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Just desserts

Tiffany MacIsaac, executive pastry chef of Birch & Barley, Iron Gate and Bijoux Patisserie Exclusivité in Washington, DC says that pie bars are not only a growing trend, but a budget-saver as well, since a bountiful pie bar can be created for less than the cost of a wedding cake. “For fall weddings, we like to present the pies in a rustic, farm table setting, and include such flavors as a double-crusted apple pie (add- ing bacon for a gourmet twist), sweet potato pie, pumpkin pie and other seasonal flavors.” Other popular pie bar flavors include cherry, blueberry, boysenberry, and chocolate pecan. Correale likes to go with bite-size triangles of sugary pie-crust “fries” for crunch and flavor, as well as homey blueberry cobbler, apple crisp and banana bread pudding. “Anything on a stick is a super-popular dessert bar option, from Rice Krispie bars to mini cupcakes to cake-ball pops," said Worley

Photo courtesy of Elegant Affairs, Inc.

When it comes to adding color to your bar offerings, look no further than the fabulous French macaron. These dainty, cream-filled sandwich cookies come in a range of colors, from wedding theme-matching pastels to fashion-forward neons. You can take a bold monochromatic approach or go for a rainbow coalition of hues. The choice is yours.

Photo Credit: Gemma Comas, courtesy of Amy Atlas

S’mores bars are particularly suited to every iteration of rustic celebration, from country garden to nighttime “glamping” campfire-fueled fêtes. Your chocoholic guests will be in heaven. Andrea Correale likes to riff on the theme, offering a deconstructed version in a bowl layered with chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallow fluff and marshmallows dipped in chocolate then covered in graham-cracker crumbs.

Photo courtesy of Hollywood Candy Girls

Donuts are another fast-rising dessert star, says Tiffany MacIsaac, who proposes donut “trees” and platters of apple cider donuts, pumpkin glazed and chocolate versions, plus every groom’s favorite: the maple-glazed, bacon- topped donut. Also coming on strong: cookie bars, says Jackie Sorkin, owner of celebrity-favorite Hollywood Candy Girls. “A cookie bar can feature your favorite cookies from when you were children, even if it’s just Oreos.” Other picks include frosted sugar cookies, oatmeal, shortbread, peanut butter and macadamia nut cookies (popular for beachy destination celebrations).

Candy bars are tied with macarons when you want to play up specific wedding colors, and cupcake bars remain a perennial favorite, in both newsier flavors like red velvet and the traditional white-frosted cupcake that can be arranged in tiers beneath a small wedding cake layer at the top of the cupcake “tree.”

Photo Credit: Tori Ava Photography

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