DIY Dessert and Candy Buffet Ideas

A dessert and candy buffet is a great inexpensive alternative to a pricey custom cake. It is also a great way to treat your guests to a variety of yummy sweets while adding a beautiful focal point to your party. Today I’m going to share with you some ideas on how you can put one together without spending a lot of money. 

DIY Dessert and Candy Buffet Ideas

1. Pick at least two colors.

Picking two (or even three) colors will give you more options when choosing treats for your buffet. Try to pair your color with a neutral so that the colors aren’t competing with each other and instead they compliment one another. For example; if the party decor will be primarily in pink, pair it with white.  You can even add some pretty silver wrapped goodies like Hershey’s kisses to add some shine to your buffet.

2. Use homemade and store bought goodies.

Are you great at baking? Make a few batches of cupcakes and some cookies for your buffet. You could also create your favorite dessert and serve it in mini cups or plates. In the picture below you will see how I created this dessert and candy buffet for my sister-in-law’s baby shower. I mixed store bought candies with homemade baked goods. From chocolate to mints, there was something for everyone. Get creative, you don’t have to order an expensive bag of one color M&Ms or mints online. Instead buy candies in your desired color and mix it up with other desserts.

3. Decorate the table with things you already own.

String lights, pictures in small frames, a framed quote, and even balloons are all great for decorating your dessert and candy buffet. For my sister-in-law’s baby shower, I made a simple printout with the “Little girls are made of sugar and spice…” poem and placed it in a dollar store frame. I added the baby’s initial to the decor so that she could use it in the nursery after the party. I also gift wrapped empty boxes and covered them in tulle which I used to add height to some of the treats. You could also add an inexpensive backdrop of tissue pom poms or a homemade banner. It doesn’t have to be expensive to be beautiful.

4. Purchase candy jars and trays at dollar stores.

Before you purchase anything, look around your home and use what you already have on hand. Old flower vases, glass bowls or large candle holders are all great to hold candies. If you do need to purchase any, check out your local dollar store for inexpensive options. You can also glue or tie ribbons around the jars to spruce them up.  They also sell packs of small plastic tongs that you can place in each jar so that guests don’t dig in with their fingers.

Dessert and candy buffets can be a lot of fun and guests absolutely love them. So before you drop a few hundred dollars on a fancy cake, consider creating one of these yummy buffets for a lot less.