10 one-handed party cake and holiday snack ideas
Because sweets are delicious but so messy.
Credit:
Reviewed / Chloe Toscano
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Cake is my favorite word. It's also one of my favorite things to eat. Yet when I'm at a holiday party and the cake comes out, I always feel a little bummed. Everyone ends up standing around, talking and having fun, a plate of cake in one hand and a fork in the other. As someone with one arm, though, I don't have the liberty of eating while standing unless it's a one-hand-friendly food.
At any party, I often have to decide whether I'll find a quiet corner where I can sit and eat some cake alone or say "no thank you" to continue socializing. It's the most tragic game of Would You Rather I've ever played, but settling for sadness should never be the answer.
Below, you'll find 10 festive single-hand party food ideas worth serving to make your next gathering more accessible for those with dexterity limitations. All of these holiday finger foods can be purchased in person or shipped nationwide, so guests can have their cake and eat it too (and continue socializing). Here’s to making party cakes even better with their accessible cousins!
1. This Fancy Cookie Cake from Cookie Dō NYC
The Fancy Cookie Cake by Cookie Dō NYC combines the texture of cake with the portability of a cookie.
Cookie cakes are one of the best ways to go if you want to keep the wholesome aesthetic of a full-size cake you can cut into and share. It’s a treat that fills this iconic need in a form that can most definitely be eaten with one hand.
This one from Cookie Dō NYC is literally called "The Fancy Cookie Cake," and it screams "celebration" as much as any cake I've ever had. It's a perfect choice for parties, as it’s iced with multi-colored swirls of frosting and dusted with shimmery gold stars. My favorite part about this cake is its moist texture (sorry, I said the word). It gives off the feel of a fresh, tender cake in cookie form!
2. A bouquet of doughnut and cake pops
The Halloween cake pop collection by Harry and David is a festive way to offer guests bite-sized sweets.
These three-bite beauties from Harry and David take all of the goodness of cake—frosting, cake, and decorations—and roll it into one perfectly portioned pop. With a full-size cake, hosts can’t usually offer many flavor options without serving multiple cakes. With these little sweeties, you can lay something out for every preference in an assortment of tasty variants.
You can get a cake pop bouquet themed especially for Halloween, Pride, birthdays, and spring. You can even use these to decorate a full-size cake if you’re attached to a traditional formfactor but still want an accessible additive. Why not reap the benefits of cake-ception?
3. Cheesecake… as a sandwich?
Cheesecake sandwiches make enjoying cheesecake much easier.
I had to do a double take when I came across these. I’d seen personal and mini cheesecakes before, but a cheesecake sandwich was news to me. With crust on the bottom and top, these delicious creations turn cheesecake into something you can enjoy with one hand.
If you’re someone with two hands, I advise you to grab one of these babies and enjoy it on the go. Imagine walking the dog and munching on cheesecake as you go. There’s nothing quite like a good cheesecake multi-task.
With at least 20 flavors to choose from and seasonal varieties, these make an excellent choice for any occasion. My personal favorite is White Chocolate Raspberry. Another advantage of this bakery is that everything is made in a nut-free facility, which means you’ll be serving desserts that fully include any guests with nut allergies.
4. The classic ice cream sandwich
Ice cream sandwiches are easy to eat without making a mess.
The other day, I attended an ice cream social where everyone was standing, so I passed on my scoop because they didn’t have cones. Ice cream sandwiches make it easy for me to enjoy ice cream in any setting, which is why I was so excited when my absolute favorite ice cream brand Van Leeuwen started making its own store-bought version.
Of course, there are many cheaper options in any grocery store that you can choose from if you’re not picky about the brand.
If you’re hosting an ice cream party, consider serving some ice cream sandwiches instead of or alongside ice cream. You can cut them in half so people can enjoy different flavors and accompany them with sweet dipping sauces, such as caramel, strawberry, melted peanut butter, or fudge!
5. Macarons done right
Ladurée macarons are the real deal.
Macarons are a treat and, like a cake, aren’t something you might have the pleasure of eating every day. And if you eat macarons they should definitely be from Ladurée, because they make the real deal.
Like a cookie, these little gems are easy to hold onto and savor while you continue to enjoy the party. But unlike a cookie, they offer so much more magic.
Plus, Ladurée offers flavors for every preference, with both classic and exotic creations. If you like more of a snap to your biscuits but want something as unique and delicate as a macaron, you could try their newest invention of colorful cookies called Eugénie.
6. Cupcakes that don’t stick to the liner
Cupcakes by Magnolia Bakery don't stick to the paper, which makes them easier to eat one-handed.
I was torn about including a cupcake recommendation on a list of accessible party treats and finger food ideas, because cupcake liners can pose an issue. Nonetheless, cupcakes are the iconic handheld form of cake.
After much testing and many sugar crashes (no regrets), I ended up at one of America’s most iconic bakeries, Magnolia Bakery. This brand's cupcakes can be comfortably eaten while standing because the cake doesn’t spill over or stick to the paper liner, making it easy to peel off with your teeth.
In addition, unlike many cupcakes, these don’t have a mountain of frosting that makes it impossible to bite into, requiring a fork. Instead, bakers swirl it on with a spatula. All decorations are also edible, meaning you won’t need to ask someone to pluck off the toothpick paper decoration for you so you can continue to munch along.
Magnolia Bakery never misses, and I now often find myself stopping in for a quick cupcake, which I proceed to eat as I walk to the subway—proof that these are indeed accessible cupcakes.
7. Letter-shaped doughnuts
You can spell out any message with these letter-shaped donuts from Angel Food Bakery.
These doughnuts are ideal if you want to serve a handheld treat but are attached to the beauty of a message cake. With a doughnut for every letter in the shape of that letter, Angel Food Bakery has reinvented inscription.
This shop turns a classic, colorful party cake into a perfectly portioned treat that takes into account guests who may struggle with forks or standing and eating. Plus, the homemade glazes on these doughnuts are as delectable as any buttercream frosting. The vanilla sprinkle flavor had me feeling like I was eating a fluffy cake.
8. Teeny tiny cupcakes
The cutest little cupcake from Baked by Melissa.
The first time I had these, I was in shock. Each bite-sized jewel features a unique cake flavor, filling, frosting, and topping, all in a single bite. So when I started thinking of accessible finger food ideas, Baked by Melissa was one of the first places to come to mind.
Not only are these as easy to eat as a grape, but they come free of cupcake liners, making the experience all the more pleasing. The shop offers a variety of assortments, so you can ensure you get a flavor profile that fits your vibe. As of November 14, you’ll be able to get your hand(s) on some holiday assortments!
9. A Milk Bar Pie
If you like pecan pie, the Milk Bar Pie is right up your alley.
With Thanksgiving and the holiday season soon in full swing you’ll likely be serving up a variety of pies, and I can’t recommend the Milk Bar Pie enough. I can best describe this as a kind of sticky, cornflake-y, chewy spin on the bottom of a pecan pie. The beauty of this pie, though, is that it holds together excessively well and can be eaten with one hand without concern it’ll crumble into a sad mess on the floor.
If you know you struggle with the standing and eating that often happens at Friendsgiving celebrations, consider bringing this as your potluck contribution. Everyone will be thanking you regardless of their ability to use a fork while standing. I had this beauty for my birthday this year, and it was such a hit that leftovers weren’t even a factor.
10. A layered cookie cake
The double layer cookie birthday cake by Insomnia Cookies lets you ditch the fork while still enjoying the decadence of a layered cake.
If you are a layer-cake lover but want something more people will be able to enjoy without having to sit down, look no further than Insomnia Cookies. Known for its warm, fresh-baked cookies with rotating flavors featuring seasonal varieties, Insomnia Cookies also makes amazing customizable cookie cakes with multiple layers.
A multi-layer cookie cake screams party just as much as any holiday treat you could serve, except it takes more abilities into account by nixing the need for a fork and plate. You can even print an edible message onto the center and top it off with candles! Just remember to remove all non-edibles—such as candles—before passing a slice to someone with one hand, or else they won’t be able to remove it themselves without putting it down.
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