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.
A white angel themed dessert table that looks heavenly!
I’d love to see a whole dessert table done in my favorite color, blue!
I would love to have a tropical island theme! :)
For a baby’s 1st birthday, something centered around the “smash” cake with lots of miniature treats. Yum yum!
Obviously a BOSTON theme! ;)
a SPACE theme, which i actually plan to do for 7th birthday of a little boy. I’m not yet sure how to ‘bite’ this subject, but it will, more than definitely, be very exciting :) lovely giveaway!
North/South Pole theme, with white icing everywhere!
I wonder it’s been said yet… but aliens!! would be a great theme for a boy’s birthday. Besides, wouldn’t UFO cookies look cute?
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast! I know identical twin three-year-olds whose favorite pretend has consistently been BB. One is always Belle; the other is always Beast–no trading roles! Beast was diagnosed with leukemia two months ago. I was just thinking how much fun putting together a BB-themed dessert table for them would be now, and what a great distraction for them!
I just had my baby’s 1st birthday party and it was a Classic Pooh theme with the beehive cake as the topper for the platters with mini cupcakes decorated with chocolate coating bees and honey graham smores pops. But there are so many themes I am looking forward to planning like a Pirate, Safari, Construction theme…possibilities are endless for his next party! This book sounds like so much fun!
A rennaissance theme…you could have a dragon cake…or a castle cake…or both! :)
A Willy Wonka theme ;)
Hairdressing themed? Log cabin-cottage theme? Family tree theme? The possibilities are endless, wow!
Sky theme :) I love blue <3
I’d love to see a watermelon theme!!
Angry birds!
Star wars theme!!!
I immediately thought of a Wizard of Oz theme, and then Curious George ,and Sock Monkeys cause I’m a sucker for anything that’s sock monkey related!!
Mary Poppins! Absolutely.
I think a theme following a specific color would be great. Orange. Purple. Yellow
Rainbow!!!!!! I love this theme!
A nice theme would be stars, lots and lots of stars, different types of stars! :)
I would do an 80s/early 90s theme. The neon craze has me thinking of my favorite shorts growing up… jean shorts with neon pink spandex underneath. I thought I was so stylish. Or a vintage superhero display. Or poppies. I love Iceland poppies!
I would love a Donkey Kong theme, my Mr 6 would love it! :-)
It would be great Sherlock Holmes theme!
Owls would be nice… or a Halloween theme, I guess.
A spring theme would be lovely with lots of flowers But a funny theme would be angry birds game theme :)
I would not be able to resist doing a nerdy science theme!
I’m pregnant with our first baby, so I’d love a baby shower-themed table!
My wish list for dessert tables is endless, but when I get my book next week (pre-ordered a while back) I’m sure I’ll get some more inspiration to make them! Sumer brights would be the next in my to-do-list.
How about a house warming dessert party table? That would be a fun theme.
The Rainbow Fish
A jungle theme with lots of monkeys!
Travel theme – could be for adults or children. Boarding passes, airline tickets, airline trays with food, passports (cookies), minature drinks, etc.
Penguins!
I think a State Fair theme would be so much fun!!!
I would like to see a table with the theme “Around the World in 80 Days” – different country styles with different tastes.
I think a flower themed dessert table would look spectacular. Or a glee one.
I’m a huge Prince fan, so I’d have to do a ‘Purple Rain’ theme :)
I’d love to do a Hollywood theme!! All stars and gold..make a cute red carpet runner on the table. Yep, now I’m going to have to have an Oscar party.
Hi, i can just imagine a RAINBOW themed dessert table, i love the rainbow,the colours, you can play with cloud themed treats, sunny treats !!! I am so EXCITED! My daughters 2nd birthday is going to be Rainbow and My little Pony in July :-) Yeah!!!
R A I N B O W T H E M E D P A R T Y !!!
A super hero theme would be cool. I’ve done a star wars theme before. I’m thinking of doing a The Walking Dead theme for when the show starts up again!
Im currently creating a winter wonderland dessert table but would love to do ancient myths theme
A beach and/or forest theme. It would be amazing just like the little town where i grew up. :)
How about a sweets table for the computer nerds among us? (Actually, that would include me….)
I think a happy yellow sunshine theme would be cute!
Hmmmm… Nautical ? Like red, blue, white, with stripes and stuff ?
Or The Hunger Games ! With food inspired from what they eat in the books, and the cookies Peeta makes at the beginning of Catching Fire :)
A beach theme would fit the weather we’re having this spring! Graham cracker crumb sand, sugar pearls, candy melt seashells, blue punch, hand-made sea glass (i don’t remember how my wilton instructor made it. :( ).
Once Upon a Time
I keep going back to bugs- not only could you have a chocolate mousse dirt cake for worms, but ladybug cupcakes, praying mantis sugared pretzel sticks, chocolate drop ants… YUM!
I think I would choose to make a zoo. Full of cutesy animals.
My heart is melting from just the thought. <3
I would like to see you creating a fairies theme party…I’ m sure it will be the best I’ve ever seen…Good luck to all of us!!!
I would love a ballet dancers table!!
Robots! It’s unisex and everyone likes robots!
I would love to do a Japanese themed one for my daughter.
Cupcakes….it just doesn’t get better than cupcakes.
I think a great theme for a dessert table would be MOTHER EARTH
I think a Hollywood theme would be good for a dessert table
I would love to do a garden theme!
America’s Best Dance Crew theme in honor of my Bonus Daughter, who is going to NYC in a few weeks to dance her heart out!
Definitely an outdoor, adventure theme! Water feature would be a chocolate fountain, glazed and sugar fruit display, sand would be brown sugar! The possibilities are endless with this sort of theme! Cocktail umbrella’s…..garlands can be sugar candy on strings!!!! Need I say more….I wanna party right now :)
Definitely a outdoor, adventure theme! Water feature would be a chocolate fountain, glazed and sugar fruit display, sand would be brown sugar! The possibilities are endless with this sort of theme! Cocktail umbrella’s…..garlands can be sugar candy on strings!!!! Need I say more….I wana to have a party right now :)
I’d love to do a miniature dessert table. Mini muffins, pudding shooters, that kind of thing. Everything just dainty and read to pop in your mouth. I’d also love an April Fool’s dessert table with desserts that all look like different foods (candy sushi, spaghetti & meatball cupcakes, etc.).
Thanks for the great giveaway, that book looks amazing!
I’ll go with an astronomic theme, with planets, sun,…
Maybe it’s not a new…but I love candy….marshmallow and lollypop….and bakery products…something about sweet world where everything is colorfull (pastel tone) and sweet…
I’m imagining a little candy shop or little bakery…child size…witn mini cakes, mini cupcakes…and a lot of candy!!!!!
PS: sorry for my english…I’m italian!!!!!
Monica
greek mythology!
My daughter birthday is in may and we are going to make a shark theme party.
Wizard of Oz! I’ve actually wanted to do this one since I was a kid…
Dear Bakerella, I
would go with a four-seasons-dessert table.
Love
Julia
Under the sea! Lot’s of blues and greens
Country, cowboy, cowgirl, horses, ecurie…my daughter likes that a lot…
Thanks…
Sophie, a french reader
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) theme. Edible tea cups and all.
Well, the bee theme has been done, but how about birds or butterflies?
I’m a little obsessed with the 1920s so I’d love a Jazz Agey, Art Deco theme!
II’ve got an algebra exam next week, so that would be a funny theme (and freak as well) with matrixes and equations and all that things that only engineers fancy…
Once Upon a Time!
My daiughter thinks a Ballerina theme would be fun… I am thinking Rainbow might be more acheivable!
I would go for a hello kitty theme. :3
Definitely an undersea theme – coral reefs and bright fishes… So many possibilities and so pretty!
I would want to do a Godzilla theme for my nephews. =D
Wow! My soon to be brother in law says a pirate theme would be cool- could add in gold coins!
Something funny for a hen’s party!!!
Superheroes theme…but not just one, all! Spiderman, batman, the Hulk, Ironman, x-men, Thor, ninja turtles, etc :)
I will say trash trucks! :) my son is turning 4 soon and that’s going to be his party. Excited to see what this book has to help me with that!
I’d do a “The Voice” table with candy related to music and to the Voice coaches and logo!
Nothing beats the good old Alice in Wonderland theme =D
I would do a knitting theme – needles, yarn, charts, knitted fabric, garments etc. I think a centrepiece cake painted like a fair isle design would be super cool.
I would love to have a b-day party with the theme of Ryan Gossling!
Lighthouses!
A Peppa Pig themed party for boys or girls! Pick one of the episodes and base the theme on that. All pre-schoolers love Peppa Pig! For girls it could be a Princess Peppa party and for boys it could be a Peppa Pig and George Pig Pirate Island party. Or a neutral theme could be Peppa’s visit to Potato City (which is a theme park full of vegetables!). Hey it sounds mad but these little ones LOVE it! I’m loving the book!!! Xxx
Awesome book! I love dessert tables. I did a pink table for my daughter’s last birthday and a Harry Potter theme for my son’s! The Harry Potter was my favorite and I want to do another one because I have so many more ideas!
I would love to do a log cabin/rustic/nature theme in celebration of moving to the mountains – which we aren’t able to do yet but it’s a wishful thinking party LOL!
BUTTERFLIES!
It may seem a bit dark but I would love to try a Tim Burton theme or Alice in Wonderland would be a blast to come up with ideas for.
I want to do either a zombie theme or a geeky theme.
Something from a children’s book. My favorite was Winnie the Pooh. Wouldn’t that be super cute!?!
I’d love to see a Candyland theme! It’s colorful and fun, plus there are so many delicious sweets to choose from- cakes, cookies, pies, and of course CANDY. Yum, all my favorite things :)
I would choose a giraffe theme, concentration on the wonderful, huge expressive eyes of those wonderful animals !
Harry Potter, Lego Harry Potter, Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, or Diagon Alley! :D I <3 Harry Potter!!
I think a Garden Party table would be amazing!
I think a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory would make an amazing theme! So many possibilities to create your own sweets :)
I’d love to do a Broadway theme!
old school nintendo games: Super mario, donkey kong, kirby, zelda, prince of persia and tetris. Tasty and nostalgic!
I think I would choose Secret Garden….or, oooooo, I changed my mind. The Princess Bride! That would be an awesome dessert table theme!
I would do a Harry Potter or Lego Harry Potter theme because Harry Potter is my life<3 :)
I would love to see a purple theme for a bridal shower.
id use sky and ballons theme.
I’d love to do an Asian Fusion theme – orange carp, golden dragons, chow mein cupcakes – all edible and all dessert!
Small
Steampunk! Elegant intricate Victorian sweets and strange mechanical gadgets. You can’t go wrong haha.
A gymnastics theme for my 8-year old super fanatic gymnast daughter!
I think a garden theme. Flowers, vegetables, and butterflies….and bugs!
Wow this book sounds amazing, I hope it will be published in Europe as well!
I have so many ideas for themes. Super hero’s, Alice in Wonderland, Super Mario (for boyfriends birthday), the Dutch Queensday (basically: orange), Italy, French chic, cute animals (in childish cartoon style), Dior or Chanel, Hogwarts or Hogsmeade, Venetian carnival, Rock and roll, nautical, aliens, fairies, circus, the English royalties, Neverland, Winter wonderland, New Years, Christmas (of course)… etc, etc,
But first, in two weeks is my birthday, and the theme will be pink and orange :)
Endless possibilities of dessert table- I’m having in my head now peas themed baby shower dessert table :)
The Giving Tree
Childhood. Pinwheels, kites, jacks, jumprope, bubbles, playdoh bright colors and creativity
I’m working on a Fairies table combined with a Dinosaur table for my kids birthday party in a few months. This book would be really helpful!!
I would do an underwater themed one. Complete with shipwrecks!
I was thinking a vintage racecar theme for my little mans second birthday <3
I think Alice In Wonderland would be a nice theme, specially for kids and kid at heart.
More power, i really love your site.
toy shop theme!
Superheroes theme! Not limited to just one hero, but them all! Superman, Spiderman, The Hulk, Batman, Wolverine, Ironman, X-Men, Thor, Conan…so many options :)
I would do a Two Peas In A Pod dessert table for my good friend who’s having twins!
I would make a treasure hunter theme for my boys. Think about all the fun with luster powder, poured sugar, foils, etc…
I’m thinking a vintage racecar theme for my little mans second birthday <3 this book look awesome I love love love dessert tables
My baby girl celebrates her first birthday on summer solstice, so a sunshiny theme!
I would really love to see a Disney themed table. I think that would be intense but so reminiscent of childhood memories.
I believe a very cute dessert table theme for a baby shower would be a birds and the bees theme. Not only is it unisex, but it is also a pun! : )
a “once upon a time” theme would be fun.
I would love a vintage circus theme. Lots of circus inspired treats.
cherry blossoms or angry birds :-) or princess or color themed….the possibilities are ENDLESS!
Shoes theme!! Yes, a table full of shoes!
I would just absolutely love to have a “crime/forensiics” themed table for my birthday. I love shows like CSI, and I could definitely see candy or cookies made to look like DNA strands, test tube shots and some cotton swan cake pops. Anything forensics related would work for me and I think that possibilities are almost as endless as anything else these days with this theme.
I would love to win a copy off this loveley book. I hope it’s not a problem that I live in the Netherland?
Love, Melanie
Lego Ninjago theme. My son’s birthday is next month and he loves Legos.
I think an underwater theme would be great or an art/paint by numbers type theme would be awesome too! Thanks for the giveaway!
little kid birthday party theme!!! pinata, cute hats, goodie bags, pin the tail on the donkey!
Vintage garden party or boardwalk!
a Garden theme!~ Cupcakes with piped roses and grass + cookies piped as bees and ladybirds, cake pops with fondant flowers, crumbled chocolate mud cake as soil~
It’ sure is living up to it’s name :D
I think a robot theme would be fun hehe
Shoes………beautiful high heeled shoes. I can’t wear them, but I love the looks of them.
A Moroccan themed dessert table, filled with vibrant colors and patterns!
I have done a boardwalk themed table before that was so much fun, and also an old fashioned garden party themed dessert table that turned out so pretty.
I’d do a lemon theme. I love lemons so much that I want everything smelling and tasting like lemons.
Cherry Blossoms! :)
I’d love a photography themed dessert table.
What a fab book, btw!
Shrek theme :)
I definitely want to do an Ice Cream Shoppe themed party. All pretty with pastel colors. Cake pop cones, ice cream cone cookies, cupcakes decorated like sundaes…oh and so much more lol
Ooo! A tropic island! Sea shells and starfish in different candy melt colors on a candy glitter ‘sand’ for a start..,
i LOVE theme parties! i have done theme so many. I have done wizard of oz, only watermelon stuff party, pink n green party (everything was pink n green, clothes too), cupcake wars (my family has domes this for two years now), Hawaiian, chocolate bar/pop making party, candy land… list goes on!
the theme i am dying to do is Disney’s Up! and alice in wonderland un-birthday party!
Ok, so I know this is going to sound pretty weird, but I would love to have a dessert table with a “crime/forensics” theme. Maybe CSI, or something along those lines. I can just see some candy or cookies made to look like DNA strands, test tube dessert shots and cotton swab cake pops. I think the possibilities for that theme would be almost as endless as anything else, and I would love a forensics themed table for my bday!!!
A Tim Burton theme!
Beach theme for summer!
Since are a military family and have traveled the world I think an “Around the World” party table with desserts from different countries with their flags would be too cute! Shoot, now I might do that, ha ha!
Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee – a street party like the one’s they’ll be having all over Blighty this summer – Union Jack’s, bunting, Victoria Sponge Cakes, Summer Puddings, red, white and blue, British Flapjacks, bulldogs – British icons to the nth degree :) Thank you!
I would do a chocolate themed dessert table. Who wouldn’t want that?
1980’s arcade games, pacman, pong, and space invaders. I saw fondant cupcakes cake of pacman, it was awesome and I have wanted to do that theme ever since!!
Retro theme or Marine theme!! These would be super duper!!!
Alphabet theme…maybe for a younger kids birthday.
I would love to do a school theme for Teacher Appreciation Week!
I think a gidget/50s beach culture theme would be fun
How about a night in paris theme? (: It’d be gorgeous! Le Tour Eiffel, l’Arc de Triomphe, le Champs-Elysees, and so much more! What a sight it will be!
Charlie and the chocolate factory would be a great theme for my grandson, Charlie.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory theme, or a Roald Dahl theme..
Cafe/coffee shop!
<3 it! And I would love a Marie Antoinette themed dessert table! "Let Them Eat Cake!"
Safari Themed would be so cute!!! All earth tone colors with animal prints!
Hobbit themed!!
i may be saying that because i am re-reading the hobbit and lord of the rings books at the moment, but i think it could be really cool =]
I would do a pretty n pink theme!!
A princess theme! My girl wants a princess party for her next birthday. :)
We just did a Lorax themed dessert table for an 8 yr olds birthday. What a hit!!
I’d love to do a coffee shop/cafe theme!
An M.C Escher table would be very interesting! He is my favorite artist.
Vintage Hollywood-roll out the red carpet, don the marabou boa and stilletos..and lights, camera, action!
I’d go for a fashion theme! It would be really cute with all those dresses and accessories!
Since my son’s first birthday is coming up, I’d like to design a table with a “Bubble Guppies” theme. It’s his favorite cartoon. So, I’m picturing gumballs in various shades of blue, clear plastic balls filled with cotton candy, and of course goldfish cake pops!
Goodnight moon! Doing this for my daughter’s first birthday because it’s her favorite book!
Olivia the pig for my Grand daughter Olive
My Little Pony, because I have one on storage from when I was a child.
HUNGER GAMES!
Hi
I think it would be fun with a LEGO theme. Blocks i different sizes and colours would be colourfull and fun!
I think a children’s literature theme would be so cute. Pick a classic author and feature treats based on his most well-known stories.
I am loving Peacocks right now! You could do so much with all the colors.
I would love a daisy themed party with an awesome desert table.
It would be fun to see a Lion King theme!
it be really cool to make an ocean/aquarium themed table, but that’s probably ’cause I volunteer at the local one in my area and they host parties there on occasion which always gets me thinking haha :]
that or a zoo themed one ’cause I also work at the san diego zoo :]
Books! Just think of a wonderful Roald Dahl-themed table – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory alone would be awesome!
How about Seven Wonders of the World.. Something different… Unique..
I think a spring/summer combo would be beautiful. Brite colors, yellows, oranges, blues…to combine serenity & fun for all.
I would love to do a Woodland Fairy theme, or Fancy Nancy theme-all influenced by my 7 year old! Or if I was doing a grown up party. Maybe a cheese and wine table with some chocolate wine. Mmmmm! :)
What a cool book!
I love to do a The Backyardigan’s theme. My little nephew will be 2 in September. I can see all fun colors being displayed!!
i’ d love a ” alice in wonderland theme” card half painted rose, cheshire smile…what fun!
I say Disney and Jack Skellington
Hello Kitty!!! :D
I have visions of making your super bowl table with Eagles colors instead of that Steelers theme… But it is not football season, it is baseball seasons, so a cute baseball table would go over big in our house!
I would say Disney and Jack Skellington!
chemistry… definately chemistry!
Love a hunger games theme!