October 30, 2019
If you need a reason to throw a fall party, I have a suggestion. Crafting and cocktails! Host an evening with some tasty treats and a simple fall craft that everyone will love.
The craft is No Sew Fabric Pumpkins using foam pumpkins from the Dollar Tree. These fabric covered pumpkins are super simple to make, and they will look cozy in your home through the Halloween and Thanksgiving seasons.
Set up a table of foam pumpkins and provide an assortment of different fabrics and decorations such as leaves, berries, twine, raffia…get creative! Shout out to my friend, Beth, for doing such a great job in coordinating the pumpkin crafting. You can see she rocked the assortment of decorations!
Of course if you are crafting, you also need a cocktail and snacks! I found the Pomegranate Cider Mimosa from How Sweet Eats who is my reliable source for cocktails. The salted caramel rim is a showstopper, and the contrast of the bright pomegranate color made this such a pretty drink to serve. The flavor is tart, sweet, and a little salty from the caramel. I would serve this throughout fall for brunch, Halloween parties, or even on Thanksgiving.
Salted Caramel Sauce may sound daunting to make but I promise this recipe is foolproof and comes together in a few minutes. The extra time is so, so worthwhile and you may as well double the recipe so you can enjoy this over pumpkin pancakes, use as an apple dip, pour in milkshakes, top off brownies…you know what to do.
Since the cocktail only needed a few teaspoons of caramel, I also found a recipe for a simple apple dip. This dip is only four ingredients and can be made ahead which is how I like to entertain.
There you have it! Everything you need for hosting a fall crafting and cocktail party to share with your friends!
Pomegranate Cider Mimosas with a Salted Caramel Rim
Recipe from How Sweet Eats.
Serves 6
Salted caramel sauce (see recipe below)
1/3 cup pomegranate juice
1/3 cup apple cider
1750mL bottle chilled champagne or Prosecco
Dip each flute into the salted caramel, just to rim the glass.
Combine the pomegranate juice and apple cider. Pour 2 ounces of the mixture into each glass, fill with the champagne or Prosecco.
Salted Caramel Sauce
Recipe from How Sweet Eats.
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine the sugar, cream, butter, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved, then let the mixture bubble for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Let stand at room temperature to thicken. Store in the refrigerator.
Caramel Apple Dip
Recipe from Jo Cooks.
Serves 6
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar (adjust more or less to taste, I found this to be a good amount)
1/2 cup Salted Caramel Sauce (see recipe above)
3.5 ounces Heath Bits o' Brickle English Toffee Bits (found in the baking aisle)
3 large apples such as Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or a mixture
Honey graham crackers
Using an electric mixer, blend the cream cheese and brown sugar until fluffy and sugar is dissolved. Spread the mixture on a serving plate or in a bowl (you want this layer to be at least 1/2 inch thick).
Spread the salted caramel sauce over the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with Heath Bits o' Brickle English Toffee Bits. Store in the fridge. Remove 20 minutes before serving so cream cheese can soften a little.
While waiting for the cream cheese to soften, slice apples and arrange on tray with graham crackers.
