DIY :: HOW-TO Create an EASY Candy Buffet

Easy Candy Buffet
 

We all ooooh and aaaaah over the highly stylized and pretty candy buffets, dessert tables, and party inspiration on our favorite blogs or Pinterest boards. But what if you wanted to create something yourself and you are not a professional party planner, stylist, or have access to wholesale supplies?

It IS possible to create a yummy and cute candy buffet for any age, season, or theme. Here is a simple how-to to get you started, and you can always build and embellish on this if you are crafty.

All the supplies and ingredients are standard grocery store items. No specialty online shopping or searching out an expensive craft store. You can buy the ingredients the next time you are shopping, store away until you are ready to set up, and there you go- an easy candy buffet for your friends and family.

This summer inspired buffet can easily be adapted for any color theme or season. I always find that glass jars show off treats and snacks so nicely and create a unified, clean look.

How much to buy and serve? It depends if you are planning of just allowing people to snack as dessert or also offer little cups or bags for them to take treats home as a favor. Multiply the number of guests by one serving of candy and decide how much to buy. Remember that most candy has a very long shelf life so there's no harm in having a little extra at the end. Also, a variety of shapes and flavors will make it look fun and interesting.

Your Shopping List:

- Assorted candies- Choose one or two of each category- chocolate, fruity, chewy, minty.

- Cupcake papers and straws

- Mini donuts- homemade are great but if you are not a baker, then don't feel guilty about buying them

- Ribbon- you may have some extra ribbon at home that would be great for this

- Paper cups, napkins, paper plates, and decorations (I found all of these items at my dollar store, including these pretty paper lanterns)

How-To:

· Choose where you want to serve- a candy buffet doesn't need a large table because most of what you are serving is small. I used a small china cabinet in my dining room.

· Cover with a table cloth that coordinates with your party or create this simple table runner with streamers- I cut strips in two colors and overlapped along the table, I taped the ends in place. It took all of 5 minutes!

· Choose your serving dishes, jars and spoons- I used large soup spoons

· Prepare labels for the treats- these are made from labels I found at my office supply store but you could also make some with craft paper and a paper punch

·  Set out your dishes and fill with candies, place spoons in for scooping

· Plate the donuts- I actually found these paper straws at my dollar store and they were cheap! 

I placed 2 donuts in a cupcake paper and placed the straw in. Yum!

· Place labels on dishes and put out treat cups for guests to scoop their goodies into- paper cups are great for this because they hold lots and are sturdy for small hands. Add a little ribbon to embellish and they all coordinate.

· This easy backdrop was created by taping square paper plates to the wall- too easy!

· Add some decorative elements like ribbon, lanterns or confetti to the table.

And there you have it. A super easy candy buffet that kids and grown-ups will love. 

~ kimberley

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Guest Contributor: Kimberley Mulla

My Mom gave me my first cookbook when I was six years old. I have been baking & cooking ever since.

I specialize in artisan marshmallows & confections. I want to sell a product that I would feed my children. The ingredients are simple, often local, organic & fair trade as well. 

I love making marshmallows. Every single one. It brings me so much joy to create something unique, tasty, and delightful.

You can follow Kimberley

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