Mini Desserts For Wedding: Dessert Ideas to Buy or DIY
Wedding cake display on a dessert table.
Once you’ve decided on your wedding menu, there’s still one more decision - what should you have for dessert! One idea is to serve mini desserts for wedding treats. You can also serve a traditional wedding cake, a single tier cake, or no cake at all. Your guests will love having their choice of mini desserts for an after-the-meal treat.
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Can You Serve Wedding Cake Instead of Dessert?
If you’re having a catered dinner, the menu usually includes desserts that are served right after the meal. After dinner, people will dance for a while. Then the cake is cut and served, later in the evening.
If you’d rather serve your cake right after the meal, you can talk to your caterer. Some caterers might even waive the cake cutting fee, in exchange for removing the extra desserts from the menu.
If you’re planning a DIY wedding, you can set up your timeline any way you like. Either way, it’s ok to serve wedding cake as your dessert.
What Desserts Are Served at a Wedding Reception?
If you’ve booked a caterer with a meal package, sometimes a selection of desserts will be included. Depending on your meal package, your caterer might offer classic desserts, like chocolate mousse, cream puffs or tarts.
Some caterers will offer more options, like macaroons, tiramisu, or even chocolate fountains or s’mores bars for your wedding dessert. If you’re planning to DIY, you can choose any combinations of desserts that fit your budget and your style.
Is a Dessert Table Cheaper Than a Wedding Cake?
Wedding prices always depend on where you live, and what type of wedding you’re planning. If you’re working with a traditional caterer, you’ll need to order your desserts or cake through them. You can check their price list and do the math to decide which option fits your budget the best.
If your wedding is at a venue that allows DIY, you could save some money by planning your own dessert table. If you buy or DIY the desserts, you could pay less than you would for a professional wedding cake.
If your main goal is to save money, you can always find a cheaper wedding cake. Big box stores and local groceries have bakeries where you can order inexpensive cakes with white frosting. Add a pretty cake topper and you’ll have a delicious wedding cake on a budget.
How Many Mini Desserts Do You Need For a Wedding Reception?
If you’re offering cake and desserts, allow 1 to 2 mini desserts per person. If you’re not serving cake, allow 3 to 4 mini desserts per person.
How Many Different Types of Mini Desserts Should You Serve at a Wedding?
If you offer too many types of desserts, your guests might get overwhelmed. Or worse, they could over-serve themselves and you’ll run out.
If you’re allowing 3 to 4 mini desserts per person, offer 5 to 6 options, total. If you’re serving cake, count that as one of the options. That way, your wedding guests will have some choices, but won’t go overboard trying to taste everything.
Purple themed wedding dessert buffet.
Best Mini Desserts For a Wedding
You can choose the types of desserts based on your wedding theme, the season or the type of food you’re serving. For example, coffee cake would be a delicious finish after a brunch wedding. Or, if you’re offering a taco bar for dinner, the perfect dessert could be mini tres leches cups.
Best Mini Desserts For a Spring Wedding
Macaroons
Lemon squares
Cream puffs
Mini strawberry shortcake
Best Mini Desserts For a Summer Wedding
Berry tarts
Mini cheesecakes
Chocolate covered strawberries
Mini key lime pies
Best Mini Desserts For a Fall Wedding
Apple tarts
Mini cinnamon donuts
Pumpkin spice cupcakes
Mini mocha cheesecakes
Best Mini Desserts For a Winter Wedding
Butterscotch blondies
Mini Christmas fruitcakes
Cheesecake brownies
Miniature cranberry tarts
Easy Mini Desserts For a DIY Wedding
If you’re doing DIY in order to save money, make sure you do the math before you start. Making desserts yourself could save some cash, but it won’t be free. You’ll need to buy ingredients, and make some test batches ahead of time. Check your recipes and add up the costs. Remember to include any extra equipment you’ll need to buy.
Look for recipes that you can make ahead and freeze. You can freeze most cakes, cheesecakes, cookies, bars and tarts. You can thaw them out and finish decorating them the day before your wedding.
Individual, tiny desserts take a lot of time to make and decorate. If you need a lot of mini desserts, you can make them in batches. Bake a cake or full tray of desserts, then cut them into bite size pieces. This works well for cakes, pies, bars and squares.
Another easy way to make mini desserts in batches is by making a full recipe of mousse or pudding, then serving it in individual cups. Add a berry or mint leaf on top of each one and you’ll have tons of gorgeous mini desserts.
Ordering Mini Desserts From a Bakery
If you don’t have the time or skills to do the baking yourself, you can order a variety of pastries, tarts or petit fours from a local bakery.
If the bakery is too expensive, you can check your local grocery or big box store. Most chain stores have in-house bakeries where you can buy delicious treats for your wedding desserts.
If you’re ordering a large amount, the bakery might deliver to your venue. If not, ask one of the groomsmen to pick up the desserts on the day of the wedding and bring them to the venue.
Make sure the delivery or pickup person knows where to put them. If they need to be refrigerated, check that the venue has space to store them until it’s time to serve dessert.
Pink themed wedding dessert display table.
How to Set Up a Wedding Dessert Table
A wedding dessert table can be a delicious addition to your reception. If you’re planning a DIY wedding, creating your own sweets table can be a fun project. You can make your own desserts or order from a local bakery. Once you’ve chosen your sweets, start to think about how you’ll set up your wedding dessert table.
1. Cover the table with a cloth.
You want your mini desserts to be the star of the show, so cover the table with a plain white table cloth, before you add the serving dishes.
2. Choose your serving dishes.
Look for serving dishes that match your theme. For example, if you’re planning a rustic wedding, you could use wooden trays. Choose serving dishes in a variety of different heights. It’ll look more interesting, and make it easier for guests to serve themselves.
3. Shop for serving trays and dishes.
Find inexpensive cake plates, stands, trays or platters at your local thrift store, dollar store or craft store. If you can’t find pieces that fit your budget, consider buying disposable serving dishes instead.
4. Add table decorations.
Add interest to the table by adding small, decorative pieces. You can add small vases of flowers, confetti or other decorations. Add tent cards or signs with the names of each dessert.
5. Arrange the dessert display by height.
Start your arrangement by placing the dishes closest to the guests directly on the table. The next row back can be desserts arranged on cake stands, to stand a bit higher. The tallest pieces can go at the back, furthest from the guests. If your serving dishes aren’t tall enough, add small boxes or crates to raise them up a bit.
6. Add a decoration above the table.
Hang a banner, backdrop or garland, and your wedding dessert table is ready!
