I can use some insight into how many pieces of pick up desserts (cookies, brownies etc.) we will need to serve 200 people. This is for a small school fundraiser in which there will be a speaker and after, dessert and coffee willl be served. All desserts will be baked by the families. Any help is appreciated!
Debbie

Hi,

Most ppl at gateherings usually pick up at least one of each dessert, depending on what they like or may want to try for the 1st time. so its hard to put a number on it. But, If I was doing this I would make at least btwn 400-500 pieces just to make sure there is enough to go around at least once and twice for different desserts. JMO

Thanks. I was thinking to plan 3 pieces per person. This is a mixed bag of people, some who love their sweets and quite a bunch of them who wouldn't dream of touching a baked good...oh to have that willpower!

LOL, I know, right, lol

If you have more than 2 or 3 different treats, you may run across the problem of people wanting to try one of each. If you do have more than 2 or 3, then I'd cut them in smaller sizes (such as 1"x1" brownies rather than 2"x2" brownies) so people can sample each one.

The wedding planner I work with to do cookie tables at weddings suggests 2 cookies per person for 75% of the guests. I do large 3-4" drop cookies. If we are bagging iced cookies we do one per person.

Will children be attending the function? I just went to a Cub Scout annual meeting last night with about 30 kids and 30 adults.

I brought about 50 chocolates (molded fleur de lis), and there was a 1/2 sheet cake cut into 2x2 slices, and grocery store chocolate chip cookies which were about 3" across.

The chocolates were all gone. The cake was only about 1/2 gone, the cookies were all gone. The kids were each eating 2-5 cookies. The cookies were by far the most popular.

I do cookie buffets and dessert buffets. If a lot of choices are available, I suggest 3 per person with no other dessert. This will account for the ones that take a ton and the ones that don't eat at all. You will have some left over, but you won't run out.

I do exactly as Spooky suggested. Make each serving a bite to two bites. I use my regular batches and make them much smaller. Put them in those inexpensive mini cupcake liners and it makes them easy to pick up. Plus the plate looks much more full.

Apti, your are just as good. I was just reading one of yours and I think I saw some unicorns and rainbows... something people wish I would add. You are very nice in your posts, but still to the point. I really like reading your point of view.

On this one topic, I learned by experience. When I first started the buffets, I added cookies at no charge to make sure I was right. After the first two, with a guest count, original cookie count, and ending count, this was the number. Since then, it has worked. Some will eat ten cookies, but many eat none.[/i]