Invite friends to a pie party
Get ahead of your holiday baking at this sweet gathering. You’ll catch up with friends as you all create bake-and-take pies. Harvest touches and a menu of light bites help fuel the fun!
Set out an easy filling station
Making pies is simple when you turn your kitchen counter into an easy assembly line! To do: Arrange aluminum pie pans (lined with refrigerated pie dough) on the counter, then set out ceramic bowls of each filling along with recipes to make each pie. Tip: Label bowls with a dryerase marker— it’ll wipe right off after your party!
Tempt their taste buds with a sampling bar
To set the mood for yum, invite guests to bring a pie to the party, then display them on a gorgeous autumnal table, like this one created by Debi Traub (Simplybeautifuleating.com) for Littlemissparty.com. To get the look, cover a table with a white cloth; top with mini pumpkins, pine cones and dried flowers. Next, drape a DIY ribbon garland in front. For the sign, use clothespins to hang dollar-store poster letters on two lengths of twine, tape twine across a wood tray and lean against the wall behind the table.
Wow with pie ‘pockets’
Handheld pies are the perfect no-mess themed party snack! To make: Stir 1⁄2 lb. of sweet Italian
sausage, 1⁄2 cup of chopped onion
and 1 cup of chopped apples in a saucepan over medium heat until sausage is cooked. Roll out refrigerated pie dough; cut into squares. Spoon filling on squares, top with shredded Cheddar cheese and fold corners inward. Brush dough with beaten egg; bake at 375°F until crust is golden.
Add rustic charm with a copper-kissed bouquet
Popping a cheerful grocery-store primrose plant into a copper Bundt pan transforms this easy- on-the-wallet plant into a rustic- chic centerpiece. To do: Simply place the plastic plant pot on a saucer inside the copper pot to prevent the roots from becoming over-soaked, then fill in any gaps by inserting fall leaves between blooms. Tip: Pick up stylish vintage copper pans (starting at about $ 8 each) by searching “copper baking” on ebay.com.
Send them home smiling with ‘sweet as pie’ favors
Though there’s plenty of pie to go around at your party, your guests will love having their own personal mini pie to bring home and enjoy the next day! Instead of baking your own, save time by picking up prepackaged mini pies in the bakery section of the grocery store (like The Bakery Mini Pies, 50 cents each, Walmart). To give the pies a festive touch, remove them from their packaging and tie a length of striped ribbon around each treat. Knot the ribbon once more around a disposable fork. Stack pies on a cake tray and display on a table so guests can take one on their way out.
Say ‘cheers’ with an apple pie tipple
Raise a glass to a wonderful day of baking with a cocktail that tastes like a slice of pie! To make: The night before your party, pour 1 gal. of apple cider into a saucepan, add
2 to 3 cinnamon sticks and simmer for 5 minutes to add a subtly spicy kick. Let cool, remove cinnamon sticks, then refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, pour 4 oz. of the infused apple cider in an ice-filled shaker along with 1 oz. of vanilla-flavored vodka. Shake well, then strain into a cocktail glass. Use a vegetable peeler to shave long strips of rind from a clean orange, then twist and use as a garnish on each glass. Optional: For a decadent twist, add a teaspoon of caramel sauce to each glass before filling.