It's that time of year where we all remember how much we love pumpkins and have a quick thirty one days to obsess over them before they are forgotten again. I am a big advocate for using ingredients, decor and florals that are seasonally appropriate but elevated and actually think that it makes the most sense. Hundreds of years ago it wasn't a rustic chic detail you chose fall harvest items but more of a necessity. Villages were smaller and far apart, there were no roses imported from Ecuador or Lobsters from New England, you used what your family could gather and made it taste as delectably festive as possible. There is something very nostalgic to me when people honor this type of gathering and seasonal reverence to what the Earth is providing locally and at this time.
I have put together a few gourd-geous dessert ideas that you may want to incorporate in your wedding, social event or home celebration. Before we start throwing out ideas, one tip for the wise, a little pumpkin goes a long way. Feel free to add one or two pumpkin items or ideas to your event without having to brand the whole event as a pumpkin patch.
Pumpkin Wedding Cake
The most obvious dessert choice at a wedding is always a cake. Traditionally the wedding cake is two to four layers and each layer could be a different flavor offering more variety for guests. Why not make one of those layers a Pumpkin Spice? Just remember the icing usually used with that flavor is cream cheese so you want to make sure it vibes well with the other cake flavors.
Pumpkin Pie
As people continue changing and evolving their specific wedding traditions, cake is now only being consumed at half the weddings being thrown. More and more couples are choosing alternatives such as pie bars that are more their own taste. I love a good pie selection at an Autumn event but most all desserts you can consider have a pumpkin option. Generally you want to order enough for each guests to have one slice and on average I find four flavors work well. Other variations are mini pies and pie pops.
To see how cute a pie bar is at a real wedding check out the yumminess from Roxy & Gabe's Wedding at Howl in Long Beach with pies from The Pie Bar.
Pumpkin Cupcakes
I love cupcakes on a dessert bar because they can have unique fillings and icing that go exactly with that flavor unlike a full cake where they all need to be cohesive. I'm also a sucker for mini cupcakes so you can have three or four different flavors during dance breaks.
Pumpkin Donuts
I really don't think the donut craze is going anywhere any time soon. I think it continues to be elevated and more naturally incorporated rather than a funky add on it's a budget friendly, high flavor option that couples of all ages love. Lots of my clients use gourmet donut shops that can customize this flavor but even Krispy Kreme is in on the Pumpkin Spice game now.
Insider Tip : If you order from Krispy Kreme and order 15 dozen they will give you 15% off but we find they only do it when we remind them as not all the staff is used to taking large orders.
Pumpkin Bundt Cakes
I'm not sure why but something about mini bundt cakes makes me smile. They are a bit more casual than a formal cake ant their icing usually tends to be more of a drip than a traditional fully covered cake. They are small enough you can have lots of variety and versatile enough to decorate with sprinkles, candy bars and even make them into mini pumpkins like the photo below we found on Family Circle. If you're feeling creative and want to do some baking I have included the link HERE for you to check out the full recipe and instructions.
Pumpkin Cheesecake
There is something so rich and decadent about a cheese cake that it seems like the perfect sweet treat for a night of celebration. You can do full sizes or even bite size so guests can get a few choices. I love that they accented the one here with fresh berries and a slight bit of powdered sugar.
Pumpkin Tarts
Tarts are basically the more elegant, denser in flavor and topless version of a pie. If you are getting married outside the States then a tart would be much more popular than a pie. I really loved these little ones with gorgeous pistachio garnish and the perfect bite size ratio.
I also thought of some fun bonus items that are themed perfectly but not too over the top to consider adding in...
Pumpkin Spice Creamer for your Coffee Station
There is something incredibly satisfying with a nice warm cup of java on a slightly cold evening while nibbling on a sweet treat. We always suggest having coffee available during dancing. It helps the early risers get a kick to keep partying and also is a great pick me up after a filling meal. Adding flavored creamers, especially pumpkin, really amps up the experience for the guests.
Name Tags
When you have multiple types of flavors it's really important to label them so people with food allergies or specific preferences can easily pick out a treat. I love these little flags with delicate calligraphy. You do not need them for every piece if you put one flavor per platter. These little beauties are from a shop Hilwick Designs on Etsy.
Pumpkins
I saved the most obvious choice for last... real pumpkins. Use them as decor to really drive home the theme. To create a funkier or more aesthetically interesting vibe you can dip dye them like the ones here from House Beautiful.
I hope my seasonally charged sweet tooth inspired you to expand your deserts from the normal chocolate and vanilla to include something a bit more interesting. If you do go out on a limb and include some yummy pumpkin treats you can always drop off the extras at Sweet Peach HQ. Happy fall y'all!