Posted by Tastefully Simple on April 26, 2022
People are passionate about dessert. Helen Keller is credited with the famous quote, “Life is short and unpredictable. Eat the dessert first,” while famous humorous Erma Bombeck advised, “Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.” Dessert, it seems, is IMPORTANT.
I know when I am preparing to entertain, what to serve for dessert is my most stressful decision. It’s natural to want to impress guests with a show-stopping sweet finale, but a “fancy” dessert may not always be the best choice. In fact, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind when pondering the question, “What’s for dessert?” Here are five:
1. What’s the occasion? The reason for the get-together can help choose the dessert. For instance, for a birthday gathering, guests will naturally expect a festive cake or cupcakes. Making a special cake doesn’t have to be complicated to make the birthday girl or boy feel special. Clever, yet simple, decorating like this Ice Cream Cone Cake. Of course, it’s fine to go against tradition, too. For something a little different, try serving birthday pie, birthday brownies (here’s one to try) or even birthday waffles! Tip: When a dessert is made to honor someone, find out that person’s favorite dessert and make that.
2. What’s the size of the gathering? I once attended a wedding that had a s’mores buffet instead of cake, with a variety of crackers and cookies, different candies and flavored marshmallows to create a custom dessert. It was a cute idea in theory, but the process of choosing the components, toasting the marshmallow over a Sterno can and assembling the treat took a while, and there was a long line stretched behind the buffet table for most of the reception. On the other hand, this same dessert option might be a terrific choice for a small party held outdoors around a campfire.
For large gatherings, a “grab and go” approach, like a pre-cut sheet cake or array of cupcakes, might be the way to go. Individualized desserts, like Butterscotch Brownie Trifles, served in long-stemmed wine glasses for an elegant touch, can also be a good choice for a small gathering.
3. What else is on the menu? If your guests just enjoyed a delightful meal of Asian food, they might be surprised to see you bring a tiramisu to the table for dessert. Consider how your dessert will pair with other foods and even the ambience of your occasion. Having the boss over for dinner might call for a designed-to-impress dessert, like Mango Vanilla Mousse Tartlets, while a relaxed get-together with friends calls for a more casual dessert – perhaps a nostalgic treat like Nana’s Peach Cobbler or a simple cake like Almond and Coconut Pound Cake.
4. How will it hold up? A couple of years ago I created a fancy layer cake, adorned with mountains of buttercream flowers, for a family reunion. It was, if I say so myself, pretty darned impressive. However, I failed to take into account that it would spend several hours in the car on a blistering mid-July day. Upon arrival, I found the buttercream had wilted and puddled into a sticky goo at the base of my now-naked “masterpiece.” Oops.
Consider what conditions your dessert will have to contend with. Will it sit out for hours? Face high heat and humidity? A richer dessert (suggestion: Chocolate Crème Brûlée Bars) might work best for a mid-winter gala, while something lighter, like an Berry Lemonlicious Trifle or Balsamic Fruit & Cheese Kabobs, suits a summertime affair.
Ice cream is always popular, but can be problematic. Instead of ice cream sundaes, which require assembly and can quickly become liquid on a hot day, try something like Brookie Bar Ice Cream Sandwiches, which can be hard-frozen and served in “grab and go” fashion, might be a fun alternative.
5. How much time/skill do you have? Cooking channel programs showcase incredible desserts with sculpted chocolate, spun sugar, filling fountains and the like. Not many of us have the time or expertise to create something like that, and it can be stressful and discouraging to try something beyond our experience and ability. Fortunately, desserts don’t have to be complicated to impress and please. Tastefully Simple products are designed to be easy and time-saving, and you’ll find literally hundreds of dessert ideas at tastefullysimple.com/recipes.
The best desserts are those homemade with love – and remember, as author Sarah Ockler once noted, “I’ve never met a problem a proper cupcake couldn’t fix.”
-kgm