Wedding Cake Alternatives: Are They Necessary?

Wedding cakes are iconic, but they're not the only dessert option for couples on their big day. In fact, 53% of couples also serve an alternative dessert, and 50% of couples will serve other sweets in addition to cake. From doughnuts to macarons, there are plenty of options to satisfy your sweet tooth. So, if you're wondering whether you need other desserts besides cake at your wedding, the answer is: it's totally up to you!

Donuts/doughnuts

Donuts are a fun and whimsical alternative to wedding cake. They come in a wide variety of flavours, from classic glazed and powdered sugar to more unique options like maple bacon, matcha, or fruity varieties. This allows couples to create a diverse and appealing dessert spread that can be customized to match the wedding theme, colour scheme, or even the couple's personalities.

Donut displays can be a fun and interactive element of the wedding. They can be presented in creative and aesthetically pleasing ways, such as on a rustic tree-stump stand, a tiered stand, or a wall. A donut wall, in particular, can serve as a focal point for the entire reception and makes for a memorable and engaging experience for guests.

When considering serving donuts at a wedding, it is important to keep in mind the practicality of serving them. Donuts are best served fresh, so they will need to be made or delivered close to the time of the reception. Additionally, as they lose their freshness quickly, it is important to consider the temperature and humidity of the venue, as this can affect the quality of the donuts. For example, one bride shared that the frosting on her donut wall melted and dripped off, creating an unappealing mess.

To avoid potential issues with stacking and the unsanitary aspect of guests touching multiple donuts, it is recommended to present donuts on a table or tiered stand. This way, guests can easily access their desired treats without compromising the appearance and freshness of the donuts.

For couples who want to incorporate the traditional cake-cutting moment into their wedding, it is possible to combine donuts with a small cutting cake. Donuts can be used as a supporting player to the main cake, or they can be arranged in a tower with a small cake on top. This way, couples can have the best of both worlds, satisfying their love for donuts while still embracing the tradition of cake-cutting.

Overall, donuts are a delightful and versatile dessert option for weddings. They offer a range of flavours, visual appeal, and an opportunity for interactive displays. With careful planning and consideration, donuts can be a unique and memorable part of a couple's special day.

Macarons

When choosing macarons as your wedding dessert, consider creating a towering dessert display or a beautifully packaged favour. You can also replace cake tiers with artful arrangements of your favourite macaron flavours or use them as place cards with a labelled flag. For a surprise treat, place a decorative box of macarons at each guest's place setting.

With hundreds of flavour and colour combinations available, macarons are a stylish and versatile choice for weddings. They offer a light and elegant alternative to traditional wedding cake, and their small size makes them perfect for individual servings or as part of a dessert table with other treats.

Cake pops

When it comes to presentation, cake pops offer a wide range of display options. You can arrange them in bouquets, gardens, or walls, adding a touch of whimsy to your dessert table. They can be decorated with various toppings and coated in chocolate or candy melts to match your wedding colours or theme.

Another advantage of cake pops is their portion size. Their small, bite-sized form eliminates the need for cutting and makes it easy for guests to enjoy them without creating a mess. This is especially convenient if you're looking for a dessert option that can be enjoyed on the dance floor or while mingling.

Additionally, cake pops can be a more affordable option compared to a traditional wedding cake. With cakes, the cost can increase with the number of flavours and portions. Cake pops, on the other hand, provide an opportunity to offer a variety of flavours without breaking the bank.

Overall, cake pops are a delightful and creative way to incorporate dessert into your wedding celebrations. They offer convenience, flavour, and presentation, all while adding a unique touch to your special day.

Pies

Firstly, pies are a good option because they are so versatile. You can choose from a wide variety of sweet or savoury flavours, including apple, cherry, blueberry, pecan, pumpkin, key lime, peanut butter, coconut macaroon, and s'mores. You can also get creative and select more unique flavours, such as peanut butter pie, coconut macaroon pie, or s'mores pie. Pies can be served as a whole, in mini versions, or as pie pops, which are a memorable, handheld treat that doesn't require any slicing.

If you want to stick with tradition, you can opt for a pie-cutting ceremony, made easier by serving pre-portioned pies or by stacking pies in tiers. You can also display pies on a tower, which is not only visually appealing but also practical, as guests can easily grab their own serving.

For a rustic wedding, pies can be served on a vintage-looking table with wooden pie stands and mismatched blooms. For a glamorous celebration, pies can be served on a lucite stand. For a garden wedding, pies can be adorned with colourful flowers and served on a decorative hutch.

If you want to offer a variety of desserts, pies can be supplemented with a wedding cake, cupcakes, or other treats. A dessert bar with pies, cupcakes, and a cake will surely satisfy everyone's taste buds.

Cookies

Cookie Tables:

Cookie tables are a popular tradition, especially in Pennsylvania, where guests can choose from a large variety of family-favourite and fancy cookies. The number of cookies on the table can vary, but a good rule of thumb is to provide 3-6 cookies per person, depending on their size. Some unique cookie recipes to consider for your cookie table include:

• Lady Locks (delicate, formal cookies)
• Lemon Sandwich Cookies (light, crisp, and creamy)
• Peanut Butter Striped Cookies (shortbread cookies with a fun twist)
• Nutella Thumbprint Cookies (a chocolaty take on a classic)
• Black and White Cookies (a classic with a pumpkin twist)
• Cream Wafer Cookies (filled with wedding colours)
• Italian Sprinkle Cookies (an optional sprinkle of silver for elegance)
• Almond Orange Sugar Cookies (mushroom-shaped with a surprising flavour)
• Dulce de Leche Chocolate Sandwich Cookies (Latin American-inspired crispy wafers)
• Salted Caramel Crumb Bars (a crowd-pleasing classic)
• Peanut Butter Cookies (soft and filled with seasonal M&Ms)
• White Chocolate Cherry Shortbread Cookies (decorative and fun)

Creative Displays:

In addition to the traditional cookie platter, there are many creative ways to display cookies at your wedding:

• Cookie Shots of Milk: Cookies shaped like shot glasses, perfect for milk, coffee, or a chocolate martini. Eat the cup when you're done!
• Cookie Tower: Stack cookies to create a tower, similar to a cake. A chocolate chip cookie tower with a chocolate-covered strawberry topper is a creative idea.
• Cookie Escort Cards: Lead guests to their seats with a box of cookies in different flavours, colours, and shapes.
• Custom Photo Cookies: Cookies that double as place settings, featuring the couple's favourite photo.
• Cookie Wedding Favours: Send guests home with a batch of cookies, such as animal crackers or cookies from a local bakery.
• Batch of Homemade Cookies: Share a family recipe or the couple's favourite treat, providing each guest with a copy of the recipe.
• Tower of Tea Cookies: Display an assortment of tea cookies on a decorative tower, perfect for a brunch or tea party-themed wedding.
• Good Fortune Cookies: Send well wishes to your guests with custom fortunes or decorations like sprinkles, dipped chocolate, or gold flakes.
• Colourful Display: Customise cookies to match your wedding colour palette, such as marbled sugar cookies.
• Heart-Shaped Cookies: Dipped in chocolate, these cookies are a bite-sized treat that guests will love.
• Monogrammed Cookies: Treats featuring the couple's new last name, initials, or wedding date, like elegant shortbread cookies.
• Black and White Cookies: A classic soft cookie, perfect for a black-tie affair.
• Animal-Shaped Cookies: Honour your furry friend with frosted sugar cookies decorated to look like your pet.
• Macaron Cookie Tower: A fun and colourful display of French macarons to accent your wedding cake.
• Groom's Suit Cookies: Elegant cookies matching the groom's attire, perfect for a black-tie wedding.

Cultural and Themed Cookies:

Incorporate your heritage or pay tribute to your wedding location with themed cookies:

• Cultural Twist on French Macarons: Blend two cultures with unique cookies, like French macarons with a Chinese symbol.
• Tower of Madeleines: Soft and delicate cookies that create a stunning display.
• State-Shaped Cookies: Honour your wedding's location with state-shaped bites.
• Mexican Wedding Cookies: Colourful, scrumptious, and made from the heart, these traditional cookies will be a hit.
• Fruit-Filled Cookies: Thumbprint cookies filled with raspberries or apples, perfect for a fall wedding.
• Home State Pride Cookies: Adorable cookies representing the couple's home states, especially if they are from different places.

Nostalgic Cookies:

Indulge in some nostalgia with these cookie ideas:

• Classic Cookies and Milk: A late-night snack of warm cookies and ice-cold milk.
• Girl Scout Cookies: Seasonal treats that support a good cause.
• Oreo Cookie Confection: Stack Oreos in a wedding cake-inspired tower for a fun twist.
• Rice Krispie Treats: An elevated take on a childhood favourite.

Interactive Cookies:

Engage your guests with interactive cookie activities:

• Cookie Decorating Station: Set up a station for guests to decorate their own cookies.
• Cookie Scavenger Hunt: Hide cookies around the venue and provide clues for guests to find them.
• Cookie Exchange: Encourage guests to bring their own cookie recipes for an exchange.
• Cookie Judging Contest: Have guests vote on the best-tasting or best-decorated cookie.

Frequently asked questions