Desserts at a party

[PeacheyPeach]

If you were invited to a party and were just served desserts, cupcakes little brownies that type of thing would you be annoyed that was all you were getting instead of a buffet or savoury?
I'm having a party but don't want to be cooking or making a big buffet, or curry etc but thought maybe this could work , but I'm worried people might be starving and we come across as bad hosts not feeding the guests!!???

If I knew the menu beforehand, I'd be sure to eat before I got there. I wouldn't enjoy a buffet consisting entirely of desserts.

I wouldn’t enjoy a sweet buffet, no, especially with wine if there was booze. My kids would!

I think it depends. What time is the party?

Annoyed is a strange reaction. I wouldn't be annoyed but id want to know in advance so we had made sure we'd eaten properly especially if drinking.

Just to add, if you said there was food, or if the party was over a meal time, I would expect savoury. If you didn’t say there was food or it wasn’t over a meal time, I wouldn’t expect anything and would eat before hand. If you said it’s going to be cakes, I would eat beforehand.

I would want to know beforehand. How long is the party for?

And there's a limit to how much sweet food most people will eat...I'd prefer bowls of crisps or nuts than mini cakes or brownies...and I'm someone with a sweet tooth

What time of day is the party?

I think this would be OK if it was just for a couple of hours in the afternoon.

If it's over what most people would consider a normal mealtime then you would need to tell people to eat before they arrive (and risk them not having room for cake).

Firstly, this thread should have been called Just Desserts.

Secondly, yes I would be annoyed, and think it weird. Just put a cheeseboard out, you don't need to cook.

Is the party over a mealtime? And how long is it? If it’s just an evening thing after dinner for a couple of hours then desserts and some bowls of crisps will be fine. If it’s at a usual food time or a longer party then you need to serve savoury too really. You could do easy options like sandwiches, quiche, cheese and charcuterie platter.

Party starts at 7 so maybe it will be to late for sweet things,
I had thought about doing canapes but don't want to be cooking and using the oven when guests arrive

Sweet food and alcohol don’t mix for me.

Is the issue financial op or do you just not want to prep anything? If it's the latter, you can buy a load of crisps, dips, olives etc and just open tubs...do the sweet stuff too and tell people light snacks will be provided

Yes that would annoy me. Just put out some savory nibbles too. You don't need to cook.

Yeah that’s a crap idea , just order a platter from M&S or Morrisons if you CBA to do a buffet

Charcuterie can be bought in, or made quite simply.

I wouldn't eat much at a dessert only buffet.

Honestly I would do cheeses, biscuits, cold meat platters maybe some salads and then do lots of puds. You could add in bought quiche.

What about cheese and crackers? Crisps and dips?
Were you planning to make or buy the desserts?
If I knew it was just desserts, I'd have my dinner first. If you were making/serving unusual desserts I would love this, less impressed with supermarket cakes.
I'd be pleased to be invited in the first place and once I knew what to expect would just be glad to be there.

I don’t think desserts only is a good idea. You don’t have to cook - do as others have suggested and do a cheese board, meats, dip, crisps etc.

If I was you I would do grazing plates which can be prepared beforehand, cheese, veg sticks, dips, crackers. Plus loads of crisps and nuts. Then tell people this is what will be provided so they can eat their main meal before they come. Think this is acceptable as long as you tell them. Perhaps get in some frozen pizza if people stay really late. I would also just get some picky sweet treats like mini flapjacks, brownies, etc.

I'd much prefer cold savoury nibbles myself, just let your guests know in advance that it will be nibbles not a substantial buffet.

If I was invited at 7pm I would expect a reasonable buffet/meal.

i think it would be wise to advise attendees what will be served as I think desserts only is not the normal expectation.

Guests could get tipsy rather quickly.

I'm not someone with a sweet tooth so I would be very disappointed, sorry! If you don't want to cook, I would just get a load of French sticks, cheeses, cold meats and a few big bowls of crisps. Maybe some grapes, celery sticks, nuts, chutney as accompaniments.

Presumably you won't be cooking the sweet treats so why don't you just buy in some savoury food items?

I love cake and sweet stuff but I'd want something savoury at an evening party with drinks.

You're all right I'm glad I asked!!! I think I will do cheese and meat platters, and some dips and crisps, just didn't want to do a huge table of food like we normally do, i end up exhausted before the party has even started!!