Dessert Reception Menu Suggestions?

[TieDyeTx]

Hoping folks will chime in with ideas. We're doing a late afternoon ceremony/reception in the same location. The reception buffet will be all desserts.

I know for sure we're doing cupcakes instead of a traditional cake, an ice cream sundae bar, and probably some fruit/cheese trays for the non-sugar junkies in the crowd.

Now for what I don't know for sure.... it's a long and distinguished list. I'm thinking of maybe mini cheesecakes with some different toppings people can add if they want, brownies, and my FH's famous chocolate cream pies.

I know I need some other/different things, so I'm hoping for suggestions. If you were going to a dessert reception, what would you want to see on the buffet?

ETA: Small guest list, under 50 people. The wedding is casual and will be a little (or a lot) offbeat since we're going with tie-dye and black as the color scheme. Traditional isn't something we strive for.

[Montanabride]

Well, we are having a Chocolate Fondue Fountain!!! You could do that with all kinds of things to dip in it! Like angel food cake pieces, strawberrys, pretzels, and many other things! ALso it would be fun for guest to do and look at. ( i would suggest little sticks or something to poke in the fountian!!

Also you could do a candy centerpeice, with vases and different kinds of candies in them, m&m's, mints, ect. .

Those are just a couple ideas.

[munchkin]

Mmm cheesecake! You should definitely have that. And a fondue fountain is a great idea.

[alongroadahead08]

I 3rd the fondue fountain. I've been to a wedding that did this they had strawberries, bananas and pretzels and it was awesome. I think I actually ate that instead of cake. LOL. ANd I love Montana's centerpiece idea...you could make something really cute with that idea!

[555Ann555]

Oh I cakes

Lemme see...

I'd like some miniature meringues, I'd love slices of cheese cake. I'd definately want some fruit to cut through all the sugar from the cakes, but I'd probably only eat grapes & strawberries... I'd like the brownines!

Maybe some madeira cake or fruit cake for those who don't have such a sweet tooth?

I'd probably go for something light for the old folks (like the madiera), something deathly chocolately (like the brownies or the pie you mentioned), and some old classics... Have you got a family favourite? Something with a bit of nostalgia attached?

With us it's cloutie dumpling (scottish boiled pudding) but I'm sure every family has some cake that was there special treat. My mum adores chocolate cupcakes & coffee cake so I'd have those too...

I love the idea of the different sauces to go with the cheesecake. That's a brilliant idea coz you could do vanilla cheesecake but let everyone have a choice of toppings. Genius!


Can you tell I love the idea of a cake reception?!

ETA: I looked into the fountain hire for mine but it was coming in at about £300-£400 Maybe it's not that expensive where you are though...

[Montanabride]

Originally Posted by 555Ann555

ETA: I looked into the fountain hire for mine but it was coming in at about £300-£400 Maybe it's not that expensive where you are though...

Oh we are not renting a dude to do that, we bought a fountain for 30 dollars on sale at x-mas time, for FMIL. So she is letting us use it.

Btw~~looove the idea of cheesecakes w/ different sauces to go ontop!!! That would be very good.

[555Ann555]

Originally Posted by Montanabride

Oh we are not renting a dude to do that, we bought a fountain for 30 dollars on sale at x-mas time, for FMIL. So she is letting us use it.

Btw~~looove the idea of cheesecakes w/ different sauces to go ontop!!! That would be very good.

Oh! Is it one of the little table top ones? They are really cute!

My mum did offer to buy one of those, but I didn't want to have to think about who was going to dismantle & clean it all after the reception... But I'm sure you could ask the venue to run the parts through their dish washer.

[birdie]

Chocolate covered strawberries are always my favorite. With white and dark chocolate they would look really classy too! Mmmmmm...my favorite!!!!

[munchkin]

I am blaming all of you for making my mouth water, and making me crave chocolate. It is a very bad idea to talk about chocolate when I've got PMS cravings.

[wynelle]

Flavored shortbreads are a not-so-sweet cookie to have on hand. They can make them using orange extract and grated orange peel, and there is one where you let the sugar sit for 72 hours in a sealed jar that has fresh lavendar leaves, which transfers the flavor to the sugar.

Minature chocolate shells with whipped cream inside.

Minature cannolis.

Those wonderful tuxedo strawberries that have been dipped in dark and white chocolate

Parfait glasses filled with melon balls and with a liquor poured over it (or a non-alcoholic juice)

Individual key lime pies- bite size

[TieDyeTx]

Omg, you guys are making me sooo hungry!

We'll be doing most of the food ourselves, so I'm trying to be somewhat realistic. I am taking a few days off work to do most of the cooking.

I looked into renting a chocolate fountain and they're just too pricey for me. I haven't tried one of the smaller ones, but I read somewhere that they tend to be pretty noisy.

My FMIL is going to make strawberry trees (big cones covered with them) and we're planning on doing some plain and some chocolate dipped.

The cheesecakes will be bite sized.. or at least mini muffin sized. I'm going to make half with a Nilla Wafer for the crust and half with an Oreo. Then plain cheesecake for both, so peeps can top them however they want. I was thinking chocolate, probably cherry, and a friend suggested caramel for the sauces.

As far as the nostalgia goes, that would be FH's chocolate cream pie. His aunt makes them every year for several family members birthdays every year. It's to die for. The running joke is that he's marrying me for my brisket and pot roast and I'm marrying him for the chocolate pie.

I have no idea what Madiera cake is, but I'll do some hunting. I looooove lemon, so I'm trying to come up with something lemony too. It wouldn't tend to be as sweet as the chocolate or cheesecake.

Keep the ideas coming, you guys are awesome!

[maroki13]

I have to second a couple of things:

(1) Chocolate covered strawberries (and white chocolate too). LOVE THEM!!!

(2) A fondue fountain. We had one at our wedding and it was amazing, as well as a huge hit.


I also love lemon; what about something like lemon bars?? I posted a recipe a couple weeks ago of my favorite lemon bars (they are very rich) if you want to take a look, since you are making things yourself.

[NovemberGal]

You could also have pound cake (you could even buy frozen ones; Sara Lee is very good), which would give a slightly less sweet option for folks, and could also be covered with a choice of sauces.

Raspberry sauce is always a huge hit on cheesecake with my family.

Our original idea was a dessert reception, but DH's mom (Italian!) freaked at the idea of not feeding everyone a full meal. I love this idea!

[Heather]

OMG. I'm with Munchkin. 'Nuff said.

[soulsearcher1968]

WOW, good think I just had a big dinner and a huge piece of French Silk pie. Lots of chocolate. PMS WEEK!!!

I know that many people even have cheeses with desserts. You could include them with the fruits and that makes a nice "french" flair.

How about Creme puffs? I know our Sam's club sells them. With and without chocolate. They are in the frozen section and WONDERFUL.

Sunday glasses with frozen fruit scooped into them and a tube type waffle cone (cant think what they call them). Sam's club also has the frozen fruit. I had it at my last wedding. Makes things SO easy.

Check out the Cookie aisle and the foreign food sections. They have wonderful things. Swiss cookies or dutch cookies. Pockie is a chinese cookie stick dipped in chocolate. Not to sweet, my kids LOVE them.

BTW. I LOVE the tye dye theme. If I weren't marrying a cowboy, I would have gone with a "hippy" theme. Barefoot or sandles with the flowing skirts and tops. All true hippy look. LOL

[555Ann555]

Originally Posted by TieDyeTx

I have no idea what Madiera cake is, but I'll do some hunting. I looooove lemon, so I'm trying to come up with something lemony too. It wouldn't tend to be as sweet as the chocolate or cheesecake.

Keep the ideas coming, you guys are awesome!

It's a lovely, but plain sponge:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/da...ke_73878.shtml


or
(this one has the picture).

Iced Lemon Curd Layer Cake (sounds lovely but may be a PITA to cook before your wedding!)

Lemon frosted flower cake

Ginger & Lemon sponge

Lemon biscuits (not like your biscuits

[Julz518]

I would have a plate of "simple" cookies... particularly if there will be children attendng the wedding... they can be store bought.

And maybe sliced banana bread, carrot spice, or zuchini bread... or muffins (though you're having cupcakes, soo....)

[neebelung]

We just went to a wedding this past weekend that had a dessert reception... they had:

Two types of punch (a sherbet punch, and a champagne punch)
Several types of cookies
Pecan squares
Lemon squares
Fresh fruit (strawberries, grapes, pineapple) with a fruit yogurt dip
mini Angel food cake muffins (AWESOME) dusted with powdered sugar
mini tarts (about the size of a walnut)
Wedding cake
Grooms cake

And then bottled water and sodas

[ladedah]

Mmmmm....I want chocolate covered strawberries!!!

I also love the idea of angle food cake cupcakes...I make those all the time i love them so much!!!


We liked the idea of a chocolate fountain....but to rent one with the people to watch it was way to expensive....and I had delusions of little kids sticking thier fingers in it and people double dipping and stuf....I just couldn't do it....

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by ladedah

Mmmmm....I want chocolate covered strawberries!!!

Oh I forgot about those... they did have chocolate covered strawberries and cherries... but they were actually WAY too sweet, so I tried to stay away from them (makes my teeth hurt just thinkin about em! )

[MEMiss]

What about Pies? You can do baked or fresh. Fresh fruit pies are sooo easy and yummy too. All you need is piecrust, fresh fruit like peaches or strawberries, and they sell the gel filling at the grocery store. Just refrigerate.

Eww what about pudding.. you can use the sundae buffets toppings. Everyone loves dirt cups and sand cups with gummy worms~

Do you both have family cookie recopies you each could pick your favorites and display them with a note about the person that came up with the recipe.

I love everyone’s ideas...... makes me HUNGRY

[anna32182]

Originally Posted by MEMiss

What about Pies? You can do baked or fresh. Fresh fruit pies are sooo easy and yummy too. All you need is piecrust, fresh fruit like peaches or strawberries, and they sell the gel filling at the grocery store. Just refrigerate.

this is what we were thinking of doing since we are having a picnic themed reception. you can make individual tart sized pies out of graham cracker crusts SUPER cheap, then fill them w/ the filling of your choice.

went to a party the other day where they had powdered sugar frosting (powdered sugar thinned out w/ liquid of choice...there's was orange juice and almond extract) and put it in the chocolate fountain machine. Had shortbread and angel food cake as dippers.

it was PHENOMENAL and would be delicious w/ cinnamon frosting!

[Marksbride]

Is it time for dinner yet?

Ya'll are makin' me hungry!!