10 alternate wedding dessert ideas

The wedding cake has, and will always be, an irreplaceable wedding icon. The size, shape and structure may change, but it will undeniably be a wedding symbol that cannot be switched out.

Nevertheless, more and more couples are choosing to look beyond the traditional wedding cake for their wedding dessert. The reasons are plenty—they may not like cake, they want something more budget-friendly, it could be to make it more unique, or simply because they want more than just cake.

Whatever be the reason, there are plenty of dessert options out there, and this is what we will look at today. Whether you want to use just these desserts at your reception, or add it to the dessert bar along with your wedding cake, we are sure they’ll be smashing successes. So, hop on and find out what your deliciously indulgent and sweet choices are.

1.Donuts

They may be fried, they may be sweet, but everyone knows that donuts are a favorite in the world of desserts. Everyone from young children to teenagers and adults love donuts, and this is precisely why you should have this treat at your wedding. Whether you keep it simple, or dress it up and vary the mix, it will be a great addition to your dessert spread. You can also experiment with the size. While spongy soft, big donuts will be ideal as a snack or an edible party favor, the smaller dressed up versions drizzled with chocolate or sprinkled with colorful cake accessories are bite-sized treats that everyone will partake. For a more elegant finish, have the donuts glazed with frosting that matches the colors of your wedding palette and stack them up on a tiered cake rack to resemble a wedding cake. This way you can make them the stars of the show.

2. Bundt cakes

Trade off the traditional tiered cake for individual Bundt cakes at each guest table. This will be a refreshing natural dessert that can be enjoyed by one and all. Without complicated details and frosting, all your guests will love to snack on at least a bite of it, post dinner. Not only is this an economical option, it is also easy to create. You can also have a single dessert spread with a number of Bundt cakes in different flavors, allowing your guests to pick slices from the lot. And, don’t forget to experiment with various flavors to find one that will match your wedding theme and personal flavor preferences. Flavors like lime and orange are right for the warmer months, while ginger, cinnamon and chocolate are great for autumn and winter. Bundt cakes are particularly good choices for outdoor weddings in gardens and backyards, as they look just right in with the natural surroundings. Consider serving a luscious spread of cream and fresh tropical fruit slices to complete this great dessert choice, if your wedding is a spring or summertime affair in the outdoors.

3.Pies

There are many bakers who specialize in creating spectacular looking and delicious pies. Pies are wholesome and hearty food options. You can pack in various flavors to satisfy all your guests, whether they have a sweet tooth or prefer savory choices. If you want to replace the entire wedding cake with a pie bar, consider using pies of various dimensions and dressing up the arrangement using platters at different heights. Bite-sized pies can also double up as wedding favors for your guests to take home. Or, you can have a couture wedding cake and devote the rest of the dessert spread to various types of pies. Having pies as part of your reception dessert will save you money, as you can easily whip up stunning flavors using any seasonal or locally available items. Think of flavors like berries for spring and apple for winter, and you will have several options that cannot go wrong. Just make sure that your pies are extra luscious and buttery and have lavish doses of sweetness, crunch and cream to make them just perfect.

4.Cupcakes

Our eternal favorite, cupcakes are a dessert that can liven up any wedding reception. They allow you to customize to the finest detail, so these delightful little treats are just perfect for your big celebration. Experiment with not just the flavors and frosting, but also with accessories like the cupcake toppers and pretty cupcake cases in patterns and prints, till you find the right mix that instantly adds a dash of personality to your sweet spread. Whether you choose to serve cupcakes at the guest tables, or have it as part of the dessert buffet, they are a fantastic treat that will be appreciated. You can even order extra, for edible party favors that your guests can take home and indulge in at leisure. When you place cupcakes in a tiered arrangement, they will resemble a wedding cake. By tying the design to the colors of your wedding and using suitable textures in the frosting, you can easily make it the focal element in your décor. Our love bird damask display cake tower featured in the picture here will allow you to create a stunning extravaganza with up to 75 cupcakes of your choice.

5.Mixed dessert platter

Instead of a single dessert, how about serving an assortment of fanciful treats for the last course? This way, your guests can choose the ones that they favor from the platter that is placed on the table. It also gives your chef the option to perfect each sweet treat in its own special way, and create a marvelous arrangement by assorting them. Your guests will appreciate the opportunity to pick the one they love from the convenience of where they are seated. Bite-sized treats like mini cheesecake slices, festive macaroons, creamy mini-donuts and frosted cookies are all suitable desserts for the purpose. Make sure that each platter will have different types of desserts in terms of flavors, textures, colors and sweetness. This way, there will be something to satisfy every one of your guests. Arrange to have more of the popular ones, so nobody misses the treat they like from the spread. With a little clever planning, you can have the whole thing done on a much smaller budget than the typical wedding cake would cost you. Despite this, the impact will be even more strong, as a yummy dessert course is often unforgettable.

6.Smore station

Bring the fun of camping to your wedding with a s’more station as your key dessert feature. You can also arrange individual hibachis at the guests tables, if your venue allows it. Although it may involve a little effort for your guests to toast their own marshmallows, we are sure they’ll enjoy the experience, which is still quite uncommon. After all, who doesn’t love this campfire staple. Upgrade the humble snack by choosing different flavors like coconut and caramel for a different taste. You can also switch out the standard Graham crackers for biscuit thins and add a few extras like syrups and sauces, to make it a wholesome dessert.

7.Waffles

Perfect for a wedding brunch, fresh and warm waffles are a great dessert choice. You can also consider adding this to your dessert spread, even when you host your reception in the evening. More suited to casual style weddings, waffles are a delicious treat that most of your guests will like. The best way to have waffles is when they are made to order. Consider setting up a number of waffle stations at your reception venue, so everyone gets their waffles without having to wait for long. Add extras like syrups, chocolate sprinkles, berries, fruits, cream and ice cream on the side, and let your guests help themselves to it. Think of how wonderful this dessert idea would be on a cold winter evening. So, if you have a winter wedding on the cards, this is one idea you should definitely consider. If you have a small wedding, you can have a waffle platter like the one shown here, with various flavors for your guests to choose from.

8.Cheese tier or platter

Not really a dessert in the true sense, but we think cheese can end a meal on a beautiful and satisfying note. Some people are ready to switch out the sweet for a beautiful platter of rich cheese. If you belong to this group, the idea of a cheese platter or tiered cheese wheels may appeal to you. Make sure you choose from the best and most delicious cheeses you find, so you make a signature statement with your choice. Whether you serve cheese platters at the guest tables, or stack up cheese wheels to resemble the traditional tiered cake, it is entirely up to you. Nevertheless, remember that at least some guests will look forward to a sweet ending to the meal. So, don’t disappoint them. Add a small dessert to the spread, so that the focus still stays on the cheese, but everyone is happy.

9.Pancakes

A close competitor to waffles, pancakes are now a trending dessert favorite. Particularly suited to reception brunches, when you want your guests to devour the warmest and fluffiest soul-stirring treats, pancakes add that casual and homey touch to any setting. Like waffles, pancakes too must be served warm to keep it fresh. It is a perfect dessert idea for casual weddings. Although a stack of pancakes may not be as grand as a wedding cake, these are the sweet little things that your guests will never say “No” to. Either serve up the thick breakfast variety, or go with rolled up crepes that are garnished and stuffed with sweet goodness. Add a dusting of castor sugar, or dress them up with syrup, cream, fruits and honey, or give your guests the honor of choosing the toppings themselves. You can also make these pancakes special by adding in flavors like banana, cinnamon or cream cheese, for extra taste.

10.Fruit tarts

Deliciously summery and refreshingly sweet, fruit tarts are like little drops of heaven after a heavy wedding meal. They are loved by everyone. Rustic and organic looking, everyone will instantly take to this dessert, and a fruity tart adds the perfect finishing touches to a grand wedding meal. While it isn’t too sweet or sticky, it still has the power to satisfy that sweet craving your guests will have at the end of a meal. Find a baker who can create some drama by whipping up the tart topping so it looks interesting and isn’t something your guests would expect to see. You can also set up a display of tarts in different fruit flavors, so all your guests have the option to dip into the one that they love most. This way you can bring together the sweetness of apple with the citrusy freshness of orange and the punch of berries, all to your dessert table. The other option is to have individual bite-sized mini tarts in a range of flavors, and add it to your dessert buffet as the masterpiece. Be lavish with the spread of cream, fruits and drizzles of sweet syrups, and your choice will be one that your guests will always remember.

This brings us to the end of some of the alternate wedding desserts you may like to consider for your big celebration. Which of these did you like? And can you think of any more that you would love to have at your wedding, in place of the tiered traditional wedding cake? If so, do let us know in the comments below.

For the latest trends, ideas and advice on everything wedding related, don’t forget to keep checking back here. Also visit our online wedding shop at Best for Bride for everything you need for your big day, from your wedding dress to accessories and outfits for the entire bridal party.