Conclude Your Wedding Reception on a Sweet Note

by | Feb 2025

Cheesecake Funk

Cheesecake Funk. Photos: Chris Emeott

Chart new territory with the help from local bakers and makers.

For some guests, it’s what they look forward to the most at a wedding reception—the oh, so sweet conclusion to dinner—dessert!

The topography of the reception dessert table is evolving. The towering white wedding cake, no longer a given, is ceding space to more varied terrain. Whether you want to scale a donut wall or explore rolling hills of ice cream, wedding couples are choosing their own adventures.

If you’re feeling a bit lost navigating this uncharted territory, staff from our sister publications throughout the Metro sifted through some of the options from area makers and bakers to place on your tastings list. (And who says you have to pick just one? The more, the merrier—that goes for dessert, too!)

Lake Minnetonka Area

Signature cocktails are a thing and so are dinners featuring state- or hometown-centric ingredients, but what about bringing that same pride to the dessert table? Consider giving a sweet nod to one of Minnesota’s iconic music makers—Prince. If you’re a fan of him and cheesecake, take your pick of over 15 cheesecake varieties. Founding owner and head baker of Cheesecake Funk, Vanessa Drews, worked at Paisley Park, where she would on occasion bring in her scrumptious desserts. They not only caught the attention of staff and musicians, Prince also took notice and was a fan and vocal proponent of her baked goods. Cheesecake Funk, Minnetonka; cheesecakefunk.com

honey + milk

honey + milk

We understand. This is one of the most important days of your life, and you want every bite and nibble to be perfect and elevated. Well, who says an ice cream sandwich can’t arrive to the party all dressed up and ready to wow guests? With more cookie and ice cream flavor combinations than you can count, consider offering guests a handful of sweet, classic yum. honey + milk, honeyandmilkmn.com

There’s always plenty of toasts to go around, but how about ending the celebration with just one more sweet round? Consider Mousse Martinis, featuring pistachio, raspberry, Vandermint, vanilla bean and—be still our romantic hearts—even more flavor profiles. Raise another glass to the couple with this ultimate “mock” Martini in hand. (There’s sooo many more amazing options available at this bakery if another dessert direction is more your style.) Buttercream, Wayzata; buttercream.info

Cities South Area

Cream of the Cakes designs beautiful, custom wedding cakes and cupcakes, but the cannoli and whoopie pies are sleeper hits for many wedding buffets. The bakery also has a selection
of gluten-free and vegan offerings. Cream of the Cakes, Lakeville; creamofthecakes.com

There’s something so joyful and nostalgic about cotton candy, and Sweet Clouds Cotton Candy offers spun sugar freshly spun in-person, prepackaged and even in cake and cupcake forms. Sweet Clouds Cotton Candy, Lakeville; sweetscloudsllc.toast.site

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day for the bride and groom, they won’t want to snooze on the opportunity to serve custom donuts at their reception. Luna Donut offers custom-decorated raised and cake donuts, as well as fritters, ladyfingers and rolls, which are available for special order for large events. Luna Donut, Apple Valley; 952.255.8206

Kyiv Cakes signature layered honey cakes, which include traditional honey, lemon and raspberry options, are inspired by owner Iryna Motta’s childhood in Ukraine. For weddings, the bakery provides custom cakes, as well as smaller dessert options like cupcakes, cookies and traditional pastries. Kyiv Cakes Bakery, Lakeville; kyivcakes.com

You’ve got your signature drink nailed down, but do you have a signature ice cream sandwich? The Lakeville-based Cookie Cruiser serves ice cream sandwiches and popsicles from an adorable bicycle cart. Pick from standard menu items—like the Classic Chip (chocolate chip cookies and vanilla bean ice cream) or Orangesicle (brown butter sugar cookie with vanilla ice cream and orange zest)—or come up with a signature combination incorporating your favorite flavors. Cookie Cruiser, Lakeville; cookie-cruiser.com

Before they bought Edelweiss Bakery in Prior Lake, Joe and Laurie Lin’s first foray into the world of pastries took the wedding industry by storm. Cocoa & Fig is known for scrumptious mini dessert bars, unforgettable cupcakes and elegant wedding cakes. Cocoa & Fig, Shakopee; cocoaandfig.com

If you’ve fallen in love with the vintage cake trend, you’ll want to check out Holy Sins Royal Bakehouse in Lakeville. Baker Hilda Vera-Terhark has a gift for freehand piping intricate patterns and beautiful florals, creating tiered cakes that look like works of art. Holy Sins Royal Bakehouse, Lakeville; holysinsroyalbakehouse.com

Edina

Welcome the elegance of a French patisserie with Patrick’s Bakery & Café’s delectable dessert verrines. These beautifully layered mini-desserts are offered by the dozen and feature classic flavors, such as cheesecake, chocolate mousse, lemon and tiramisu. Patrick’s also offers a fresh fruit verrine with seasonal berries and Chantilly cream. Elevate your dessert spread with a delightful assortment of mini pastries, including cookies, Danishes and truffles. Patrick’s Bakery & Café, Edina; patricksbakerycafe.com

Add some artistic flair to your wedding dessert table with individual desserts from Patisserie Margo, known for its exquisite craftsmanship, elegant cupcakes, eclairs, rich chocolate mousse, creamy panna cotta with passion fruit and cherry and lime tarts. The bakery also has an array of cookies and can even create a custom sugar cookie design. Patisserie Margo, Edina; patisseriemargomn.com

Whisked Away Macarons

Whisked Away Macarons

While cake will always be a classic wedding day tradition, why not indulge your guests with delicate, bite-sized treats that offer a range of flavors that are as colorful as your celebration? Whisked Away Macarons are expertly crafted and come in a variety of options from traditional vanilla bean to the more adventurous chai, lavender and matcha. Baker Allison Sriver creates delightful macaron towers that can also be made in your wedding colors. Whisked Away Macarons, Edina; whiskedawaymacarons.com

Maple Grove
Painted Turtle Chocolatier

Painted Turtle Chocolatier

Painted Turtle Chocolatier’s owner, Jackie Van Norden, brings a fresh taste to this local, fine chocolate mainstay. Consider chocolate caramel, peanut butter, milk and dark chocolate truffles, or create your own flavor profile with the chocolatiers. Plus, bars, cake truffles, cookies, gelato and more are the cherry on top! Painted Turtle Chocolatier, Osseo; paintedturtlechocolatier.com

Think outside the (ice)box with ice cream! From a full-service ice cream truck to a scoop-your-own sundae bar, Two Scoops can be a uniquely “you” addition to your big day. And, with flavors including Heaps of Love, Malt Amore, PB Hearts Chocolate and S’more to Love, there are plenty of lovely flavors to choose from. Two Scoops, Osseo; twoscoopsmn.com

We get it. Sometimes, you just want a slice of decadent wedding cake. From a cutting cake to multitiered cakes—and even cupcake towers!—Nadia Cakes can design just about any delicious dessert. This winner is beloved nationwide, and its owner, Abby Jimenez, is a Food Network Cupcake Wars winner and was also featured on TLC’s Fabulous Cakes. Nadia Cakes, Maple Grove; nadiacakes.com

Plymouth

A macaron tower has a certain je ne sais quoi, does it not? Nikkolette’s Macarons offers a collection of customizable options from flavors and colors to personal touches, such as initials and wedding dates. The bakery also creates delectable party favors in the form of macaron gift boxes. Nikkolette’s Macarons, Plymouth; nikkolettesmacarons.com

Honey & Mackie’s

Honey & Mackie’s

There’s no taste like home, which makes it all the sweeter that a Plymouth ice cream icon is available, à la carte. If you’re looking to add Honey & Mackie’s to your invite list, consider renting out its ice cream cart for your special day. Complete with one to two professional scoopers and four flavors of your choosing (plus a smaller tub of sorbet), this ice cream social is perfect for warm-weather weddings. Plus work with the pros to create your own custom ice cream flavor. Honey & Mackie’s, Plymouth; honeyandmackies.shopsettings.com

St. Croix Valley Area

You might be breaking the glass on your wedding day, but your guests can break the brittle. For an exciting late-night bite, consider an out-of-the-box option like slabs of toffee or brittle (complete with wooden hammers to break off pieces) from St. Croix Baking Company. It’s just the start of the incredible dessert options from celebrated pastry chef Charles Froke—including intricately decorated cakes and cupcakes, custom bars and cookies, two-bite mini desserts and plated desserts. St. Croix Baking Company, Hudson, Wisconsin; stcroixbaking.com

Nothing says love like a handmade pie—especially when it’s heart-shaped. For a dessert that’s as sweet and gushy as you’ll be on your wedding day, consider a curated pie table in a variety of sizes (hand pies, little tarts, pie jars, pie pops and whole pies) and flavors—many of which are infused with local spirits. Sara’s Tipsy Pies, Stillwater; sarastipsypies.com

It’s OK to ditch tradition—especially if ice cream is on the table. For a wedding dessert that is an event in itself, look no further than Nelson’s Ice Cream. Whether you select a bright red Nelson’s trailer or mobile freezer, Nelson’s trained scoopers will serve your guests heaping servings of traditional ice cream. It’s an ideal option for outdoor summer weddings, and, honestly, there’s nothing like a generous portion of ice cream to remind you to savor your wedding day. Nelson’s Ice Cream, Stillwater; catering@nelsonsicecream.biz; nelsonsicecream.biz

White Bear Lake Area

Personal cutting cakes are undeniably in. For a cake that is intricate, beautiful and delicious, look to Elouise Suoja. Her designs often feature delightful florals and whimsical color palettes, extending from personal cakes to equally captivating cupcakes. 350 Degrees Bakery, Mahtomedi; 350degreesbakery.net

This delicate, small-batch Italian treat is made in traditional flavors (almond stracciatella, hazelnut and pistachio). For intimate weddings, consider personal gelato cups in flavors of your choice—so even a Midwest wedding can include a taste of Europe. Orso Bianco Gelato, White Bear Lake; orsobiancogelato.square.site

For a non-traditional show stopper, donut walls are a trend that will stick around a while. They’re simple to build and customize—and can be a beautiful addition to your wedding reception dessert display. Consider adding a pun-ny saying to the wall, mixing up flavors or requesting colors and toppings that fit your wedding theme. Grandma’s Bakery, White Bear Lake; grandmasbakery.com

Woodbury

Donut mind if “I do!” Swap out a traditional cake with a donut buffet. Dorothy Ann Bakery & Café might be known for its cakes and cupcakes—but it also offers more than 20 different types of donuts, including gluten-free options. Dorothy Ann Bakery & Cafe, Woodbury; dorothyannbakery.com

Scooping up sweet treats for over 80 years, Bridgeman’s Ice Cream Parlor is tried and true. Plus, there’s something for every wedding season. For winter and spring weddings, consider its Affogato and Sundae Station. The addition of hot chocolate and coffee to your ice cream bar is a sweet, warm treat. Summer and fall weddings call for its Root Beer Float Station. Sundae shooters are also available. Bridgeman’s, Woodbury; bridgemans.com

We understand that traditional desserts (ahem, cake!) may not be for all couples. For something that still gets the oohs and aahs, look toward a macaron tower. With a variety of custom colorings, designs and flavors to choose from, there’s a taste to please all your guests! Take it a step even further with a beautiful macaron cake. Memoo’s Macs, Woodbury; memoosmacs.com

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