By a Pro: Cotton Candy Cake | Unusual Dessert Table Food Ideas

the idea

Satisfy any gluten-free guests with a fun and quirky alternative to traditional cake by offering cotton candy cake by the slice

rainbow colored cotton candy cake with Happy Birthday cake topper

the how

Choose a personalized or regular cotton candy cake
Choose round or rectangular / sheet cake
Choose flavors for each layer, e.g cherry, banana, watermelon, coconut, lemon etc
Upon opening, decorate the top with the enclosed sprinkles and marshmallows

pink cotton candy cake with custom text saying Happy Birthday Alexa

rainbow colored cotton candy cake on a party dessert table

the why

This Idea

Gluten-free; a great alternative to regular cake for those with dietary restrictions
Original; guests are often impressed by, and grateful for, something new or different
Entertaining; quirky and unexpected treats / flavors are fun for guests
Surprising; unexpected treats / flavors ensure your dessert table feels fresh and exciting
Experiential; tasting strange, unconventional, or adventurous treats / flavor combinations creates a memorable experience for party guests
Unusual; whether they love it or hate it, they certainly won’t be bored by it
Creative; adds a creative twist to familiar treats and ‘filler’ items, such as cotton candy
Refreshing; unusual flavors can make less special treats more appealing
Wow-factor; lends a fun, exciting, and innovative feel to your dessert table
Discovery; allows guests to keep discovering new and notable elements as party unfolds
Talking point; guests will discuss and share, which creates buzz and atmosphere
Photo-worthy; a great photo-op for guests to share and tag on social media
Memorable; guests remember creative, unusual, or unexpected elements
Inexpensive; a cost-effective party idea that won’t blow your budget
Different; a less common dessert table treat to impress guests
Bestseller; an idea that’s proved popular with many of my site’s visitors

rainbow colored cotton candy cake with custom text

pink and yellow cotton candy cake with custom text on a bridal shower party dessert table

the why

variety of dessert table treats

Feeding v Entertaining; special event party food should have two objectives:
Feeding; 70% should be crowd-pleasing, familiar, and palatable ‘safe’ options intended to leave guests feeling well-fed
Entertaining; 30% should be to treat your guests, surprise them, indulge them, impress them, share experiences with them, and even help them discover new things
Unusual; 10% of that 30% should be quirky, unfamiliar, adventurous, fun treats that get people talking
Visual; 10% of that 30% should be visually arresting treats that contribute to presentation and add wow factor
Favorite things; 10% of that 30% should be treats that reflect your own personality and taste

girl biting into a pink cotton candy cake with custom text spelling Happy Birthday April

rainbow colored cotton candy cake with Happy Birthday candles

ADVICE FROM A PRO

Matt’s tip

“Treat these like a regular cake and decorate the top with a cake topper and / or candles, otherwise they can look a bit plain.

Similarly, if you’re using it instead of a regular cake, I’d present it whole on your dessert table and cut into it at a specific time to reveal the layers; just because they look so good when they retain the cake shape.

Alternatively, if you’re treating it as just another treat on your dessert table, or you want guests to help themselves, you could either pre-cut one slice and partially slide it out to reveal the layers, or pre-slice the entire cake but leave it intact (this will help control portion size and ensure there’s enough to go around).“