There are many key moments that help make the big wedding day all the more special. One of those key factors being the desserts! Wedding cakes and desserts are a great way to cap a wonderful meal at the reception and put a cap on such a celebratory day. 

When deciding which desserts to serve, there are many things you’ll want to consider. Today, I’m sharing a round-up of dessert options to help make the dining experience memorable for everyone at the wedding whether you’re looking for alternative ideas for wedding cakes or other sweet options to add to your dessert table to compliment a traditional wedding cake.

15 Delicious Dessert Options for Weddings

Banana Split Pops

Ingredients

• ½ Banana - 53 calories

• 1 Maraschino cherry - 8 calories

• 4 Tbsp Regular whipped cream - 30 calories

• 1 tsp Sprinkles - 20 calories

• 1 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp - 60 calories

Directions

1. This recipe works best when making 2+ servings at a time

2. Stick banana with a popsicle stick

3. Melt chocolate in microwave

4. Roll banana in chocolate, top with sprinkles

5. Freeze overnight

6. Top with whipped cream & cherry

7. No dairy? You can often find dairy-free whipped creamy at most stores.

American Flag Grahams with Cool Whip

4th of July wedding? Serve up these American flag graham crackers with fresh berries and a cool whip.

Ingredients

• 2 Graham crackers - 118 calories

• 4 Tbsp Cool whip - 44 calories

• ¼ cup Pomegranate seeds - 44 calories

• ¼ cup Blueberries, fresh - 18 calories

Directions

1. Spread cool whip evenly over graham crackers.

2. Top with blueberries and pomegranate seeds in American flag pattern.

3. You can also use yogurt here instead of cool whip

4. No dairy? Use a dairy-free yogurt

Banana Split

394 CALORIES

Ingredients

• 1 Banana - 105 calories

• 10 Tbsp Regular whipped cream - 75 calories

• 2 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp - 120 calories

• 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.

Festive Strawbs with Cool Whip

Ingredients

• 1 cup Strawberries, fresh - 50 calories

• 8 Tbsp Cool whip - 88 calories

• 2 tsp Sprinkles - 40 calories

Directions

1. Dip strawberries into cool whip

2. Top with sprinkles

3. No dairy? Use a dairy-free yogurt

Blueberry Chocolate Bites

Perfect for a summer, garden wedding!

Ingredients

• ⅛ cup Blueberries, fresh - 9 calories

• 4 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp - 240 calories

• 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 Peppermint Marshmallows

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp - 180 calories

• ½ Candy Cane - 25 calories

• 4 Marshmallows - 92 calories

Directions

1. Put candy cane in a plastic bag and crush it into small pieces with a hard object (e.g. an ice cream scoop).

2. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, at 20 second intervals until melted.

3. Dip one end of each marshmallow in the chocolate, top with candy cane pieces.

4. Note: This recipe makes 4 marshmallows even though there’s 5 in the picture.

Chocolate Pretzel Bites

Not having a Christmas wedding? Switch up the colors to match your wedding colors or the season.

Ingredients

• ⅓ Serving of pretzels, 110 calories per serving - 36 calories

• 7 Hershey Kisses - 160 calories

• 7 M&Ms - 31 calories

Directions

1. Note: I’m using square pretzels here – if you can find those, use them! 1/3 a serving of pretzels is about 7 pretzels.

2. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

4. Add pretzels and top with kisses.

5. Bake for 2 1/2 minutes.

6. Remove from oven and immediately top with m&ms, let cool for at least 10 minutes before eating.

7. No m&m’s or kisses? Use the chocolate that you have, e.g. chocolate squares from a chocolate bar, and chocolate chips.

Cake pops

Sometimes it’s easier at weddings to offer an array of bite sized finger foods for on the go mingling or on the dance floor. Cake pops are not only a cute way of serving cake, but they’re also functional for on the go and as an option for those who don’t want to have a whole slice of cake. If you want a small mouthful of something sweet is often all I want at a wedding, these totally fit the bill. 

Churros

While churros pair well with a Spanish theme, they are a yummy treat to serve at winter weddings. This warm treat is perfect for cooler weather. Don’t want to deal with catering, have them served fresh from a small food truck!

Ice cream sundaes

Doesn’t matter the time of year, ice cream sundaes are a great wedding dessert ideas

to serve up at your wedding reception. Offer a sundae bar with an assortment of ice cream and toppings like sprinkles, whipped cream, chocolate chip, and dipping sauces your guests will love (think carmel, strawberry, or chocolate sauce).

Holiday Popcorn

Ingredients

• 4 cups Popcorn, popped, plain - 124 calories

• 1 Tbsp Coconut, shredded or flakes, sweetened - 35 calories

• 1 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp - 60 calories

• ⅓ cup Marshmallows, mini - 50 calories

Directions

1. Pop popcorn if not already popped.

2. Add in chocolate, marshmallows, and coconut. Mix to combine.

3. Note: I used peppermint chips instead of chocolate chips – if you can find those at your store, use them!

Other notable mentions:

Pie

Think key lime pie, classic apple pie, pecan pie, or if you’re having a fall wedding, perhaps a pumpkin or sweet potato pie.

Popsicles

Perfect for summer weddings and an extra way to cool down.

Candy bar

Rather than a full on dessert bar with cakes, pies, donuts, and the whole nine, you can opt for a table with an assortment of candy. Think lollipops, taffy, gum, chocolate, and more.

Cookies

You can never go wrong by serving cookies at a wedding for dessert. They’re an easy crowd pleaser for children and adults alike. You can even get your cookies customized, which can also make easy, beautiful and edible wedding favors!

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