Share and Share Alike

Norwegian designer Maria Tovslid created these candies and the packaging to encourage eaters to share them. I would never consider sharing a lollipop under ordinary circumstances, but Tovslid makes that not only possible, but pleasant.

When Macarons Fall in Love

I am totally smitten with this macaron wedding suite from Truly Smitten.

Check out close ups of the entire yummy suite here.

Dessert Table: Tea & Tarts

This simple, pretty dessert table is easy enough for even the baking-challenged party host. Grey Likes Weddings featured this casual design featuring iced tea, pink lemonade, and sugar-dusted lemon tartlettes.

These are perfect for any party, including Memorial Day barbecues. Want to attempt the lemon tartlettes for your bash? Grey Likes Nesting has the recipe.

Easy DIY Dessert: Balboa Bars

These easy-to-make Balboa Bars were a personalized addition to a couple's featured wedding on Green Wedding Shoes. Chocolate-dipped ice cream bars are easy to customize with a variety of sprinkles, nonpareils, and candy bits.

Dessert Table: French Flair

Style Me Pretty featured this gorgeous, French-inspired bridal shower shot by Jasmine Star. I'm a big fan of mirrored desks and trays. And as many of you know, I'm a huge fan of macaron towers, so this display is right up my alley.

Dessert Table: Pretty Peacock

Style Me Pretty featured this gorgeous peacock blue dessert buffet as part of their Inspiration to Reality series. Blue, gold, and green macarons are perfect additions to the three cakes on this lovely table.

Check out beautiful pics of the table and other wedding details here.

A+ Favors: Milk Cartons & Report Cards

Kristen of Paper Crave designed these adorable milk cartons and report cards for The Sweetest Occasion. They would be a perfect for a couple who met in school or who teach. You can fill them with mini cookies as a sweet send-off for guests.

The best part is that they are all printable! Grab the templates here.

And, in case you missed yesterday's second post, be sure to check out the interview I did with The Stir. I discuss upcoming trends in dessert tables, and other vendors share their yummy images as well.

Interview with The Stir: Dessert Table Trends

Kim Conte, editor of The Stir, recently interviewed me about emerging trends in dessert tables. The article includes seven alternatives to wedding cakes, and great ideas from several sources. This yummy Presecco bar by Merci New York is one of the creative alternatives.

 Check out the interview for lots of good tips.

Illustrated Dessert Table Menu

This illustrated card is perfect for a dessert buffet with lots of unusual treats. If you have artistic skills, this would be a great DIY project. If not, consider asking a talented friend to make this their gift to you, and save it after the event to remember the big day.

Image (Green Wedding Shoes)

Deconstructed Cheesecake

I found this recipe for Deconstructed Rhubarb White Chocolate Ginger Cheesecake on Whisk the Pantry. Whew, that's a mouthful. Even if you think the recipe is a little too much to tackle, consider presenting some other layered cake or cheesecake in similar cute little jars.

Want to share some of your sweet creations? Email images along with the recipe, tips, and techniques to info {at} shaunayounge {dot} com

Sweet Recipe Cards

Kathleen of Twig & Thistle shared this super cute set of dessert-centric recipe cards she found at The Petit Press.

The best part about these letterpress cards? They are completely customizable and completely affordable at $20 for 20. Check out the shop.

Reader Design

Sunghee saw my invitation for readers to send their dessert projects, and responded with pics of a New York inspired dessert buffet. An Empire State Building centerpiece, taxi cab labels, and shopping bags for cookies add to the theme.

To see more from this event, visit Sunghee's blog Creativity in Progress.

Want to join the fun? Share you sweet designs by emailing your pics to info {at} shaunayounge.com

Eureka! Fried Truffles

Last night, I met with Bethany of Emmy Lu Design Studio and B*spoke and Maddy of Inspired Bride and Nonpareil Magazine for a working dinner. I was about to pass on dessert (I'd sampled several sweets during the workday, and was nearly in a sugar coma), but the girls convinced me. I admit, they didn't have to try too hard. Low and behold...fried chocolate truffles! Who knew there was such a thing?

They look like little hush puppies, but ours was drizzled with chocolate and served on top of a fried tortilla a la mode. Breaking into the fried shell results in a pool of warm chocolate that runs onto the plate.

It was only after we'd partially devoured it, that I thought to take a picture. Needless to say, I thought this image would be a better illustration.

Image (Interchangable Parts)

Cool Key Lime Cookies

Erin of Naturally Ella baked these bright green lime cookies for an all-girls margarita party. They have a decidedly fresh vibe that lends itself to days outside in the sun. Check out Erin's recipe. She suggests trying a lemon or orange design, too.

In case you missed yesterday's second post, be sure to check out my Q&A interview, which was featured on City Pages' The Hot Dish.

I'm A Hot Dish!

I kid, I kid. But I was fortunate enough to be interviewed by City Page's writer Phoebe Larson for The Hot Dish column. Phoebe kindly shared this dessert table with Hot Dish readers, and I want to share the interview with you.

I'm very excited to be featured on The Hot Dish! You can see more pictures from the featured table, including the inspiration board that inspired the design here.

Reader Design

A few weeks ago, Laura contacted me on Twitter with a question about the cupcakes she was making for an event. Laura was kind enough to give me an update about the event and share a picture of her creation. 

Laura tweeted, "cupcake stand i did last saturday, @shaunayounge thanks 4 the tip u gave me the other day ;)"

I was so glad to see Laura's finished design, that I thought it would be fun to see what you guys are up to in your own kitchens. Next time you whip up a cake or some really pretty brownies, snap a pic and share. Be sure to include any tips or techniques that made your creation turn out so well.

New Trend: Designer Popsicles

With the resurgence of whoopie pies and cupcakes, it was only a matter of time before another childhood classic got an upgrade. The emerging trend this summer? Gourmet popsicles. Be on the lookout for unusual flavor combinations like chocolate fig, white chocolate pear, and Thai iced coffee.

Locopops, a North Carolinian chain, features exotic and classic gourmet pops like cookies and cream, mango chile, candy corn, and pomegranate five spice.

New York City is home to popbar, which specializes in gelato, sorbet, and yogurt pops.  The Gianduia bar features dark chocolate-dipped, hazelnut-topped gelato. Perhaps a Pistachio Drizzle or Vanilla Splash is more to your liking. Still not satisfied? This shop lets you customize your pop, from the stick up.

Don't have an upscale popsicle shop in your area? Consider making some yourself. There are great recipes out there. Try these limoncello ones or these mango pineapple ones.

Image (Amanda Clarke via Flickr), Image 2 (popbar), Image 3 (NY Magazine)

Too Many Cupcakes to Count

Late Friday afternoon, I stumbled across this beautifully simple blog and fell in love. Ming Makes Cupcakes is a blog that is wonderfully focused on cupcakes of every kind. Ming's short, simple recipes make each goody seem completely do-able. Here are a few of my favorites.

Ming's current catalog is a relatively manageable list of thirty-two, but I'm sure there will soon be too many to count. See the rest of Ming's sweet treats here. Be sure to check out her savory creations and her cookie catalog, too.

Striped Meringues

Natalie of Natalie's Killer Cuisine made these these striped meringues. They're the perfect, deceptively simple confection to make on a grey, rainy Friday.

These little lovelies can be made in any color, which means they're perfect for any event.

Dessert Table: Vintage Sunshine

This sunny dessert table featured on The Sweetest Occasion is one of the brightest and cheeriest I've seen. I love the few splashes of aqua mingled in with the white and yellow to add a cool, vintage vibe. The little tissue pom poms look like sunbursts. Photographer Nicole Hill Gerulat took full advantage of the natural light streaming into the room.

Sweet & Saucy Shop designed this beauty for the In The Now Weddings + Events bash.

Check out Cyd's full post for more pics here.

Dessert Table: Tea Time Birthday

I came across this gorgeous tea inspired buffet late last week. Tracy Lau created and photographed this table to celebrate her 40th birthday, which she fully embraced. The blues are beautiful against the various shades of brown.

Bling for the True Sugar Addict

Nick Cannon recently gifted wife Mariah Carey with this diamond and sapphire encrusted Ring Pop to celebrate their anniversary. The old school candy is a favorite of Mariah's and Cannon proposed by hiding her engagement ring in a Ring Pop wrapper.

That's a gigantic ring. You'd have to really love Ring Pops to sport this sucker (pun intended).

Image (People.com)

Editorial Cakes

Fellow Minnesotan Laura Nelli's clutch was featured in L'etoile Magazine's 2010 Spring Editorial. The classic clutch by Nelle is beautiful, and it's well-paired with a hat made of cake! Thea Farrington of Perfect Day Cakes, Marie of Celebration Generation Cakes, and Sheela of Cake Eater Bakery each tailored cakes to compliment the couture.

Here are a couple of other shots that Laura fell in love with from the shoot.

Image 1 (Celebration Generation Cakes), Image 2 & 3 (Perfect Day Cakes) Photography (Kate Iverson)