Chocolate-dipped toasted marshmallows with graham cracker dust and chocolate-filled pipettes, by Elegant Affairs Off-Premise Catering & Event Design in New York
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
French toast sticks with bourbon-infused maple syrup and blueberry thyme jam, by L-Eat Catering in Toronto
Photo: Emma Mcintyre for BizBash
Send a few favorite photos to Texas-based Manjar (Spanish for “delicacy”) and the bakery can turn them into edible Instagram posts for you, as well as create sugar cookies frosted to look like the popular social media company’s camera icon. There is no minimum order, and clients can send in as many different photos as they’d like. For larger orders, call at least two weeks in advance. Also on Manjar’s hipster-approved cookie menu are sweets shaped and frosted to look like Wayfarer sunglasses, mustaches, Polaroid photos, and vintage cameras.
Photo: Courtesy of Manjar
Cotton candy gets a sophisticated makeover in the hands of Sugar & Spun. The company uses all-natural and artisanal ingredients, including organic raw sugar and dried toppings and powders, to create unconventional flavors such as black sesame, spiced mango, salted chocolate almond, and latte. The spun sugar comes in 32-ounce tubs for $4.50 each, or 16-ounce tubs for $3 each (additional sizes are available on request). There is a 20-count minimum; pickup at one of the company’s locations along the San Francisco Peninsula is free, and delivery within San Francisco costs $20. Allow three days' advance notice.
Photo: JJ Casas
Gourmet flavors take a simple-sounding treat—chocolate-covered pretzel rods—to another level at Fatty Sundays: think pumpkin spice, peanut butter and jelly, banana cream, peppermint crunch, berry granola, and more. Bonus: The colorful, dipped pretzels would look especially eye-catching on display at a candy station. Custom labels, flavors, and color combos can be created for events and favors, with a minimum of 20 boxes of two or five pretzels. The treats can be shipped throughout the United States.
Photo: Courtesy of Fatty Sundays
Boston’s Wicked Good Cupcakes puts a new spin on the classic dessert with its Wicked Good to Go cupcake-in-a-jar treats. Each glass jar holds the equivalent of two cupcakes, and there are 15 flavor options, including vanilla birthday cake, sea-salted caramel, and red velvet. For corporate orders, the jars can include custom labels or colored sprinkles and fondant toppers. Custom Wicked Good to Gos start from $8.50 for an eight-ounce jar; shipping is available nationwide.
Photo: Courtesy of Wicked Good Cupcakes
New York-based Stick & Pop has whipped up its cake pops and bonbons for brands including Swarovski, Tory Burch, Valentino, Joie, and Patrón. In addition to the company’s original menu of cake-ball flavors such as Griswald (vanilla graham cake with a marshmallow center and chocolate chips dipped in dark chocolate) or Nutty Bunny (carrot cake dipped in white chocolate with walnuts), it also specializes in custom-designed packaging, as well as custom flavors, colors, and toppings. Place orders five business days in advance for 100 or more.
Photo: Courtesy of Stick & Pop
It’s obvious Robyn Frank, owner of Thumbs Cookies, makes her tiny shortbread cookies by hand—her thumbprint is pressed into each one. A mixed batch of 60 cookies costs $30 and includes signature flavors such as ginger clove, apricot with pistachio and cardamom, candied pecan with rosemary, and original cinnamon-sugar topped with a chunk of Mast Brothers chocolate. Frank also makes Thumb Pies (pictured), miniature cookie sandwiches bonded together with colored frosting or chocolate hazelnut filling. The cookies can be customized with tiny edible letters and can be packaged as favors or gifts. Large orders of 500 or more must be placed two weeks in advance, and price breaks are available for large quantities.
Photo: Courtesy of Thumbs Cookies
For unique candies that will get guests talking, check out online sweets shop Sugarfina. The California-based company travels the world in search of gourmet candies and chocolates (think Belgian ale gummies, absinthe chocolate cordials, and matcha green tea caramels). The treats can be ordered for candy buffets in five-pound boxes ranging from $65 to $80, and consultants can be called upon to recommend a mix of candies for certain themes. Also available: stylishly packaged corporate gift options.
Photo: Courtesy of Sugarfina
For events in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens, Heartbreaker Baker offers its chewy, heart-shaped bar cookies. The treats come in 10 main cheekily named flavors, including Stuck on Yous (chocolate with gooey caramel and sea salt) and Fig It About Hers (oatmeal fig with an orange glaze). The mini versions go for $1.25 each, while the regular size costs $2.50, with a minimum order of 40 minis or 20 regulars. The cookies can come on platters or come individually wrapped with custom labels. Three days' advance notice is required, or five days' notice for custom labels; delivery is $15.
Photo: Steven M. Meyer
More stylish than your average Blow Pop: Designer Lollipop peddles spherical sweets that contain edible images—everything from fireworks and vintage lace, to world flags and the Aurora Borealis. Owner Priscilla Briggs can also create custom corporate logo lollipops. The handmade, individually wrapped treats start from $14 for six and can be shipped worldwide. There is a discount for orders of more than 120; large orders of from 600 to 1,000 take between 10 and 13 weeks to process.
Photo: Courtesy of Designer Lollipops
Handmade, in small batches, Crack Caramel creates its addictive caramel bites using only brown sugar, sweet cream butter, organic heavy cream, Madagascar vanilla, and pink Himalayan salt. Individually wrapped two-bite caramels can be purchased by the quarter, half, or full batch (a full batch costs $45 for 40). Or opt for the Crack Pops: paper-wrapped caramel lollipops on wooden sticks. Order at least two weeks in advance.
Photo: Courtesy of Crack Caramel
The Beverly Hills Brownie Company offers—yup, you guessed it—brownies. With 23 unconventional flavors, including new arrivals s’mores and no-gluten classic buttercream, the brownie boutique makes the rich treats individually, so each one has a crisp-edged crust and moist center. For events in the Los Angeles area, there is a brownie bar service that includes a full display setup and uniformed servers, and it typically involves a 10-dozen minimum order (but owner Bobbie Greenfield says there is flexibility). The company also offers custom brownie flavor and logo options, and gift packages can include custom parchment inlays and tags. Signature brownies are $39 for a dozen, with special pricing available for volume orders.
Photo: Courtesy of Beverly Hills Brownie Company
Outdoor break, including a carving board, international cheeses and breads, and paella, by Lake Lanier Islands Resort in Buford, Georgia
Photo: Courtesy of Lanier Lakes
Florida Orange Break, including orange-laced cookies and macarons, orange chocolate-covered cherries and apricots, orange-ginger muffins, frozen orange pops, crystalized orange rings, and a variety of orange-flavored beverages, by Boca Raton Resort & Club in Florida
Photo: Creative Focus Photography
New York-style deli station, including potato knishes, grilled pumpernickel bread, the Pickle Guy pickles, local mustard, and Schaller & Weber deli meats, by Westin New York Grand Central
Photo: Westin New York Grand Central
Popcorn Couture Cinema Break, including mixtures such as All American (bow-tie pretzels, peanuts, and M&M’s), Rio Bravo (chipotle chili powder, corn chips, and lime), and Bedtime for Bonzo (banana chips, Nestlé Buncha Crunch, and toasted coconut), by Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin in Orlando
Photo: Courtesy of Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin
Interactive American Apple Culinary Break, which involves a specialist teaching the craft of creating apple pie, as well as a spread of apple tarts, fresh apples, and apple juice, by the Park Hyatt Washington
Photo: Courtesy of Park Hyatt Washington
Vitality conference breaks, including open-faced Parma ham sandwiches with sun-dried tomato spread, ricotta, and basil, available at all Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts locations
Photo: Courtesy of Swissôtel
Lemon Break, including a lemonade display, lemon tarts, lemon sorbet, lemon candies, lemon confit, lemon drops, lemon shooters, lemon chiffon cakes, lemon crème brûlées, lemon rum babas, lemon napoleons, and lemon meringues, by Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa in California
Photo: New Port Beach Marriott
Charcuterie selections hanging from a steel bow, by Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek in Florida
Photo: Courtesy of Wyndham Grand Orlando
Breakfast bites, including French toast sticks, fruitinis, mini yogurt parfaits, bite-size beignets, and cereal shooters, by W San Diego
Photo: Courtesy of W: San Diego
Cookie station, including Oreos, pecan sugar cookies, and gingersnaps, as well as ice cream, lemonade, and sweet tea, by the Trump SoHo in New York
Photo: Courtesy of SoHo Trump
Savory break spread, including Thai chicken satays, sushi and sashimi, smoked mountain trout and crème fraîche on cucumber, edamame, and seaweed salad, and vegetable smoothies, by Lake Lanier Islands Resort in Buford, Georgia
Photo: Courtesy of Lanier Lakes
Local treats spread, including pecan caramel turtles, trail mix with chocolate-covered coffee beans, pretzels, and dried cherries, brisket quesadillas with poblano ranch dressing, chocolate and dulce de leche tartlets, assorted Sweet Leaf iced teas, and coffee, by Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort in Austin, Texas
Photo: Courtesy of Hyatt Regency Lost Pines
Refreshment break buffet, including chicken chutney salad in phyllo cups, hummus with celery and carrot sticks, Very Berry shooters, mango-carrot nectar, and homemade granola with Greek yogurt, by the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort Executive Conference Center in Arizona
Photo: Hilton Tuscon
Colorado craft beer tasting and pork bar, including chicharrones in pickled cornichon aioli, B.L.T. grinders, mini hog Dagwoods, pork-cheek pastrami Reubens, and house-pickled vegetables, by Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center in Colorado
Photo: Courtesy of Denver Tech
Build-your-own trail mix and smoothie station, including the Ready Set Glow smoothie with açai berries, flaxseed, and coconut water; and the Jump Start smoothie with blueberries, bananas, Greek yogurt, and flaxseed, available at all Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
Photo: Courtesy of Kimpton
