The 5 Best Summer Desserts for Office Parties: Spontaneous Celebrations to Liven Up Long Days
Posted by Sara on Wednesday, July 16th, 2014 with 2 Comments
Summertime at the office might be the hardest time of year to stay focused: between sunny weather, people coming and going from vacations, and just long, hot days, there are plenty of challenges to keeping up the daily routine. And while it might seem counterintuitive, providing plenty of group breaks and last-minute office parties might be just the ticket to keeping up productivity!
It’s true: research has shown that taking breaks is good for employee productivity, providing a chance for workers to mentally reset and recharge. Even more, group breaks offer a team the chance to reinforce social bonds and boost camaraderie, whether they need to vent about a difficult client or just voice to a sympathetic ear that it’s tough to come back from vacation to a full inbox.
Strawberry shortcake is a perfect summer dessert for an impromptu office party!
Image source: Flickr user misscrabette
And while lavish company picnics are wonderful, you don’t have to do a lot of planning to provide smaller and more casual office parties with a big impact. Next time your team meets a sales goal or beats a tough deadline, take the opportunity to provide a laid-back gathering the break room — the perfect way to encourage employees to take a little time to laugh and recharge in the midst of the long days of summer. And of course, you can make the most of the occasion by skipping the predictable sheet cake or box of cupcakes, and serve a refreshing summer dessert!
We’ve rounded up a few ideas for light, tasty treats that won’t leave your team in a food coma during a hot day… but will certainly draw a crowd into the break room for a much-needed respite from the usual grind!
Strawberry shortcake
Juicy strawberries piled atop a fluffy spongecake – with a dollop of whipped cream, of course – is the quintessential summer dessert.
Cheesecake topped with fresh berries
OK, this may not exactly be a light dessert, but creamy cheesecake topped with fresh summer berries is a refreshing kind of indulgence!
Granita
Think of it like a grown-up sno-cone: ice is flavored with sugar and fruity syrups in this classic Italian dessert that won’t leave you feeling overfull and out of energy for the rest of the day.
Ice cream sandwiches
Scooping out ice cream for a group can be a pain – so order a round of ice cream sandwiches for a convenient single-serving dessert.
Panna cotta with fresh berries
Another Italian contribution, this dessert is made from cream, milk, sugar, and gelatin — sort of like fancy, creamy Jell-O. Topped with fresh summer berries or a fruit coulis, panna cotta is a good summer treat for a more upscale office occasion.
And the benefits of a surprise summer dessert go beyond productivity: at any time of year, treating employees to unexpected office parties helps communicate a message of appreciation to your team, boosting engagement and job satisfaction as well as providing the opportunity to build social bonds… and just have a break from the daily routine. And you don’t have to do it alone — Waiter.com has a wide range of menus with abundant summer dessert options, along with easy online ordering and prompt delivery! All you have to do is choose the perfect treat for your next celebration.
When it comes to feeding employees and coworkers, make your company's food program really count! If your workplace dining plan needs to take it up a notch — or if you don't have one at all — Waiter.com is here to help. From Virtual Cafeteria Service to diverse menus to local takeout & delivery, Waiter.com offers customizable dining solutions for every business and budget. Contact us today to get started!
I think this article was spot on with the idea of group breaks for mental recharge; throw in some of that strawberry shortcake or cheesecake with berries, I’m there! No better way to boost team morale than sweets in the break room!
Thanks Christine! It’s so true – a little something sweet really brightens up the day!