Next week my friend Amy Atlas‘ new book, Sweet Designs hits the shelves. It’s a mega-manual of sugar and crafts that will help you create beautiful dessert tables like this one from the book called Honey, I love you.
Just looking at this photo has me buzzing with excitement. Dessert tables bring smiles and designing one is a great way to tap into your creativity. Plus, you’re playing with sugar so what’s not to like.
When you work on one, it’s very easy to get caught up in the crafting and design behind each dessert. You’ll experience a constant flow of ideas and won’t want to stop. Or at least that’s how I feel. Here’s a Super Bowl dessert table I helped my friend Julie with a while ago and we had the best time watching it all come together. I think we could create dessert tables everyday and never get bored. They are so visually appealing and full of yummy treats – I wish I could keep one on display at all times – magically replenished with desserts. That would be sweet.
Here’s a few extra shots from the full table. I zoomed in a little so you could see more of the detail.
…because the website just isn’t wide enough to do this entire spread of sweets justice.
Sweet Designs has more than 175 projects with tons of pictures throughout.
That means it’s huge… 374 pages huge.
Candy math… tools of the trade… candy index… the book is full of information to get you started on your own table designs.
And if dessert tables aren’t your thing, that’s okay too.
The book makes it easy to find individual recipes and projects from each table to bake or craft if you just want to start out small.
There’s also handy overviews in each chapter. Shop it. Display it. Switch it.
But I think my favorite is Find it. Thank you Amy for a detailed listing of all the items you used. Your book makes me happy happy!
You can pre-order Sweet Designs right now from amazon or look for it in stores next week.
But, you can also win one here. Signed by Amy. Yay!
Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Amy Atlas’ Sweet Designs.
- To enter, leave a comment on this website post and just answer the following question.
- What theme do you think would make for a fun dessert table? (baby, owl, circus, safari, super hero? Nursery rhyme? Dinosaur? Dancing with the Stars? I don’t know – get creative…the possibilities are endless.
- Deadline to enter is Friday, April 20th at 5 p.m. ET. SORRY, TIME’S UP! Winner Announced below.
- One winner will be chosen at random and announced on this post sometime Friday evening.
Good luck – and now I need to go clear off my dining room table.
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We have a winner – and we have a lot of incredible dessert table ideas. Take a look at some of the comments for inspiration.
And the winner is:
Comment #1154 Michele M! Congratulations. It sounds like you’ll get some good use out of the book. Send pics of your table after the party.
I would love to do a Botticelli’s primavera inspired dessert table. It’s my favourite painting and it has so many wonderful details that would be really pretty recreated in desserts.
We are going to try to do The Avengers theme for my son’s birthday this year!!
Mothers day is coming up…so anything mothers-related :)
I would do a Glee themed table, you could serve slushies and have the table decorated with pom poms and music notes, would be a great table to do for the season finale :)
Blue’s Clues. Nobody does it anymore and my boys, ages 2 & 3, absolutely LOVE Blue’s Clues. They have both asked for BC bday parties, but it’s sooo hard to find anything.
Harry Potter!!
or a pink/green theme =)
My kids would love the Super Hero theme you suggest. Some other ideas that come to mind: construction, art (I can see a chocolate bar version of “Starry Night”), ancient Egypt (shortbread in the shape of the sphinx). Sure would be fun to win this.
I love vintage themed (vintage-style candies and colour theme) dessert table idea.
I have tried a RUSTIC theme myself (just it went not only for desserts)
A pattriotic theme…red, white & blue with eagles, flags, military symbols & fireworks!! Like a good old block party with a potluck BBQ where the neighborhood enjoys a warm summer evening together.
Tropical forest – a lot of lush green with bright, colorful accents like parrots and plates of tropical fruits & fruit based desserts & shakes/smoothies.
I was thinking Legos, Twilight (I am a fan!) or Hunger Games. All three I may have to do in the next year or so!
Hmm..I guess a couple of my themes would be a Spongebob Squarepants theme for my 5 year old and a Mario theme for my 7 year old, since those seem to be the current loves at our house!
I would do a pastry chef table with like the main tools a pastry chef would use like whisk, spatulas, etc. and like a dessert buffet! that would be soo fun!!
Definitely a 90’s dessert table! Saved by the bell, Full House, Urkel, etc. :). Even if I don’t win this book I absolutely plan on buying my own copy. Can’t wait!
Hi,
The book looks amazing!
It would be really stylish to do the “Black” dessert table. Or “Red” for a passionate evening:) “Green” would go for example, for a party against Earth enemies. “White” – for wedding (boring though) or baby shower. And so on… “Olive and cyklamen”, “Black and white (zebra)”, “Orange and turquoise” look always amazing together.
I think a Mr Men and Little Miss dessert table would be cute! You could do various things linked to each of the charcters, Gum balls for Mr Bounce, Sun shaped cookies for Little Miss Sunshine, Jelly cups for Mr Jelly, small cup cakes for Mr Small, Phone shaped cake pops for Little Miss Chatterbox ect it would turn out so cute!
A backyard BBQ theme. A round red Coleman grill shaped cake as a centerpiece. So many possibilities for the supporting players…. Like dessert skewers, appetizers, even drinks.
I think it would be fun to do a puppy theme!
I would go for a green spring themed one – just like I’m currently putting together for my wedding in June :)
I would do a Netherlands vs america theme. MY sister is coming back from half a year in the US and we live in the netherlands… the colours match so I think it would totally work… licorice and american pancakes, dutch apple pie and cupcakes, need I say more?!
I would pick a cowgirl/western theme :o)
I think a game table where all of the pieces are edible and look like the actual game bits. For instance Rubik Cubes made out of petite fours, and those knoted metal puzzle toys made out sugar, and maybe even a playable Candy-land or Life board game.
Steampunk! Lots of Victorian teas and sweets but decorated with an edgy twist
Hot Air Balloons! Bright, cheery and whimsy works for me
A Mad Hatter/Wonderland theme!
Dandelions – yellow and puffy ones too! Might have to get clever on how to keep the puffy ones from blowing away. Bet there’s someone who could make cake pops look like dandelions!!!
i think yellow could be a really interesting theme, especially to see how many different variations there could be. bananas, sunshine, peanut m&ms, sunflowers…
I would do a tropical summer theme! Think of the colors and the flavors that could be used…. yummmmm.
What an amazing book! I am thinking of a nautical table, yacht style…
Hope to win :)
I did an adorable display of “Star Wars Lego’s” for my son’s 4th birthday party…it was a huge hit w/all!!!
I think an adult dessert table that caters for the inner child that still loves chocolate and lots of it!
We did a dessert buffet for my son’s 3rd birthday which was a WIllie Wonka themed party. It was SO much fun! Also did one for a Dr. Seuss baby shower.
CHOCOLATE!!!
I think a parisian baby shower would be adorable! I can just picture all the pink, purple and white treats on the table :)
I just finished reading “Charlotte’s Web” with my students. That would be really fun to theme up on a dessert table!
A superhero theme would be fun, especially for the kids.
A Dexter theme would be awesome!
Sunshine sounds so happy.
Honoring Thomas Kincade.
Under the sea!
Monet’s Garden
I’ve always wanted to do a RAINBOW theme!!
Sakura blossoms! They are feminine, elegant, and so classy! Plus they look amazing with gold-accented items.
Duct Tape and Father’s Day too!
I’m a fan of the off-beat. I think a zombie/halloween theme (cute but gross) would be super fun!
A Star Wars theme would be amazing! Can’t wait for Amy’s book to come out — it looks so exciting!
Mother’s Day!
I think a Star Trek themed dessert table would be incredibly fun! Just think of all the series, planets, and pastries you’d have to choose from!
Thanks for this awesome giveaway, Bakerella!
I would do an Olympics theme. Only 100 days ’til the 2012 London Olympics!
Something lovely for a bridal shower? Peonies!! Or maybe a French chic?
I love Harry Potter and think it would make an awesome dessert table. The foods and sweets are so intricately described in the books, recreating them would be such fun!
I’m DYING to do a fun, frou frou girly table for a baby shower or something!
I’m a pink kinda gal, so it would be pink wiith butterflies!
Hungry Caterpillar theme for my son.
My idea is pink zebra print. My sister-in-law just did this theme for my neice’s first birthday party and it was adorable!
I would love to make a baby minnie/mickey theme for a baby shower, & a summer ice cream theme would be nice too. =0 )
what about a stunning spice theme, using and showcasing all the amazing spices that can be used in sweets.
My first thought was mustache for my son. And owls for my girls. But I rarely do anything for mommy. So Cupcakes & Cocktails would be what I picked. Or something with wine. :)
Haute Couture!!! Sewing machines, manequins, patterns, beautiful clothes…..
I saw a STAR themed one in a Martha Stewart magazine once, and have been in love with it ever since. Dying to try that one out.
I’m doing a beard themed dessert table for my boyfriend’s 30th birthday. That’s right I said BEARD
I would love to do a rainbow themed party!
Rainbow birthday or baby shower. The colors are amazing and the options are endless! This book looks amazing! Congrats to you both
Crossfit theme to kick off the regionals starting in the next few weeks.
I think a great theme would be deep sea done glamorous and sophisticated! Octopus, old fashioned dining helmets, anchors, whales! Kind of off beat but fun!!
I would love to do a tea party theme!
A nautical beach theme!
How about kitties!!
My fiancé is a pilot so I would love to prepare an airplane themed dessert table for him!
frogs! – the come in so many colors and they hide in flowers and under leaves and they have great eyes!
I would love to do a Garden theme… how beautiful it would be with all the colors and ‘extras’…. you could put it together for days and still have stuff missing!
ubrewme@yahoo.com
For some reason hello kitty always seems to put a smile on my face.
Winter theme
I’ve always wanted to do a pirate themed one!! Arrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!
I would like to see a teatime theme table. That would be so pretty!
(Best wishes, Amy, on your new book, and thank you, Bakerella, for an opportunity to win!) :-)
A soccer themed table would be nice to see
crystal glass and lots of yummy goodies
A barnyard theme! Or an old-fashioned 4th of July! Or a soda fountain theme! … (This is kinda fun … !)
I can’t wait for this book! I would do a comic super hero theme.
LEGO theme please! My son is obsessed and he’s turning 5 next month and we’re taking him to LegoLand! He can’t wait! I think I’m more excited than he is!!
Sweet Sixteen! This sweet theme is oh so much fun!
Roses! I adore roses, especially English roses with delicious fragrance.
I’d like to do a ballet theme for my daughters dance recital!
I think awkward teenage owls would make an adorable dessert table. You know how owls go through that really embarrassing stage where they’re gangly and silly looking? How cute would that be when illustrated? There could be stray feathers strewn about like they were molting. LOL, I promise the vision I have in my head is cuter than it sounds!
I would like a Hollywood, walk the red carpet theme… The gold and silver… The glitzy Hollywood decor…works for some celebrating a birthday/success…anything featuring “The Star”
I think Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory theme would be fantastic! I mean it is the original sugar sweet childhood dream brought to the screen so can you imagine the excitement to see the everlasting gobstoppers, floating bubbles, chocolate river and lickable wallpapers on a dessert table?! Lets not forget the golden egg laying geese ;)
Being Canadian, I would have to say a Hockey theme…My five year old would love it, as he is hockey obsessed right now, and with it being playoff time, what better time than now?
Country picnic… With a cowgirl theme. Can you imagine the table scape?
Sock Monkey!!!
A Muppets table would be fantastic!
I would want to do an Alice in Wonderland theme!
Fun on the farm!
We can do an Afternoon Tea (Garden) Party, inspired by Spring’s warm weather. Using pretty pastel colors and lacey things all around to decorate the sweets, and budding blooms to swoon over. These colors will will warm every guests’ hearts!
My husband is getting ready to “Ride the Rockies” so we are big bicycle enthusiasts in our house…how about a Tour de France theme? After all, we cycle so we can eat!
I’d go for a SUNSHINE theme!
I would LOVE a neon theme! Everything in bright neon and black light colours :o
My first thought was a Hunger Games theme, but any Eric Carle book could become a great table.
80’s What could be more fun??
I think Rustic Spring would be awesome :) Daisies, a lemonade stand, old wooden water pails, maybe little pots of grass all over…:)
Barbie themed!!! I still love her and collect her!! Pink and pretty = fun fun fun!!
Harry Potter!
How about Springtime in Paris?? That would be for me and I have been thinking of a mermaid/beachy theme for my DGD’s upcoming birhtday.
My fiancé is a pilot so I would love to make an airplane themed one!
We’re gonna have a home made dessert table at our wedding, can’t wait to get started on it :) I’m sure the book would be a great help!
I think a butterfly theme would be pretty, because the color combinations are endless :)
it’s simple. Chocolate. All varieties:dark (should be featured), milk and white (even though it’s not really chocolate) Let there be cupcakes, cookies, candies, cake pops, mousse, and the list goes on and on. Mountains and fountains of chocolate. chocolate spreads. YUM!!
I would love a soda fountain themed dessert table. That’s what we are doing for our son’s first birthday next month. Wish I was as talented and creative as Amy!!
My husband gives the shout-out of Batman!! Boy at heart. :)
Candy Land!!!
At the moment I’m working on ides for my daughters first bday. It’s going to be a girly farm theme. So I was thinking simple white cake pops and labeling fresh eggs, sheep cookies, piggies and so much more. Any Ideas?
I would love to do a dessert table for my brother’s birthday in June. His into gaming (computer, Nintendo, etc). So a theme about (his favorite) Games would be awesome!
Well I can only imagine that if I was doing a table, my daughter would influence my choice greatly and would tell me that it needed to be dance them (preferably ballet).
The book looks so inspiring. I am adding it to my wishlist now! :)
I think a Cherry Blossom theme. They are beautiful!!
Little girls and all their bling!
Flowers- Roses, maybe daisies and especially, lilies..Lots of them. Stargazer, Calla, water lilies and incorporate chocolate in everything :)
Cats! Since I love my kitties a whole bunch!
Around the world! So many different things could be done with country designs and flags and national landmarks!
I would love a makeup and beauty themed table!
i think a vintage summer theme would be sooo cute.
I would make a yellow theme because it’s my daughters’s favorite color.
If I were to do one in the next month or so, I think I would choose a spring-themed dessert table, with all kinds of candy flowers. Cherry blossoms are my fave!
Midsummer Night’s Dream theme would be cool. Whimsical, fairies, and stars, and forest type thing :)
How about an “OLYMPIC GAMES” theme? Colorful, several options for sweets, cupcakes, cake pops, etc…And most of all the kids will love to eat everything like an athlete
A beach theme…vintage of course!
With summer coming, I think a beach theme would be fun!
Topical, just hoping the sun shows up in the PNW soon.
Alice in Wonderland Tea Party – selections of bite size “eat me’s” desserts and appetizers to colored bottles of drink me’s and colorful tea sets. Plus decorated with hats and vintage clocks
Leaves :)
Dessert theme . . . My daughter is getting married – wedding theme!
Noah’s Ark, with an ark to hold desserts and desserts that look like the different animals.
I would love to do an Alice in Wonderland/Madhatters dessert table or for a healthy twist, I would love to do the Hungry hungry Catapillar :)
I’d like to say I’d do a Wizard Of Oz theme because I’m a huge fan and collector and who could resist an edible yellow brick road?! But right now I’m in nursing school and I have all things medical on the brain so I think it would be fun to do a tablescape of nurses/doctors/hospital…or maybe a med cart table with beakers, test tubes, vials, pills…but all candy and edible and small and adorable!
Star Wars :-)
a pink and green theme. I’m really loving pink & green together these days.
A super mario brothers dessert table would be awesome. With turtle shells, goombas, and of course little 1 up mushrooms. So awesome!
I get do excited when I get an e-mail telling me you posted! I’m always so eager to see what you’re sharing with us & this post is a great example to why I love your site! My husbands cousin loves bee themed anything & this makes me want to be able to throw her a bee themed baby shower when that day comes =P
As to the contest, I do like the bee theme, but right now I would choose a Cookie Monster theme. My sons first birthday is next Satirday & that’s the theme I picked, I’m already planning a good amount, but if I could afford it I’d do go over the top! :-D
I think Icons of the 50’s!
alice in wonderland would be adorable. ?
I would love to do a knitting themed one , those colourful balls of yarn, funky needles, jars of sparkly stitch markers and buttons, fabulous!
Since my family gets together every Sunday night for tea, I would make a dessert table around an English tea. Petite treats, tea shaped cookies, etc.
My grandkids are all into JUNGLE things these days, so that would be a great and colorful theme.
Ladybugs;)
I think a rainbow theme would be cute!
I think an UFO theme would be a really fun idea.
mickey mouse will be fun
I would definitely do a Tangled dessert table!!! I fell in love with the movie :) I think the little tower she was staying in would make the PERFECT centerpiece!!
A fun dessert table for me would be Alice in Wonderland tea party since you can have all sorts of bite size “eat me” desserts and appetizers and everything will be so colorful.
I would LOVE a Grease theme. Ya know poodle skirts, records, jukeboxes, pink cadillacs, icecream shakes, hamburgers anything from the 50’s.
Apple or Cherry Blossom theme. We went to an apple blossom festival this past weekend. I kept thinking how cute a cherry blossom theme party would be, especially for my 9 year old.
Lego Ninjago, well not necessarily what i would pick, but my godson turns 5 next month… so… i will be needing americolor red & black… <3 him!!
I think a Hunger Games theme would be really cool!
Lego. Under water/fishy. Bugs. Things that are fun themes for parties! =)
What theme do you think would make for a fun dessert table?
-Neon hearts!
Twins!!!! i have twin girls
a sushi themed table!!!!!!!!!!!!
A fun dessert table? I love the petting zoo theme. My kids love animals and zoo, it’s going to be super fun! I hope there’s an animal/zoo theme in her book. :)
amy [at] utry [dot] it
A Halloween thmed sweet table! A cauldron filled with treats! Apple-shaped cake pops set in a witch’s hat stand! Pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese icing topped with a candy corn! Chocolate frogs and Bertie Bots Beans, with some sugar skulls added in…
Creepy, yet magical!
I would love a Pinkalicious themed table. My daughter loves that book and I am thinking of doing that as the theme for her 4th birthday party in November.
I would love a John Deere farming theme. How cute would that be?
I ‘d love to have a mermaid theme!
I’d do a video game themed dessert table!
Garden!
Summer is coming up – a beach theme would be great
I would do an Umizoomi party because it is the theme for my Sons birthday and there are not many ideas out there. It is nice to be original and be forced to think myself. I love to apply myself to new projects.
Star Wars Legos
Roald Dahl!
Anything girly, pink, bows and ribbons. I have all boy’s and would love to do a girly party
Ooh, I would love to do a picnic theme with ants, watermelon, red and white tablecloth, baskets, oh my.
I think a horror theme would make for an interesting desert table. Perhaps vampires. I would love to see what Amy could do with that theme!
I’d love to see a red-rock mountain themed one! In honor of Sedona and the Arizona centennial.
I would like an Around the World sweets party where you could try lots of different sweets from other countries. I have done lots of parties with the color being the theme.
This is an amazing book by Amy Atlas!
The very hungry caterpillar! That would lend itself to lots of treats and I would be so colorful. :)
The first thing that came to my mind was chocolate, chocolate, chocolate.
Harry Potter!
It’s my birthday today! Literally!!! <3
I love giraffes, so of course SAFARI!!
would love to see a ‘7 wonders of the world’ theme. =)
I would love an geeky girl theme. Think adorable superhero minis, etc.
Super Hero theme(that’s what my son is into)
A Warrior Princess Party for us grown up girls!
Thanks for providing this give-a-way!
I think a garden theme woulf be nice, lots of different flowers….think itd be a great way to welcome Springtime
I love a color themed desert table.
victorian
I would love to see a Tropical Theme!
I’d love a sock monkey theme!!
I’m intrigued by candy math! As an engineering student, my friends and I are all about being nerds… vintage arcade games like Tetris and Galaga could be amazing inspiration for a desserts table!
I think a science theme would be fun! I love that science is getting trendy among the elementary school set…
What a neat book, it just went on my amazon wishlist!
I would love to see her take on a Mother Nature theme…
We’re planning a huge birthday bash for my dad later this year. He’s really into photography, so a dessert table with that theme would be super cute!
Peter Pan because my son is obsessed with it right now. :D
glitter!
i would do a mickey and minnie mouse theme/ I have a boy and a girl, so this theme would be a perfect theme, and their birthdays are Nov and Dec.
SWEET 16!!
Star Wars!
I’m thinking a Cars (the movie) themed table would be great for my son’s 3rd birthday.
A space theme for the upcoming Lyrids meteor shower and to commemorate the Discovery’s last flight!
I would love to do a masquerade themed party with a gorgeous dessert set up.
I love that Sweet Designs combines the crafting and design with recipes and ideas!
A fairyland!
I participated in an Alice in Wonderland cookie display once, and I think it would be fun to do a whole dessert table with that theme. You could do a lot with the mad tea party, the red roses, the playing cards, etc.
Hunger Games! :)
I would love a graduation theme because I’m graduating next month!
I want to do a camping theme for a birthday.