The Benefits Of Dessert Parties
By Amanda Baker, Tue Jan 10th

Dinner parties are a hot trend and a great way to get togetherwith all of your friends. But do you and your friends have aserious sweet tooth? Do you get more enjoyment out of thedesserts than dinner? Why not host an evening dessert party? Adessert party can actually be hosted any time of the day, but alate evening party is typically best.

With desserts, the tiny touches really do completely the bigpictures. For instance, doilies on dessert plates when serving afine piece of cake is a beautiful touch. A nice espresso goeswell with pastries.

If have a tasty pound cake and want to make it look beautifulwhen serving? Use wine or champagne glasses and a flavor or twoof ice cream to serve desserts a la mode. Serve flavored coffeesand teas with some fresh fruit. All by itself, it can serve as adessert. Just don't forget the decaf! Frozen desserts are agreat idea for an unexpected get-together. Most of the fancierdesserts can be frozen and thawed in warm weather for only aboutan hour.

Need a quick cake decoration? Keep some butterscotch, chocolate,and caramel sauce on hand. Nice thin swirls of a flavored sauceacross the dessert plate works especially well with a nice torteor cheesecake. Mini chocolate

chips are fabulous when coupledwith fresh raspberries and a rich chocolate cake.

Any particular season coming up? A seasonal dessert leaves agreat impression on your guests.

Chocolate-coated strawberries are an ideal dessert party treat.You can begin with a carton of large ripe strawberries withstems. Melt two to three large dark or milk chocolate bars percarton in the microwave, in a pyrex measuring cup. Be verycareful not to burn the chocolate. Hold strawberries by thestem, dipping them one by one into the cup. On a large platecoated with wax paper, rest the strawberries (which should onlybe dipped just over halfway) and chill for about forty-fiveminutes. Serve with Columbian coffee or a designer coffee drink.If you're crafty with drinks, you could concoct a drinkspecifically for your event!

Always pre-slice cakes, but serve to guests one at a time. Donot have the cake already on a dessert plate, unless the eventis directly after a dinner.

Dessert parties are becoming more popular and a little moresophisticated, so soft lighting, candles, and appropriate musicare a must. Remember not to serve pies, as they are informal andcasual and interfere with the class and mystique of a dessertparty.

About the author:Amanda Baker writes for All Things Pondered