When it comes to delivery, desserts can be a hard sell to customers. While more and more customers are ordering take out or delivery, many can see desserts as an unecessary expense. Despite this, off-premise dining has been on the rise and your dessert packaging will eventually need to step up to the plate. To get ahead of the competition, follow our to-go dessert packaging guide to make sure your desserts arrive in one piece and in style.
What Is The Best Type Of Packaging For Desserts?
Desserts are oftentimes very delicate and come in all shapes and sizes. It’s easy for icing to get smudged or toppings to topple over during the ride from your establishment to your customer’s front door. Being a menu category that relies heavily on presentation, keeping your dessert’s integrity is the top priority when it comes to packaging.
Unfortunately, there’s no one size fits all packaging solution for desserts. Because of the wide variety of desserts available, take into consideration the following factors when choosing a container.
Material
Most dessert packaging is made out of plastic or paper and includes lids. Your lids should be leak-resistant and you should choose the material based on your dessert. Weigh the pros and cons of each material and investigate whether it can properly contain your desserts. To learn about their traits and help you pick the perfect container, take a look at our examples of the most commonly used materials below.
Plastic
Pros:
- Durable design protects desserts
- Rigid structure secures food in place
- Leak-resistant to preserve freshness
Cons:
- Less environmentally friendly than other options
Paper
Pros:
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Tends to cost less than other materials
- Microwave-safe for reheating food
Cons:
- If unlined can be saturated with grease and moisture
Aluminum
Pros:
- Oven-safe for baking and serving
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Freezer-safe for storing leftovers
Cons:
- Typically less presentation-focused than other options
Design
After you’ve decided on a material, inspect the overall design of the container while keeping in mind the type of dessert you will be packaging. Check to see if the container can securely hold your dessert item and keep it from moving during transport so it can arrive in one piece. Look for the following design details to improve your packaging presentation and prevent damages during delivery.
Color
When picking a container’s color, make sure it matches your restaurant’s theme, logo, or dessert. Your restaurant’s colors and food packaging design contribute to your overall presentation and make it easier for customers to remember your establishment.
Window
Since desserts should always look as good as they taste, wrapping them in packages with clear windows gives customers a sneak peek and makes your desserts all the more tantalizing to eat. These windows can also add a memorable touch to your packaging and presentation!
Tamperproof
Tamper-evident and tamper-resistant packaging are highly recommended when it comes to delivering meals. Customers and restaurant owners alike are concerned about delivery drivers taking a “sample” of the food items. With tamperproof packaging, customers can have peace of mind that their food has remained untouched.
How Should Garnishes & Sauces Be Packaged?
Instead of drizzling hot fudge over your sundaes, package them in individual sauce cups and have customers do the drizzling themselves. The same goes for garnishes such as sprinkles and cherries. Customers will see it as being a fun, interactive experience and it ensures that your desserts look the way customers want them to.
Which Desserts Travel The Best?
As great as it would be to list all of the desserts on your take out menu, the reality is, some desserts travel better than others. For example, ice cream can melt if it has to travel a long distance while chocolate chip cookies can endure a few bumps in the road without compromising their integrity. Take into consideration the following list of desserts that are relatively easy to transport and are high in demand for take out.
Easily Packaged Desserts:
- Brownies
- Cookies
- Cobblers
- Cheesecakes
- Pies
- Doughnuts
- Cupcakes
Also consider adding mini, individual desserts to your menu, as these are a breeze to package and are more self-contained.
Don’t Get Boxed In
Before purchasing your new dessert packaging, ask your supplier for samples. This way you can test the containers for yourself. Take them for a test drive and see how well they are able to hold your food and preserve the look of your desserts. Remember that certain materials and designs can have an effect on how well your dessert travels. If possible, try not to find containers that will make your desserts stand out and keep them safe in transit.
