Tips for hosting a Dessert Party
Consider hosting a dessert party instead of a formal dinner party.
Dessert parties are fun and casual, and give you a chance to showcase your holiday favourites (or those from your neighbourhood bakery). Complement the desserts with a selection of specialty coffees or teas, and you’re set to go.
- Have one dessert as the highlight of your dessert table — make it a showstopper!
- Have desserts that provide a variety of textures and flavours that complement one another.
- Provide some “lighter” fare for those watching their calories — fresh fruit platters or fresh fruit shishkabobs are always a hit!
- Consider a chocolate fondue with fruit
- Set your table using pedestals and cake stands of different heights to add visual interest to your table setting. More buffet tips…
- Pre-slice cakes and squares for ease of serving; pies are not recommended at a dessert party since they tend to be messy — consider tarts instead!
- Have both hot and cold drinks available for guests. A selection of coffees, teas and hot chocolate is always great. Accent your hot drink station with a variety of flavoured syrups, milk, cream, whipped cream, and for a real treat have cinnamon sticks and chocolate spoons available as stirrers.
Coffee and Expresso Makers
Today we live in what many would term a “coffee culture”.
According to Wikipedia, the term “coffee culture” is used to describe a social atmosphere that depends heavily upon coffee shops, and espresso in particular, to act as a social stimulus. While this social condition is somewhat new to North American culture, Europeans have been sharing conversation and laughter in small cafes for years.
From the Kitchen to the Table can help you bring the coffee culture into your own home with a broad selection of coffee, espresso and cappuccino makers to suit your individual needs and requirements.
Did you know … ?
Sables are the French equivalent of shortbread; they are unusual due to their more granular texture which is a result of mixing the butter with the flour at the outset (rather than mixing butter and sugar).
Petticoat Tails are Scottish shortbread, perhaps named because they are cut into wedges from a round pan.
Kourabiedes are a Greek Christmas cookie that use ground almonds in place of some of the flour. ...Moravian Christmas cookies use molasses as their primary sweetener.
The Linzertorte is Austria’s most famous dessert, believed to have originated in the City of Linz as early as the 1700s.
Figgy pudding, as referred to in the Christmas carol, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, is a traditional English steamed pudding that includes dried figs and a splash of brandy. It is similar in texture to bread pudding.
Mincemeat pie is a remnant of a medieval traditional of spiced meat dishes, usually minced mutton, that has survived because of its association with Christmas. Mincemeat dessert pies today have no meat in them whatsoever.