Earlier this year, I shared the first post in our entertaining Wit & Delight series, “How to Host a Casual Dinner Party.” This thread is a collaboration between me and my friend Lisa. Both avid hosts, we wanted to share entertaining ideas that are accessible and unique at the same time. I’m so excited for our second fun series: Dessert Party!
Life is full in the weeks before the end of the year. Finding time to connect with friends and family can fall by the wayside, especially in those times when young children are part of their daily routine.
Since working on this series, I have learned the joy of planning ahead. Thinking about ways to reduce workload and make things more efficient is much easier when you are not working on unpredictable schedules. Lisa and I wanted to put together a menu that would work for an afternoon gathering—think afternoon tea time, but with desserts. The idea is to give recipes and links to friends, which is both collaborative and fun!
What is a Dessert Party?
The idea of a dessert party is to enjoy dessert and snacks with friends or family. The menu can be casual and the work can be divided among the guests so that everyone can make something to share. This fun idea is perfect for the holiday season but can be done any time of the year.
The beauty of this type of party is that it is completely flexible. It could be a weekend afternoon or evening. The guest list can be close or large. You can sit around the dining table or—as we did—just gather the coffee table in the living room. Here’s what our dessert party included.
Come and have a… Sugar Party
Guest List
There were six people on our guest list for the dessert party, including me. I invited a few friends who like to bake and a few friends who would like to bring delicious snacks. I think six is the perfect number, but a party like this works well for going up or down the guest list.
The menu
Because dessert is so satisfying, we designed the menu to include both sweet and savory. Lisa has developed recipes for desserts. A few menu items require more time and skill; others just need a trip to the grocery store. Three people baked desserts, three people cooperated on the scoreboard, and I gave them bubbles as a host.
For drinks, I recommend going with something special like Billecart Brut Rose or something for everyday drinking like Il Mostro Frizzante BIANCO. For those who don’t play, try Dry Wit Pippi.
Here’s what our menu looked like:
- Ricotta Butter Cake with Cardamom, Orange, and Pistachio Butter
- Baked Pears with Whipped Brie Frosting and Cinnamon Oat Crumble
- Zesty Orange and Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
- Charcuterie board
- Bubbles
Schedule
Almost everything can be done ahead of time, so the finishing touches come together easily on the day of the party. In this type of party, you can involve your friends in each preparation task, such as:
- Assembling a charcuterie board
- Wearing pairs
- Setting the table
- Building a fire
- Lighting candles
- Pouring drinks
- Adding them to their favorite playlist
With casual parties like this one, the feeling of being thrown together makes everyone comfortable and relaxed in your home. Plan to sit down for about 30 – 45 minutes after everyone has arrived.
If the collaborative preparation process isn’t your thing, set up your table (or a coffee table in front of the fireplace if you have one), light the fire, light the candles, and put on a playlist ahead of time. Grab drinks when friends arrive, and invite them to put their offering on the table. Once everything is plated, ask each person to share a small note about what they brought, such as a delicious fresh cheese they found at the market, the process of frosting a cake, etc. I got to talk about food with friends. who care about eating to be attractive.
Dessert parties are short—this one lasted two hours with my friends (from 2 to 4 p.m.). We enjoyed a warm fire in my house during the golden hour and were home an hour or two before dinner. We parted ways, each of us going about our busy days, one going to work, one going to the store, one going home to start dinner.
I love when I share food with friends it fits into everyday life easily.
More to come! This entertainment series will continue in 2025. We want to share how to host a no-cook lunch, eat out, and an affordable fancy dinner, among other ideas. Stay tuned!
Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. He is currently learning to play tennis and is a permanent resident testing the limits of his creative muscles. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.