By a Pro: Disposable Dessert Cups | Dessert Table Presentation

the idea

Maximize your budget by giving inexpensive or homemade desserts a stylish and professionally-catered look with these individual disposable dessert cups

mousse / pudding style desserts served in clear disposable dessert cups

the how

Fill with mousse, pudding, Jello-O, parfait, panna cotta, fruit, yogurt and granola, or create your own layered desserts
Garnish with fruit, berries, cream, candy, sprinkles, mint sprigs, chocolate shavings, cocoa, powdered sugar, or cookie crumbs
Prepare in advance and keep chilled until ready to serve

fruit salad served in clear disposable mini dessert cups

mousse / pudding style desserts served in clear disposable dessert cups on a party dessert table

the why

This Idea

Maximize budget; makes homemade desserts look more stylish
Embellish; makes simple, basic, filler, or store-bought desserts feel more special
Portion Size; controls portion size to help you budget, estimate quantities, reduce over-consumption and avoid running out
Uniformity; ensures any homemade treats made by friends and family still fit with your event concept, theme, or color scheme
Time saving; allows you to prepare big-batch desserts and plate in advance ready to serve
Mobility; allows guests to hold treats in individual containers and eat more easily while standing, chatting, or mingling
Congestion; allows guests to ‘grab and go’ to reduce lines and congestion around the dessert table
Visual wow-factor; lends a stylish, modern, and professionally-catered look
Layout; helps achieve the three simple rules for layout; groups, rows, and levels (see my dessert table layout page)
Creative; adds a creative twist to familiar or everyday treats, such as pudding or Jell-O
Inexpensive; a cost-effective party idea that won’t blow your budget
Value; low cost idea that creates a big impression
Reusable; can sometimes be washed and re-used for future events
Unusual; a less common way to present party food to impress guests
Bestseller; an idea that’s proved popular with many of my site’s visitors

the why

dessert table styling & presentation

Spectacle; turns a food table into a display and creates a visual spectacle that contributes to the overall room decor
Aesthetically appealing; entices by creating a feast for the eyes
Special occasions should feel special; presentation makes party food look and feel less everyday
Elegant; lends your event an elegant and sophisticated touch
Professional; gives your dessert table a professionally-styled look
Memorable; guests remember creative, unusual, or unexpected styling and decoration
Photo-worthy; a great photo-op for guests share and tag on social media
Clear Up; high quality disposables can be thrown in the trash (or recycling) when finished to reduce post-event clearing and cleaning

mousse / pudding style desserts served in clear disposable mini dessert cups

ADVICE FROM A PRO

Matt’s tip

“These disposable dessert cups are an easy way to elevate simple, homemade, or even store-bought desserts to make them look and feel more special.

I think they look best when presented in groups of the same dessert, arranged in rows, and displayed on square or rectangular premium disposable serving plates or on tiered stands / risers (see links below).

Alternatively, you can also present them on cake stands and risers (see links below), which is a great way to add additional height to your dessert table display.

For more about the three simple rules for layout; groups, rows, and levels, see my dessert table layout page.

Note these disposable dessert cups come in different sizes, ranging from 2 oz to 5 oz. I’d recommend using a 3 or 4 oz as anything less would probably be a bit too small a portion for a dessert.

To reduce lines at the dessert table, make these ‘grab & go’ by serving with a disposable wood or plastic spoon sticking out of the dessert or tied to the cups with ribbon or twine.

Remember to order the right size spoon / fork depending on the size of your dessert cups. Mini spoons and forks around typically 4″ and regular dessert spoons / forks are around 6″.

To personalize, you could add a custom sticker (links below) or use personalized disposable spoons / forks printed with your event name (see links below).

Although these are intended to be disposable dessert cups, some people have said they pop them in the dishwasher so they can be used again for future events”.