Earlier this year, I shared the first post in our Wit & Delight entertaining series, “How to Host a Casual Dinner Party.” This series is a collaboration between me and my friend Lisa. Both passionate hosts, we wanted to share entertainment ideas that were both approachable and unique. I’m so excited for the second part of our entertainment series: The Dessert Party!
Life is full in the weeks leading up to the end of the year. Finding time to connect with friends and family can fall by the wayside, especially for those who live in a season when young children are part of their daily routine.
Since working on this series, I have learned the joy of planning for the future. Thinking of ways to reduce labor and make things special is much easier when you’re not working from improvised plans. Lisa and I wanted to create a menu suitable for an afternoon gathering – think high tea, but with desserts. This concept is based on delegating recipes and responsibilities to friends, which is collaborative and fun at the same time!
What is a dessert party?
The idea of a dessert party is to enjoy candy and snacks with friends or family. The menu can be informal and the workload can be divided among the guests so everyone prepares something to share. This fun idea is perfect for the holiday season but can be done any time of the year.
The beauty of this type of party is that it is completely flexible. It can be on the weekend afternoon or evening. The guest list can be intimate or large. You can sit around a dining table or – as we did – simply gather around the coffee table in the living room. This is what our dessert party included.
Come for…a dessert party
Guest list
There were six people on the guest list for the dessert party, including me. I invited a few friends who love to bake and a few friends who prefer to bring delicious snacks. I think six is the ideal number, but a party like this works well for scaling the guest list up or down.
Menu
Because dessert is so delicious, we designed the menu to include both sweet and savory. Lisa developed all the dessert recipes. Some menu items require more time and skill; Others only require a trip to the store. Three people baking desserts, three people collaborating on a charcuterie board, and I served bubbles as host.
For drinks, I recommend something special like Billecart Brut Rose or something for everyday drinking like Il Mostro Frizzante BIANCO. For those who don’t drink, try Dry Wit Pippi.
Here’s what our list looks like:
Olive oil ricotta cake with cardamom, orange, peanut butter and poached pears with whipped cream cheese frosting, cinnamon, orange flavored crumbled oats, shortbread chocolate, cookies and charcuterie platter.
table
Almost everything can be done ahead of time, so the finishing touches come together quite easily on the day of the party. For this type of party, you can involve your friends in each of the preparation tasks, such as:
Assemble the charcoal plate, paint the pears, set the table, start the fire, light the candles, pour the drinks, play the playlist of songs they loved.
With informal parties like these, the sense of gathering makes everyone feel relaxed and comfortable in your home. Plan to be seated about 30 to 45 minutes after everyone arrives.
If a collaborative setting isn’t your type, set up your table (or coffee table in front of the fireplace if you have one), build a fire, light the candles, and play a pre-playlist. Grab drinks for your friends as soon as they arrive, and invite them to put their contribution on the table. Once you have everything painted, have each person share a little note about what they brought, such as a delicious new cheese they found at the market, the process of decorating the cake, etc. I’ve found talking about food with friends who care about food to be beautiful.
Dessert parties are short, this one lasted 2 hours with my friends (2-4pm). We enjoyed a warm fire at my house in the golden hour and returned home an hour or two before dinner. After we parted ways, we each continued our busy days, with one person heading to work, another going to the grocery store, and another coming home to start dinner.
I love when sharing food with friends fits into everyday life so easily.
There’s more to come! This entertaining series will continue in 2025. We want to share how to host a no-cook brunch, an outdoor meal, and a luxurious, accessible feast, among other ideas. Stay tuned!
Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and will continue to do so forever Testing the limits of her creative muscles. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
