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Need dessert ideas
I sorta got roped into and sorta volunteered to bake for a coworker's bridal shower and rehearsal dinner. I'm going to talk to the bride tomorrow, but I wanted to have some ideas to present to her. Both events will have about 30 people attending. I thought I'd do two different desserts for each event, and usually I try to do a chocolate thing and a fruit-based thing.
The rehearsal dinner is Italian themed - other people are making lasagna, salad, spaghetti, etc. I was thinking tiramisu for the chocolate thing, although tiramisu isn't all that chocolately. (Also I need to verify that alcohol is okay.) I can't think of many good fruity Italian desserts, but I did consider crostatas or fresh fruit tarts (not really Italian, but really could be any cuisine.) I'm trying to stay away from individual desserts because they're so labor-intensive. I thought it might be best to avoid cake since there will be cake at the wedding the next day.
For the bridal shower, I was thinking cupcakes - maybe chocolate and strawberry or another fruit-flavor that the bride requests. (Or maybe cocktail inspired or champagne cupcakes - but again, I'm not sure she drinks.) But then I might have to buy or make a cupcake stand which kind of makes me want to claw my eyes out. Maybe layer cakes then? I'm better at making layer cakes anyway, and they're so impressive.
Any other ideas? Am I on a good track here? This is the first time I've baked for any event beyond a kid's birthday party.
Re: Need dessert ideas
For the Italian fruit thing--what about a tart? You could do an almond crust, amaretto pastry cream, and fresh cherries or raspberries on top. You could also do some type of dark chocolate/flourless chocolate tart with Marsala. Or what about prosecco mousse? That might be yummy. If they don't want alcohol, I got nothin'. You know how I am.
As for the shower, I like your idea of staying away from cake unless the bride specifically asks for it. You could definitely do something light like lemon bars (I have a delicious recipe in my blog. They're Michael's favorite and I actually served them at our wedding.) There is also a raspberry bar recipe Annie made that I believe came from Sophistimom. I know individual desserts can be a pain, but mini cheesecakes, baked in muffin/cupcake liners are pretty easy. I have a great vanilla mini cheesecake recipe in the blog, which couldbe dressed up with any number of toppings--berries, compote, dark chocolate ganache with an orange curl on top (and orange zest/extract instead of vanilla).
I was also going to suggest an almond/fruit tart of sorts. If she's not into booze, you could just do a regular vanilla pastry cream or maybe something with ricotta. I think crostata is a good choice too.
I prefer cupcakes to cake for a shower usually. I don't know where she's having it or if there will be someone serving it, etc. but I always suck at trying to finagle a piece of cake onto my plate without knocking it over or dumping it on myself or something (I am smooth like that, in social situations). You could also do mini fruit handpies, lemon tassies, maybe baklava if you wanted something slightly "different."
The shower is at a restaurant, so I'm kinda hoping a waiter or someone will cut and serve. And if there isn't much milling about, I'm not sure a handheld individual dessert is ideal...but unfortunately, I don't really know what to expect.
Thanks for the ideas! I'll definitely mention them to her.
my food blog
If the waiters will portion it out, how about rice pudding with either raisins or whipped cream (which could have chocolate added if you want)? SO easy for a crowd.
Along the same lines - chocolate mousse.
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