How to Create the Best Dessert Table for a Wedding
If you’ve been to formal events where desserts were served, you’ve likely come across a dessert table or two. They’re an easy way to serve dessert to a crowd and can often add a touch of fun and whimsy to your otherwise elegant and formal wedding reception or event. You can get creative with the way it looks, the way the food is presented, and even what’s included on the table itself. Although it’s fun to brainstorm about all of the ways you can make the dessert tables at your wedding or event memorable, one of the things you want to make sure you never overlook is the specific selection of sweet treats you want to serve.
There are a few things you want to consider when selecting treats for your dessert table, but maybe the most important is convenience. The easiest to eat dessert table options will make your event go more smoothly and make dessert fuss-free and more enjoyable for guests to eat. If you select treats that need to be cut, plated, and require special utensils to enjoy, it’s going to be more difficult for mingling guests to partake. Whether you're looking for alternative wedding desserts to traditional wedding cakes or looking for creative ideas to feature alongside your main dessert, a dessert table is the perfect finishing touch to wedding day.
Here, we’re breaking down some of the types of desserts that will make for the easiest to eat dessert table at any wedding or formal event so that you have some ideas for where to start when you’re putting one together.
Why You Want A Dessert Bar at Your Next Event
Think about some of the weddings and formal events you’ve attended. Often, people are mingling, dancing, or standing and walking, holding other things in their hands. They don’t have the ability to also juggle a plate, utensils, and the like. Because of that, you want to offer guests treats that are pretty to look at and easy to eat. A dessert buffet makes it simple for guests to pick and choose what they’d like to try without making it hard for them to move around the room.
These are some of our favorite treats for the easiest to eat dessert table:
1. Mini Cupcakes
Mini cupcakes are a crowd-pleaser and it’s no surprise why. These treats are perfect for the easiest to eat dessert tables because they allow you to enjoy cake and frosting without having to eat a full piece of cake. Choose the cake flavor, frosting flavor, and aesthetic design that coordinates with your color scheme and watch guests go wild for them. Can't decide on just one version? Serve different types of cakes and frostings so that guests can sample a few various options.
2. Macarons
If you’re looking for an elegant, delicate treat to feature on your dessert table, French macarons are the perfect choice. Choose different flavors and customize the color of the macarons to match your wedding theme. These two-bite treats are exactly what you’re looking for when it comes to treats you need on the easiest to eat dessert table. Our favorite flavors are our strawberry, pistachio, or caramel macarons.
3. Mini Cake Trifles
If you want to serve desserts that normally require utensils (like cake layered with mousse or cheesecake), consider offering mini cake trifles. Usually, these decadent, indulgent treats are a bit messy, but offering them in a smaller size (with a small spoon to match) is a great way to make them easier to eat—even when you’re mingling. Consider offering a few different options from which guests can choose.
4. Cookies
Perhaps unsurprisingly, cookies are amongst the easiest to eat dessert table options. Not only are they easy to serve and simple to eat, they’re also super versatile, meaning you can easily make them in a variety of flavors, shapes, and sizes to suit your theme. Plus, they’re relatively easy to adjust for dietary restrictions—just make sure to mark things well so that anyone with allergies knows what’s safe for them to eat. Bite-size brownies and blondies could also be a great addition to your selection of cookies. Create a full cookie table for added wow factor.
5. Mini Pies and Tarts
Not a cake fan? Like cupcakes are for cake, mini pies and tarts can be cute little few-bite options for your easiest-to-eat dessert table. They’re also versatile in look and taste, making it easy for you to provide a selection of various kinds of mini pies and tarts for guests. Plus, guests will be able to sample more than one if they’d like without feeling like they’ve overindulged or are being wasteful.
6. Bite-Sized Brownies and Blondies
Who doesn’t love a good brownie? While brownies and blondies might feel a bit casual for some occasions, if you’re looking for something really fun and a bit more casual, they might be the answer. They’re easy to eat while standing or walking around a room and can be arranged in so many different ways to draw guests’ attention. Plus, you can customize them in a million different ways, making them the perfect blank canvas for your event.
Top Tips & Tricks for Creating the Easiest to Eat Dessert Table
Think About Portion Size: When you’re choosing which treats to include on your dessert table, make sure you’re considering the size of the offering. You don’t want to offer things that will be unwieldy to hold while standing or difficult to eat without sitting down. Smaller, grab-and-go desserts in individual portions will be easier for your guests to enjoy and help you create the perfect dessert table.
It’s Not Just for Show: Although you want to think about how you arrange your small desserts and decorate your table, you don’t want to put too much emphasis on the aesthetic if it comes at the expense of your guests. If they can’t easily select desserts, your guests won’t enjoy it.
Don’t Forget the Napkins: While you want to make sure that most, if not all, of your desserts can be quickly and easily eaten while on the move, it’s still a good idea to set napkins and small dessert plates near the table to prevent sticky fingers.
Curate a Mix: Create a mix of various types of treats for your dessert table. Go for things that are rich and indulgent and some that are light and refreshing, some that are chocolate and some that are fruit, and maybe consider selecting some desserts without common allergens. This will help ensure you cover your bases and hopefully ensure that there’s something for everyone's tastes, preferences, and dietary restrictions.
Get the DJ Involved: Have the band or DJ make an announcement that dessert is being served so that guests don’t miss out. When people are mingling or dancing, it’s easy for them not to notice dessert.
Set Out To-Go Boxes: You don’t want to end the night with a ton of desserts left on the dessert table. To combat this (and food waste!), set out to-go boxes on the table so that people know they can grab a few things to take home with them. Mini desserts make a great midnight snack after a long night on the dance floor.
What to Do With Leftover Treats
If you're worried that all of your dessert options will lead to tons of leftovers at the end of your wedding or event, consider placing nice to-go boxes next to the table near the end of the event so that people can satisfy their late-night sweet tooth and save you or the event staff from having to store or throw away tons of mini desserts while cleaning up.
We also love the idea of donating leftover treats (make sure you coordinate this ahead of time and get the okay to drop off perishable food!).
If you decide to take home some leftovers, consider packing them up in airtight containers or in freezer bags (separate the types of treats) and storing them in the freezer so that they stay fresh until you're ready to eat them.
To create the easiest to eat dessert table at your wedding or special event, you’ll want to make sure that everything is both beautiful and easy to eat. The selection of desserts you choose will be the most important part because if they’re too difficult to pick up or eat while moving around the room or standing and chatting, it’s going to make the experience less seamless for all.
From cupcakes and cake pops to macarons, cookies, and mini pies, the easiest to eat dessert table will keep everyone happy without the stress of juggling extra dishes.
