Dessert Table Essentials

If you have just started to discover the world of dessert tables and candy buffets and want to start putting them together for your children’s celebrations (and other parties in your life) then there are a few essential items which I feel (as a mum, not a stylist) will help you style a dessert table.

Now of course I am by no means saying you need to have these items to prepare a dessert table or even need to have a “styled” look for a dessert table. Kids birthday parties can be just as wonderful with simpler items a simpler look or even no dessert table! However this is for those of you who DO want to put together a styled look dessert table.

Nikki Fitt Photography_Tanya Castellino ballet party_59a

*Click on the images to be taken to the relevant stores where an even larger range of items can be found for your dessert tables*

General tips:

HIRE: Where money and/or storage is an issue you may not wish to purchase the below items for use only a few times a year. In this case please visit the hire category on the Life’s Little Celebration’s children’s party directory to find businesses to hire candy jars, cake stands, tables and more from!

Someone on my facebook page had a great suggestion as well to share items amongst friends in order to help with the cost.

Another great tip shared on the facebook page is to purchase all your essential items in white so they can be re-used for all parties regardless of the colour scheme. I also would suggest buying items in pairs so that your table is symmetrical and coordinated if that is the look you are after.

Table and Tablecloth

Let’s start with the basics. You need a table! Now if your dining table or another table you own is a great size and can be moved easily then that is fantastic. Otherwise a simple trestle tables such as this from Bunnings for $69 will do and they have smaller sizes available too:

Trestle Table from Bunnings

 

Next is the tablecloth which really sets a lovely setting for all your desserts! It is best to avoid plastic tablecloths or tablecloths that only hang down half way for your dessert table. Certain tables also look great without a tablecloth at all, so it depends on the look you are going for.

Purchasing a gathered or ruffled tablecloth can be an item you will easily use for each party and will also ensure it fits properly for a dessert table look hanging all the way down to the ground:

 

6ft tablecloth, $60 – Saffy and May

 

White gathered tablecloth – Saffy & May

 

White ruffled tablecloth – Saffy & May

 

Cake Stands:

The next item would be your cake stand/s. I would suggest going with white cake stands for your main cake as well as 2 more smaller size cake stands that you can also use on your table to display items at a different height. The stores I have included in this post (as well as the other party boutiques on the Directory) also have a range of coloured cake stands and these are also great if you feel it is a colour you will use regularly in your parties.

 

Displaying desserts on different levels makes a great effect on a dessert table and cake stands is an easy way to make your desserts stand out.

A milk glass cake stand such as this, although more pricey than other options, does have a great height and quality and looks fantastic on a table:

 

White milk glass cake stand – Sweet Style

 

Another lovely option for your main cake stand:

 

White scalloped cake stand – Mum’s Little Party Secret

 

 

These smaller size cake stands (also available in a larger size) for $34.95 are a great option for displaying cake pops, macarons and other desserts where you could have one on either side of your main cake stand:

 

Small ceramic white cake stand – Sweet Tea Party Supplies

 

Perfect for a rectangle cake stand option:

Rectangle cake stands – Mum’s Little Party Secret

 

Someone reminded me on my facebook page of a great tip Kara Allen of Kara’s Party Ideas shared on her recent tour of creating your own cake stands using a candle stick holder and platter on top. You can find tutorials online for DIY ideas such as this so definitely worth a google or pinterest search!

 

Candy Jars:

If you’re planning on regularly using candy jars on your dessert table, you could start off with 4-6 jars to mix on the table with platters and stands. You could also go with acrylic candy holders if you’re worried about little hands and breakages.

Click on the images to be taken to the stores to see more of a range:

 

26cm Lisianthus Apothecary Candy Jar – Leo and Bella

 

27cm Bluebell Apothecary Glass Candy Jar – Leo & Bella

 

Acrylic candy container scalloped – Just Party Supplies

 

 

Acrylic candy jar available in various colours – Fantasy Kids Parties

 

 

 

Risers & Platters

Risers are another important item to use underneath your cake stands and platters to display your cake and desserts at different heights on a dessert table. It is a shame when the desserts at the back of a table and the cake are not seen because they are all at the same height as the front desserts!

You may be creative with items around your house – for my first dessert table I found some dishes at home which turned upside down made fantastic risers for a candy jar!

However other options I like are cardboard suitcases, small wooden boxes/crates and timber boxes:

 

Set of 3 white cardboard suitcases for $39.95 – Bickiboo

 

 

Timber boxes – Saffy & May

 

White timber riser custom made – Vintage Sew and So

 

Acrylic riser for dessert table – Occasion by Design

 

Classic white platters are fantastic for along the front of your dessert table. I love melamine platters such as these as they are at the front of the table within easy reach of childrens hands and are unbreakable:

 

White rectangular platters – Occasion by Design

 

White square melamine platters – Occasion by Design

 

 

Drinks

Regarding drinks, purchasing a drinks dispenser (although it doesn’t have to sit on your dessert table) is another item you will use many times over. Dispensers such as these are wonderful as it is raised so a cup can easily fit underneath it:

 

The Jasper drinks dispenser – The Little Big Company

 

Oasis Glass Beverage Drink Dispenser with Metal Stand 10L – Leo & Bella

 

If you want to go for mini milk bottles which are such a cute look at a kids party, these mini glass bottles are great for a slightly older child:

 

Glass clear milk bottles – Love the Occasion

 

Plastic milk bottles for smaller children are sold from time to time at The Reject Shop. Online you can purchase these from overseas and they can be shipped internationally.

 

Plastic mini milk bottles – Shop Sweet Lulu

 

Of course another option is to use mini water bottles from the store and use a printable bottle wrapper to cover the label!

 

Dessert Holders:

As for the desserts on your table, I find mini dessert holders such as these are fantastic for items such as jelly or mousse!:

 

Mini glass jars with lids – Sweet Style

 

Acrylic dessert cup – Occasion by Design

 

Tiered stands are another way of presenting desserts such as cupcakes and macarons, or also perfect for stylishing presenting savoury items. For a balanced look on your dessert table purchase 2 of the same design:

 

3 tiered fine bone china cake stand – The Little Big Company

 

2 tiered cake stand – The Little Big Company

 

So there you have it, my round up to get you started with the essentials for a styled dessert table!

I hope you have found it useful to give you ideas of what to purchase whether it be online or in store. As I mentioned before – you by no means need all these items to create a dessert table. I have collected bits and pieces over the 3 years since my first child and also hired items when needed!

Enjoy the planning!

signature

 

 

 

 

 

 

Creating a Super Simple Christmas Dessert Table

Guest post by Amanda and Carly of The Creative Journal

Christmas time can be so busy!  A million things to do and never enough time to do them all.  And then if you’re the one hosting Christmas  – well it can get even more stressful!  Which is why we put together a little Christmas dessert table that anybody can do and it can all be prepared ahead of time. Afterall – who needs to be up until 11pm on Christmas Eve baking?!

 

LLC11

It is based completely around mini-desserts and treats to help keep portion sizes down and hopefully waistbands not too tight!!

 

LLC6

We’ve also included some super easy DIY decorations that not only make the perfect table backdrop they can be used as little keepsakes to give your family and friends! Best of all…. No sewing required!

 

LLC8

 

 

Food:

  LLC1

Now we did cheat a little and included some store purchased item (the pudding and tarts) – and if you do the same we’re sure you will be forgiven!

 

Caramel Slice (for recipe click here)

Mint Slice (for recipe click here)

Vanilla Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Sauce (for recipe click here)

Decorated Lindt Balls

Cranberry & Clementine Christmas Tarts

Christmas Pudding

Custard

 

 

Decorating Lindt Balls:

 

LLC4

 

Now this is just about the simplest form of decoration we’ve ever done!

1) Paint the Lindt ball in edible gold paint & let dry

2) Paint Lindt ball with some piping gel and dip into edible glitter

That is all there is to it!  You will find edible metallic paint, edible glitter & piping gel at your local cake decorating store.

 

 

Decorations

  LLC7

 

1 Vase

1 Bunch of Twisted Willow or similar (we got ours from the local florist for $15)

Battery powered fairy lights

Felt Christmas Decorations (See full tutorial below)

 

Felt Christmas Decorations

 

You will need:

 

LLC9

 

 

– Felt of various colours (we used four colours – grey, white, fawn and teal)

The amount needed will depend on how many decorations you want to make.  4 pieces ~30cm by ~30cm would be ample to make 7 stars and 7 trees.
Card could be used instead of felt.

– Thread

– Craft glue (suitable for gluing fabric)

– Scissors

– Template (as attached)

– Pins (optional)

 

We made six trees and six stars.

 

How to:

 

Instructions for Tree

LLC5

1. Cut the three triangles from the Templates

2. Pin templates onto the felt and cut out triangles

3. Cut thread 9inch long (23cm) and knot the ends together

4. Attach the knotted end of thread to the middle sized felt triangle with glue (take picture)

5. Glue the smallest triangle on top of the middle sized felt triangle and press down to affix glue

6. Glue the largest triangle underneath the middle sized triangle and press down to affix glue, leave to dry

 

Instructions for Star

 

1. Cut the two circles and the star from the Templates

2. Pin the circle template onto the felt an cut out the circles

3. Hold the star template onto the felt and carefully cut around (easier to hold than to use pins)

4. Cut thread 9 inch long (23cm) and knot the ends together

5. Attach the knotted end of the thread to the top of the large circle ensuring it is low enough that it will be covered with the smaller circle (take picture)

6. Glue the star to the smaller circle and press down to affix glue

7. Glue the smaller circle to the large circle and press down to affix glue, leave to dry

 

There you have it – all you need to create a super simple Christmas dessert table!:

 

LLC11

 

Amanda & Carly are two bankers who much prefer playing in the crafty world! They have recently started The Creative Journal, a creative lifestyle blog where they share their inspirations in all things (food, home, parties, well anything!), crafty finds and creative chaos and are looking forward to launching The Creative Labs in 2014 because it is always much more fun to play with others!

 

 

 

Real Christmas Dessert Table Feature

 

I’m excited to share this gorgeous Christmas styling from Allison of Wild Rose Sweets & Styling , who is one of the vendors on the Life’s Little Celebration’s Children’s Party Directory. 

As soon as I saw the images I knew I wanted to share this. I just love the combination of the pinks & aquas with silver as well as the meaningful touches Allison added through the prints and the words used on table.

All credits are at the end of the post. Hope you enjoy the images like I did!:

 

1460257_583788028353944_1712559068_n

 

 

1452427_583788105020603_159701373_n

Such a beautiful cake with stunning toppers. Love the little baubles on the cake stand too – it is little touches like this which you can incorporate into your own christmas table even without a professionally made cake.

1476622_583788115020602_509462054_n

The little pots look lovely filled with Vanilla Bean Panacotta. You can buy similar pots here.

1460286_583788275020586_1555823171_n

Allison made all the sweets including the Salted Caramel Macarons, White Chocolate & Pistachio Rocky Road and Coconut Ice

1424576_583788168353930_640365021_n

Love this idea of hanging a decoration over the candy jar for a gorgeous Christmas styling idea!:

1452231_583787911687289_1985392803_n

1479135_583788338353913_1070657006_n

Using the words of a Christmas song presented on a Christmas table really helps add extra meaning – I love this one that Allison used:

1465332_583788148353932_621896287_n

1483341_583788218353925_1173359412_n

Too gorgeous right? I hope you received some inspiration and enjoyed the Christmas eye candy!

Credits:

Styling, Sweets and Photography – Wild Rose Sweets & Styling

Cake – Michelle The CakeChef

Printable – MillyBoo Designs

Cake Stands – Sweet Style

Apothecary Jars – Leo & Bella

 

signature