By a Pro: Gourmet Fudge | Unusual Dessert Table Food Ideas

the idea

From Key lime pie and tiramisu, to strawberry cheesecake and peaches & cream, these gourmet fudge flavors turn humble fudge into a must-try treat

the how

Choose by flavor, including brown sugar penuche, eggnog, unicorn, birthday cake, peanut butter, bubblegum, maple walnut, cinnamon bun, pumpkin spice, and more
Choose quantity (these typically come in 8 oz bags)
Note: Featured Seller 1 (links below) offers ‘Buy 3, get 2 Free’
To serve, cut into smaller bite-size squares

strawberry cheesecake flavored gourmet fudge

the why

This Idea

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 or everyday treats and ‘filler’ items
Refreshing; unusual flavors can make less special treats more appealing
Discovery; allows guests to keep discovering new and notable elements as party unfolds
Memorable; guests remember creative, unusual, or unexpected elements
Different; a less common dessert table treat to impress guests

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

white chocolate caramel pecan flavored gourmet fudge

ADVICE FROM A PRO

Matt’s tip

“For quirky and unusual treats like gourmet fudge, that lots of party guests will likely want to try, I’d recommend serving them in a way that helps controls portion size.

If you just put these out on a plate, guest are more likely to grab more than one, so there might not be enough to go around.

One way to do this is to serve on individual tasting forks (see my post here), tasting spoons (see here), mini novelty treat containers and trays (see here), or as one component in dessert kabobs / skewers (see here).

You can also embellish them by serving with a disposable food pipette filled with dessert sauce or liquor (see my post here).

Alternatively, use as a garnish or topping for cupcakes or desserts served in disposable shooter glasses (see here), dessert cups (see here), mini mugs (see here), or martini glasses (see here).

Be sure to check out my other post about boozy liquor fudge.”