Cider and Sweets: Ideas for a Thanksgiving Dessert Bar

How is it that the holidays always creep up on us so fast?  I mean, it's not like we didn't know for a year that they were coming.  And yet, we always seem to be cramming to get things done at the last minute.  So. Much. Stress!

Well, today I'm gonna rock your world...take some of that dreaded stress right off your shoulders.  I've created a Thanksgiving Dessert Bar that you can recreate yourself at home...no stress at all, y'all!

Bye, bye, stress of trying to figure out what to serve for dessert.

Catch ya later, stress of decorating and trying to make things look pretty.

Hello super easy desserts (mostly...), gorgeous table decor, and FREE printables!!!  

Let's start with the desserts, shall we?  Aren't they pretty?  

I'm gonna tell you a little secret.  The croissants and cupcakes...they're store-bought!  Shocking, right?  They look way too good to be from the grocery store!

This time of year the bakeries step up their game a little bit, so you can find a pretty nice variety of desserts in the stores. 

Dress them up with cranberries, sprigs, and other natural elements, and voila!  You've got yourself some glamorous desserts that will have your guests thinking you slaved in the kitchen for days!

So, remember up at the top of the post where I said the desserts were "mostly" easy?  Well, I decided to get creative and try to make bite-size caramel apples.  They weren't so easy. Actually, I uttered a few choice words in the making of those babies.  The end result is super cute, but I'm not sure I'd recommend trying to make them unless you're super patient.  If you want to give them a go, here's the post that inspired me...only I used caramel and chocolate chips instead of butterscotch.

Warm, mulled, apple cider is the "comfort food" of beverages.  It's just soooo delicious and, well...comforting.  You know what else it is?  Easy.  Our local Fresh Market sells an amazing Mulled Cider mix.  If you can find something similar, just mix it right into some apple juice and warm that good stuff up.  That's all there is to it!  If you want to add a little something-something to it, some Kissed Caramel vodka will do the trick...or so I've been told.  ;)

To make it super pretty, serve it up in a nice punch bowl (I found this gorgeous copper one at Target), and add some cranberries and sliced apples to float on top.  Gorgeous presentation!

For an even prettier presentation, serve the cider in clear glass mugs.  I am crazy over with these etched glass mugs from Oriental Trading!  They're nice and heavy, and I love that you can see the cider and fruit inside.  Also a bonus?  They can be etched with your initial for a nice, personal touch. 

Paper plates and napkins make for easy clean-up when you have a large crowd.  Choose pretty patterns to tie into your decor.  I used scalloped-edge copper chevron plates and patterned napkins from Oriental Trading and they were a perfect fit!  See their entire selection of Thanksgiving goodies here.

Here are a few shots of the table as a whole:

Notice that most of the decor is natural...apples, berries, flowers, greenery, and spices...all readily available items that you can pick up at the grocery store!  

It's also fun to use different things from around your house for risers and decor.  I used a blanket scarf, a pillow, a wreath, a large candle pillar stand, and some mini lanterns.  

The paper rosettes were an awesome score from HomeGoods, and see that pretty little "Cider and Sweets" print?  I designed that...and I'm givin' it to ya for free!  Keep reading...

One of my very favorite design elements in this Thanksgiving Dessert Bar is the STUNNING "Bushel and a Peck" banner, created by Angie of Grey Dot Co.  Not only is it absolutely gorgeous, the quality is amazing!  Angie is so talented, and I need a new house so that I can own one of every single banner she makes.  Seriously, pay her shop a visit; you won't be sorry.  

If you're the type that likes to give your guests a little gift to thank them for joining you, little boxes of mulled spices are the perfect Thanksgiving party favor.  Present them in little copper boxes topped with flowers or greenery, some super cute "Mulling Spices" tags, and  you're good to go!  SO easy!  P.S.  I'm givin' ya those tags for free, too...download them at the bottom of this post.  :)

I hope you these Thanksgiving Dessert Bar ideas have inspired you, I hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving, and I hope you remember to wear your stretchy pants.  

Much love to ya!  xoxoxoxo

Sources:

Oriental Trading Company:  Etched glass mugs, mini lanterns, copper chevron plates, mum napkins, copper favor boxes

Grey Dot Co:  "Bushel and a Peck" banner

Target:  Copper punch bowl, copper tray

HomeGoods:  Wood and  copper tiered tray, paper rosettes, rose gold spoons, gourmet caramels

Jen T by Design:  "Cider and Sweets" print, "Mulled Cider" favor tags ~ Download them for FREE here and here

 I was provided samples by Oriental Trading Company in exchange for my honest review on their products. All ideas and opinions found in this post are my own.  No other type of compensation was received.