Let Them Eat Cupcakes! Unique Dessert Alternatives

Now, just for the record, we’re not about to badmouth the traditional wedding cake. The occasional putty-like fondant aside, we think that classic tiered cakes make for very elegant set pieces, in addition to delicious desserts. If your wedding-day visions crystallize around a four-story pastry feat, then by all means, do not defer your dream.

 But if you’re a newbie, let us give you a word of warning: many an unknowing bride has discovered that the downside of a towering and elaborately-decorated confection is the cost. Depending on the size and intricacy of your vision, you could be looking at thousands of dollars. That’s right – for cake. There are several ways to cut down on the cost of your cake, such as with faux base layers and pre-sliced sheet cakes served from the kitchen, of course – but we’re feeling capricious today, so want to explore some more creative ideas.

 When devising fun and memorable dessert alternatives, take the following into account: 

• Season
• Region
• Your history as a couple
• Your and/or your partner's cultural heritage

Season

Is it summer? If yes, then you have the season’s bounty at your disposal, and fruit should be foremost in your thoughts. Strawberry shortcake was the star at a recent wedding we attended, but peach or blueberry cobbler would be nice, too. And don’t forget about pie –not only can you highlight seasonal fruits, but also chocolate and cream-based pies allow you to pick up all of your favorite flavors. If the cutting-the-cake moment is important to you, then a pie will just as nicely do the trick, while bringing a unique new twist to the tradition.

Fall weddings are perfect opportunities for orchard fruit and cranberry-based desserts. Apples and pears make for great pies, crumbles or tarts. Pumpkin pie is a fall fave, but pumpkin mousse or cake is a delicious alternative. For late October weddings, subtle nods to Halloween can be fun – candied apples, dishes of trick-or-treat classics, or trays of Halloween-themed cookies. 

For winter, think about peppermint, chocolate, caramel and other savory flavors. You’ve also got the holidays on your side, so feel free to play with Christmas cookies, yule logs and bȗche de noël, gingerbread houses, chocolate gelt and other holiday classics. 

Region

In our humble opinions, the best weddings we’ve been to really played up the local flavor. A lot of your guests will have come a long way, and it might be the only time they ever spend any time in the region of your wedding, so why not give them a taste of local custom? For example, when in Georgia, think peach – pie, cobbler, ice cream – you name it. Blueberries go with Maine; pecan pie or red velvet cake with the South; key lime pie with Florida; pineapple or coconut confections with Hawaii. A Mexican-themed treat would be great in the Southwest – churros, flan, or even a piñata. If you’re getting married in Montana, you’re on your own, but we bet you’ll come up with something. 

Your History as a Couple

You’ve spent enough time together to have acquired some shared quirks. And you’ve surely got a treasure trove of romantic food-related memories by now. Do the two of you share a strange predilection for Hostess Sno-Balls? It can’t be all that hard to recreate them. The night he proposed, did you happen to be camping in the mountains and making s’mores? Do you remember what you had for dessert on your first date? Did you often drag him to the corner bakery for a cupcake when you had a craving? Bingo. Cupcake tower. Dishing up a dessert that personally relates to the two of you can make for a truly original and memorable component of your wedding. 

Cultural Heritage

Your wedding is a celebration of the two of you, as well as of your families coming together. Even if you’re going all-American with the rest of the menu, serving a traditional dessert – or a twist thereon – that nods to your and /or your fiancé’s cultural heritage is a great way to acknowledge family. Whether it’s a traditional Polish babka, Argentine alfajores, or a digestif of Portuguese port, an interesting ethnic dessert will provide a unique ending to your meal. It’s also an opportunity to get grandparents and other family members involved with meal-planning and to make them feel included in your day. And if you can talk your fiancé’s great aunt into whipping up 200 of her famous hamantaschen for the crowd, so much the better.