Your guests would certainly be
impressed with this cake.

A dessert buffet works well in the late afternoon or as a lovely ending to an evening out, allowing you to attend the event and still return home to host a late-night party. You can easily make the buffet smaller or larger simply by subtracting or adding desserts.

Here are some tips to keep in mind if you're planning on hosting a dessert party:

• Select desserts with contrasting and complementary textures and flavors. Mix sweet and tart, smooth and crunchy, adding a pleasing spice or highlighting a big, bold taste -- like chocolate!
• Make one showstopping dessert to dazzle your guests and let the others play minor, but still important, roles.
• It's smart to provide some lighter sweets to go along with the decadent ones -- for example, a fresh fruit platter. Cookies are always a big hit -- especially with kids.
• Plan as many make-ahead desserts as will work well on your menu. Easy-to-prepare and easy-to-serve foods work wonders in helping hosts enjoy their own parties.
• Provide both hot and cold beverages. Freshly brewed, flavored coffee is a nice touch. Set out a variety of flavored syrups for coffee, along with sugar, whipped cream, and cinnamon sticks for stirrers. (Look for flavored syrups in supermarkets in the coffee section.)
• Use cake stands of different heights or improvise pedestals for the cakes and tarts.
• Preslice cakes, pies, and tarts, but do not separate the slices. Arrange cookies in baskets, plates, or unique decorative containers.
• Consider making your party a do-it-yourself activity. Everyone loves being a dessert chef, and guests of all ages will try to outdo one another building the ultimate ice cream sundae or dipping into a rich dessert fondue.