As your wedding day draws to a close, many guests will love to gather to watch you cut the cake and enjoy a slice as part of this fun and entertaining tradition that dates back to medieval times. But a traditional wedding cake slathered in frosting can also mean consuming a lot of sugar for both you and your guests. And with so many people focusing on their health, having a wedding cake alternative that is healthier and delicious can appeal to all of your guests.

But what are the tastiest alternative options for your wedding reception? There are so many ways you can pay homage to this tradition on your big day without having to go down the path of the dressed-up birthday cake. Here are some of my favorite wedding dessert ideas that are nutritious, have a little less sugar, and will ensure that your guests enjoy whatever it is you decide to serve.

Healthy Wedding Cake Ideas

Cheese Wheel Wedding Cakes

Do you prefer savory to sweet? A Cheese Wheel “cake” may be the perfect option for you. Purchase several large wheels of your favorite cheeses and stack them on top of each other, so it looks similar to a tiered wedding cake. Pro tip: Position the firmer cheeses at the bottom and save the wheel of creamy brie for the top tier! Served at room temperature, this could be a unique and elegant focal point of a grazing platter. Or place atop a cake stand and add clusters of grapes draped over the cheese to resemble icing. Then make sure there are plenty of crackers to go around!

Fruit Salad

Forgo the baked goods altogether, and embrace nature's dessert with a beautiful fruit salad! Want to stick to just fresh fruit for dessert for a healthy, gluten-free dessert table? Why not try this recipe to take your fruit salad to the next level. Symbolically, fresh fruit represents health, fertility, and long life in many cultures – and what better delectable treat is there to mark the beginning of a marriage? You can make anything you want into a wedding dessert; the key is to focus on the presentation. For example, you could fill festive champagne flutes with an array of colorful fruits and berries for a unique way to celebrate a sweet union! By serving something unusual but beautifully presented, your guests are sure to remember your wedding!

Cupcakes

One of the things people don’t like about typical wedding cakes can be the amount of icing. A cake topped with the usual mountain of sugary buttercream can feel like it has more icing than cake! Borrow a page from your mom’s birthday cake hack and try serving cupcakes instead! With a cupcake, you get the ideal ratio of icing to cake in a perfectly portable portion! You can either bake these yourself or ask your favorite cake maker to whip up enough cupcakes for everyone to enjoy! When serving, use a high tea tray to stack the cupcakes on multiple levels to bring a sense of height and give a nod towards a traditional cake.

Naked Cake

Another healthier option is to keep the cake but drop the icing altogether with a delicious and beautiful naked cake. This incredible cake recipe is a wonderful summery version filled with fresh berries. Adding in fresh fruit and using less icing will make this cake a lighter option for guests who are looking for a healthy alternative. It also looks terrific perched on a cake stand and is sure to be a yummy and beautiful focal point for your guests!

Vegan Wedding Cake

Some environmentally conscious couples may want to eliminate animal products from the dessert menu and find a plant-based or vegan alternative that fits their lifestyle choices and looks and tastes divine! There are so many great vegan wedding cakes out there, so try this chocolate cake recipe for a delectable wedding cake (or groom’s cake) experience! Even the non-vegans will agree that your wedding cake is tasting great!

Ice Cream

What’s cooler than a cake and comes in flavors to suit all palates? Frozen desserts, of course! Ditch the cake and go for ice cream instead! If you’re getting married somewhere warm, serving your guests nice, frosty ice cream can be a perfect treat. Look for vegan options, if you prefer, or creamy Italian gelato for something more exotic. You can style these to make them feel more like a fancy wedding cake with tiny toppers or serve them beautiful bowls that are individually decorated on the outside. You can even decorate and chill each serving dish before the wedding day and avoid the risk of melting ice cream!

Macaron Tree

I love French macarons as they are the perfect little mouthful that your guests will love to savor, without feeling like they’ve overindulged! Macarons are delicate, flavorful, stacked cookies, typically made from almond flour and held together with a tiny bit of buttercream filling or jam. Not only are they scrumptious, but the almond flour makes them an excellent source of protein! Find a bakery that will serve them arranged into a tall tree or pyramid to ensure they still feel like a special wedding treat. Then pick colors that will match your wedding theme. If you’re having a fall wedding, consider flavors that are in reds, oranges, and yellows to represent the season.

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