Mini Cheesecakes

This holiday season, skip right to everybody’s favorite part of the meal…the desserts! Hosting a dessert party is an excellent way to simplify in regards to both preparation and budget. Desserts are fabulously cheap compared to the ingredients for a full dinner, or the ingredients for a cocktail party with a full bar. To host your own holiday dessert party, borrow these great tips from Sunset Magazine.

Keep the palette simple

Stick to just one or two shades for dishes and linens. This will help to create a clean, sophisticated look. You don’t want to end up with a tabletop that is childish or busy looking. Plus, as L.A. pastry chef Diana Sproveri points out, “the food is the star of the show, so don’t overwhelm the table with too many colors.”

Upgrade your cookie jar

Sunset suggests using clear glass apothecary vessels with a set of tongs to display your delicious goodies. We love the idea of using our Glass Tea Light Logs in a totally unexpected way. Some yummy little tarts or brownie bites would nestle right into the spaces of the tea light log.

Glass Tea Light Logs

Play with heights

Remember that first, we eat with our eyes. Arranging the desserts at varying heights, such as placing cupckakes on tiers, creates visual appeal. One dessert idea that we just absolutely love is that of the trifle. We think it may just be the fact that you can see all those towering sweet layers waiting to be scooped into. Or, maybe it’s because in clear glasses they just look so gosh darned pretty.

Cheesecake Berry Trifles

Check out these mouth-watering cheesecake berry trifles. We found the recipe at Gel’s Kitchen, and one of the best parts is that they require absolutely no cooking or baking. Wouldn’t they look beautiful in our Botanical Inspired Glassware? And they will even match the clear glass motif that you’ll have going with the Glass Tealight Logs.

Botanical Inspired Glassware

Style like a Pro

You certainly don’t need to spend all day cooking to make it look like you did. Sproveri suggests sprucing up store-bought brownies by dusting them with powdered sugar, then placing them in fanned-out mini cupcake liners. We love these easy DIY brownie pops from the Pepper Design Blog.

Easy Brownie Pops

Frozen cheesecake can be cut into one-bite squares and topped with a fresh berry. Remember to keep everything small; don’t serve anything larger than a regular sized cupcake. This will allow your guests to sample a variety of treats without bursting. Plan on about 4-6 desserts per guest.

Raspberry Cheesecake Squares

Desserts make us thirsty, too! Keep beverages to the basics: milk, water, coffee and/or tea. Try serving pitchers of milk and water in ice buckets to keep them nice and chilly. Also try this cool classic combo idea from Sproveri. She pours milk into a little shot glass, then tops it with a chocolate chip cookie.

Cookies 'n Milk

Don’t forget…

If you go the store bought route, make sure to buy your goods at a quality bakery. Pre-packaged goods in the junk aisle of the grocery store are loaded with preservatives, and this does affect taste. Also, if you don’t spend all day baking, you can still make your house smell like you did! Try the Parker Collection Soy Traveler Candles in Lime Blossom, Mandarin Lychee, and Tamarind Fir. They’re made of 100% soy wax, and they smell awesome!

Parker Collection Soy Traveler Candle in Lime Blossom