Do you serve a separate dessert at brunch?
I usually put out a mix of sweet and savory dishes including some fruit scones but always wonder whether I should also serve a dessert. What's customary? Thank you!
Recommended by Food52
I usually put out a mix of sweet and savory dishes including some fruit scones but always wonder whether I should also serve a dessert. What's customary? Thank you!
4 Comments
Voted the Best Reply!
A lot of American breakfast items are really desserts, but Americans are in denial.
Most breakfast pastries are really cakes that aren't call cake. Pancakes despite their name are not considered a cake, but they and waffles are cousins to crêpes. The classic crêpes Suzette dessert isn't much different than American style pancakes.
Doughnuts are breakfast items, beignets are dessert items but they are closely related.
Just get over the "dessert" moniker. Americans already eat dessert for breakfast anyhow, they just don't like calling it dessert even if they really are.
If you go to a fancy hotel's breakfast buffet, they will have cake anyhow.
Most importantly, do what you think will please your specific guests, not what random commenters on some anonymous Q&A forum think.
Best of luck.
Also, they range from casual and small to fancy and large.
For the casual and small, do what you and your guests like. With dishes like scones, perhaps, fruit salad, waffles and/or pancakes already included, there is no need for a separate dessert.
If you have a larger, fancier brunch, perhaps for a celebration or a family occasion, maybe present two buffet tables at the same time, one for savory and one for sweet dishes. That way people can have what they want, when they are ready for it. And/or concentrate on the one table that has more of what they like.
Last, have a look at cookbooks or online for brunch menus, from writers or chefs whose work you like. Food Network (love it or hate it) also has a selection of brunch dishes from its cooks/shows.