
Lemon Meringue Tart and Lavender Macaron from the St. Croix Baking Company. Photos: Chris Emeott
Cottage bakers and resident makers are charting new territory in the wedding treat realm.
The topography of the reception dessert table is evolving. The tiered white wedding cake is no longer a given, and it’s ceding space to more varied terrain. Whether you want to scale a macaron tower or explore rolling hills of ice cream, modern wedding trends encourage couples to choose their adventure.
If you’re feeling a bit lost navigating this uncharted territory, don’t fret. We’ve compiled an assortment of makers and bakers to get you to your dream wedding dessert destination.
You might break the glass on your wedding day, but your guests can break the brittle. For an exciting late-night bite, consider an out-of-the-box option like slabs of toffee or brittle (complete with wooden hammers for guests to break off pieces) or a s’mores station from St. Croix Baking Company. It’s just the start of the incredible dessert options from celebrated pastry chef Charles Froke—including intricately decorated cakes and cupcakes, custom bars and cookies, two-bite mini desserts and plated desserts. St. Croix Baking Company, Hudson, Wisconsin; stcroixbaking.com

Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake from St. Croix Baking Company.
Donut mind if “I do!” Swap out a traditional cake with a donut buffet. Dorothy Ann Bakery & Cafe, a third-generation family-owned and operated bakery, offers more than 20 types of donuts, including Bismarcks, cake donuts, sweet rolls, turnovers and even gluten-free donuts. Dorothy Ann Bakery & Cafe, Woodbury; dorothyannbakery.com
Consider giving a sweet nod to one of Minnesota’s iconic music makers—Prince. If you’re a fan of him and cheesecake, take your pick of over 15 cheesecake varieties. Founding owner and head baker Vanessa Drews worked at Paisley Park. Cheesecake Funk, Minnetonka; cheesecakefunk.com

Cheesecake Funk
Personal cutting cakes are undeniably in—but they don’t need to be plain. For a wedding cake that is as intricate and beautiful as it is delicious, look to prodigious young baker Elouise Suoja. Her designs often feature delightful florals and whimsical color palettes. 350 Degrees Bakery, Mahtomedi; 350degreesbakery.net
If we all scream for ice cream, we’re bound to fall for gelato. This delicate, small-batch Italian treat is made in traditional flavors like almond stracciatella, hazelnut and pistachio. For intimate weddings, consider personal gelato cups in flavors of your choice. Orso Bianco Gelato, White Bear Lake; orsobiancogelato.square.site
Nothing says love like a handmade pie—especially when it’s heart-shaped. For a dessert that’s as sweet and gushy as you’ll be on your wedding day, consider a curated pie table. These tasty pies come in a variety of sizes (including hand pies, little tarts, pie jars, pie pops and whole pies) and flavors—many of which are infused with local spirits. Plus, the flaky crust is a family recipe. Sara’s Tipsy Pies, Stillwater; sarastipsypies.com

Sara’s Tipsy Pies
Kyiv Cakes’ signature layered honey cakes are inspired by the owner’s childhood in Ukraine. Iryna Motta opened the bakery in June 2024 to bring authentic flavors from Ukraine to Lakeville. Kyiv Cakes Bakery, Lakeville; kyivcakes.com
There’s nothing like a generous portion of ice cream to remind you to savor your wedding day. For a wedding dessert that is an event in itself, look no further than Nelson’s Ice Cream. Whether you select a bright red Nelson’s trailer or mobile freezer, Nelson’s trained scoopers will serve your guests heaping servings of traditional ice cream. Nelson’s Ice Cream, Stillwater; nelsonsicecream.biz
Add some artistic flair to your wedding dessert table with individual desserts from Patisserie Margo, known for its exquisite craftsmanship, elegant cupcakes, eclairs, rich chocolate mousse, creamy panna cotta shooters and cherry and lime tarts. Patisserie Margo, Edina; patisseriemargomn.com
There’s always plenty of toasts to go around, but how about ending the celebration with just one more sweet round? Consider Mousse Martinis, featuring pistachio, raspberry, Vandermint, vanilla bean and more. Buttercream, Wayzata; buttercream.info
We get it. Sometimes, you just want a slice of decadent wedding cake. From a cutting cake to cupcake towers—Nadia Cakes can design just about any delicious dessert. Its owner, Abby Jimenez, is a Food Network Cupcake Wars winner. Nadia Cakes, Maple Grove; nadiacakes.com