If you have a passion for entertaining, you know better than anyone that variety is the spice of life. Whether you’re into themed dinners or costume parties, adding an unexpected twist to what would otherwise be a humdrum house party can make the evening one to remember for years to come. This means sumptuous foods are a must, as are interesting presentations and memorable activities that feel natural rather than forced.
Nearly everyone loves a creamy dessert or a fascinating mixed drink, so you might have purchased a whipped cream dispenser for a previous celebration, but now aren’t sure how to bring it back into the limelight. Consider these four party themes that will help you make great use of your cream charger – and delight your guests in the process.
Idea one: Sock hop party
It’s an undeniable fact that milkshakes bring the boys (and girls) to the yard, but an even better attractant is tapping into many peoples’ nostalgia for the 1950s, usually through the warm lens of media like Grease or Happy Days. In pop culture, this decade is known for poodle skirts, jukeboxes, and friendly neighborhood diners where teenagers could share a milkshake or a banana split.
For this party, you could encourage everyone to show up in their best 50s attire, play Elvis or Buddy Holly, and whip up some delicious burgers as you’d get at a greasy spoon diner. At the end of the night, serve milkshakes or hot fudge sundaes with a generous dollop of whipped cream from your dispenser.
Idea two: Christmas in July
While you likely used your cream charger for a Christmas party, topping rows of hot cocoa with whipped cream and marshmallows, you might not be aware of another wonderful celebration opportunity: Christmas in July. This relatively new festivity, invented in the 1930s, is a campy, lighthearted opportunity to pull out the holiday decorations and exchange presents, imbued with the exuberance of summer rather than the frosty comfort of winter.
To set up this event, drag out your plastic Christmas tree and lights, then prepare some of your favorite holiday meals; you might choose to adapt them so that your guests aren’t sweating over a steaming pile of ham in the middle of summer. While it’s entirely possible to host this event outside, for the maximum Christmassy effect, consider having your party inside and kicking the air conditioner down a degree to keep it a little chillier than usual.
Instead of the typical piping hot drink, you could make frozen hot chocolate, which is much like a Frappuccino, then top it with a generous dollop of whipped cream. You could even choose to add flavor drops to the dispenser in order to add extra flair: coconut and strawberry would be especially good options.
Idea three: Breakfast buffet
Many of us have fond memories of pancake breakfasts with family on special days, or of making our very first waffle at a hotel bar during a vacation. You can recapture that joyous sense of togetherness by hosting a brunch with a breakfast bar, including a variety of different familiar foods like sausages and bacon, French toast, and scrambled eggs. In addition, consider providing piping-hot coffee in different flavors, which can all benefit from a hearty dose of whipped cream on top.
Everyone will remember the fun of filling their plates with all their favorites, then sitting down with their loved ones to munch away. For added whimsy, tell everyone to show up in their favorite pajamas – and don’t let them forget the fuzzy animal slippers!
Idea four: Mini dessert decadence
Dessert is many peoples’ favorite part of any meal, but most of us can’t polish off more than a cake slice or two without feeling a bit queasy. This can make it seem difficult to theme a whole party around desserts, but you need to think smaller: shrink everything down to adorable bite-sized luxury, served in plastic wine glasses for an added touch of class.
Some great options include hot fudge sundaes with a tiny brownie and whipped cream on top; banana pudding with coconut cream; warm pie slices with ice cream; and chocolate mousse with caramel drizzle and a dollop of whipped topping. The possibilities are truly endless, and you can even allow your guests to create their own desserts by making a sundae bar. It’s fun, memorable, and relatively easy, especially if you simply keep the fixings out for your friends to serve themselves.
A cream charger is an excellent investment for those who love to host
With some ingenuity, you can generate endless opportunities to use your whipped cream dispenser, from dessert parties to brunches and more. Be sure to add these ideas to your social calendar, interspersed with other themes so that your guests are always on the edges of their seats, sure that your next celebration will be just as much of a hit.
