7 Things to Know When Making a Candy Buffet for Your Party

When you plan a party or get-together, making a candy buffet for your party is one of the most exciting things you can offer.

Whether it’s a birthday or holiday party, family reunion, baby shower, wedding or graduation celebration, a candy buffet is a must-have addition that will make your time with family and friends even more memorable.

Sweet buffets add an extra WOW factor to your event that will put a smile on everyone’s face. Sweets of all different shapes and sizes, delightful colours and tastes with various gummies and chocolates, there will be something to satisfy everyone’s taste buds, both children and adults! 

While setting up a candy buffet may seem intimidating, we can help you decide which sweets to choose by following these simple guidelines.

Essential Factors To Consider When Making A Candy Buffet

There are some main topics to consider when setting up your candy buffet, and breaking it down into small manageable chunks will make it so much easier.

Factor #1: How many people will be attending, and how much do you want to spend?

Plan on having a good amount of pick n mix sweets per guest and averaging 200 grams of sweets per person. 

Choose a variety of sweets so you will surely have something to suit everyone’s taste buds. For events with 100+ guests, plan on offering 8-10 different options of sweets. If you have a party of less than 100, offering between 5-8 candy options is sufficient.

Consider your budget when looking at your sweet treats. Bulk options can give you variety and abundance simultaneously.

Factor #2: Choosing your sweets

Choose your sweets by factoring in the group’s age range. Having a variety is best because it will make the selection more attractive and appealing to your guests, but skewing to your demographic is important. 

If your guests are younger, make sure the treats don’t present too much of a choking hazard. If your guests are older, consider getting nostalgic sweets popular during their childhood. Clearly label all options with common allergens such as nuts, dairy, gluten, and eggs to avoid issues with allergens.

• Offer various flavours, textures, colours, and shapes to match everyone’s preferences and tastes.
• Include a variety of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, sugar-coated chocolates, chocolate-covered nuts and fruits, popcorn or pretzels
• Gummies and jelly treats are fun to include and a favourite of many
• Match the party theme and colour scheme to make your candy buffet eye-catching and fun

You get the idea! At the Sweet Factory, we offer a wide variety of choices to help you create your ideal sweet buffet and deliver it right to your door!

Factor #3: Where will you set up your candy buffet? 

Once you determine where you will set your candy buffet up, decide how many, what size and where you will place your tables. It is also essential to consider if your tables will be up against a wall or if your guests will be able to walk around them. These factors will help you determine how many containers you need and how to decorate and lay out the display.

Factor #4: Pick your containers

Offering varied height containers will impact your presentation by creating a multidimensional look that is very appealing to the eye. Plan to place the tallest vessels in the middle/back and lower vessels around the sides/front.

Consider what usable containers you have at your home, such as bowls, jars and platters—having diverse shapes and sizes that show off your colourful treats to be seen easily. 

While glass jars are more traditional containers, feel free to add some character to your sweet buffet and utilise an assortment of vases, cake stands, fishbowls, funky trays or antique jars, which are often found at your local thrift store or in your cupboard.

If you want to include packaging for your guests to pick and mix take-home treats, choosing personalised bags or labels with your party’s theme will add to the fun.

Factor #5: Time to set up your sweet treat buffet!

Divide your table into sections, designating front, middle and back or centre, second-row circle and outer rim depending on if your table is against or away from the wall.

• In the back/centre section, place taller containers. If your vessels are not tall, you can use crates, wood, or hardbound books underneath your cloth or table cover. Treats in this section should be individually wrapped items or easy to pick up. Avoid placing bulk candies in this section.
• In the middle circle/row section, place the most eye-dazzling sweets. Bulk sweets and pick-n-mix treats are also best in this section, taking up the most space. Ensure that they do not block the view of the treats in the back/centre area.
• The front/outer rim is the best place for bowls, plates and trays. Creating a cascading effect is key to making your candy buffet look the most extravagant and deliciously appealing to the eye.

Factor #6: Filling Your Containers

• Place the largest pieces, such as marshmallows, gumballs, or lollipops into the biggest as they take up more space
• Put the smallest pieces, like sugar-coated candies, chocolate-covered nuts or raisins into the medium size jars as you can put a lot more into a smaller space
• Treats that are irregularly shaped and can be easily flattened or messed up should go onto plates, platters or bowls, so they do not get squished
• Balance your colours and types of treats when you place them on the table. For example, if you have many multi-coloured pieces, place the jars between two solid colours, nuts or baked goods
• Keep gummies separate so as not to mix the flavours
• Place chocolate evenly around the table

Factor #7: Decorate

The final touch on any sweet buffet is to decorate. Adding colour and a theme to your space can be simple or extravagant. Things you will need include:

• Solid coloured tablecloth to complement your room and treats
• Provide the guests with tongs, scoops, spoons, or other creative utensils to pick up treats
• Labels for identifying the treats 
• If your table is against the wall, consider having a backdrop 
• Adding flowers, sequins, confetti, or ribbons can help add detail to your table and space

Most of all remember to have fun!

Let Us Help You Create Your Sweet Buffet

At the Sweet Factory, we have years of experience creating memorable sweet buffets and have a vast assortment of bulk candies, milk chocolate, sweet treats, gummies and more for your to choose from, and we would love to help you!

Our products are all ethically sourced, and we even offer halal, vegan, and vegetarian treats, so no matter what diet you follow, there will be the perfect sweet for you (and your body!) Call us today to get started, and we will deliver your treats right to your home.