Saturday, December 11, 2010

Pretty Packages and Party Peppermint Pleasers

Peppermint is both cool and hot, rich and light, the absolute staple for December cheer. If you are planning on having any Christmas parties or just having a family tree trimming night, this peppermint buffet is a cozy little addition. This is an idea for those of us who want something out of the ordinary but also for those of us who can't afford the time to go over the top.

It's the comfy happy medium.






Here is the How To on creating your own little Party Pleaser Corner of the table:

- Pick your colors.

- Gather up "props" to use from your own home decor. You'll be surprised at what you can find. There are SO many more options than serving trays and casserole dishes! Be creative and don't follow the rules.

- Plan your list of sweets. If you don't like to spend extra time in the kitchen, limit the homemade to one special item and search your grocery store for unique treats to add to your buffet. There are easy and cute treats to prepare with store bought food too. For example, peppermint ice cream smashed between two chocolate wafers make a pretty display and are quick to prepare.

- Add candy to complete your design. Candy can stand alone. It is the prettiest accessory to any festive table.

- Finally, pull it all together! The most fun part. Use various heights to arrange your treats. Use mini bundt pans for your cakes instead of one large bundt cake. Then you can keep a pretty cake for visual appeal and cut into the extras to serve first.

- Share the festive enjoyment with your guests or family. <3



The details:

Candy is the perfect accessory to festive buffet tables.


Make mini bundt cakes instead of one big one.
This allows you to keep a cake on the buffet for visual appeal
and slice the extra mini cakes to serve first.

Candy Cane Peppermint Cake

Extra large candy canes add some fun to the table.

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
with cream cheese peppermint frosting


I started making these at 11pm one night...
not a brilliant idea...they took forever!

A cute idea that I robbed from a magazine is to slice a peppermint in half
to top your brownies, cookies, or cupcakes.


Baby Peppermint Cocoa Brownies


Use mini pedestals.
They take up less space, allowing for a greater variety of treats.



Before I close, I wanted to share a quick idea I recently found in a new holiday book I have! The Farm Chicks Christmas book is extra charming and full of cozy holiday ideas.

They gave such a charming and simple idea for packaging presents to send. Instead of bubble wrap or newspaper, use festive filler like peppermints or pine branches. You can also use vase filler. Stores sell a variety of scented filler during the holidays.


I prepared two types of packages to mail out to my {extra loved ones}... peppermint and fresh pine.

This one I used fresh pine branches and scented pinecones for filler around the gifts. The recipient is greeted with the best smell of December when they open their brown box: FRESH PINE.

And it keeps the gifts all snug just as packaging popcorn would.

A couple pinecones snuggled between gifts makes it extra special.

The next package is peppermint themed. Peppermint candy falls around each special gift, creating a magical box to open after it arrives on your loved one's doorstep.

Make the gifts match your filler.




Happy Sweet Holidays
Let me know if you think of other ideas to use as package fillers!


This post is linked to: Centsational Girl, Somewhat Simple, DIY Showoff, Home for the Holidays, Sassy Sites, Deck the Halls, The Lettered Cottage, Dare To, DIY Living, Seasonal Sundays, , Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Spotlight Yourself, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites*, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday*, I'm Lovin It*, Funky Junk Interiors*, Fabulous Friday Finds*, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up

18 comments:

Mystica said...

These are beautiful and very thoughtful. Thanks for this post.

I have a giveaway on my blog. My first one - a gift card sponsored by CSN Stores. Please do come over and enter

Reunion Committee said...

oh wow.. Can I give you my address? :)
everything looks delish. beyond delish. I love how you set it all up. looks like a display in a bakery!
Do you have a recipe for the red velvet whoppie pies??
Tana

Nancy said...

Anyone in Arizona would absolutely LOVE to open a box of pine-y freshness! That is a brilliant idea! You are so creative =)

Texasholly said...

Mmmm...I can smell it from here. Heavenly!

Michael Wurm Jr said...

i wish i was one of your gift recipents! they look magic!

visiting from newlywoodwards.

Victoria said...

Those woopie pies look so scrumptious!

Self Sagacity said...

Wow, they are all fantastic! I love the little mini bundt cakes and the brownies, yumm, but they all are to die for. Great job!

Lori said...

Yum! Love how you used the peppermints instead of foam in the package.

Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet said...

What a fun and yummy looking party/present! :)

Tricia said...

That is one delicious array of desserts. I'd love it if you linked up this idea to my Holiday Recipe Link party. I'm not a great entertainer, but clearly your a pro.


http://leafytreetopspot.blogspot.com/p/holiday-recipe-link-party.html

KimMalk said...

How beautiful, Lisa! The peppermints look so great. I really, really would like a red velvet whoopi pie!!

Lisalulu said...

mmm I love peppermint what a great post, and I just bought that book for myself for MY Christmas present!

Jenny H. said...

Beautiful packaging! Great idea!

Lucydesignsart.com said...

very pretty, love the brownies

Scary Mommy said...

Oh, I adore this- it's a perfect winter wonderland!

Red Couch Recipes said...

I do love decorating with candy. I have never thought of decorating my boxes I mail! So glad I stopped by, I am putting that in my tickler file for next year. Thanks for linking to my "It's Your Wonderful Life" party. Joni

Ashlee Marie said...

I love peppermint, i LOVE it. What a fun party idea and gift idea. Thanks for linking up to Topsy Turvy Tuesday's!

Anonymous said...

love the look of all the desserts and packaging even though i do not like the taste of peppermint. lol.