How many desserts do I need for a bachelorette party of 12?
For 12 guests, plan 24 to 36 small desserts (two or three each) or 12 to 24 plate-sized ones (one or two each). Small means two bites: mini cookies, macarons, doughnut holes. Plate-sized means a full waffle or a big decorated cookie.
If dessert is something people decorate themselves, go to the top of that range. If it arrives finished and gets served after dinner, one each is enough.
Size the dessert, not the appetite
The guest count tells you how many people. It doesn't tell you how much to buy. The size of the thing does. Twelve full waffles and twelve macarons are very different amounts of dessert, so a single "per person" number never works.
| What you're serving | Plan per guest | For 12 guests | For 20 guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small, two-bite pieces | 2 to 3 | 24 to 36 | 40 to 60 |
| Plate-sized pieces | 1 to 2 | 12 to 24 | 20 to 40 |
| A finished dessert after a meal | 1 | 12 | 20 |
Why a decorating activity needs more than one each
When the dessert is also the activity, one each runs out fast. People decorate one, eat it, and want another one to decorate. Some get wrecked in the process, which is half the fun, and some end up as photos rather than food. Plan for one each and the activity is over in about ten minutes.
That's also why the format works for a mixed group. Nobody needs a skill, nobody has to drink, and you eat what you made at the end.
When one each is right
- Seated dessert after a full meal. Nobody is grazing; one each is the norm.
- Dessert that arrives finished. Nothing gets decorated or wrecked, so the extra margin isn't needed.
Not sure what kind of dessert suits the group in the first place? What dessert actually fits your bachelorette? works through it room by room, including the mixed-generation party.
How we size our own kits
These are the numbers we use for our own decorating kits. They're our guidance for our products, so treat them as a starting point rather than a rule.
| Our kit | Count | Guests we size it for |
|---|---|---|
| Waffle kit, The Sexy Six Pack | 6 waffles | 3 to 6 |
| Waffle kit, The Magnum Box | 12 waffles | 6 to 12 |
| Waffle kit, "Almost Too Big to Handle" | 24 waffles | 12 to 24 |
| Cookie DIY kit, Just Enough Box | 10 cookies | 3 to 5 |
| Cookie DIY kit, Big Cookie Energy Box | 20 cookies | 7 to 10 |
| Cookie DIY kit, More than a Mouthful Box | 30 cookies | 10 to 15 |
We plan 1 to 2 waffles or 2 to 3 cookies per person. For a party of 12 who are decorating, that's the 24-waffle box (two each) or the 30-cookie kit. If it's one each, the 12-waffle Magnum Box covers it.
Quick answers
How far ahead should I order? Choose your delivery date at checkout and order at least 4 days before your event. Inside 4 days, get in touch before you order (heysugar@sugarwood.co or text 917-409-7360). The online calendar may not show the date, and we can often still make it work.
Do the waffles need refrigerating? No. They're individually wrapped and need no refrigeration on arrival. They stay fresh for up to a week after you receive them.
Can I ship to a hotel or an Airbnb? Yes. Use the hotel or Airbnb address as the shipping destination. Most hotels hold packages at the front desk; for an Airbnb, check with your host about receiving it.
Is there a vegan option? Yes. Choose the Vegan Chocolate recipe on any waffle kit.