Love at First Bite: 9 Desserts to Elevate Your Wedding Reception

Your wedding reception is a time for fun and food. A well-curated dessert menu can cap off the festivities correctly and make your celebration more memorable. From classic favorites to innovative creations, there are countless options.

Here are nine desserts that will leave a lasting impression on your guests.

 

1. Marshmallow Pops

Serve marshmallows dipped in delicious sauce and graham crackers. Think of it as a deconstructed s’mores made elegant for your special occasion. Offer a variety of sauce flavors to appeal to all preferences. Include chocolate and caramel and something fruity like mango.

How to serve: Place dipped marshmallows onto sturdy skewers. Hand-held treats like this make it easier for guests to enjoy it as they roam around.

 

2. Cookie Shot Glasses

The average wedding produces the same carbon emissions as five people would annually. Aside from making your menu eco-friendly, one way to reduce waste on your wedding day is to avoid single-use plastic. Cookie shot glasses are fun and edible containers to store your desserts. Here are some flavor ideas to consider:

• Chocolate chip: Fill shot glasses with milk to enjoy a classic dessert.
• Gingerbread: Load the cups with ice cream, pudding or mousse.
• Cheesecake: Top your dessert cups with flavored whipped cream, a raspberry and chocolate drizzle.

How to serve: Top with wafer sticks for added visual appeal. Have some servers offer them individually or place them on your dessert bar with other treats.

 

3. Ice Cream Sundaes

Ice cream sundaes are affordable, customizable and a certified crowd-pleaser. They're an excellent choice for a summer wedding so guests can stay comfortable, and they’re a must-have for a kid-friendly affair.

How to serve: Create an ice cream sundae bar and offer a variety of ice cream flavors and toppings. Have guests customize their dessert. Alternatively, you can hire an ice cream truck to handle assembly and serving.

 

4. Croquembouche

A croquembouche is a beautiful tower of pastry puffs. This elegant treat is a French wedding cake. It costs around $150 to $600, depending on the number of cream puff pieces and preferred design.

How to serve: If you’re using this as an alternative to a traditional cake, ask a server to use tongs and place at least three cream puffs per guest plate. Alternatively, if you’re serving this in your dessert bar, let attendees break off puffs as desired.

 

5. Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels

Pretzels will transport your guests back to their childhood. These make excellent desserts for any celebration. Ask your caterer to create flavors besides chocolate, like red velvet, strawberry and caramel.

Pair pretzels with other childhood snacks and double up on nostalgia. Here are some ideas:

• Apple pie
• Blueberry pie
• Gummies
• Oreos

Another idea is to serve desserts that are special to your wedding location. For instance, Maine offers crowd-pleasing treats, including whoopie pies, blueberry pies and other baked treats that all guests will appreciate.

How to serve: Place pretzels in your dessert bar. If you have an extra budget, add a chocolate fountain at the center so guests can drizzle their pretzels.

6. Waffle Bar

Who says breakfast food can’t be an excellent dessert? A waffle bar can be an instant hit if you do it correctly. Similar to ice cream, waffles are highly customizable treats. At your reception, give your guests a chance to create their favorite waffles.

How to serve: Set up a waffle bar and offer waffles, fillings, toppings and sauces.

 

7. Churros

Churros are sweet fritters flavored with cinnamon sugar. They’re hot and crispy on the outside but fluffy inside. You can have your caterer create them with or without filling them.

How to serve: A creative presentation will elevate the simplicity of churros. You can place them in grease-proof paper bags with glazes, sauces and toppings. If you want a more interactive dining experience, set up a churros bar and let your guests play and experiment with their treats.

 

8. Individual Crème Brûlées

This simple, sophisticated treat is tasty and easy to make. It mainly consists of cream, vanilla, sugar and eggs, which help improve digestion and metabolism.

How to serve: Place the desserts in shot glasses and top each with raspberries. You can also ask a server to do the finishing touch, where they use a cooking torch to achieve a cracked sugar on the surface. They can do this in front of guests for added entertainment.

 

9. Crêpes

Crêpes offer many possibilities. Depending on the fillings, they can be sweet or savory. The texture is also light, and eating them won’t make your guests feel bloated.

How to serve: Ask a few servers to take requests and assemble them for your guests. You can also host a crêpe bar where people can create their dessert masterpieces. Offer a variety of fillings, fruits and toppings. Identify if a particular ingredient has a major food allergen, like peanuts.

 

How Many Desserts to Make for a Wedding?

If you’re offering a full dessert option, such as a regular cupcake, you don’t need one of each offering per person. However, if you have bite-sized treats, you’d want to allocate about two or three dessert options per person. Ultimately, the final number will depend on your guest list and your number of dessert options. Remember to consider your wedding cake when finalizing your menu.

 

Create an Unforgettable Dessert Menu

These tasty dessert options add a touch of sweetness to your big day. Consider your guests’ preferences, dietary restrictions and your theme to create a sweet, successful celebration.

 

Author Bio: Oscar Collins is the editor-in-chief at Modded, where he writes about a broad spectrum of topics. Follow him on Twitter @TModded for frequent updates on his work.

 

 

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