Need help with dessert ideas for a dinner for 50 hungry cross country runners

[clh2]

Ok - so this year, we are hosting a pasta party for DD's cross country team. The purpose is to "carb-load" the day before a meet. They have a pasta party before every meet. There are usually ~50 girls and a couple of coaches.

I am remarkably calm about the whole pasta party, as we hosted a pasta party for 30 people a couple of years ago. HOWEVER, this was for "normal people, NOT a group of athletes.

I am concerned about dessert. DD says that sometimes people have cookies, other times brownies, but there are no "rules" for dessert. So - what are good dessert options that I could make, that could be frozen. I am wanting to get as much done in advance - freezing would be fine - we have a freezer in the basement.

The pasta party is on September 2, so right now is a month away.


What freezes well?

Thanks!!!
clh2

 

[semo233]

If wrapped properly, cake and brownies both freeze well. You could even do brownie sundaes or frost and decorate your own cupcakes.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I fed hs cross country teams twice and lacrosse teams four times at my house. My dd insisted on brownie sundae bars each time and they were a hit with the girls. I loved hosting the team dinners and will really miss that now that she is in college.

 

[clh2]

I fed hs cross country teams twice and lacrosse teams four times at my house. My dd insisted on brownie sundae bars each time and they were a hit with the girls. I loved hosting the team dinners and will really miss that now that she is in college.

Well...a brownie sundae bar would work for me...geez, I sure would hope there would be leftovers!!!!!

I do have a quick question about the mechanics, though...did you let the girls scoop their own??? Remember, I'm trying to make less work for me...not more work...and DH will not be homme...so it is just me getting everything out and replenished.

And - (I guess I had 2 questions) I'm thinking for 50 girls - I would need 3 "buckets" of ice cream (around 5 quarts per bucket)? nd then just some toppings...Hersey syrup, maybe some butterscotch. etc? Maybe some crushed up oreos. some M&M's etc? What else would you need for a brwonie-sundae bar (beasides the brwonies and the ice cream?)

 

[Swimnoid]

Well...a brownie sundae bar would work for me...geez, I sure would hope there would be leftovers!!!!!

I do have a quick question about the mechanics, though...did you let the girls scoop their own??? Remember, I'm trying to make less work for me...not more work...and DH will not be homme...so it is just me getting everything out and replenished.

And - (I guess I had 2 questions) I'm thinking for 50 girls - I would need 3 "buckets" of ice cream (around 5 quarts per bucket)? nd then just some toppings...Hersey syrup, maybe some butterscotch. etc? Maybe some crushed up oreos. some M&M's etc? What else would you need for a brwonie-sundae bar (beasides the brwonies and the ice cream?)

I've done ice cream sundae parties with teen swimmers. We used 1 bucket of ice cream for about 15 swimmers and there were enough for seconds. And they had it right after workout with no dinner first. We also had 1 pack of Oreos, 1 bottle of Hershey's chocolate syrup, 1 small jar of caramel sauce, and a jar of sprinkles, oh and one can or redi-whip (that was the biggest hit ). Maybe you could gauge your puchases on that.

 

[disneyhand]

For easier ice cream serving at the party you can do either of these ideas below beforehand.

You can pre-scoop the ice cream into cupcake papers, line them up on a cookie sheet and freeze. Once they firm up, you can move them into ziplocks.

You can also slice a gallon of ice cream, wrap in wax paper and freeze.

 

[semo233]

How about pre-scooping the ice cream and putting each scoop in a cupcake paper and refreezing?
Hot fudge
whipped cream
cherries
sprinkles

 

[lynn46356]

I've made ice cream sandwich dessert and its super easy. Layer bottom of 9 x 13 pan with ice cream sandwiches. Top with cool whip. Add another layer of ice cream sandwiches. Top with cool whip and sprinkle with heath topping. Freeze. Easy and a favorite of ours. I've used both vanilla and neopolitan ice cream sandwiches. Also, the favorite of all times for my son's cc team was reese peanut butter cookies. One package of peanut butter cookie dough makes 3 dozen cookies. Roll dough into 3 dozen small balls. Place in mini muffin pans. Bake 10 minutes. Immediately after taking out of oven put one mini reese in each cookie and cool. It was a required dessert at every meal. LOL. I miss x-country. We have the best memories from those 4 years. Enjoy and good luck to the team!!!!!!!!!!

 

[branv]

Call me crazy, but I'd just go get a Costco half-sheet cake for about $17. It says it feeds 48, but if you supplement it with some cookies or fruit you can probably stretch it, or maybe add one of the huge cheesecakes they sell.

 

[scrapquitler]

How about cakes or cupcakes? My Mom makes cakes for the Elks Club bingo all the time and she usually makes them early in the week (usually in a bundt type pan) and freezes them, then she takes them out on Friday morning, dusts them with confectioners sugar and lets them thaw and they are fresh and ready on Friday night. I doubt that frosting would freeze well, but you can do an unfrosted cake like my Mom does, or you could frost them at the last minute if you really want them with frosting.

 

[clh2]

OP here: DD says a brownie/sundea bar is just too over the top, and the idea is a NO-GO. Gosh darn it all. Sometimes I wonder if I am her real mother.(I'm thinking switched at birth...)

Costco is simply not an option. There is supposed to be one about 8 miles from our house, except it is stuck in the zoning commission with "issues". Don't suppose it would magically get built in the next 30 days.

However - that idea definitely got me to thinking - Sam's club has cheap cupcakes...

Maybe we do some brownies, and some cupcakes (Ill have to pick other stuff up at Sam's club too!) And when all the girls are gone...I'll clean up, and then scoop me up a brownie sundae...I will have earned it!