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Make Your Party Guests Say “Ah, Yum!” With These Fall Inspired Party Host Hacks

Janie PorterBy
Screen Shot 2018 10 26 at 4.46.42 PM
Screen Shot 2018 10 26 at 4.46.42 PM

Inviting people over during the holiday season is no easy feat. Normally, you might put out some crackers and cheese, ask them if they want a glass of wine, turn on some background music, and call it a day. But the holidays? Now that is a completely different story. As a party host, you want to make sure that your guests feel the holiday spirit the moment they walk through your door. Suddenly, crackers and cheese need to be accompanied by fresh pumpkin butter and crisp apples. And you might as well forget the wine if it’s not mulled with oranges and delicious spices. As for dessert, the pressure is on — you want to impress, making this a holiday season your loved ones will never forget.

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The happiest time of the year also tends to be the perfect time of the year for holiday hacks — especially holiday food cakes. We’re talking easy-as-pie apple roses, adorable pumpkin cakes (that can be customized with your guests’ names!), and some seriously delicious drinks that can be served throughout the night. Together, these treats will make for a seriously beautiful table spread that your friends and family will want to Instagram all night long. Now take a deep breath and enjoy!

Home Depot? more like Home Decor and more! We had so much fun working with Home Depot on these clever hosting hacks!

 

Muffin Tin Mini Pecan Pie

[image_with_caption text=”Blossom” image=”https://itsblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-28-at-7.17.28-PM.png”]

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups chopped pecans
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • Salt
  • 1 cup dark corn syrup
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons Water

Process:

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup of the sugar with 1/2 cup of water.
  2. Cook over moderate heat, swirling the pan gently once the caramel begins to form until the caramel is medium-amber (light honey color), about 9 minutes.
  3. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, heavy cream, 1 teaspoon of the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and let cool slightly.
  4. Whisk the remaining 1 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and the corn syrup into the caramel in the bowl.
  5. Whisk in the 4 unbeaten eggs until smooth.
  6. Add the pecans and a pinch of salt. Mix until combined.
  7. In a separate small bowl, mix Cornstarch and Water to create a slurry.
  8. Transfer pecan mixture back to saucepan and heat through stirring continuously until heated about 2 minutes on medium heat.
  9. Add cornstarch slurry mixture and stir until thickened. About 2 minutes.
  10. Remove from heat and let cool before adding to pie shell.
  11. Once in pie shell garnish with two large pecans.
  12. Bake for about 25 minutes at 350ºF until bubbling and firm. Cool and serve.

 

Muffin Tin Mini Pumpkin Pie

[image_with_caption text=”Blossom ” image=”https://itsblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-28-at-7.17.10-PM.png”]

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin puree
  • 3/4 cup evaporated milk
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 Tablespoons cold water

Process:

  1. Whisk sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice in small bowl.
  2. Beat eggs lightly in large bowl.
  3. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture.
  4. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.
  5. Transfer pumpkin pie mixture to the pot over moderate heat. Stirring frequently.
  6. In a separate small bowl combine cornstarch and water to create a slurry.
  7. Add to hot pumpkin mixture and stir until thickened. Let cool then spoon into pie shells.
  8. Bake for 25 minutes at 350ºF until firm.

 

Muffin Tin Mini Apple Pie

[image_with_caption text=”Blossom” image=”https://itsblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-28-at-7.16.41-PM.png”]

Ingredients:

  • 6 apple diced small. (red, green, fuji mixture)
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water

Process:

  1. In a large saucepan mix diced apples, sugar, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and lemon
  2. juice.
  3. Cook on moderate heat until apples are soft. In small bowl Mix cornstarch
  4. and water to create a slurry. Add to soft apple mixture and cook for one
  5. minute until thick.
  6. Remove from heat and let cool.
  7. Spoon apple mixture into pie shell. Garnish with apple rose or lattice crust.
  8. Bake for 25 mins at 350ºF.

Mini Pumpkin Bundt Cakes

[image_with_caption text=”Blossom” image=”https://itsblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-28-at-7.18.05-PM.png”]

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups flour
  • 1/8 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp cloves
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup oil
  • 2 cups canned pumpkin
  • 4 eggs

Process:

  1. Whisk the dry ingredients together. Then add in the granulated and brown sugar.
  2. Add in the oil and pumpkin to the dry ingredients bowl and mix until it is all combined.
  3. Beat in one egg at a time.
  4. Grease and pour into pumpkin-shaped muffin tins.
  5. Bake at 350°F for 50-55 minutes.
  6. Let the mini bundt cakes cool for about 5 minutes. Slice off the tops and remove from pans.

 

Slow Cooker Apple Cider

[image_with_caption text=”Blossom” image=”https://itsblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-28-at-7.18.38-PM.png”]

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/4 cup apple cider
  • 1 1/4 cup cranberry juice
  • 1 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 1/8 tsp ground cloves
  • orange slices
  • apple slices
  • cranberries

Process:

  1. Add all ingredients to your pot, on low heat, giving it a good stir.
  2. Allow the cider to warm up, covered.
  3. Enjoy with a few extra cranberries and an apple slice thrown in!

 

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice

[image_with_caption text=”Blossom” image=”https://itsblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-28-at-7.20.13-PM.png”]

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups coffee
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ginger
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cinnamon sticks

Process:

  1. You can get a head start on this recipe by brewing the coffee (using 6 cups of water) the night before. You can also cook the pumpkin and spices ahead of time (while the coffee brews) — place the pumpkin puree, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves in a saucepan, and cook over medium heat. Don’t forget to stir!
  2. After 3 – 5 minutes, the mixture should be heated through. You’ll know it is if it smells fragrant.
  3. Continue by adding the sugar, again stirring constantly.
  4. Once the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is simmering, scrape it into a container and refrigerate until you warm it in the slow cooker the next day.

Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

[image_with_caption text=”Blossom” image=”https://itsblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-26-at-4.46.42-PM.png”]

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups red wine
  • orange slices
  • 1 Tbsp ground cloves
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 star anise
  • 2 Tbsp honey

Process:

  1. Add all ingredients into your pot, giving everything a hearty stir.
  2. Allow the wine to warm up, covered in the pot.
  3. Once it gets nice and fragrant, garnish with whatever leftover ingredients you have and enjoy!

 

Love these holiday hosting hacks? You can get the products we used in our video below!

Triple Crock Slow Cooker in Black

[image_with_caption text=”The Home Depot” image=”https://itsblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-29-at-1.54.26-PM.png”]

 

Good Grips Stainless Steel Box Grater with Container

[image_with_caption text=”The Home Depot” image=”https://itsblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-29-at-1.54.40-PM.png”]

 

Great Foundations 2-Piece Multi-Functional Glass Cake Stand with Dome

[image_with_caption text=”The Home Depot” image=”https://itsblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-29-at-1.55.09-PM.png”]

 

Moderna Artisan Series Double Wall Insulated Wine and Beverage Glasses (Set of 4)

[image_with_caption text=”The Home Depot” image=”https://itsblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-29-at-1.54.52-PM.png”]

 

Perfect Results 12-Cup Non-Stick Muffin Pan

[image_with_caption text=”The Home Depot” image=”https://itsblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-29-at-1.55.38-PM.png”]