By a Pro: Edible Shot Cups | Unusual Dessert Table Food Ideas

the idea

Surprise guests by serving desserts in edible shot cups made from chocolate, cookie dough, or hard candy

edible cookie dough shot cups filled with chocolate mousse

the how

Choose from ready-made chocolate, cookie, or hard candy edible shot cups
Alternatively, pick up a mold to make your own
Fill with simple, homemade, or store-bought desserts such as mousse, pudding, parfait, panna cotta, yogurt, milkshakes, smoothies etc
Garnish with fruit, berries, cream, candy, sprinkles, mint sprigs, chocolate shavings, cookie crumbs etc

raspberry mousse dessert served in edible chocolate cookie dough shot cups

the why

This Idea

Original; guests are often impressed by, and grateful for, something new or different
Entertaining; quirky and unexpected treats are fun for guests
Surprising; unexpected treats ensure your dessert table feels fresh and exciting
Creative; adds a creative twist to familiar, homemade, or store-bought desserts
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
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

edible chocolate cookie dough shot cups filled with blue ice cream

edible cookie dough shot cups filled with ice cream

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

ADVICE FROM A PRO

Matt’s tip

“These edible shot cups are an easy way to embellish simple, homemade, or store-bought desserts to make them feel more special.

If you’re on a budget, pick up the mold and make your own cups, then fill with a simple pudding and garnish with a sprig of mint or berries for a low-cost dessert.

Alternatively, save time by buying the ready-made cups so that all you have to do is fill them.

You can also embellish them by serving with a disposable food pipette filled with dessert sauce or liquor.

Present them in rows served on square or rectangular premium disposable serving plates and trays.”