Tuesday
Jun302009
Cinema and Sugar: Movies To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 
Sometimes, simply eating baked goods isn't enough. You just want to live, breathe and exist in a warm shell of pastry or cake. But not, you know, in a creepy way.
How better to feed your obsession than by enjoying movies which prominently feature sweet treats? Grab your milk duds, dim the lights and dig in:
(Note: This list is not necessarily comprehensive; feel free to leave a comment with any movies that you think should be added!)
American Pie: Of course, this one features what is probably the most infamous pie scene in cinema.
Animal House: As one CakeSpy reader put it, "I love the food fight scene. Watching Bluto load his tray up with donuts and jello..."
Babette's Feast: Who cares what else they eat, "the grand finale dessert is 'Savarin au Rhum avec des Figues et Fruit Glacée' (rum sponge cake with figs and glacéed fruits). Numerous rare wines, including Clos de Vougeot, along with various champagnes and spirits, complete the menu."
The Bakery Girl of Monceau: A film in which the hero engages in "pastries and flirting with the salesgirl, a law student (Barbet Schroeder) surrenders to his appetites as he hangs out at a bakery."
Because I Said So: Featuring Mandy Moore as a baker who is secure in the kitchen but unsure about love.
Big Night: This movie mainly features savory foods, but the timpano is carbohydratey enought to warrant a mention.
Big Night: This movie mainly features savory foods, but the timpano is carbohydratey enought to warrant a mention.
Blood & Donuts: In which a vampire falls for a woman working in a donut shop.
Buffalo 66: A heart-shaped cookie figures into the plot in this movie.
Buffalo 66: A heart-shaped cookie figures into the plot in this movie.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: In oh, so many ways.
Chocolat: If chocolate is your dessert weapon of choice, you simply must see this movie. In fact, I can't believe you haven't already.
Dear Lemon Lima: A brand-new film which just made its debut at the LA Film Festival, which prominently features cupcake artwork...by CakeSpy!
Chocolat: If chocolate is your dessert weapon of choice, you simply must see this movie. In fact, I can't believe you haven't already.
Dear Lemon Lima: A brand-new film which just made its debut at the LA Film Festival, which prominently features cupcake artwork...by CakeSpy!
The Devil Wears Prada: No, food isn't in the foreground of this film, but Anne Hathaway's character does try to make nice with that dreamy Adrian Grenier by bringing him a cupcake.
Down To You: Not sure how dessert figures into this one, but I heard a rumor that it does.
Fried Green Tomatoes: What is your favorite book, movie and food? Fried Green Tomatoes may be the answer to all three, but I'll take some chocolate or a southern layer cake (but please, keep the saran wrap away) any day. But as a side note, can you believe this recipe for caramel fried green tomatoes and ice cream?
The Gingerbread Man: As buddy Megan says, "It's a terrible, terrible movie. But entertaining!"
The Great New Wonderful: According to one sweet CakeSpy reader, this one "had Edie Falco and Maggie Gylenhaal as cake designers but they weren't very happy..."
The Godfather: "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli". Beautiful!
Hoodwinked: This one was suggested by Mary--that Goody Bandit must be captured!
The Ice Cream Man: OK, so the ice cream man in question is a serial killer. He does drive the right truck! And he's Ron Howard's brother!
Just Desserts: In which a cake (and its baker) are completely enchanting to the protagonist.
Down To You: Not sure how dessert figures into this one, but I heard a rumor that it does.
Fried Green Tomatoes: What is your favorite book, movie and food? Fried Green Tomatoes may be the answer to all three, but I'll take some chocolate or a southern layer cake (but please, keep the saran wrap away) any day. But as a side note, can you believe this recipe for caramel fried green tomatoes and ice cream?
The Gingerbread Man: As buddy Megan says, "It's a terrible, terrible movie. But entertaining!"
The Great New Wonderful: According to one sweet CakeSpy reader, this one "had Edie Falco and Maggie Gylenhaal as cake designers but they weren't very happy..."
The Godfather: "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli". Beautiful!
Hoodwinked: This one was suggested by Mary--that Goody Bandit must be captured!
The Ice Cream Man: OK, so the ice cream man in question is a serial killer. He does drive the right truck! And he's Ron Howard's brother!
Just Desserts: In which a cake (and its baker) are completely enchanting to the protagonist.
Like Water For Chocolate: The wedding cake made with character Tita's tears was delicious, but made people cry over loves long lost.
Manhattan: This one is worth watching for so many reasons, but as one CakeSpy reader pointed out, dessert (milkshakes, to be exact) is a big reason!
Marie Antoinette: Cake porn, featuring sweets by French legend Laduree. Enough said.
Marie Antoinette: Cake porn, featuring sweets by French legend Laduree. Enough said.
Matilda: Basically the cake-eating scene is the sweet equivalent to the egg-eating scene in Cool Hand Luke.
Mermaids: This one got an Oscar, and I'm pretty sure it was for the marshmallow kebabs prominently featured during the movie.
Million Dollar Baby: The real money shot was at the end, when Clint Eastwood's character eats pie in the final scene.
Mostly Martha: Although you'll have to wait til the credits for the sweet stuff, says Viv, it's worth the wait.
No Reservations: According to a CakeSpy reader, the US version of Mostly Martha definitely has some good looking tiramisu featured on-screen.
The Perfect Man: According to one CakeSpy reader, this film with Heather Locklear is "awful, but she decorates cakes."
Run Fatboy Run: In this one, according to Carrie, the "love interest is a bakery sweet shoppe owner".
The Perfect Man: According to one CakeSpy reader, this film with Heather Locklear is "awful, but she decorates cakes."
Run Fatboy Run: In this one, according to Carrie, the "love interest is a bakery sweet shoppe owner".
Serendipity: A sweet romantic comedy which has scenes in the NY Sweets-shop from which the film takes its name.
Simply Irresistible: In which a witchy Sarah Michelle Gellar enchants the dessert (and the rest of the food too).
Simpsons Movie: Of course, Homer is never far from his beloved pink frosted and festively sprinkled donuts.
Stand By Me: This one features a pie-eating contest.
Steel Magnolias: That armadillo cake did more for Red Velvet than it could ever know!
Stranger Than Fiction: If Will Ferrell's character presenting Maggie Gyllenhaal's renegade baker with a bouquet of "flours" doesn't make you melt like buttercream in sunshine, then you're probably dead.
Sweeney Todd: They make pies, but you probably don't want to eat them. Way too savory.
True Grit: In which "corn something or other Rooster Cogburn was eating on the trail"
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me: The prelude to Dale Cooper and all that damn fine pie.
Steel Magnolias: That armadillo cake did more for Red Velvet than it could ever know!
Stranger Than Fiction: If Will Ferrell's character presenting Maggie Gyllenhaal's renegade baker with a bouquet of "flours" doesn't make you melt like buttercream in sunshine, then you're probably dead.
Sweeney Todd: They make pies, but you probably don't want to eat them. Way too savory.
True Grit: In which "corn something or other Rooster Cogburn was eating on the trail"
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me: The prelude to Dale Cooper and all that damn fine pie.
Varsity Blues: The cheerleader tries to be all sexy by dressing up like an ice cream sundae! That's priceless!
Waitress: Pie, pie, and more pie!
Waitress: Pie, pie, and more pie!
Wayne's World: I wish I could hang out with Wayne and Garth at Stan Mikita Donuts.
When Harry Met Sally: The most famous food scene is at Katz's in this movie, but there are many other sweet cinematic nuggets including conversations about (and over) pie.
Got one to add? Leave a comment!
Reader Comments (30)
Love this idea. Sounds like a summer movie marathon waiting to happen -- or a dinner/movie group. Some great mentions here!
Mostly Martha,which I adore, but you'll have to wait until after most of the end credits have rolled to actually see a proper mention of a sweet.
Awesome list!
do the marshmallow kebabs in mermaids count?
also, doughnuts do play a pivotal role in the simpsons movie. and i nominate manhattan for the milkshake scene
Serendipity...their frozen hot chocolates are awesome...and isn't the restaurant in the movie?
I pretty much want to be Maggie Gyllenhaal's character in Stranger Than Fiction.
Laurel- yes! I adore that movie.
This sure is one magic list of movies and I just adore watching Chocolat!!
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory....and that's the only one that matters :)
What a great great list!
I love Chocolat and Because I Said So. Both movies always make me smile.
i was seriously going to freak out if you didn't have stranger than fiction. i want to BE her.
Oh, I *heart* Waitress! :) Great list!
great post!
i have some movie suggestions...not that the sweet treats were a huge part of the movie though. but i guess its just nice to have some additions. i think i'm gonna watch out for sweet treats in movies from now onwards! haha...
No Reservations - i think that there was some part where a tiramisu or cake was mentioned. i'm pretty sure it was a tiramisu, but i could be wrong.
Kate and Leopold - he made her breakfast, and it was strawberries with mascarpone on toast, i think.
Ghost of Girlfriends Past - remember the huge wedding cake that fell all over...
okay so three isn't really alot, and these are pretty weak suggestions. but they were fun to think about!
What a list! Thanks for sharing.
Sorry for the confusion, I mashed two suggestions together in the limitations of twitter lol so One was Buffalo 66 with a heart cookie, the second movie was Million Dollar Baby with Clint Eastwood's character eating a piece of pie in the final scene.
No Reservations with Catherine Zeta Jones - Tiramisu
I think in "Like Water for Chocolate" it was the wedding cake that was made with Tita's tears. Apparently it was yummy, but made you mourn your first love and made all the guests bawl.
nice list! I searched for films related with food. I love chocolat and perfect man. wish to see others.
I love in the "Animal House" food fight scene. Watching Bluto load his tray up with donuts and jello. Great movie:)
this sounds like a great project... maybe you could consider having a place where we can all contribute to spotting sweet treats in movies! haha... it's my second time back to this page to look at the comments - is this the start of an obsession? maybe! :D
How can we forget Matilda? Best cake scene EVER!!
"You can do it Brucey!"
Don't forget Sex & the City! Poor Carrie Bradshaw... alone (sort of) in Paris, consoling herself with gorgeous macaroons from Laduree (had to look that up), wearing an equally gorgeous and confectionary skirt.
Oops! Carrie was at Cador (not Laduree).
This is the best thing I've read in ages, and Stranger than Fiction made the list, which I loved! Yay!
Absolutely brilliant!
Great list! I posted a link (ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com). I also loved/hated the pie eating contest scene in Stand By Me.