15 Desserts Inspired by Famous Movies & TV Shows

Making desserts from your favorite movies and shows is such a fun way to bring those worlds into your kitchen. These 15 recipes let you taste what the characters are eating and add some extra magic to movie nights. Some are recreations of fictional treats while others are real desserts that became famous through their screen appearances. Most of these are easier to make than you’d think!

1. Butterbeer Cupcakes (Harry Potter)

These taste like the magical drink from the books and movies – sweet, buttery, and a little fizzy feeling from the butterscotch flavor. The cupcakes usually have butterscotch chips mixed in and the frosting is cream cheese with more butterscotch. Some recipes add a butterscotch drizzle on top too. The flavor is rich and sweet but not overpowering. Perfect for Harry Potter movie marathons or themed parties. Kids go crazy for these and they actually taste magical even to adults. Get the recipe here.

2. Lemon Cakes (Game of Thrones)

Sansa Stark’s favorite treat in the show! These are delicate lemon sponge cakes that are light and citrusy. The real challenge is making them look as fancy as they do in the show – some recipes use small cake molds to get individual portions. The lemon flavor should be bright but not too tart. A simple lemon glaze or powdered sugar dusting finishes them nicely. These are more elegant than most desserts and perfect for when you want something that feels royal but isn’t too heavy. Get the recipe here.

3. Turkish Delight (The Chronicles of Narnia)

This is the candy that Edmund betrayed his family for, so it better be good! It’s a gel-like confection flavored with rosewater and dusted with powdered sugar. Making it from scratch involves cooking sugar syrup to the right temperature which takes practice. The texture is unique – soft and bouncy, almost like fancy gummy candy. Some people love the floral rosewater flavor while others find it weird. Worth trying at least once to see what all the fuss was about in Narnia. Get the recipe here.

4. Chocolate Cake (Matilda)

This is inspired by the massive chocolate cake Bruce Bogtrotter had to eat in the movie. It’s usually a super rich, fudgy chocolate cake with thick chocolate frosting. Some recipes make it extra decadent with multiple layers or chocolate ganache filling. The point is to make it as chocolatey and indulgent as possible. This isn’t a delicate dessert – it’s meant to be over-the-top. Perfect for serious chocolate lovers or when you want to recreate that iconic movie scene. Get the recipe here.

5. Banana Cream Pie (The Help)

This became famous from the movie but it’s a classic Southern dessert. It has a crispy crust, vanilla pastry cream, sliced bananas, and whipped cream on top. The trick is making sure the pastry cream is thick enough not to be runny but not so thick it’s gluey. Fresh bananas are important – they get brown and mushy if the pie sits too long. Some recipes add a layer of chocolate or caramel for extra richness. This looks fancy but isn’t actually that hard to make. Get the recipe here.

6. Cherry Pie (Twin Peaks)

Agent Cooper’s obsession with cherry pie made this famous in the show. It’s a classic American pie with tart cherries in a flaky crust. Fresh cherries are best when in season but frozen work fine too. The filling usually has just enough sugar to balance the tartness and a little cornstarch to thicken it. Getting the crust right is the hardest part – it should be flaky not tough. “Damn fine pie” as Cooper would say, especially with a cup of black coffee. Get the recipe here.

7. Dole Whip (Disney Parks/Movies)

This pineapple soft-serve treat became famous at Disney parks and appears in various Disney movies. It’s basically frozen pineapple juice blended until creamy and smooth. The homemade version usually uses frozen pineapple chunks, a little coconut milk, and lime juice. Some recipes add vanilla ice cream to make it creamier. It’s refreshing and tropical, perfect for hot summer days. Way cheaper to make at home than buying it at the park, and just as good! Get the recipe here.

8. Treacle Tart (Harry Potter)

Harry’s favorite dessert! This British pudding has a shortcrust pastry base filled with golden syrup (treacle), breadcrumbs, and lemon juice. The filling is sweet but the lemon keeps it from being cloying. It’s served warm and has a unique texture that’s between a pie and a custard. Golden syrup can be hard to find in some places but corn syrup works as a substitute. This is comfort food that tastes like childhood, which fits Harry’s character perfectly. Get the recipe here.

9. Strawberry Pop-Tarts (Stranger Things)

Eggo waffles get all the attention from the show, but Eleven also eats Pop-Tarts! Making homemade ones is actually fun – you roll out pie dough, fill with strawberry jam, seal the edges, and bake. The icing on top is just powdered sugar mixed with milk and food coloring. These taste way better than store-bought ones and you can control how much filling you want. Perfect for 80s-themed parties or just because homemade Pop-Tarts are surprisingly good. Get the recipe here.

10. Chocolate Babka (Seinfeld)

This Jewish sweet bread became famous when Jerry and Elaine couldn’t get one in the show. It’s yeasted dough rolled out, spread with chocolate filling, twisted, and baked in a loaf pan. The dough takes time to rise but isn’t complicated to make. The chocolate should be rich and slightly bitter to balance the sweet dough. Some recipes add a sugar syrup on top while it’s still warm. This is definitely a weekend baking project but so worth it when you get that perfect swirl. Get the recipe here.

11. Peach Pie (Call Me By Your Name)

The peach scene in this movie made peach pie famous again. It’s similar to other fruit pies but peaches have a delicate flavor that needs careful handling. The filling usually has just sugar, a little flour or cornstarch, and maybe a squeeze of lemon. Fresh peaches are essential – canned ones get too mushy. The trick is not overcooking the peaches so they keep some texture. This pie captures the languid summer feeling of the movie perfectly. Get the recipe here.

12. Funfetti Cake (Euphoria)

Rue’s love for this colorful cake made it iconic in the show. It’s basically vanilla cake with rainbow sprinkles mixed in, covered in vanilla frosting and more sprinkles. The key is using the right sprinkles – jimmies work better than nonpareils because they don’t bleed as much. Despite being simple, there’s something joyful about all those colors. This represents childhood innocence in the show, which makes it even more meaningful. Perfect for birthdays or when you need some colorful happiness. Get the recipe here.

13. Twinkie Tiramisu (Zombieland)

Tallahassee’s obsession with Twinkies inspired this twist on Italian tiramisu. Instead of ladyfingers, you use sliced Twinkies soaked in coffee. The mascarpone filling is traditional but some recipes add extra vanilla to complement the Twinkie flavor. It sounds weird but actually works really well – the spongy cake soaks up the coffee and the sweet cream balances everything. This is definitely a novelty dessert but surprisingly tasty. Perfect for movie night themed around the zombie apocalypse. Get the recipe here.

14. Maple Cookies (Elf)

Buddy’s love for syrup inspired these maple-flavored cookies. They’re usually soft sugar cookies with maple extract or real maple syrup in the dough. Some recipes include a maple glaze on top for extra sweetness. The trick is getting enough maple flavor without making them too sweet or sticky. These taste like fall and Christmas rolled into one cookie. Good for holiday baking or when you want to channel Buddy’s enthusiastic sweetness. They go great with hot chocolate or coffee. Get the recipe here.

15. Tres Leches Cake (Jane the Virgin)

This Latin dessert became a symbol of family and tradition in the show. It’s sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk – regular, condensed, and evaporated – then topped with whipped cream. The cake needs to soak overnight to absorb all the milk without falling apart. Despite being soaked, it shouldn’t be soggy if done right. This represents comfort and home in the show, and it really does taste like a warm hug. Perfect for celebrations or when you want something that brings people together. Get the recipe here.