Party Whammy

Cakes & Treats: Birthday Cake, Cupcakes and Party Sweets

Find answers about the birthday cake and other party sweets. That includes how much to get, when to cut it, what to serve instead and what to do if something goes wrong. You'll also find Halloween treat recipes and ideas for candy and donut parties. For full party menus, see Food. For allergies and other dietary needs, see Guest needs.

Frosted cupcakes on a white pedestal stand beside a bowl of berries.

Questions to start with

Choosing and serving the birthday cake

Start here to pick and order a cake, work out how many cupcakes or slices you need, and decide when to bring it out. You can also find out what to do if the cake gets damaged.

Before you order, choose between one cake and cupcakes, then ask the bakery how many servings each size gives and when you need to order and collect it. If you'll cut some portions ahead, plan where they'll be stored. Our guide to choosing, ordering and serving a birthday cake covers each step.

Settle the headcount before you choose a size: include adults who stay, allow for any other dessert, and count take-home portions separately. Write the final number down before you order or start baking. Our guide to how much cake or how many cupcakes you need explains the count.

Serving time is its own decision. Write down the start time, pickup time and any time the venue must be clear, then leave room for singing, cutting and eating. Agree who brings out the cake, who cuts and who hands out portions. Our guide on when to serve birthday cake or cupcakes helps you place it.

If the cake is damaged, first decide whether it's still fine to serve. If it is, a cosmetic fix such as turning it into a trifle may work; if not, look for a replacement you can actually get. Our backup plan for a damaged birthday cake covers both routes.

Serving something other than cake

Want a different centerpiece, or ice cream that doesn't melt before everyone gets a scoop? Start with these questions.

When you choose something other than cake, think about how it will be served and where the candles will go. Individual portions avoid a cutting line, take-home desserts suit some parties, and one item can still hold the candle for the song. Ask families about allergies before you shop. Our guide to what to serve instead of a birthday cake compares the options.

Frozen desserts need more planning than most alternatives. Keep them in the freezer until guests are ready, and set out bowls, scoops and toppings beforehand. Don't refreeze or serve ice cream that has thawed. Our guide to serving ice cream without it melting too soon covers storage and serving order.

Planning a candy or donut party

Build the whole party around a sweet theme. The candy party question covers how to keep the menu from being all sugar.

A candy theme doesn't need a table full of sweets. Familiar savory food can be the main menu, a smaller selection of candy can come out near the end, and decorations can carry the theme. One plan keeps the candy table closed until the last 45 to 60 minutes. Our guide to a candy-themed party without only sweets shows how.

Paper sweets and a pretend candy shop carry the theme without adding edible candy. Children place shop orders at a decorated counter, and a photo spot can sit nearby; music is optional. Our candy party ideas include how to set up the counter.

For a donut party, decide what food goes alongside the donuts before you work out how many to order. Sides such as yogurt, cheese or fruit can round out the menu, chosen for what your guests enjoy. Our guide to donut party food and how much to order covers both decisions.

Making Halloween treats

Find step-by-step recipes for Halloween party snacks and sweets, including strawberry ghosts and pudding dirt cups.

Strawberry ghosts take several stages: the fruit is dried, dipped and left to set, then kept chilled. To carry them, don't stack them, keep the container level and chilled, and follow the coating's handling directions. Our steps for Halloween strawberry ghosts help you decide whether to make them ahead.

Pudding dirt cups are a different format: chilled individual cups rather than dipped fruit, and children can add their own toppings if you want a decorating activity. The ingredient list is for 10 cups, with whipped topping as an optional lighter layer. See our recipe for Halloween pudding dirt cups.

Making caramel apple slices

Want a fall treat that guests can pick up easily? Find out how to make caramel apple slices for a party.

Wedges are easier to share than whole dipped apples: each guest takes a few, and you can see how much is left. Dry the slices before dipping so the caramel sticks, and adjust the preparation for your guests. A ten-guest batch takes about 30 minutes of hands-on work. Our guide to caramel apple slices for a party has the steps.