The force is strong in Darth by Chocolate, the decadent parfait located at Galactic Grill in Tomorrowland, Disneyland. It’s a cosmic layer cake experience in parfait form; it’s worth booking a hyperdrive to taste. But only if you like chocolate and sweetness.

What Is Darth by Chocolate?

Darth by Chocolate is a layered parfait of:

• Chocolate pudding

• Red velvet sponge cake

• Chocolate mousse

• Crushed chocolate crème-filled cookies (I'm assuming Oreo crumbles, but it could be an off-brand, too)

• The price (as of fall 2025) is $7.59. In 2024, it cost $7.29. Magic Key holders can receive a small discount based on the tier.

• Availability: Seasonal/Halloween food Disneyland (not always year-round—check Disney Parks Blog for the current run dates).

• Order Tips: Mobile order early. I ordered via the app and then still waited a little over 15 minutes for it. I suggest ordering on the Disneyland app, marking that you are there, and then just stroll around until it says it's ready.

Where to Find It

You’ll find this sweet temptation at Galactic Grill, nestled right in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park. It’s a quick-service, counter-style spot known for its Star Wars-themed names and inventive menu tweaks. It's the perfect pit stop after blasting through Space Mountain or snapping selfies with the Astro Orbitor spinning overhead.

Darth by Chocolate is a decadent, layered chocolate dessert parfait available at Galactic Grill. This is a quick service restaurant in Tomorrowland, Disneyland, priced $7.59, not including tax.

Related reading: Harbour Galley Disneyland Chocolate Chip Cookies. Read here.

Quick-Bite Bullet Points

• Name and Theme: Darth by Chocolate – a Star Wars-inspired chocolate parfait

Setting the Stage: Galactic Grill’s Location and Vibe

Imagine this: you’re in the heart of Tomorrowland, surrounded by gleaming space-age architecture and whirring attractions. Just steps away from Space Mountain and the Astro Orbitor, Galactic Grill beckons with sci-fi charm and a menu split between Light Side-ish sandwiches and Dark Side-worthy desserts. It’s a perfect place to sit down and refuel, especially if you have a spot in the shade on a particularly hot day. It was over 90 degrees when I ate my Darth by Chocolate at the end of August.

Other Popular Items at Galactic Grill

While Darth by Chocolate steals the spotlight during Halloween, Galactic Grill serves up other tasty offerings to suit all tastes:

• Sandwiches and Burgers: Think cheeseburgers and fries. Classic quick-service fare with Tomorrowland flair.

• Seasonal Savories: In recent Halloween food Disneyland seasons, they’ve offered items like the Haunted Hound Dog (all-beef hot dog with bacon, fried onions) and Chile Pepper Burger with ghost-pepper salsa. Items may vary year to year, but Disneyland will often bring back highly coveted items, Darth by Chocolate included.

• Festive Drinks and Treats: The Bloody Orange Slushy with raspberry drizzle and the Iced Pumpkin Pie Chai Latte with pumpkin-pie cold foam are show-stoppers from fall menus

Drawing From My TikTok Vibe

When I shared Darth by Chocolate on TikTok, I captured that “oh-wow” moment when you first see the red velvet sponge layers peeking through. It’s chocolate-pudding heaven with a red velvet and mousse twist. Those cookie crumbs really bring it home and bring a mild crunch to the otherwise soft treat.

Related reading: Are Disneyland churros worth the hype? How much do they cost? Learn all about the sweet sticks here.

Final Thoughts on the Halloween Food from Disneyland

Whether you’re battling Space Mountain’s long lines or breezing through with Lightning Lane, the Darth by Chocolate parfait is ideal for those of us who have a sweet tooth. It is a flavor powerhouse of chocolate, red velvet, mousse, and cookie crunch. It’s a Disneyland legend that has come back for a couple of years now.

Timing is everything, though. This treat doesn’t stick around year-round. Mobile order early or plan your day around it.

Pros: Perfectly layered, indulgent, thematic, portable

Cons: Seasonal, high-demand, limited availability windows, very sweet

If you’re craving an other-worldly dessert that tastes as epic as it looks, this one deserves top billing on your Tomorrowland menu. May the dessert be with you!

There are many ways to enjoy Disneyland magic, whether you take in the buzzing, jovial atmosphere or prefer to go on the rides. But eating the Disneyland churros is another top experience. It is one of the most popular items that you can get at the theme park and many visitors consider it a true Disney delight.

Whether it’s your first visit trip to the theme park or your hundredth, you can't go wrong with a warm, crispy churro while strolling through Main Street, U.S.A. It's an iconic treat!

* Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click on a link and make a purchase. This comes at no additional cost to you. Learn more on my disclosure page.

What Do the Disney Churros Taste Like?

The dessert has a crispy exterior that is covered in cinnamon sugar. They are a bit doughy in the middle so they have a tasty mixture of textures, firm and crisp yet soft and gooey. While there are the classic Disney churros you can also find various flavors throughout the park as well as at Disney California Adventure. The flavors might also vary depending on the season.

Related reading: QuesaBirria Tacos from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at Disneyland California Adventure - Food Review.

Where to Find Churros at Disneyland

While there are plenty of foods, drinks, and snacks to pick from, the churros at Disneyland stand out as an absolute crowdpleaser. You can find churros at Disneyland Resort throughout the park. The churro carts are not at one set location, which makes it convenient if you happen to be on one side of the park; you don't have to trek all the way to the other side just to get your hands on a churro.

List of Churro Carts at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure

How Much are Disneyland Churros?

The classic, standard churros cost $5.75 to $6.25, but this is subject to change. Different carts may have different prices and flavors. For example, Willie's Churros at Disney, California Adventure Park Buena Vista Street has a regular churro for $5.75 and then a Maple Bacon Churro that's topped with a maple glaze and bacon bits for $7.50.

Churro Flavors and how much are churros at Disneyland?

Classic Churro - $5.75 - 6.25 - This is coated in Cinnamon Sugar (which is the basic churro).

Here are some other flavors you can find throughout Disneyland, DCA, and Downtown Disney:

• Mardi Gras Churro - $7.50 Seasonal item. This is a classic churro, rolled in green and gold sugar, topped with purple icing glaze and purple, gold, and green deco pearls. This is available at the churro cart near the Haunted Mansion at New Orleans Square. If you're in that area, you may want to try Tiana's Palace. Read my post on Tiana's Palace for a review and information on the menu, address, and hours.
• Grandma's Homemade Apple Pie Churro - $7.99 This delicious option is coated in applepie sugar, caramel drizzle, and powdered sugar. Plus, it comes with vanilla ice cream on the side. Available a California Churro near Disney's Pin Traders in Downtown Disney District.
•  Oreo Cheesecake Churro - $7.99 The Oreo cheesecake churro is coated in Oreo sugar and has chocolate drizzle, powdered sugar, and a side of cream frosting on the side. Available a California Churro near Disney's Pin Traders in Downtown Disney District.
•  Funettie Churro - $7.99 This is coated in Fruity Pebble sugar and has vanilla icing and Fruity Pebbles. It comes with cream cheese frosting on the side. Available a California Churro near Disney's Pin Traders in Downtown Disney District.
•  Cookie Butter Churro - $7.99 This churro is perfect if you love cookie butter. It has a cinnamon cookie sugar coating, cookie butter drizzle, powdered sugar, and a side of vanilla ice cream. Available a California Churro near Disney's Pin Traders in Downtown Disney District.
•  Thin Mint Churro - $7.99 The Thin Mint Churro, coated in chocolate sugar and mint icing, is served with mint chip ice cream on the side.  Available a California Churro near Disney's Pin Traders in Downtown Disney District.
•  Salted Caramel Churro - $7.99 Coated in salted caramel sugar with caramel drizzle and pretzel pieces. Comes with Nutella on the side. Available a California Churro near Disney's Pin Traders in Downtown Disney District.

What's your favorite Disneyland churro flavor? If you're wondering how much are churros at Disneyland, hopefully this helps! The churros are definitely on the the most classic items to get while you're there. It helps that you can find them all throughout the park, so you don't have to go to one place to pick one up. 

The East Coast Seafood Japanese Hokkaido Scallops are delicious. They are tender and can absorb whatever flavor you add to them. They come in a 2-pound bag and the scallops may range in size. For best results, cook similar-sized ones together so you don't overcook small ones and undercook larger ones. 

You can find these scallops at Costco in the freezer section by other seafood. These are wild caught and a product of Japan. The packaging says that you'll get around 18 to 23 scallops per pound. 

Costco Item number  1632838

The only ingredient is scallops. 

Review

I'll admit I wasn't super familiar with scallops until I bought these. But I was extremely impressed. I followed the directions exactly just because I didn't want to mess them up. They were so good. The texture was soft and tender. I added butter, salt, pepper, and lemon as directed and they were delicious. They are not fishy in any way so these are great if you don't love seafood. They absorb a lot of flavors, like butter and lemon so they aren't as fishy as say salmon.

I've also written about the Costco Royal Asia Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Thai Chili Sauce 

Nutrition Facts 

One serving is 4 ounces or 1/2 cup

Calories 90 

Total Fat 7 grams 

Saturated Fat 0 grams

Trans Fat 0 grams 

Cholesterol 30 milligrams 

Sodium 140 milligrams 

Total Carbohydrate 2 grams 

Dietary Fiber 0 grams 

Total Sugars 0 grams 

Added Sugars 0 grams  

Protein 19 grams 

Vitamin D 0.1mcg 

Calcium 10 milligrams 

Iron 0.3 milligrams

Potassium 400 milligrams 

Directions

Keep Frozen, Do not refreeze once they are thawed.

The directions on the packaging are as follows:  Heat butter and garlic in a saucepan slowly. Then discard garlic. Add the scallops and cook 3 to 4 minutes on one side. Flip scallops and cook for another 3 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 145 F. 

Remove from pan and season with salt and pepper and serve right away with lemon.

Thawing Instructions

Don't cook these directly from frozen. You will need some preparation time. Place the desired amount in a covered container and thaw in the refrigerator overnight or for approximately 8 hours. For quick thawing, place however many you want in a bag and run under cold water for 5 to 7 minutes, rotating periodically to thaw evenly. 

Price

The price for online delivery is listed at $36.19 but may vary based on your location or the season.

These scallops from Costco are a great deal and make a tasty, memorable dinner.

While you probably go to Olive Garden for the pasta, you may stay for dessert. They offer several options on the dessert menu, such as the Warm Italian Doughnuts and Strawberry Cream Cake, but you might find that some are seasonal options such as the pumpkin cheesecake. The menu will change, but they currently have a few dessert available.

Current Olive Garden Dessert Menu

• Chocolate Lasagna 
• Black Tie Mousse Cake 
• Tiramisu 
• Strawberry Cream Cake 
• Warm Italian Doughnuts
•  Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping

But that’s not why you’re here. You want to learn more about the Black Tie Mousse Cake from Olive Garden! 

Flavor, Taste, and Texture of the Black Tie Mousse Cake from Olive Garden

The description of the cake says that it's rich layered cake with chocolate cake, dark chocolate cheesecake, and creamy custard mousse. I would say that this is a very dense and sweet option that makes it perfect for sharing. After a few bites, you’ll feel satiated, especially if you’re rounding out your meal. 

The Black Tie Mousse Cake from Olive Garden is a creamy dessert with visible layers. There is the cake layer on the bottom followed by  chocolate cheesecake, and then the custard mousse. It has chocolate chips on the exterior edge and a sort of ganache topping. Because of the various layers, you’ll notice different textures: the dryer bite of chocolate cake, the smooth cheesecake, and crunch of chocolate chips. 

My favorite part was the chocolate cheesecake portion, the chocolate ganache on top, and the chocolate chips. This is a great cake if you're a chocolate lover, but if you don't like chocolate, then you probably would want to get something else.

I tasted all the current options from the Olive Garden dessert menu and Black Tie Mousse Cake was one of my favorites. I preferred this much more than the strawberry cheesecake, but you might like strawberry if you want a fruity dessert. 

For Here or To Go?

The cake slice was just as tasty when I brought it home as when I ate it in the store. This is a great option if you want to a dessert to carry away or bring back with out. If you order it to eat at the restaurant, it comes on a plate with a chocolate drizzle to give it a nice decoration.

Price of the Olive Garden Black Tie Mousse Cake

The price may vary based on your Olive Garden location. I'm in the San Diego area and it was over $10 for the slice. The Olive Garden Black Tie Mousse Cake not an affordable dessert by any means, but it seems about the same price as other desserts in the area.  

Nutritional Information 

• 750 Calories 
• 50 Grams of Fat 
• 290 Milligrams of Sodium

Tiana’s Palace at Disneyland Park is a French and New Orleans-themed restaurant that serves lunch and dinner. Located in New Orleans Square, the restaurant serves quick food that you can pick up and pay for.

Address: 1313 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92802

Review: Tiana's Palace Cajun Spiced Half Chicken

I went to Tiana's Palace in Disneyland on a Wednesday evening around 7 o'clock p.m. and the line was pretty long. I waited about 10 to 15 minutes to get to the front of the line. This is kind of like buffet-style dining. You get a tray, tell them what you want, and then they just place the meal onto your plate. Once you get what you need, you pay at the register.

I had the Cajun Spiced Half Chicken from Tiana's Palace and it was great. The chicken was juicy and flavorful. Sometimes chicken can be iffy (dry, chewy, gross) but this was very tasty. It had a light spice to it but I didn't find it to be too hot. The mac and cheese side was tasty but not overly memorable. Although it's kind of pricy, you do get a good amount of chicken.

I also ordered the beignets, which are fluffy and hollow on the inside. The beignets are good but best when fresh and warm. Don't delay eating them. I didn't love them but they are worth a shot. They were mostly air with a teensy, thin amount of fried dough.

There is outdoor seating, but based on how busy it is and how big your party is, you might have trouble finding a spot. When you're done eating, you return your plates and trays. If you have leftovers, you have to go inside to ask for a box.

Menu Options - Dessert, Entrées, Plant-Based

Dessert 

Individual Kings Cake with Kings Cake filling and colorful green, lavender, and yellow sugars with a Mickey-shaped Decoration

House-filled beignet with strawberry cream filling topped with a fruity strawberry glaze. 

Entrées 

Catfish Po'boy - Southern-style catfish filet with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise that comes on toasted New Orleans French bread with remoulade sauce. This is served with red beans, rice, and house-made Pickles 

Jambalaya - The dish comes with chicken, Andouille sausage, heritage rice, and Creole sauce,

House Gumbo - The gumbo is made with braised chicken, Andouille sausage, and heirloom rice,

7 Greens Gumbo with Chicken & Andouille Sausage - This hearty dish is made with white beans, okra, yams, sweet potatoes, as well as heirloom rice,

Cajun Spiced Half Chicken - This dish is brushed with BBQ Sauce and served with baked macaroni and cheese and coleslaw. 

Muffuletta Sandwich - A tasty mixture of mortadella, salami, rosemary ham, cheddar, provolone, and house-made olive relish on toasted New Orleans sesame seed bread, served with red beans & rice and house-made pickles.

Muffuletta Salad - Romaine, mortadella, salami, rosemary ham, aged white cheddar, croutons, basil, and house-made olive relish. 

Plant-Based 7 Greens Gumbo - This vegan dish is made with white beans, okra, yams, sweet potatoes, and heirloom rice.

Allergy Friendly Options

• Gluten/Wheat Allergy-Friendly 
• Egg Allergy-Friendly 
• Fish/Shellfish Allergy-Friendly 
• Milk Allergy-Friendly 
• Peanut/Tree Nut Allergy-Friendly 
• Sesame Allergy-Friendly 
• Soy Allergy-Friendly

Tiana's Palace Hours

Tiana's Palace is open 7-days a week. Disneyland Anaheim and California Adventure have a lot of dining and beverage options. You're bound to find something delicious. Check out my post on the QuesaBirria Tacos from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at Disneyland California Adventure.

Get the QuesaBirria Tacos from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at Disneyland California Adventure if you're in the mood for something salty and juicy.

You will need a valid ticket and park reservation for the same park on the same date required to enter the park. The Mexican eatery offers mobile orders and quick service.

Key Points on Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill

• Fast casual dining
• Mobile order friendly
• Get your food quickly after ordering
• Nearby seating
• Lunch and dinner
• Offers allergy-friendly options
• Address: 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802

If you can, order using the mobile app instead of waiting in line

I would recommend downloading the Disneyland app and putting your order in ahead of time. That way you could pick it up at a designated time frame. This is a much better way to manage your time rather than spending it in yet another line.

Quality of the QuesaBirria Tacos

I live in Southern California, so I've had quite a lot of tacos, especially birria tacos. These are braised beef and cheese tacos with tomatillo salsa and consomé. The consomé was rich and salty. The tacos themselves were loaded with meat and texture, from the juicy interior to the crispy, slightly fried pieces on the outside. 

I also ordered a side of beans, but I didn't find them all that tasty. They needed a bit of salt or something. As of December 2024, the QuesaBirria Tacos cost $12.49 and the beans were $4.49. Skip the beans and try something else.

While these most certainly aren't the most affordable tacos you can find in Southern California, they are surprisingly rich and flavorful, considering they come from Disneyland.

Menu

The eatery serves lunch and dinner. Menu items include:

• Street-style Tacos and Corn 
• Plant-Based Offering 
• Sides like Frijoles Charros Chorizo and Bacon stewed Pinto Beans $4.49 Lime-Cilantro Rice 
• Kid's Meal 
• Beverages 
• Alcoholic Beverages 
• Gluten/Wheat Allergy-Friendly *
• Egg Allergy-Friendly *
• Fish/Shellfish Allergy-Friendly *
• Milk Allergy-Friendly *
• Peanut/Tree Nut Allergy-Friendly *
• Sesame Allergy-Friendly *
• Soy Allergy-Friendly *

* Guests must speak to a Cast Member about their allergy-friendly request.

View the full menu on the Disney website.

Address: 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802

Get a taco at Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill next time you're at Disney California Adventure. 

There's a new Trader Joe's in town! It's the first Vista location for the food chain, which you can find located at 1861 University Dr Vista, CA 92083.

Other nearby TJ stores include one in Oceanside (2570 Vista Way, Oceanside, CA 92054) and one in Carlsbad (2629 Gateway Rd, Carlsbad, CA 92009). The Vista location does sell beer, wine, and liquor, along with other standard Trader Joe's items.

Trader Joe's Vista Hours - Open and Close

Monday: 9 AM - 9 PM 

Tuesday: 9 AM - 9 PM 

Wednesday: 9 AM - 9 PM 

Thursday: 9 AM - 9 PM 

Friday: 9 AM - 9 PM 

Saturday: 9 AM - 9 PM 

Sunday: 9 AM - 9 PM

Trader Joe's Vista Address: 1861 University Dr Vista, CA 92083

The new store is located in the shopping center near Target and across the street from Walmart and Aldi.

Trader Joe's Vista Phone number: (760) 502-9816

Call them or visit in person with product questions.

Parking

This has one of the best parking lots I've ever seen at Trader Joe's, but only because it's in North County Square, which is a strip mall with loads of parking. 

If you're in the area, you may want to check out this location. The first Trader Joe's opened its doors in 1967 on Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena, CA. The food chain has been going strong since with nearly 600 stores throughout the United States.

There are Trader Joe's stores in the following states: 

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Nothing signals the change of the seasons like the seasonal beverages at Starbucks. Whether you have a holiday drink that you like to get each year or you prefer to experiment with newer flavors, there’s always a new limited flavor to test out. The Chestnut Praline Latte isn’t anything new, but it's a popular enough Starbucks holiday menu item that they brought it again for another year. It’s nutty and sweet with the creaminess of the milk and a smooth coffee taste.

What is in the chestnut praline latte at Starbucks? 

The Starbucks Chestnut Praline Latte is made with steamed milk, chestnut praline syrup, regular whipped cream, espresso, and chestnut praline topping. It will come with 2% milk unless you customize the type of milk.

Is the chestnut praline latte seasonal? 

Yes, this is a seasonal Starbucks holiday drink found during the late fall or winter season. It is often associated with being a Christmas drink.

How many shots are in a chestnut praline latte? 

For a Grande size, there are two signature espresso shots in the Chestnut Praline Latte. But you can customize this for an additional fee if you prefer more. The Short 8 fl oz and Tall 12 fl oz will have one espresso shot.

Did Starbucks get rid of chestnut praline?

As of 2024, it was on the menu.

What are the Chestnut Praline Latte ingredients?

This is the ingredient list: 

milk, brewed espresso, chestnut praline syrup [sugar, water, natural flavor, citric acid, preservative: potassium sorbate], whipped cream [cream (cream, mono and diglycerides, carrageenan), vanilla syrup (sugar, water, natural flavors, potassium sorbate, citric acid)], chestnut praline topping [spiced sugar (sugar, cinnamon, ginger, clove), toffee sugar (sugar, vegetable colors (pumpkin, apple, purple carrot, hibiscus), natural flavors, salt, annatto, baking soda)]

Final Thoughts

I personally like the Starbucks Chestnut Praline Latte. It's not as in-your-face as other seasonal Starbucks winter drinks like peppermint mocha or gingerbread flavors. This has a nutty and rich taste to it, somewhat similar to hazelnut nut not exactly the same. 

What's your favorite Starbucks holiday drink?

There are many scrumptious things you can make with fresh basil. The herb has an almost peppery taste, mixed with mint. It's distinct and deeply savory, so it will stand out no matter what you create with it. You can readily find the herb at most grocery stores or farmer's markets. So if you are trying to figure out what to do with fresh basil, I have plenty of ideas for you.

* Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

Basil pairs well with tomatoes, cheeses like Parmesan or mozzarella, chicken, olive oil, and other ingredients. As you read on, you may see basil frequently combined with these components.

1. Make a classic pesto

This is one of the most popular ways to use fresh basil as it's a main ingredient for the green condiment. It usually includes fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, olive oil, garlic, and other ingredients to taste. This gets blended in a blender or food processor and then you can use it on pasta, drizzle it on pizza, slather it on a sandwich, and much more. Use can use any number pasta shapes from shells to spaghetti.

2. Assemble an herb butter or compound butter

Mix room temperature butter and chopped basil until it's thoroughly combined. You should have a green-streaked butter. Form it into a log and wrap it in plastic wrap before placing it back in the fridge to set. If you don't want to do the log shape, then you can just place the softened basil butter mixture in an airtight container and then scoop out some when you need it.

3. Use fresh basil in Caprese salad

Caprese salad is a beautifully colorful and flavorful dish made with tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil. Slice your tomatoes and mozzarella and then layer them on a plate, alternating between each ingredient. Since you're working with larger slices, it's best to keep the basil leaves whole. 

4. Use it as a pizza topping

Basil makes a fantastic topping for pizza when you want a fresh element. You can add it before baking or after, depending on the look you're going for. Adding it after the pizza is baked keeps the green hue, whereas baking it will cause it to wilt and turn dark green. Both make delicious ways to use fresh basil, but it depends on your personal preference.

5. Make basil olive oil

This way of using fresh basil is perfect for pasta, salads, and just about everything in between. Make sure to wash the basil and give it plenty of time to dry. Chop it and then pour it into an airtight container along with the olive oil. You could also pair it with additional flavor components like garlic, red chili pepper flakes, or lemon juice.

6. Use fresh basil in a mojito

While the average mojito uses mint, a basil mojito can be a tasty way to use fresh basil and mix up your cocktail. You can even pair it with mint for a memorable herby blend. Your next cocktail may be the most delicious you've ever had.

7. Add it to other grains like rice, orzo, etc.

How can I use up my fresh basil? Try incorporating the herb into your meal. It can bring a fragrant quality to anything from bulgar, farro, quinoa, rice, and more. It works well with components like Parmesan cheese, lemon, and olive oil, so you can find a combination that tastes good or works for your household.

8. Include fresh basil in soup

There are hundreds of soup recipes out there and you can include basil in many of them. Pasta-based soups are a great starting point, such as tortellini soup. Tomato soup is a fantastic option to bring a herby addition into the mix. Add it to chicken and orzo soup. It tastes good with vegetable soups, green pea soup, white bean soup, or zucchini soup. You can get creative with it. Add the whole leaves or cut them into ribbons and use them as a garnish.

9. Place the herb in your sandwiches

Fresh basil deserves a spot in your sandwich. As I covered earlier, it works well when paired with tomatoes and mozzarella. I'd suggest using whole leaves just so they're less likely to fall out of your sandwiches. You could even do a grilled sandwich like a panini. Similarly, you may use a fresh basil pesto on a sandwich to create a tasty spread.

10. Chop it up to include in bruschetta

Bruschetta is the perfect appetizer for dinners and date nights. It's one of the more simple yet effective ways to use fresh basil. They aren't too complicated to make but they taste fresh and delicious; they're usually something you see as a starter at restaurants so you can bring this same feeling to your home.

11. Bring freshness to your quesadillas 

Adding fresh basil to a quesadilla can give it new life. Try it with chicken and mozzarella cheese. You could also add corn to the mix, tomato, or bacon. Try a spinach and basil quesadilla for something meat-free.

12. Make strawberry basil ice cream

Basil can be part of a sweet treat, too. It doesn't have to be a savory-only food. Strawberry basil ice cream has a pink hue with fruity and herbal undertones. It's creamy and refreshing for summertime. If you want to figure out what to do with fresh basil that involves something out of the box, this is a great option.

13. Create strawberry basil lemonade

Following on the sweet train, this one is slightly sugary and sour thanks to the lemon juice. Strawberry basil lemonade is a scrumptious and refreshing way to sip your basil. Bring in more herbs with basil, too. (If you like mint, you should try drinking fresh mint tea - I have a post about it if you want to read it here).

14. Turn it into a basil dressing

Use the fresh herb in your favorite dressing. It works nicely to create a basil vinaigrette that's a beautiful shade of green. But you could also include it in a basil ranch. There are so many ways to use fresh basil in dressings. Blending the dressing allows everything to get fully incorporated without larger leafy pieces.

15. Dry the herb 

Make your own dried basil to use in cooking. This gives you more time to use it without it going bad. Try air drying or dehydrating it. If you do a low temperature in the oven, you could do it that way without it burning to a crisp. Let them fully dry and then put them in an air-tight container or food storage baggie. 

16. Freeze it

When all else fails, just freeze it in a baggie. This gives you some time to strategize on how you want to use it. 

Never wonder about what to do with fresh basil again. There are so many tasty and fragrant methods to get the most use out of this peppery herb.