Spice up your party with a unique, fun, and slightly competitive Dessert Auction.
What is a dessert auction?
A dessert auction is a fun (and funny!) way to serve dessert at a party. The host gives each participant a set amount of fake money (or real, if that’s how you roll) to bid on a variety of desserts, one at a time. The host does not share how many desserts will be up for bid, nor are they all visible, so the participants don’t know what’s coming.
You’ll need
- One dessert option per participant (yes, this means some guests could go home without dessert if they fail to bid). If you don’t have the heart to do that, just add more desserts, or serve extra after.
- Desserts on individual plates with silverware ready.
- A large bowl or pot that can be turned upside-down to cover the “mystery dessert items”.
- A variety of desserts; delicious, average and disappointing.
- A written list of each dessert item to keep you on track; alternate hiding items and keeping some visible.
- Pre-counted stacks of money to easily hand out. I give each participant $500 in fake $20 bills. ( I use this. )
- A designated table and gavel of sorts; a rubber mallet while yelling “SOLD” in your best auctioneer voice.
Sample desserts based on 10 participants:
- Popcorn and Coke (visible)
- Glass of water (hidden)
- Slice of pie (hidden)
- Donut and coffee (visible)
- Two gummy bears (hidden)
- Red vines and soda (visible)
- Berry cobbler (visible)
- Three blueberries (hidden)
- Cookies and milk (hidden)
End on a good one – think crème brulé, panna cotta, your favorite Tillamook ice cream or the most decadent chocolate cake (hidden)
Read these rules aloud
- Each player has $500.
- I will pull out an item one at a time and the bidding will begin at $20.
- Some items will be visible, and some will be hidden.
- You do not know how many items I have, and I will end the auction without warning. Which means, if you see something you like, bid on it. You don’t want to go home without dessert!
- You cannot pool your money with another player.
- You cannot share or trade your dessert.
- Let the bidding begin.
Ending the dessert auction
After the last item has been sold, hit your gavel on the table and announce “that was the last item up for bid, the dessert auction has ended.” You may have some guests kicking themselves for not bidding!
Lastly, make it easy. Use what you have on hand and prep ahead of time to make it go smoothly. I go to the bakery section and buy individual desserts, or you can make individual desserts ahead like these Mini Trifles we love.
We hope you take a stab at hosting your very own dessert auction! Let us know if you do, we’d love to here how it went and any tips or ideas you came up with for your party!
Brooke
Such a great idea for family gatherings😄