5 Fun dessert decorations

Helpful Tips

Before choosing the decoration for your dessert, be aware of your audience. A Gumball Martini is not for the teens and a fresh fruit tart might not be the perfect choice for a toddler who can't take big bites or swallow seeds very well. Be in sync with your dessert recipients and try one of the following for a new take on everyone's favorite treat - dessert!

Bring a smile to dessert, literally!

Fresh fruit is one of the easiest dessert decorators. It's abundant and comes in every shape and size. From tarts and pies to ice cream, there is always room for Mother Nature's healthy goodies. Plus, you can make wonderful designs, faces and even spell out words with fruit.

• Raspberries are sweet and fun-shaped. You can make clever presentations on pies, tarts and even cupcakes.
• Kiwis are green, sweet and present well in a circular form.
• Mandarin orange slices make for great centerpieces on anything imaginable.
• Pomegranate seeds are scrumptious, super healthy and a sweet surprise.
• Sliced strawberries are obvious, but easy.
• Melons, especially prepared with a melon baller, are gorgeous on anything from sorbet to toppings on a warm cookie.
• Even sliced apples in a lovely spiral wheel is an eye pleaser.

Gumball Martini (adults only!)

This is a liquid dessert, with the gumball accessory as the final sweet treat. A 21-and-over cocktail created by The Curtis Hotel in Denver. Try this at home for the next girl's night out pre-cocktail party. It's easy to make a non-alcohol version for the kids as well by just substituting a splash of lemon juice for the vodka.

• 2 Ounces bubblegum-flavored Three Olives Vodka
• 2 Ounces Sprite
• 2 Ounces cranberry juice
• Gumball for garnish (but why go easy? add as many as you want!)

Designer stencils

Kate Bailey knows all about dessert; it's her passion. She is executive pastry chef at The Roaring Fork Club in Basalt, CO, known for their culinary arts. "A simple, elegant way to make a special occasion cake really incredible, is to dress it up with a stencil. Armed with a design of your choice and a dusting of cocoa powder or powdered sugar, you can literally turn a so-so cake into a showstopper. For something a little more casual and fun, try crushing a few chocolate-covered espresso beans. These go particularly well with a variety of chocolate desserts such as souffles, puddings, pots de creme, creme brulee and, of course, cupcakes. "The beans add crunch, texture and an unexpected hint of bitterness in an otherwise sugar-laden world," explains Bailey.

Icing! It comes in any color and works with any season.

Who doesn't have memories of a child biting into an frosting-laden cupcake or slice of cake? There is just something about that surge of sugar that makes the mouth smile. While it should be used sparingly to prevent stomachaches and rambunctious children, investing in a cake-decorating bag will turn you into a mini Martha Stewart and the envy of any dessert designer.

• The disposable featherweight cake-decorating bag is the easiest to use with the least amount of mess. There are homemade recipes for cake frosting, or you can just as easily buy a store-bought version at the grocery store. Remember to refrigerate or freeze after opening.
• Cupcakes, cakes, pies and tarts are the obvious frosting choices, but don't leave out cookies and brownies.
• Change it up and make a small plate of frosting in a fabulous design and decorate the frosting with fruit. It's a reverse of normal and a great, personalized special treat.

Skittles, jelly beans and Willy Wonka to the rescue!

Here are some quick, easy tricks for last-minute dessert decorating additions:

• 

  The JW Marriot in Cherry Creek, Denver, bakes cupcakes and bedazzles them with Pop Rocks for an added pop, literally! They're a huge crowd pleaser.
• Skittles on a Key Lime pie is a surprising, extra sugary treat.
• Chop up any type candy bar for an added bonus, think Mars Bars, Health, Snickers, etc.
• Nerds, Sweetarts, Runts and Spree are all small enough to make shapes and images that will result in an interesting design.
• Gumdrops, they're not just for gingerbread houses. They can be easily stacked and come in an assortment of colors.
• Red hots are a blast of flavor and make any cookie spicy hot. Try an unexpected combination of cinnamon and lemon, such as lemon bars.
• Jelly beans are wonderful for spelling out initials on cakes and adding any flavor under the sun to your dessert. They are easy to find in bulk, and usually already separated into flavors for you.

More fun dessert ideas

Peanut butter and jelly cupcakes
Recipe ideas for Girl Scout cookies
Peanut butter and jelly bars