(7) Tips on Creating a GREAT Dessert Table: YOU are my SUNSHINE! celebrating the graduate

Happy 8th grade graduation Sara! You have been my sunshine since the day you were born! You are my “sunshine” girl!! We had so much fun creating this dessert table. Dessert tables are the new entertaining trend! To help you create your own, I have (7) tips on creating a GREAT dessert table.

TIP (1)  START WITH A THEME 

It’s always a good idea to have a theme because it makes the celebration more personal.  By adding some interests, hobbies, characteristics of the graduate  you’ve made it more memorable. These can include anything from sports, characteristics, interests, a color theme etc. Our theme: “You are my Sunshine”. Both the plaque and the frame are from Karla’s Place in downtown Holland, Michigan.

TIP (2) Have a variety of desserts

All of my desserts were yellow because of the theme; “You are my Sunshine”.  Sara and I made a list of some of her favorite desserts and came up with 5. An extra tip to go along with tip number 2 is; you don’t have to make everything yourself. I made the lemon icebox cookie dough ahead of time and put them in the freezer. The day before the party I took it out, let it thaw, cut them and baked them. The lemon cupcakes are from Sam’s Club. They have very tasty desserts.

1. Vanilla Cupcakes with Lemon Curd
2. Lemon Cake w/Lemon Curd Filling & Buttercream Frosting
3. Lemon Icebox Cookies
4. Lemon Bars
5. Lemon Pudding

(I will post the dessert recipes at the end of the week)

TIP (3) Have a Centerpiece

The centerpiece for this dessert table was the 3-layer lemon cake with lemon curd filling and buttercream frosting. It is a fabulous tasting cake but it needed to look fabulous as the centerpiece.

So Sara and I made mini pom poms to decorate the top of the cake. We glued them onto wooden skewers and stuck them in the middle of the cake. By adding the pom poms we took a simple looking cake and made it into a great centerpiece.

Beautiful, easy and inexpensive d.i.y. decorations make a personal touch.

TIP (4) Use white and neutral platters

I have always been a proponent for white plates and platters. White platters allows the food to stand out and be the artwork on the white canvas.

TIP (5) Set your dessert table with varying heights

Tiered cake pedestals, apothecary jars,

crates, desserts in glass jars, etc all add interest to your dessert table. When you create a food table that has different levels it keeps the eye moving from one item to the next and it makes it aesthetically pleasing. You can create a symmetrical table or an asymmetrical table.

TIP (6) Add a personal touch with D.I.Y. projects.

I took dessert glasses and taped paper on to the glass, tied bamboo spoons onto the glass with twine. A simple, inexpensive personal touch.

Having little parting gifts always makes your guests feel special. Sara and I chose lemon drops because they went with the theme and they are inexpensive. I found these little yellow and white striped boxes at Michaels on the sales rack.

And look at this adorable paper sun Sara made for the table.  (Instructions on how to make these paper suns will be on Friday’s post) The yellow striped french straws from Spring Sweet, adds a whimsical look to the table.

TIP (7) Add Fresh Flowers

Fresh flowers always makes a table come alive!

I placed several small bouquets of flowers on this dessert table. The smallest bouquet was placed on the top of the tiered cake pedestal.

D&W had these white and yellow bouquets that were only $8.00. A worthy find for sure!!

 (7) Tips on Creating a great dessert table:

1. Start with a theme (You are my sunshine)
2. Have a variety of desserts (mine all had lemon in them)
3. Have a “centerpiece”
4. Use white platters
5. Visually appealing: different heights
6. Add a personal touch with diy projects
7. Use flowers to add freshness

DESSERTS

1. Lemon Cake
2. Cupcakes
3. Lemon Bars
4. Lemon Cookies
5. Lemon Pudding

DIY Decorations

1. Pom poms
2. Paper flowers

Top 10 Tips on Throwing a Successful Graduation Party

1. Always consider your graduate first. (Do they want just family or friends too)
2. Call around to see what days other graduation parties are being held
3. Decide on date and location
4. Set your budget
5. Create a theme
6. Decide dinner & dessert or just dessert and choose time accordingly
7. Create a guest list and send out invitations.
8. Don’t do it all. Order food, make some, have friends & family make some items
9. Decorate according to the theme
10. Have fun and celebrate your graduate!