Dessert is often a favorite part of any meal. But what if you could bring a little more fun and a lot more smiles after a family dinner or friendly get-together? Here are a few of the best miniature grab-and-go desserts for any occasion.
Cake Pops
Cake has been a favorite dessert for centuries. The ancient Greeks used to make small, heavy, flat cakes in ancient times known as “satura.” However, cake and sutra have come a long way since then, especially in size, shape and portability.
Cake pops are an astounding way to share a fan favorite with a variety of people. As a bonus, cleanup after the fact only involves a trash can or small dish to put reusable pop sticks for washing.
Cake pops are great because they also come in a cadre of colors, flavors, designs and shapes, so everyone gets their favorite type of cake in a fun and portable package.
Mousse Cups
If you and yours are looking for something a little lighter, try making miniature mousse cups. You can opt for the traditional glassware or opt for funky drinkware options like 2 oz shot glasses or cordial glasses to give them a little extra flare.
Looking for less cleanup afterwards? Try compostable or recycled disposables such as cupcake containers or small cups with fun designs painted around the outside.
You can also add fun spoons to complete the aesthetic. Just make sure the spoons are small enough to fit into the mouth of the container and don’t offset the balance of the dish. This will help you avoid any accidental messes.
Mini Cheesecakes
Cheesecake is the denser, richer cousin of cake pops. Most people enjoy cutting into a large decorated cake, but making miniatures can be just as appealing. You can create the cake as usual, choosing your own cheese, cream cheese and crusts. However, instead of packing it all into a pie container, try packing it into cupcake sleeves.
If you have a “bake” recipe, make sure you adjust the cook time for the new smaller size. After they’ve been prepared and have time to rest, place them in a chilled environment and serve to your guests, friends and family with your choice of topping. And, once again, cleanup is as easy as throwing away the cupcake sleeve and depositing the utensils (if not disposable) into the sink or washing tray.
Smaller desserts are often just as much fun as, if not more than, their counterparts. These three are excellent starting points, all with a wide variety of audience members you will delight when you serve up these fun, miniature versions.
About the Author
Kyung Kim
Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.
I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.
As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.
I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.
