunting to try at home, I found a few shortcuts and smart swaps to make it happen.
Ingredients
- Chocolate Dome: This is how the ‘planet’ is represented on the plate. It is easy to replicate at home using a silicone mold and magic shell chocolate sauce.
- Chocolate Cheesecake: Each dome is filled with chocolate cheesecake. I used just the filling portion from this no-bake chocolate cheesecake recipe.
- Raspberry Jam: To recreate the raspberry gel from the restaurant, I simply picked up a jar of seedless raspberry jam.
- Cookie Crumbs: The plate is coated with delicious and edible “celestial dust.” It can be made with crumbs of your favorite chocolate wafer cookies. I used Oreos, but you can use chocolate graham crackers or gluten-free cookies. No matter which cookie you choose, a few pulses in the food processor will do the trick.
- Decorations: Finally, the planet and the plate can be decorated to make it really shine. I used a light dusting of edible gold shimmer and some large, round sprinkles. This is where you can get really creative!
Directions
Step 1: Make the chocolate dome
All you have to do is use a silicone dome mold. The size and style used for hot chocolate bombs is perfect. Then, fill each well with either store bought or homemade magic shell and pop it into the freezer while you make the rest of the dessert.
Step 2: Create the cheesecake filling
Next, make the no-bake chocolate cheesecake filling and spoon it into each well of the mold. Pop it back in the freezer to set while you prepare each plate.
Step 3: Start the cosmic construction
To start building the plate, put a few spoonfuls of seedless raspberry jam in a resealable plastic bag or a pastry bag, and snip the corner. Squeeze to draw raspberry ovals over the surface of the plate. Then, in one corner, sprinkle the cookie crumbs.
Step 4: Plate the finished product
Now is the time to get the cheesecake domes out of the freezer. Invert one onto each plate on top of the cookie crumbs.
Finally, decorate the chocolate dome to your heart’s content! Some edible shimmer is fun to play with, and various sprinkles can also garnish your galaxy.
What did it taste like?
The Epcot Cosmic Cheesecake was a marvel of pastry chef perfection. The chocolate dome glistened, and the cheesecake filling was rich and decadent. I never wanted the dessert to end! I found recreating the dish at home to be a fun endeavor, and with a few tricks, it wasn’t overly complex for a novice home baker. I will definitely make this recipe again, and I most certainly will find myself back at Disney someday to once again dine at Space 220.
