Dessert Table Ideas That Will Make Your Party an Unforgettable (and Sweet) Experience
Are you planning or hosting a gathering for friends and family? One word will ensure your guests have an unforgettable time: dessert!
Whether you’re hosting a simple at-home party or a more elaborate event like a wedding, a beautiful dessert table or a dessert board – sometimes called a “dessert charcuterie board” – is typically the first thing your guests will notice. Here are several party dessert table ideas for creating a sweet and delicious experience.
Choose a Design and Theme For Your Dessert Display
For maximum visual impact, choose a design or color scheme that reflects your personality or the event.
Not sure how to select a specific design and theme? Here are a few ideas that might inspire you to create a memorable dessert table moment:
- Rustic-themed dessert tables are a favorite because there’s a lot of design flexibility. A rustic look and feel will make your guests feel right at home. Consider incorporating elements like a burlap runner, fresh greenery, and chalkboard signage as your backdrop. Repurpose cutting boards or stone pavers as platters, and consider bamboo plates and utensils, which bring natural textures and minimize waste.
- A floral theme can create a romantic feel and is a beautiful way to transform the look of a dessert table. Use fresh flowers as the backdrop and in vases to fill up the table. Or scatter petals across the table and sprinkle your serving trays with edible flowers.
- A “formal” theme exudes elegance and sophistication and is a great excuse to bring out fine china platters and special serving tools. Fresh flowers, linen napkins and tablecloths, and decorative strands of pearls make elegant accents.
Create a Dessert Display That Will Provide ‘Sweet’ Satisfaction
Next, consider what desserts you will serve and how you will present them to your guests.
- Three to five desserts with various flavors and textures (e.g., sweet, salty, tart, and bitter) are ideal and always have at least one chocolate option. Cupcakes, mini fruit tartlets, cookies, and individually portioned elegant chocolate squares like Vine to Bar Tasting Squares are sweet favorites.
- Don’t run out of dessert — have enough sweets so each guest can eat two to three pieces (even if you are also serving cake).
- Create place cards for each dessert so guests know what they are eating — especially if anyone has allergies to specific ingredients.
- For dessert presentation, keep the guests’ eyes moving. Consider serving platters with different heights and textures to make a visually pleasing table.
- Tip: Display cupcakes on a tower and present chocolate-based desserts such as dark chocolate almonds and cookies on a dessert charcuterie board. (YES, charcuterie boards aren’t just for meats and cheese!)
Now that you have the foundation to create a magnificent dessert table, here are ideas—in addition to the tips above—to consider if you're planning for a specific occasion.
Hosting a House Gathering? Here’s a Unique Dessert Table Idea That Feels “Right at Home”
If you’re planning an intimate birthday celebration at home or dinner date night, a dessert charcuterie board full of bite-sized sweets is a unique and delicious way to entertain your guests, and they are easy to make.
- First, make sure you choose your board — consider a large, wooden cheese board or cutting board. Or any large serving tray will work.
- Select a variety of sweet, salty, tart, and bitter dessert options, using small bowls for some items and parchment paper to layer other items.
- Opting for a chocolate-only dessert board? Vine to Bar has an array of dark chocolate options, ranging from simple dark chocolate to chocolate with tart cherries and cocoa nibs or chardonnay smoked salt with cocoa nibs—or even chocolate-covered almonds with pink Himalayan salt.
- Tip: Want to add a little variety to your chocolate dessert board? Fruits and cheeses pair very well with chocolate, and consider pairing the fruit with dipping sauces for a little extra mouthwatering sweetness!
- If you’re incorporating wine and chocolate tasting into your party, Vine to Bar also pairs beautifully with both red and white wines because it is the only premium dark chocolate to feature the unique taste of WellVine™ Coastal Chardonnay Marc, an ingredient made from the spent grapes of the winemaking process. Chardonnay Marc tempers the bitter notes in rich dark chocolate with fruitiness and a light acidity, delivering an indulgent and better-for-you experience.
Wedding Dessert Table Ideas That Say “I Do”
- Incorporate colors and designs from the overall wedding theme into your dessert bar to maintain cohesiveness.
- Tip: Too inundated with other wedding planning details to plan a DIY dessert table? Consider hiring a caterer or professional for set up and takedown.
- Take the season and weather into account when choosing desserts for your wedding reception. Pumpkin cheesecake and warm apple cobbler are perfect fall desserts. Planning a summer reception? Sorbet and key lime pie are delicious, refreshing options. And no matter the season, chocolate is always a must!
- Tip: If you have an outdoor reception during the spring and summer months, choose desserts that won’t quickly melt. Lemon bars and carrot cake are safe bets!
