From multi-tiered cake to cupcakes, and everything in between, weddings and cake are a match made in heaven. In fact, cake has been featured in weddings for so long (since ancient Roman times!) that cutting the wedding cake has become a tradition.
As delicious as wedding cakes are, many couples prefer alternative treats to enjoy on their big day. Perhaps the happy couple doesn’t care for cake, they’re looking for something a little bit more unique, or they want to offer different options for guests with dietary restrictions.
Whatever your reasons, we’ve compiled a list of unique wedding desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth!
1. Ice Cream
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Wedding Catering
The endless options of an ice cream bar are sure to attract guests of all ages!
Select a few flavors (chocolate, vanilla, and a unique favorite) and offer them up alongside fan favorites such as sprinkles, whipped cream, hot fudge, caramel, chocolate chips, and cherries!
To keep things mess-free, skip the cones (they leak) and opt for customized paper bowls or glass ice cream dishes instead.
Companies like Ben & Jerry’s offer ice cream catering for weddings with everything you’ll need to have your guests screaming for ice cream.
2. Petit Fours
Petit fours by Crème de La Cocoa from Samantha and Byron’s Treasury wedding | Photo by Monarch Studios
Looking for a more elegant wedding dessert? Petit fours elevate the dessert table like nothing else.
The smaller size and intricate decorations are reminiscent of a tea party and will appease guests who may have been counting on cake after dinner. They can also be customized to blend in with your color palette or theme.
3. Dessert Shooters
Dessert shooters by Crème de La Cocoa
Are you a fan of all of the tasty fillings inside and on top of a cake, but not big on the cake itself? Dessert shots are a great alternative!
Dessert shots are often filled with mousse, curd, purées, chocolate, nuts, and more! They are typically served in single-serving cups, which make them easy to grab between trips to the dance floor!
4. Cookies
Dessert display by Crème de La Cocoa at Merlita and Ross’ Treasury wedding
Beautifully decorated cookies are a growing trend among wedding desserts, as they work well as a favor and an after-dinner treat.
Available in any shape you can think of, cookies are a delicious way to tie your dessert into your theme or simply honor your union with your initials. If you’re hosting a holiday wedding, nothing celebrates the season like cookies and milk!
Local St. Augustine bakery Crème de la Cocoa is known for their scrumptious cookie sandwiches and colorful macarons. We can’t get enough of their oatmeal cream pies!
5. Chocolate Covered Treats & Truffles
Crème de La Cocoa Chocolate Truffles
Who doesn’t love chocolate?! You can’t go wrong with fruit, pretzels, or other hand-dipped chocolate treats. Chocolate truffles with tasty flavors and fillings are also a crowd-pleaser.
Whether you cover them in white or dark chocolate, they’re perfect to serve alongside a cake or other desserts. Just like cookies and petit fours, you can have them decorated any way you like. You could also serve them pre-packaged in cute bags or boxes as a wedding favor.
6. Candy Bar
Candy bar from Ashley and Artavian’s Treasury wedding | Photo by Dreams to Reality
For couples who can’t decide between wedding desserts, a candy bar offers you and your guests endless possibilities!
Set out multiple types of candy in containers of varying sizes and watch your guests’ inner child light up. You can match your theme or color scheme by choosing M&M’s, colored sugar sticks, or Jordan almonds in your wedding color, or go for a mixture of nostalgic favorites you liked as a kid.
Set out some bags with ties and this can be a great wedding favor as well.
7. Pastries
Pastries are a vastly underrated wedding dessert! Available in an endless variety of flavors and styles, mini desserts like this allow your guests to taste a nibble of everything.
8. Pie
Crème de La Cocoa Key Lime Pie
Traditional in their own way, pies are an amazing (and delicious) alternative to wedding cake!
Imagine an October wedding with a buffet line full of apple and pumpkin pie. For a more elegant affair, individually sized tarts will evoke all the same taste buds without the need for cutlery.
But don’t let the season limit your options. Pies and tarts are just as welcome at a spring, summer, or winter event.
9. Cheesecake
Crème de La Cocoa Cookie Crush Cheesecake
While it has “cake” in the name, cheesecake is about as far from cake as you can get. This rich, creamy, and often gluten-free treat is delicious in just about any flavor and would make a jaw-dropping addition to any wedding dessert table.
Keep it casual with a tiered cheesecake (yes, it’s possible!) or offer bite-sized versions in a shooter glass or tart shell.
10. Doughnuts
Candy bar from Ashley and Artavian’s Treasury wedding | Photo by Dreams to Reality
This classic breakfast food would be an amazing addition to any wedding!
Doughnuts are available in many more flavors than traditional glazed and chocolate frosted. Pick a selection that reflects your theme, or go with the classics for a more retro feel.
One of the best things about doughnuts are your display options. Rent (or make) a doughnut wall or stack the treats into a tall pyramid shape as the perfect wedding cake stand-in!
11. Popsicles
Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops from Jillian and David’s Treasury wedding
Gourmet Ice Pops are a fun and refreshing dessert option that will help guests to cool off after spending hours on the dance floor. You can customize unique flavor options, or even pair pops with champagne or signature drinks from your bar.
St. Augustine favorite, The Hyppo, offers wedding catering options that include popsicle trucks, carts, and coolers.
A Wedding Without Cake?
With so many dessert options out there, it almost seems a shame to limit yourselves to cake.
Weddings are steeped in tradition, but many of these traditions arose from things that were trendy at the time. (White wedding gowns didn’t become common until Queen Victoria wore one to her wedding in 1840.)
In fact, your guests may appreciate a break from the same old wedding desserts.
If you still want to honor those same traditions, you’re free to do that, too! Serve a selection of unique wedding desserts alongside a smaller (or faux!) wedding cake and have a pie or doughnut cutting ceremony instead.
The point is to enjoy your wedding. This is you and your spouse’s special day. You’re allowed to make it as traditional or nontraditional as you want. So let them eat cake (or not)!
