By a Pro: Mason Jar Desserts | Dessert Table Presentation Ideas

the idea

Keep the energy up and the atmosphere buzzing by allowing guests to graze and mingle with ‘grab and go’ mason jar desserts

layered cupcake desserts served in mason jars with individual spoons on a party dessert table — *Great example by One Lovely Day Events*

layered desserts served in mason jars with individual spoons

the how

Fill with mousse, pudding, cheesecake, Jello-O, parfait, panna cotta, fruit, yogurt and granola, or create your own layered cake mason jar 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

the why

This Idea

Outdoor events; available with lids to protect contents at outdoor events
Travels well; glass material and lids make it easier to transport desserts to a venue
Maximize budget; makes homemade desserts look more stylish
Embellish; makes simple, basic, filler, or store-bought desserts feel more special
Convenience; can be purchased pre-filled with desserts to save making your own
Size; larger than disposable dessert cups so you can serve fewer and more substantial desserts
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
Layout; helps achieve the three simple rules for layout; groups, rows, and levels (see my dessert table layout page)
Adds Height; varying degrees of height are essential to a well-designed dessert table (see my dessert table layout page)
Creative; adds a creative twist to familiar or everyday treats, such as pudding or cupcakes
Reusable; can washed and re-used for future events

layered dessert served in mason jars with spoons

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

layered cupcake desserts served in mason jars with individual spoons

layered cupcake desserts served in mason jars

ADVICE FROM A PRO

Matt’s tip

“In addition to being more durable than disposable plastic dessert cups, mason jars come in larger sizes so you can serve fewer but more substantial desserts, rather than lots of smaller ones.

They also come with lids, which can be useful for outdoor events, transporting to venues, or just keeping desserts fresher for longer so you can make them in advance.

Check out my Pinterest board ‘Party Food: Serve in Jars’ for recipes for mason jar desserts.

You can also save time by buying these pre-filled with layered cake desserts to save you having to be make from scratch (see links below).

To reduce lines at the dessert table, make these ‘grab & go’ by serving with a disposable wood or plastic spoon (see links below) tied to the jar with ribbon or twine.

Remember to order the right size spoon / fork depending on the size of your jars. As a guide, 8 oz mason jars are typically around 4″ tall, but it depends on the shape, so check. Mini spoons and forks around typically 4″ and regular dessert spoons / forks are around 6″.

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

These look best when arranged in a rows on square / rectangular premium disposable plates or on tiered stands / risers. See links below for both.

Of course, one of the main advantages of mason jars is that they can be washed and re-used for future events”.