Dessert catering options for indulging everyone’s sweet tooth cravings
If you'd like to reward your team for all their hard work with something unexpected and special, consider treating them to some delicious dessert catering. Convenient and versatile, dessert catering offers a vast menu of treats that are perfect for casual coffee gatherings, formal company events, and everything in between.
Many low maintenance dessert options such as cookies, brownies, and cupcakes can be set up and left out for people to serve themselves. If you're planning a company gala or an elegant sit down dinner, many caterers can customize cakes, pies, and other fancy desserts to match your event.
Whether you're looking to treat your team to something sweet after company lunch or you'd simply like to leave some surprise goodies in the break room, dessert catering is the perfect solution. Almost everyone can appreciate a little sweetness in their day, and your team will thank you.
What are some ideas for dessert catering?
Some great options for dessert catering include ice cream bars, cookie and brownie bars, and formal cakes and pies for elegant and classy events.
Ice cream bars are casual and fun, and they give attendees an opportunity to socialize while making their own sundaes and ice cream cones. While the ice cream itself can get a little sticky, ice cream catering is generally low maintenance and easy to set up indoors or out.
Cookie and brownie bars are great for office meetings, as staff members can grab a few treats to recharge between presentations. When setting up a cookie and brownie bar in an office setting, it's also a good idea to have some hot coffee and tea ready and available for thirsty team members.
For more formal events, catering companies can prepare custom desserts based on your specifications. Some popular gourmet dessert options include:
- Cheesecake
- French pastries
- Tiramisu
- Creme brulee
- Flourless chocolate cake
Can dessert catering be inclusive?
Dessert catering offers many options that are suitable for vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, nut free, and dairy free diets. Fresh fruit, sorbet, and Italian ice are all naturally vegan and gluten free, and some bakers specialize in vegan and vegetarian desserts such as cakes, cookies, and brownies.
If you're planning on ordering baked items such as cookies or cake, let your catering manager know if any of your guests have sensitivities to dairy, wheat, gluten, egg, or nuts. In many situations, caterers can accommodate special dietary needs by preparing alternative desserts.
How much dessert should I order?
How much dessert you should order depends on the type of dessert. For example, your caterer may recommend 1 to 2 servings of ice cream per guest and 3 to 5 cookies per guest. Here are some calculations based on some of the most popular desserts.
Cake
The general rule for cake is a single piece of cake per person.
- 10 people: 10 pieces
- 20 people: 20 pieces
- 50 people: 50 pieces
Pie
The general rule of thumb when ordering pie is 1 full pie for every 6 guests.
- 10 people: 2 full pies
- 20 people: 4 full pies
- 50 people: 11 full pies
Cookies
Cookie orders can vary depending on the size of the cookies, but the general rule is 3 to 5 cookies per guest.
- 10 people: 50 or 5 dozen cookies
- 20 people: 100 or 9 dozen cookies
- 50 people: 250 or 21 dozen cookies
What does dessert look like around the world?
Dessert is enjoyed all around the world, and the tradition of topping off a good meal with something sweet and satisfying has been a part of many dinner tables for centuries. The English word "dessert" first came to be during the 17th century. Taken from the French word "desservir," "dessert" translates to "to clear the table." While the definition of dessert is the same across the globe, different countries and different cultures have their own versions of this beloved after dinner treat.
While there's too many to name them all, here are some of the most popular desserts around the world.
- Apple pie (America): When a person declares something "as American as apple pie," they're basically giving a shout-out to everything that's great about the good old USA. Warm apple pie served with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream is comfort food at its best.
- Tres leches cake (Mexico): Tres leches translates to "three milks." This light sponge cake is soaked in condensed milk, cream, and evaporated milk to create a sweet, smooth dessert that's truly like no other.
- Kulfi (India): Sold in Indian sweet shops, kulfi is a refreshing frozen custard made with whole milk and spices. Mixed nuts such as pistachios and cashews top off this sweet dessert for a bit of crunch.
- Bread pudding (UK): Bread pudding is warm, comforting, and often served during the holidays. Originally made from stale, leftover bread and referred to as "poor man's pudding," bread pudding is now beloved all over the world and considered an iconic dessert in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast.
