30 Delicious Alternatives to the Classic Wedding Cake (2024)

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Go All-Out With Cupcakes

Whether you choose to have one small cake surrounded by cupcakes, or just feature the cupcakes as the main event, these mini confections are the perfect way to give your guests individual sweet treats. Consider getting creative with the colors, too—this is a great way to incorporate your wedding color palette!

Embrace a Breakfast Classic

Why not embrace a breakfast classic if cinnamon rolls are your fave? Stack giant cinnamon rolls decked in plenty of cream cheese icing for an alternative that will shock and delight your guests.

Get Creative With Pie

Everyone loves pie! Especially if you're hosting a late summer bash when lots of fresh fruit is in season, a pie is a delicious cake alternative—and you can still decorate it or dress it up with a fun cake topper!

Serve a Stack of Cookies

Everybody loves cookies! If a towering cake isn't your vibe, have your dessert designer whip up a batch of your favorite cookies for guests to enjoy after dinner. There are so many ways to get creative with decorating cookies—and we love the idea of the heart-shape to symbolize your love.

Choose Savory Cheeses

No sweet tooth? No problem! Opt for stacked wheels of cheese to create a literal cake of cheese. We love the way this tiered beauty is dressed up with florals and greenery.

Add a Macaron Twist

Why not embrace the traditional tiered cake, but dress it up a bit? Adding a variety of colorful macarons to the tiers of a cake is such a simple, yet unexpected, way to take a cake to the next level.

Dress Up a Childhood Classic

Lean into the classics with a cake made from Rice Krispy Treats with Fruity Pebbles mixed in. We love the nostalgic vibe of this dressed-up sweet.

Make a Doughnut Tower

Doughnuts are a total classic, but they don’t have to be boring! For a unique take on a traditional tiered wedding cake, stack the round sweets in a mini-tower and then decorate with blooms and petite flags (that can be used to note different flavors or showcase details of your love story, like your initials or wedding date).

Wow With Waffles

Ready to truly wow your guests with your creativity? Bring waffles into the mix! Stack them on a beautiful cake stand to resemble a cake and dress it up with blooms and greenery. And, of course, don’t forget the maple syrup come showtime!

Consider Cheesecake

Is cheesecake more your style? Combine multiple cheesecakes to create a layered look, and then dress it up with a fruit drizzle paired with fresh blooms.

Opt For Cake Pops

Cake pops are a great choice if you want something portable. Plus, they can be crafted to match any color scheme, making them the perfect addition to a stunning dessert table.

Order Pancakes

Ditch the dessert options altogether and opt for a unique breakfast alternative. Bring pancakes into the mix by stacking them in multiple sizes. We love the idea of two partners pouring the syrup together to create a symbolic sweet.

Dress Up Mini Desserts

How sweet are these! These mini ladyfinger desserts, filled with mousse or pastry cream and topped with a variety of fruit options for a delightful dessert, could be dressed up to match any color scheme or wedding theme.

Pack on the Sugar With Churros

Churros are the perfect sweet, especially when they’re paired with ice cream and caramel. Dish up individual desserts for a surprising snack.

Tower High With Cupcakes

Celebrate with an array of treats, including a single-tier cake, cupcakes, and even macarons. We love the way this display put together multiple desserts to offer an option every guest would love.

Decorate With Doughnuts

Have your cake and doughnuts too with this sweet option! We love the idea of decking out a cake in mini doughnuts for a sweet look.

Turn Things Upside Down

If you don’t want to totally ditch the option of cake, why not turn the concept on its head? Opt for a statement dessert that pairs a two-tiered cake with a lovely display of macarons.

Consider Croquembouche

Croquembouche is definitely a dessert that makes a statement as it towers high. Made from choux puff pastry and filled with crème pâtissière, this traditional French dessert is absolutely dreamy.

Mix It Up With Millefoglie

Hosting an Italian destination wedding or celebrating your heritage stateside? Millefoglie is made by stacking light puff pastry cakes with delicious pastry cream. Topped with plenty of fresh fruit and a dusting of powdered sugar, this is perfect for the couple hoping for a dessert that’s stunning but not overly sweet.

Serve Mini Pies

Want to go for a more homemade vibe? Mini pies will do the trick. Opt for a sweet design and put together a display with multiple flavors for your guests to choose something they’ll love.

Embrace a Childhood Favorite

What a way to truly embrace a childhood favorite! This three-tiered sweet combines stacked layers of rice crispy treats with a bit of buttercream, greenery, and figs to elevate the look.

Serve Individual Cakes

Want a cake without the traditional tiered look? Consider serving up individually plated sweets. These dainty desserts, each dressed up with simple décor, are simply charming.

Embrace Chocolate Cream Puffs

Calling all chocolate lovers—this one is for you! Creating a tower out of chocolate cream puffs is an absolute dream come true, but dressing it up with dainty roses makes it all the more beautiful for a stunning display.

Deck Out a Candy Bar

Who says you have to choose just one dessert? Putting together a dreamy display of treats may be the perfect option for you! Deck out a table filled with your favorite candies, doughnuts, and even mini bundt cakes to satisfy every sweet tooth.

Look to Italian Favorites

Why not bring a favorite Italian pastry into the mix? Cannolis can be dressed up for a dessert table or displayed in a tower for a unique alternative.

Keep Tradition With Kransekake

Kransekake is a traditional Scandinavian sweet, stacked tall with rings of almond cookie and royal icing. Consider embracing your heritage with this dessert, or simply bring it into the mix for a not-so-sweet option.

Portion Out Parfaits

Mini parfaits are such a sweet alternative to a tall, tiered cake. Layer cake with frosting, and top your desserts with fresh berries for a beautiful display.

Feature Frosted Doughnuts

Why not create the classic tiered look with doughnuts instead of cake? Stack frosted doughnuts and dress up the tower with plenty of blooms for a beautiful display.

Go Mini With Cheesecake Bites

Bring your love for cheesecake to the table with bite-sized desserts. Put together displays of simple mini cheesecakes or incorporate other options such as chocolate or cherry flavors to please any guest. Dress them up with sugar decorations or opt for a fresh bloom on each for a sweet look.

Consider a Bundt Cake

This two-tiered frosted bundt cake topped with a mini bride and groom topper, created by Nothing Bundt Cakes, proves that simple and sweet can be a total treat.