Curious about what other dessert ideas you can serve at your wedding reception in addition to or as an alternative to a traditional wedding cake? When it comes to alternative desserts, providing a variety of dessert options at a wedding is a must. Offering a variety of desserts is a great way to complement the main course. Having a dessert tray is a fun and creative way to display your sweet treats at the wedding reception. 

Today, I’m going to share wedding dessert trays you can display on your wedding dessert table.

What To Put In A Dessert Tray At A Wedding

Blueberry Chocolate Bites

If you are going for aesthetics (which most people do when it comes to displaying a visually appealing dessert table for a wedding) then this easy dessert is a must! What makes them great for a wedding dessert table is the fact that these blueberry chocolate bites are perfectly made in serving sizes, they are a light option, and offer just the right amount of sweetness in a bite.

Ingredients

⅛ cup Blueberries, fresh – 9 calories

4 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp – 240calories

¼ tsp Salt – 0 calories

Directions

1. Melt chocolate chips in a small bowl in the microwave for ~60 seconds, mix with a spoon and keep heating in 30 second intervals until smooth

2. Fill muffin tin with chocolate. Either use a silicone muffin tin, or line a small baking sheet with wax paper and make small circle shapes without a muffin tin.

3. Makes 4 “mini muffin” bites; or 2 regular sized “muffin” bites. The picture is using a mini muffin silicone muffin tin.

4. Top with fruit and salt.

5. Let chill in freezer for at least 10 minutes

6. Note: Pomegranate seeds are also shown in the picture – use 1/2 pomegranate seeds and 1/2 blueberries if you like, but sticking with just blueberries is absolutely fine – and cheaper!

Chocolate Strawberries in a Fancy Glass

If you’re wondering what to put on a dessert tray at a wedding, another thing you should consider is serving dishes that are in individual serving containers. That’s why I like this dessert in a cup. Not only is it another light and refreshing option with a visually appealing presentation, the glassware helps to elevate this dish making it a more sophisticated option.

Ingredients

1 cup Strawberries, fresh – 50 calories

3 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp – 180calories

½ tsp Coconut oil (tsp) – 22 calories

⅛ tsp Salt – 0 calories

Directions

1. Slice strawberries 

2. Fill them in a fancy glass or bowl 

3. Add coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl with chocolate chips 

4. Melt in 30-second intervals 

5. Top strawberries with chocolate 

6. Top with sea salt 

7. Enjoy! 

8. No dairy? Use dairy-free chocolate chips

Frozen PB&J Bites

Ingredients

1½ Tbsp Peanut butter, unsweetened (Tbsp) – 141calories

⅛ cup Raspberries, fresh – 8 calories

1½ Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp – 90calories

⅛ tsp Salt – 0 calories

½ tsp Coconut oil (tsp) – 22 calories

Directions

1. Mash raspberries with a fork 

2. Line a muffin tin with muffin liners 

3. In separate bowls, add chocolate and 1/2 your coconut oil, and peanut butter and coconut oil 

4. Microwave each bowl in 15 second intervals until smooth 

5. Layer in your muffin tin: 1) peanut butter, raspberries, chocolate, and then top with salt 

6. Freeze for at least 2 hours 

7. Enjoy! 

8. Note: 1 serving of this recipe = 1 muffin worth 

Watermelon “Cakes”

When a concert desserts, you wanna have a good mix of crowd, please and favorites and unique options to choose from. I like this watermelon cake as a perfect dessert that’s ideal for summer weddings and those who are more health conscious or who don’t want to overdo it on the sweets.

Ingredients

1 cup Watermelon chunks – 46 calories

8 Tbsp Regular whipped cream – 60 calories

2 tsp Sprinkles – 40 calories

Directions

1. Cut watermelon into circular chunks – or regular cubes or slices if you prefer

2. Top with whipped cream and sprinkles.

Yogurt, Berries and Honey

Ingredients

6 oz Yogurt, plain, Greek, 2%, from tub – 128calories

¾ cup Raspberries, fresh – 48 calories

1 tsp Honey – 20 calories

Directions

1. Scoop yogurt into a bowl

2. Top with berries and honey, mix all together and enjoy!

3. No dairy? Use coconut or another non-dairy yogurt.

Mini Parfait

Ingredients

1 Yogurt, plain, Greek, 2%, single-serving container- 110 calories

1 Tbsp Coconut chips – 45 calories

0.3 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp – 18calories

2 Tbsp Almonds, slivered (Tbsp) – 78 calories

Directions

1. Top single-serving yogurt with coconut flakes, chocolate chips, and almond slivers.

2. Stir & enjoy!

3. Notes: No dairy or nuts? Use a dairy-free version and feel free to swap out these for any nut or seed you prefer! (Roasted & salted are fine!) Want a flavored yogurt? Just choose one with <15 gm added sugar. Non-dairy yogurts are fine here if you prefer.

Strawberry Shortcake Yogurt Bowl

Ingredients

6 oz Yogurt, plain, Greek, 2%, from tub – 128calories

½ tsp Vanilla – 0 calories

1 tsp Honey – 20 calories

½ cup Strawberries, fresh – 25 calories

1½ Graham crackers – 89 calories

⅓ Tbsp White chocolate chips, Tbsp – 23 calories

Directions

1. Mix together yogurt, vanilla, and honey as your base.

2. Crush graham crackers in a plastic bag with a hard object – or just crumble with your hand. Add to yogurt.

3. Dice strawberries, add to yogurt bowl.

4. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave for 30+ seconds, until melted. Top bowl with melted chocolate.

5. Enjoy!

6. No dairy? Use a dairy-free yogurt and dairy-free chocolate chips. No gluten? Use gluten-free graham crackers or other cookies.

Banana Split

Ingredients

1 Banana – 105 calories

10 Tbsp Regular whipped cream – 75 calories

2 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp – 120calories

2 Tbsp Pecans (Tbsp) – 94 calories

Directions

1. Peel banana, slice it in half long ways & lay flat on a plate.

2. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave in 15 second intervals until melted (or use chocolate syrup).

3. Place nuts in a plastic bag and mash with a hard object like an ice cream scoop.

4. Top banana with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and nuts.

5. No nuts? Use seeds. No whipped cream? Use a dairy-free version.

Stove Top Apples with Whipped Cream

Ingredients

1 Apple, medium – 95 calories

1½ Tbsp Butter (Tbsp) – 155 calories

¼ tsp Cinnamon – 0 calories

¼ tsp Pumpkin seasoning – 0 calories

¼ tsp Salt – 0 calories

¼ tsp Vanilla – 0 calories

4 Tbsp Regular whipped cream – 30 calories

Directions

1. Dice apple

2. Melt your butter in a small pan on the stove top

3. Cook your apple until you see browning, on low heat

4. Top with cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and salt, and mix together

5. Transfer to a mug or small bowl and enjoy!

6. No butter? Use coconut oil

Single-Serving Cookie Dough

Ingredients

3 Tbsp Flour (Tbsp) – 84 calories

1 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp – 60calories

1½ Tbsp Butter (Tbsp) – 155 calories

¼ tsp Vanilla – 0 calories

½ tsp Water (tsp) – 0 calories

6 tsp Sugar – 96 calories

Directions

1. Add butter to microwave safe bowl.

2. Melt butter in microwave 15 seconds.

3. Add all ingredients (besides chocolate chips) into bowl, stir.

4. Fold in chocolate chips once mixture has cooled.

5. Note: consuming raw flour may pose health risks. Consume this dessert at your own risk. If you’re prefer a different recipe, choose the “Almond Flour Edible Cookie Dough”, which is safe.

Lower Sugar Cobbler

Ingredients

½ cup Strawberries, fresh – 25 calories

½ cup Blueberries, fresh – 35 calories

3 tsp Sugar – 48 calories

¼ tsp Vanilla – 0 calories

¼ tsp Cinnamon – 0 calories

⅓ cup Oatmeal, dry oats (uncooked) – 101 calories

⅛ cup Walnuts – 96 calories

Directions

1. Crush walnuts by putting them in a plastic bag & mashing them with the butt end of a tool, e.g. knife (be careful)

2. Combine all ingredients in a bowl

3. Spray a small oven-safe container (or 2) with an oil spray, add in mixture

4. Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees

5. Notes: No walnuts? Use any other nut. No nuts? Use seeds, or go without nuts/ seeds. Frozen berries work fine here! No need to defrost.

Sweet Popcorn

Ingredients

4 cups Popcorn, popped, plain – 124 calories

¼ cup Cashews (cups) – 196 calories

2 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp – 120calories

Directions

1. Pop popcorn from kernels or use a pre-popped version (choose a calorie-equivalent amount)

2. Mix in nuts (roasted, salted is fine!) and chocolate chips

3. No nuts? Use seeds

Raspberry Bark

Ingredients

1 cup Raspberries, fresh – 64 calories

4 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp – 240calories

½ tsp Coconut oil (tsp) – 22 calories

⅛ tsp Salt – 0 calories

Directions

1. Line a small baking sheet or other flat surface with parchment paper

2. Line up raspberries close together

3. Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in the microwave until smooth (use 30 second intervals)

4. Top raspberries with chocolate & spread so that raspberries are covered, top with salt

5. Freeze for at least 1 hour 

6. Enjoy! 

7. No dairy? Use dairy-free chocolate chips

8. Note: Original recipe idea from @lindsarnold on TikTok!

Caramel Apple Nachos

Ingredients

1 Apple, small – 77 calories

2 Tbsp Caramel (Tbsp) – 120 calories

4 tsp Chocolate chips (tsp) – 92 calories

Directions

1. Thinly slice apple

2. Drizzle with caramel sauce

3. Top with chocolate chips

4. Enjoy!

5. Note 1: Use a Granny Smith green apple for a real “caramel apple” feel

6. Note 2: Use mini chocolate chips if you can find them to cover more of the apple surface area!

Banana & Chocolate Bites

Ingredients

1 Banana – 105 calories

2 Tbsp Peanut butter, unsweetened (Tbsp) – 188calories

1 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp – 60calories

Directions

1. Slice banana, top with peanut butter and chocolate chips 

2. No peanuts? Use any other nut or seed butter

Pumpkin Truffles

Ingredients

2 Tbsp Almond butter, unsweetened – 202 calories

1 Tbsp Pumpkin, puree, unsweetened (Tbsp) – 5calories

2 tsp Maple Syrup (tsp) – 34 calories

1 Tbsp Coconut flour – 30 calories

¼ tsp Pumpkin seasoning – 0 calories

¼ tsp Cinnamon – 0 calories

0.3 Tbsp White chocolate chips, Tbsp – 21 calories

Directions

1. Note: This recipe works best when making multiple servings at once

2. Mix together all ingredients besides white chocolate

3. Make ball shapes (1 serving = 3 balls)

4. Melt white chocolate in the microwave in 15 second intervals until smooth

5. Drizzle on top of balls

6. Refrigerate for 15 minutes before eating

7. Storage: 4-5 days in the fridge, up to 6 months in the freezer

8. No nuts? Use sunflower seed butter. No dairy? Use dairy-free chocolate chips (can use regular chocolate, not white)

How To Make A Dessert Tray At A Wedding

Step 1: Select a Variety of Desserts

When it comes to your wedding dessert table, have a mix of traditional dessert ideas like a wedding cake, cupcakes, pies, and cookies with modern, cultural or unique options like tarts, macarons, and truffles. You might also think about doing a candy bar or serving interactive desserts like ice cream or gelato. Need ideas? Check out these dessert options for weddings.

Step 2: Opt for Varying Height Displays

Use tiered trays, serving platters, cake stands, a donut wall for example to create a visually appealing display for your cake table that will delight guests all around. In addition to the food platters, add bouquets of flowers, candles, greenery, and confetti to fill negative space.

Step 3: Use Appetizer Containers

Appetizer containers also known as ramekins or sauce cups add the perfect touch of elegance to dessert tables. These mini dishes work perfectly for presenting individual servings of sweet treats like parfaits, puddings, and cobblers, etc. Align them on a platter or stack them on a tier or tower display. You can never go wrong by having a ton of these containers for the variety of desserts served.

Step 4: Consider Your Theme

Another way to make a statement with your wedding dessert table ideas is to match your theme! While it’s not a requirement, when you color coordinate, pick desserts inspired by the season, and use table clothes, fauna, candles, banners, and a backdrop relevant to your theme, it will help tie everything together, look visually appealing, and set everything off in a stylish, cohesive aesthetic. 

Step 5: Go unconventional 

Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. It’s your wedding, you can do what you want. If it works for you, go unconventional. Consider using a small round dining table, a bookcase, sofa table, or crates, etc for your wedding dessert table display. 

Step 6: Have fun

The sky is the limit when it comes to making your dessert tray at your wedding. I’ve seen people use sparklers, fondue, and even have interactive servers. Be creative! Do whatever feels right and fun for you.