All About Wedding Desserts

March 11, 2025

Here at Brandywine, we believe that the most important part of planning your big day is making sure that your wedding suits your specific vision and tastes--and that includes dessert.


Not into cake? No problem! Cake may be traditional at weddings, but that doesn’t mean it’s your only option; and choosing another dessert doesn’t mean you can’t have your big cake-cutting moment. You can build gorgeous displays with almost any dessert you like, from donuts and pies to cookies and ice cream.


It’s your wedding day, and you can choose whichever dessert is your favorite to be the star.


Donuts

Donuts have become an increasingly popular choice for wedding desserts in recent years. You've probably seen a donut wall or tiered donut display on Pinterest or Instagram, and for good reason. 


Donuts are an easy, versatile alternative to cake, and they're sure to please every guest no matter what flavors you pick or how you choose to display them.


With tiered, frosted donuts you can replicate that classic wedding cake look; or, you can serve an assortment of flavors for a fun eclectic, look. From original glazed to frosted and filled donuts, you have plenty of options no matter what look and flavor-profile you're going for.
Photo by CharissaPhoto

Pies

Pies are also a popular cake alternative nowadays, and it’s easy to see why. With intricate lattice work and colorful fillings, they look beautiful on any dessert table, and you can choose between so many fun and delicious flavors. Serve pumpkin, apple, and pecan pies at your fall wedding, or any number of fruit fillings for spring. You can even pay homage to the traditional tiered wedding cake by displaying your pies on a variety of cake stands and towers. Best of all, you can still easily have that ‘cake’ cutting moment with pies.

Cookies & Cookie Cake

With a cookie cake, you can serve a fanciful tiered cake with layers upon layers of cookie and frosting, or go for a simple decorated one-tier cake along with a large assortment of cookies. A cookie cake will also provide you with the same 'cake' cutting moment as a traditional wedding cake, while serving different types of cookies will add more color and charm to your dessert table. Best of all, you'll be able to serve enough flavor options to please everyone--who doesn't love cookies?

Candy Bar

Candy is the perfect choice if your wedding vibe is playful and unique. Set up a whimsical, color-coordinated display and match the colors to your wedding palette, or serve a selection of your favorite candy. Your options are endless here.


A candy buffet can also double as your wedding favor station, so every guest can have a personalized sweet treat to take home with them.


The one downside to candy is that it isn't a substantial dessert, so you may want to consider serving another dessert alongside it, such as a simple sheetcake or a selection of cookies and brownies. Candy can still be the star of the dessert table, but having alternatives available helps make sure that everyone is satisfied.
Photo by Gloria Mesa

Pastries

Pastries offer plenty of variety and are perfect if you're going for a glamorous and extravagant dessert table. Serve a tower of macarons in the colors of your wedding palette and deck out your dessert table like its a patisserie, with fruit tarts, eclairs, cannolis, chocolate-filled croissants, and more. Pastries offer so much options while still maintaining that upscale look, no matter what you choose.

Custom Cookies

Custom cookies are great for the couple who want a truly personal touch for their wedding desserts. You can include anything from your initials and wedding date on these cookies to more intricate designs, like your wedding flowers or even your faces. Let these cookies shine on their own, or use them as favors and pair them with a cookie cake or another option for your main dessert.

Ice Cream

Ice cream and cold treats are a fun, unique choice for a late spring or summer wedding. While ice cream may seem like a simple dessert option, it can be dressed up or down according to your own tastes and wedding.


You can’t go wrong with classic flavors like chocolate or vanilla, but if you’re envisioning a more upscale event, opt for gourmet flavors like lemon or coffee. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to selecting which ice cream flavors you serve.


You can also set up an ice cream bar with a variety of toppings to create an interactive experience for your guests and give them endless options for their dessert. 


You can also use an ice cream cake in place of a traditional cake if you want that traditional cake cutting moment.
Photo by Krista Gilbert

Breakfast Bar

This brunch-inspired option is great for any wedding with a morning or midday ceremony. Pancakes, waffles, french toast, and any other sweet breakfast treat you can imagine make up this buffet. If you're a breakfast lover, you can even center your entire catering theme around it; serve some mimosas and you've got the perfect upscale brunch set-up.

The best part of all these options is that you don't have to choose just one. Mix and match desserts to create your dream dessert table spread. And if you aren't a cake eater but are still set on sticking to tradition and cutting that cake, you can still have the best of both worlds. Consider ordering a small, one tier cake just for the cake-cutting, and focus the majority of your dessert offerings on your favorite sweet treat.