We have long believed that dessert is the best part of the meal! So it’s no surprise that deciding what sweet treat to serve at your Palm Beach wedding is one of the more fun wedding planning decisions.
While wedding cake will always be a classic, it definitely isn’t your only option. Maybe you don’t love cake. Maybe you want to accommodate dietary restrictions. Or maybe you just want to surprise your guests with something a little more fun.
What can you serve at a wedding instead of cake? Pretty much any dessert you love! Ice cream, s’mores, gelato, fruit tarts, pies, cheesecake, churros, donuts, cookies, and other favorite sweets can all become wedding-worthy desserts.
And you don’t necessarily have to choose between cake and an alternative. Plenty of couples order a small cake for the traditional cake cutting and serve something completely different to their guests.
Ready for something sweet? Here are 12 wedding cake alternatives we love for Palm Beach weddings.
1. Bring in an Ice Cream Truck
There’s something about an ice cream truck pulling up that instantly makes everyone happy….now imagine one arriving at your wedding reception! An ice cream truck turns your wedding dessert into an experience and is pretty perfect for a warm South Florida wedding.
Palm Beach Pick: South Florida Sweets offers both an ice cream truck and ice cream carts for weddings, so you can choose the setup that works best for your venue and wedding style.
2. Set Up a S’mores Station
Who doesn’t have memories of sitting around a fire, roasting marshmallows, and trying not to light one on fire? Bring some of that childhood fun to your wedding with an interactive s’mores station where guests can roast marshmallows and create their own combinations. S’mores are a fun wedding cake alternative for couples who want dessert to be part of the experience.
Just check with your Palm Beach wedding venue about open flames and any restrictions before falling in love with the idea.
3. Cool Down With Gelato
Picture this: You’ve been breaking it down on the dance floor and out comes a gelato cart filled with delicious flavors. Yes, please! A gelato cart is a fun and refreshing alternative to traditional wedding cake, especially for a warm South Florida evening.
4. Serve Individual Fruit Tarts
Looking for something a little lighter after dinner? Individual fruit tarts are perfectly portioned for wedding guests and bring plenty of color to your dessert display. We especially love them for a spring or summer Palm Beach wedding.
5. Build a Wedding Dessert Bar
Can’t decide on one dessert? Don’t! A wedding dessert bar lets you serve a little bit of everything, from macarons and mini cheesecakes to brownies, tarts, cookies, and dessert shooters. It’s also an easy way to offer different flavors and dietary options while creating a beautiful display at your reception.
6. Serve Pies
Who doesn’t love a scrumptious slice of pie?!? Apple, pecan, chocolate, coconut cream, berry, key lime…there’s pretty much something for everyone. Can you have pie instead of wedding cake? Of course! Serve full-size pies, individual mini pies, or even one larger pie to cut together.
And if you’re asking me, key lime pie wins every time!
7. Choose Cheesecake Instead of Wedding Cake
If you love cheesecake more than traditional cake, we see absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t serve it at your wedding! Cheesecake can completely replace wedding cake or be served as mini cheesecakes, bites, or individual desserts in a few different flavors.
8. Have Fresh Churros Made for Your Guests
Warm churros covered in cinnamon sugar? We’re listening. Churros can be your main wedding dessert or a fun late-night sweet, especially when they’re served fresh with chocolate, caramel, dulce de leche, or even little cups of café con leche for a South Florida touch.
9. Create a Donut Display
Donuts are delicious, easy to serve, and come in SO many flavors. Instead of the once-everywhere donut wall, display them on beautiful trays or tiered stands, create a donut “cake,” or serve minis so guests can try a few different flavors. Can donuts replace a wedding cake? Absolutely!
10. Offer Gluten-Free Wedding Desserts
If you have guests who are gluten-free, making sure they can enjoy dessert too is such a thoughtful touch. Cupcakes, brownies, cookies, macarons, tarts, and other treats can all be delicious gluten-free wedding desserts.
If you’re accommodating someone with Celiac Disease or a serious gluten intolerance, ask your baker about cross-contact and how the desserts are prepared. Because no one should have to sit out the best part of the meal!
11. Serve Cookies
Never underestimate the power of a really good cookie. Chocolate chip, sugar cookies, gourmet flavors, cookie sandwiches, or even beloved family recipes can all work as your wedding dessert. Cookies can also double as a late-night treat or edible wedding favor.
12. Offer Vegan Wedding Desserts
Having a vegan wedding or vegan guests doesn’t mean dessert has to be boring. Quite the opposite! Cookies, brownies, cupcakes, tarts, mini desserts, and elaborate cakes can all be made without animal products. You can offer a few clearly identified vegan desserts alongside your other sweets or create an entirely vegan dessert spread.
Palm Beach County’s Parlour Bakery is known for its vegan treats.
Should You Serve Wedding Cake and an Alternative Dessert?
You can absolutely serve both wedding cake and an alternative dessert. A small cutting cake gives you the traditional cake-cutting moment, while an ice cream truck, dessert bar, pies, cookies, or another favorite sweet gives your guests more choices.
If you love the tradition of wedding cake but don’t necessarily want to serve it to everyone, this can be the perfect compromise.
Do You Have to Have a Wedding Cake?
No! You absolutely do not have to have a wedding cake.
Some couples skip cake completely, while others order a small cake for the ceremonial cutting and serve another dessert to their guests. You can also include a small cake as part of a larger dessert display if you want the best of both worlds.
The most important thing is choosing something you actually love. If that means cutting into a pie, roasting marshmallows, serving cheesecake, or having an ice cream truck roll up to your Palm Beach wedding, we say go for it!
Looking for more sweet ideas for your Palm Beach wedding? Check out our Palm Beach wedding cakes and dessert companies to find local pros who can help bring your dessert ideas to life.
