Every year, my husband’s family goes on an annual “Fall Leaf Hike.” We gather at a local park, eat some great cooking from the grill, jump in some leaves, and enjoy a hike through the forest on the family’s favorite trail. Although the ultimate purpose of the party seems to be athletic, we really get together to catch up and eat some great food! This potluck bonanza, which includes the extended family, can get just a little excessive, and sometimes guests end up bringing the same types of dishes. (How many chocolate chip cookies can we have, people? A lot, I guess. :D)
This year, I was assigned the drinks, and I wanted my contribution to STAND OUT! I made a fall cooler out of a large pumpkin and filled it with beers and bottled pops both the adults and kids enjoyed. (PS: My cooler fit six bottles, but my husband drank two of them before I could snap some pictures!) Along with my DIY beer cooler, I also came up with a list of nine other ways to spice up the drinks at your next fall party. After trying one of these DIYs on your own, make sure to check out some of our other Fall and Autumn Theme Party Planning Ideas, too.
Pumpkin Beer Cooler Materials
- Large Plastic Container
- Serrated Knife
- A Large Pumpkin
- Ice
- Spoon (to scoop out pumpkin bits)
- Stretchy Elastic Headband
- Permanent Marker
- Dry Erase Marker/Paper Towel
- Bottled Drinks
- Vegetable Brush
Pumpkin Beer Cooler Directions
- Thoroughly wash the pumpkin with a vegetable brush and dry.
- Use a serrated knife to remove the top 1/2 of the pumpkin, which you can discard. To make an even cut, I placed a stretchy headband at the midpoint of the pumpkin and used a permanent marker to draw a line.
- After cutting the pumpkin, there may be some leftover marks from the permanent marker. A trick to remove them is to draw over the marks with a dry erase marker, wiping it up with a paper towel as you go. The permanent marker is removed with dry erase marker!
- Remove the pumpkin innards and discard. Make sure the inside is free of loose debris and little bits. (Roast the seeds for a delicious snack, too!)
- Place the large plastic container inside the pumpkin and fill with ice. Do not place the ice directly in the pumpkin because it will become waterlogged and will leak.
- Arrange any bottled drinks in the plastic container, and Voila! You have an easy and trendy pumpkin cooler.
9 More Ways to Dress Up Fall Drinks: Whether it’s apple cider, hot chocolate, coffee, spiced wine, or a fall cocktail, try adding something special to your party drinks with one of these nine suggestions.
- Vintage Thermos: Collect five or six vintage thermos (plaid is best!), set them out on a buffet or drink table, and fill them with hot chocolate and warm apple cider. Guests will enjoy the nostalgic feeling of pouring a glass of their favorite warm drink from a thermos, whether they’re inside or outside.
- Apple Cups: Make some interesting glasses for your guests by cutting off the first ½ inch of an apple and hollowing out the contents. Fill each glass with apple cider, and top the beverage off with a cinnamon stick. Family and friends will love this simple drink with a fun twist.
- Fruit Add-Ins: Dice apples and oranges to add to spiced wine or apple cider. Try adding fruit to cold cider with ice cubes. Yum!
- Hot Cocoa Bar: Instead of just serving hot chocolate, create a bar where family and friends can pick from their favorite add-ins. Make sure to offer the standard favorites, like whipped cream, marshmallows, and chocolate syrup, but include a few fun ones, too. Some other options? Candy corn, caramel syrup, cinnamon candies, sprinkles, nuts (walnuts and pecans), crushed
peppermint candy, crushed candy canes, and crushed chocolate bars (Twix and Butterfinger). Have fun! - Straw Garnishes: If you’re considering serving a straw with your drinks, try adding a unique garnish. Cut a thin slice of the width of an apple or orange. Make sure to remove any seeds, and slide the straw through the natural hole of the apple/orange slice. Put the straw in a drink, and make sure the fruit floats on the surface of the drink.
- Dippin’ Cookies: Make sugar cookies to fit the size of your coffee mugs. When serving hot cocoa place a cookie on top of the mug, covering the top completely. Guests will love getting a cookie to dip along with their drink!
- Whipped Cream Toppings: Today, whipped cream has become an essential for most hot chocolate and coffee drinks. Jazz up your warm concoctions by offering one or more of the following toppings for whipped cream drinks – candy corn, chocolate syrup, shavings, cocoa powder, fall themed sprinkles, melted caramel, crumbled Oreos, or cinnamon candies.
- Decorative Sugars: Dip the rim of a glass in water, and then dip the rim in colored sugar. Red and orange are great for a fall-themed party, and sugared rims are a sweet touch to fall cocktails or spiced wine.
- Fall Themed Water Bottle Labels: Add these personalized labels to a few dozen water bottles, and put them in a metal bucket filled with ice. Guests will enjoy the personalized detail, and they work wonderfully as favors!
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