There's nothing quite like a long line at a dessert station or a messy buffet to spoil the sweet taste of catered items. Since the art of cleverly displaying or serving desserts often plays a key role in avoiding this event pitfall, planners, designers, and caterers have found inventive ways to dish out confections. From grab-and-go goodies that eliminate the need for servers to two-in-one creations that allow guests to easily sample various treats, here's a look at some inspiring ideas for distributing desserts.
Funnel cakes were attached to parasols at Ted Baker's New York preview. To add to the circus-inspired atmosphere, the waitstaff were trained to imitate tightrope walkers as they passed the bites.
Photo: Erik Valind
For a Los Angeles media event in April announcing the nationwide sale of chef Duff Goldman's Cake-in-a-Jar, guests could sample the product, which features layers of cake, frosting, and sprinkles encased in a Mason jar.
Photo: Courtesy of Duff's Cakemix
A "cotton candy girl”—dressed in an outfit made from the confection—passed out the dessert to guests of M.A.C. Cosmetics' Los Angeles celebration of its Playland collection on April 10.
Photo: Eric Faamausili for MAC Cosmetics
Catering company Good Gracious! Events affixed cotton candy bags to a branded wall for the M.A.C. party, which was held at the cosmetic brand's North Robertson Boulevard shop.
Photo: Eric Faamausili for MAC Cosmetics
In late February, fashion retailer Ted Baker hosted a private event in New York to preview its Spring/Summer 2014 line. Inspired by the circus theme of the collection's ad campaign, caterer Creative Edge Parties served carnival finger foods in a playful, mess-free way. That included staffers circulating with what they called a cotton candy tree—cotton candy clipped to a willow-tree-shaped metal frame that guests could easily pull off with their hands.
Photo: Erik Valind
At Nordstrom's grand-opening gala at California shopping center the Americana at Brand, Command Performance Catering eliminated guests' need to juggle desserts and drinks by creating such items as a shot of strawberry milk topped by a lemon-raspberry checkerboard cookie.
Photo: Courtesy of Nordstrom
For a two-in-one dessert option, Command Performance Catering wedged raspberry macarons atop servings of panna cotta for Nordstrom's grand-opening gala at the Americana at Brand.
Photo: Courtesy of Nordstrom
For a grab-and-go option that eliminated the need for servers, Grand Performances hung bags of doughnuts from hooks at Nordstrom's grand-opening gala.
Photo: Courtesy of Nordstrom
For a camp-theme event in 2012, KG Fare Catering & Events offered a mess-free take on s'mores by displaying the gooey treats on clothespins.
Photo: Courtesy of KG Fare Catering & Events
At the C2MTL conference this year, Montreal-based caterer Agnus Dei created a popular interactive sorbet station. Rings of raspberry, mango, and coconut sorbet spun around a wheel, while guests simply had to hold up a scoop to the device to build their own cone.
Photo: Beth Kormanik/BizBash
A display from Wolfgang Puck Catering put vanilla-and-wild-strawberry cake topped with tiny lavender macarons into gilded eggshells and set on a bed of grass.
Photo: Courtesy of Wolfgang Puck Catering
A Thyme to Cook in Connecticut used string to hang cake doughnuts from the branches of a living tree at a recent event.
Photo: Blue Diamond Photography
New York’s Creative Edge Parties introduced the “Bar Bar” last year, a selection of bite-size brownies, blondies, and dessert bars in flavors such as peanut pretzel, Oreo cheesecake, and apple crumb displayed in repurposed desktop file sorters.
Photo: Jenny Anderson
Dessert buffets don't have to be simple tables: for the Boston Children's Museum's 10th anniversary gala in October last year, the catering team at the Intercontinental Boston used a giant prop cake to display and serve sweet treats, including cake pops, mini whoopie pies, mini Twinkies, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. The oversize piece was a champagne tower from the New England Country Rentals warehouse, and staffers from Rafanelli Events dressed it with festive paper flowers.
Photo: Scott Indermaur
