A Refreshingly Sweet Dessert and Mimosa Bar For Your Bridal Shower

By Chef Serge Krikorian with Vibrant Occasions Catering

Everyone deserves a delicious dessert and a mouthwatering mimosa every now and then, especially when you are celebrating your upcoming dream day. The perfect mix of colors with a huge variety of mimosas and an even bigger variety of desserts will make for great photos and great conversation. Not only that, your bar will be overall eye candy…well in this case, eye dessert!

Why Desserts and Mimosas?

A sweet treat can go with anything. At the end of a meal, on a cute date and even during a wedding. Desserts are also so versatile in color, texture, shape and even taste. You could find any type of dessert that would go perfectly with your event. Desserts are very easy to accommodate for allergies and diets, making it one of the easiest choices as well. Often, you will be able to have an assortment, so your guests can pick what they want to taste. Similarly, mimosas are very versatile as well with many different flavors of juice, fruits you can add and garnishes for presentation. Having a self-serving bar also makes it much easier on the host who is most likely already stressed about every detail of their wedding. Hands-o ff , fl exible, and adorable? That’s a yes from us! As for going together, there are many different citrusy, fruity, tarty and earthy options that would go perfectly next to a mimosa of the same taste palette.

How Versatile are They Really?

If you’re struggling on finding what to put on your dessert bar and mimosa menu, check out these options. Here are a few different desserts that you could add to your bar: Mini Pies, Cookies, Petit Fours, Macarons, Chocolate-covered Fruit, Cake Pops, Popsicles, Tarts, Eclairs, and Mini Cakes/Cupcakes. As for mimosas, there are dozens of ways to make them. Different juices, champagnes, garnishes and fruits can be added to a mimosa. Here are a few different kinds of mimosas: Classic, Pineapple, Lemonade, Poinsettia, Apple Cider, Tequila Sunrise, Cherry Bomb, Peppermint, Piña Colada, and Grapefruit. Di fferent colors, tastes, and textures are sure to make the bar at your bridal shower pop! You can even match the season with the type of mimosa you choose…autumn apple cider mimosas, anyone?

How Do I Make It Look Good?

We all want our events, especially our bridal showers, to be absolutely perfect. That includes decor and theme. Choosing a theme for your decor will make a cohesive look throughout the entire shower. Once you have your decorations cohesive, you can start decorating your bar. Presentation is important in making your bar look inviting. Garnishes, beautiful platters, flowers, maybe even some fruit can make your bar pop. Play with texture and color to make your bar more interesting. You could even make the bar your focal point. Consider using a moveable table, bar or even a cart. Making the bar easily portable by using a dessert cart can ensure you can move inside or outside as you please with your guests. We have some ideas for you including lavender cookies and vanilla custard with fresh fruit as well as an assortment of mimosas. A dessert and mimosa bar is the perfect kind of bar to incorporate into your bridal shower, girls night out or even your wedding. Hands-free, unique, colorful, and tasty…it seems like a mistake not to do it at least once!

Lavender Shortbread Cookies Recipe

Lavender cookies hold a strong symbolism within weddings. Lavender is known to bring good luck, love and even devotion. This flower is purple, a sign of royalty and luxury. Lavender is also known to calm and relieve stress. This fragrant fl ower is the perfect ingredient if you are wanting a calm and relaxing wedding party.

Ingredients

1.5 cups softened, unsalted butter

2/3 cup white sugar

1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted

2 tbls. fresh lavender, finely chopped

1 tsp. lemon zest

2.5 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/4 tsp. Kosher salt

Directions

Using a mixer, combine the butter, white sugar, and powdered sugar thoroughly until light and fluffy. Stir in the finely chopped lavender and lemon zest.

Combine the flour, cornstarch, and salt. On a low speed, mix into the butter mixture until well blended.

Place the dough in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, a minimum of 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Pinch off 2 oz. cookie dough, roll into a ball, and flatten to 1/4” thickness.

Place on a prepared baking sheet approximately 1.5” apart and bake in a preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, just until the cookies begin to brown at the edges.

Allow cookies to cool on a rack before serving.

Vanilla Custard Recipe

The benefits of vanilla are mainly for the mood, as the scent is known to impart feelings of peace, comfort, and contentment. Its aromatic avor is sure to induce a calming effect for your guests.

Ingredients

2 cups whole milk

2 tbls. cornstarch

1/3 cup white sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

Combine the milk, sugar, and cornstarch using a whisk in a medium saucepan over medium heat on the stove. Allow milk to heat to the point that tiny bubbles form around edges of the pan, whisking occasionally to prevent the cornstarch from clumping on the bottom of the pan.

Remove milk mixture from heat.

Mix about 2 tablespoons of the scalded milk mixture into eggs using whisk, then introduce eggs into milk mixture in a slow stream, whisking milk mixture constantly.

Immediately return the pan to heat and whisk gently until custard thickens, another two or three minutes. Do not allow it to boil. (If you find that you have egg white strands in custard, feel free to pass it through a fine-mesh sieve into a different bowl now.)

Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla.

Traditional Mimosa Recipe

Mimosas are generally equal parts of orange juice and champagne, but have become very flexible. The variety of mimosas make them a perfect drink for events, with different kinds of fruits, ciders, and even other alcohol, you can create the perfect concoctions for your guests. Fruits and garnishes for your mimosas can be mixed and matched, too.

Ingredients

1 (750 ml) bottle of champagne, chilled 3 cups (750 ml) of your favorite juice

Directions

Pour the sparkling wine into the champagne flutes, filling each glass about half full. Pour your favorite juice on top to fill each glass and serve.

Photos by Vivlio Photography