30 Dessert Ideas for Your Bridal Shower

By Emily Platt
July 27, 2011
KT Merry

These sweet ideas make delicious treats for serving at the pre-wedding event.

Start Slideshow

1 of 30

KT Merry
Get More Bridal Shower Ideas

The best bridal showers always have dessert on the menu, but to make sure that your pre-wedding party ends on a seriously sweet note, think about offering an unexpected treat. These end-of-party snacks can take many forms, depending on variables like the theme, budget, and bride-to-be's taste. Not sure what you should serve at your bridal shower? We've got a ton of great ideas.

Like weddings, bridal showers often include cake. But because they're not weddings, don't feel the need to offer something big day-ready, like a traditional white confection. If you do want to slice into a cake, play with creative colors and flavors to fit the vibe of your celebration. If you want, you can supplement a cake (or a bunch of mini cakes) with other treats by assembling a full-blown dessert table. Or, you can only provide alternatives, like smaller baked goods, or even candy. French favorites like macarons and eclairs are beloved options for bridal showers, as are classic sweets like brownies, cupcakes, and cookies. For a brunch, try muffins, scones, or crêpes, and for a warm-weather soirée, consider frozen desserts like ice cream or sorbet.

Ahead, we've listed some of the tastiest and most impressive ideas that we've come across, including (but not limited to!) the above inspiration. To make planning a breeze, there's a whole variety of bridal shower-worthy desserts, which means that there's bound to be something for your fête. Additionally, we've included both DIY- and cater-able treats, to help those who want to make something themselves and those who'd rather not.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 30

Crowned Cake

Mariel Hannah Photography

Top a simple cake with a crown in the same color for a fun, monochrome dessert.

3 of 30

Monogrammed Petits Fours

Go Inside This Beautiful Bridal Shower

Make things personal by adorning thematically-shaped treats (like petits fours) with the couple's monogram.

Advertisement

4 of 30

Assorted Donuts

Ashley Kelemen

Donuts, mini donuts, donut holes—why choose one when you can offer a variety?

5 of 30

Macaron Cake

Sugar and Cloth
Go Inside This Colorful Bridal Shower

Combine two popular desserts in one for a shower treat that can't be beat: macarons and cake.

6 of 30

Gelato Cups

Jose Villa

Let your guests can enjoy a drip-free frozen treat thanks to these adorable—and delicious—gelato cups. For a little extra visual punch, match the flavor of the gelato to your shower's color scheme.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 30

Cookie Wedding Cakes

Justine Milton Photography

Offer a tiered treat your guests won't be expecting. Stack sugar cookies to resemble wedding cakes, by filling each "layer" with royal icing. Top each treat with more frosting and fresh fruit or edible flowers.

8 of 30

Boozy Popsicles

Ainsley Rose Photography

Make cocktails even more appealing by popping popsicles into the glasses, too. We've even got a recipe for a popsicle-infused drink.

9 of 30

Emoji Petits Fours

Hallie Burton

Texters will obsess over these Dragonfly Cakes petits fours, which were inspired by an emoji.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 30

Crème Brûlée

onelove photography

Delicious servings of crème brûlée rarely go unappreciated. 

11 of 30

Breakfast Foods

Stewart Uy Photography
See More from This Surprise Bridal Shower

At this bridal shower, guests were served an assortment of breakfast sweets, like scones and muffins, from Babette's.

12 of 30

Mini Bundt Cakes

Hunter Ryan Photo

Mini Bundt cakes are adorable, and even better in trendy flavors like pumpkin spice, which works great for a fall bridal shower.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 30

Painted Cookies

Elisa Bricker

These sugar cookies from Buttercream Bakeshop would suit a modern, garden-inspired affair. If they don't tickle your fancy, have no fear—you can have yours painted however you like, or make painting plain ones a shower activity.

14 of 30

Flower-Topped Cupcakes

Jana Williams
See More from This Themed Bridal Shower

At this bridal shower, Sweet Lady Jane supplied pretty chocolate cupcakes with flowers made of icing.

15 of 30

Customized Fortune Cookies

Steve Steinhardt

Place a custom order for fortune cookies and fill them with fun messages—these ones were dipped in a colorful coating. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 30

Tiramisu

Jaka Vinsek

Everybody will chow down fast on their own personal bowl of tiramisu.

17 of 30

Heart-Shaped Brownies

Mia Collis

Upgrade basic brownies in the simplest of ways—just use cookie cutters to give them a romantic shape like these. 

18 of 30

Shortbread Cookies

Elizabeth Messina

These weren't your average shortbread cookies—they came in coconut-lime and cinnamon varieties. Make yours just as unique.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 30

Strawberry Tomboy Cake

Michelle Drewes
Go Inside This Restaurant Bridal Shower

This Strawberry Tomboy cake—a cake with double-chocolate tiers and strawberry-buttercream frosting—was baked by Miette and topped with a frosting floret.

20 of 30

Cutesy Candies

For a no-bake option, put containers of candy out. These sassy, lip-shaped sweets appeared at a smooch-themed event.

21 of 30

Nutella Crepes

Abby Jiu Photography
See More from This Floral Bridal Shower

Crepes are delicious no matter the flavor, but many adore the taste of Nutella. Swap in regular chocolate (or something else nut-free) if the bride or any guests have an allergy.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 30

Candy Rings

DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN
Go Inside This Candy-Themed Bridal Shower

This sugary bling was a fancier alternative to the kid versions.

23 of 30

Ice Cream Bar

Mike Krautter Photography

If the guest of honor screams for ice cream, setup a self-serve station like this one. Fill the table with an assortment of flavors, plus bowls of her favorite toppings.

24 of 30

Shimmering Éclairs

Ether and Smith

Add a little shimmer to the classic French pastry for desserts that really sparkle.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 30

Photograph Chocolates

Mad Wolf Photography
See More from This Romantic Bridal Shower

Print images on your sweets to really customize them. You can do this with cakes, but the design is more unexpected on chocolates or cookies.

26 of 30

24-"Carrot" Cupcakes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Here's a proposal that doesn't require a bended knee: Serve a pint-sized pillow of cake with a sweet, candy sparkler tucked on top. Moist carrot cake, a cloud of cream-cheese frosting, and a smooth fondant overlay complete the conceit.

27 of 30

Honey-Vanilla Chocolate Truffles

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These truffles are made from rich chocolate ganache dusted in cocoa powder and adorned with miniature blooms, which are perfect served after a shower luncheon or at a brunch. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 30

Monogrammed Sandwich Cookies

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Everyone knows that you and your partner are cut out for each other; these monogrammed, shortbread sandwich cookies just drive home the point. Let store-bought cookie cutters do the heavy lifting; we started with a round ruffly one to get the shape, then mini alphabet cutters for the monogram. Between the layers lives sweet-tart rhubarb jam—another perfect match. 

29 of 30

Rose and Ginger Cupcakes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

With their sugar-brushed flower petals and fragrant, rose-flavored glaze, these delicate cupcakes are pretty in pink. On the inside, jewels of candied ginger are hidden in a zesty ginger cake that's just sweet enough to make you, well, blush.

30 of 30

Lace Tower Cupcakes

Instead of a traditional cake, serve shower guests miniature cupcakes in the bride-to-be's favorite flavor and display them on easy (and charming) lace towers like these.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By Emily Platt