The way to Host an Afternoon Dessert Occasion That is Informal and Memorable | Wit & Delight


A woman lights tapered candles while a coffee table is set for an afternoon dinner party. Serving trays hold shortbread cookies, ricotta olive oil cake, poached pears, and charcuterieThe way to Host an Afternoon Dessert Occasion That is Informal and Memorable | Wit & Delight

Earlier this yr, I shared the primary publish in our Wit & Delight entertaining sequence, “The way to Host a Informal Dinner Occasion.” This sequence is a collaboration between me and my buddy Lisa. Each avid hosts, we needed to share concepts for entertaining which might be approachable and particular all of sudden. I’m so enthusiastic about our second entertaining sequence installment: The Dessert Occasion!

Life is full within the weeks main as much as the tip of the yr. Discovering time to attach with family and friends can fall by the wayside, particularly for these in a season when babies are a part of their every day routine. 

Since engaged on this sequence, I’ve discovered the fun of planning forward. Fascinated with methods to chop again on labor and make issues particular is a lot simpler once you’re not working on impromptu plans. Lisa and I needed to place collectively a menu that may work for a day gathering—assume afternoon teatime, however with desserts. The idea has you delegating recipes and tasks to buddies, which is each collaborative and enjoyable! 

An assortment of snacks on display on a marble countertop, including warm spiced nuts, salami, soft cheese, and olivesAn assortment of snacks on display on a marble countertop, including warm spiced nuts, salami, soft cheese, and olives

What Is a Dessert Occasion?

The thought of a dessert occasion is to take pleasure in dessert and snacks with buddies or household. The menu could be informal and the workload could be break up between friends so everybody makes one thing to share. This entertaining thought is ideal for the vacation season however it may be executed any time of yr.

The fantastic thing about this type of occasion is that it’s utterly versatile. It may be on a weekend afternoon or night. The visitor checklist could be intimate or huge. You possibly can sit round a eating desk or—like we did—merely collect round a espresso desk in the lounge. Right here’s what our dessert occasion entailed. 

A coffee table is set for an afternoon dinner party. Serving trays hold shortbread cookies, ricotta olive oil cake, poached pears, and charcuterieA coffee table is set for an afternoon dinner party. Serving trays hold shortbread cookies, ricotta olive oil cake, poached pears, and charcuterie

Come Over For… A Dessert Occasion

Visitor Listing

There have been six folks on our dessert occasion visitor checklist, together with myself. I invited just a few buddies who like to bake and some buddies who would moderately convey savory snacks. I believe six is the proper quantity, however a celebration like this works properly for scaling the visitor checklist up or down.

Menu

As a result of dessert is so indulgent, we designed the menu to incorporate each candy and savory treats. Lisa developed every of the dessert recipes. Just a few menu gadgets require extra time and talent; others simply require a visit to the shop. Three folks baked desserts, three folks collaborated on the charcuterie board, and I supplied the bubbles because the host.

For drinks, I like to recommend going with one thing particular like Billecart Brut Rose or one thing for on a regular basis consuming like Il Mostro Frizzante BIANCO. For these not imbibing, strive Dry Wit Pippi.

Right here’s what our menu appeared like:

  • Ricotta Olive Oil Cake With Cardamom, Orange, and Pistachio Butter
  • Poached Pears With Whipped Brie Frosting and Cinnamon Oat Crumble
  • Zesty Orange and Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
  • Charcuterie Board
  • Bubbles

Schedule 

Virtually every thing could be carried out forward of time, so the ending touches come collectively fairly simply on the day of the occasion. For such a occasion, you may embrace your folks in every of the prep duties, reminiscent of:

  • Assembling the charcuterie board
  • Plating the pears
  • Setting the desk
  • Constructing a fireplace
  • Lighting candles
  • Pouring drinks
  • Placing on a playlist they’ve been loving

With informal events like this one, a thrown-together really feel makes everybody relaxed and cozy in your house. Plan to take a seat down about 30 – 45 minutes after everybody arrives. 

If a collaborative prep course of isn’t your sort of factor, set your desk (or espresso desk in entrance of the hearth in case you have one), construct a fireplace, mild candles, and placed on a playlist forward of time. Seize buddies drinks as soon as they arrive, and invite them to position their contribution on the desk. As soon as every thing has been plated, have every individual share slightly word about what they introduced, just like the scrumptious new cheese they discovered on the market, the method of piping the frosting on the cake, and so forth. I’ve discovered speaking about meals with buddies who care about meals to be pretty. 

A ricotta olive oil cake sits on a plate on a coffee table, surrounded by charcuterie, shortbread cookies, and glasses of sparkling wineA ricotta olive oil cake sits on a plate on a coffee table, surrounded by charcuterie, shortbread cookies, and glasses of sparkling wine

Dessert events are quick—this one lasted two hours with my buddies (from 2 to 4 p.m.). We loved a heat fireplace at my home at golden hour and have been dwelling an hour or two earlier than dinner. Parting methods, every of us went on with our busy days, with one individual heading off to work, one other going to the grocery retailer, and one other going dwelling to get dinner began.

I like when sharing meals with buddies suits into every day life with ease.

There’s extra to return! This entertaining sequence will proceed in 2025. We need to share the best way to host a no-cook lunch, a meal outside, and an approachable fancy feast, amongst different concepts. Keep tuned!

Four friends cheers with glasses of bubbly at an afternoon dessert partyFour friends cheers with glasses of bubbly at an afternoon dessert party



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