Milk & Leprechaun Cakes…

Since our family has some Irish roots we take St. Patrick’s Day pretty seriously around here!  Not that we have big-bash parties or anything, but we do celebrate some family traditions and to stretch out the holiday fun I also LOVE to prepare little treats throughout the days leading up to the 17th!  I don’t do something everyday of course, but scattered about the calendar in the beginnings of March I’ll have a holiday breakfast, after school treat, or even a special holiday meal prepared as an unexpected surprise for my family. (although I’m not sure how surprised they are anymore…they just don’t know the exact days!)  It may sound like a lot of work but honestly it can be really easy to make something as simple as milk and cookies look like a party.  It might not replicate the “Pinterest” look but it can come close…and for far less time and money!  Besides, if you enjoy it as much as I do, it’s almost as much fun to create as it is to present!  So if you want to squeeze in a little extra Irish fun this March…try some easy tricks of the Leprechauns!  Make an after-school treat feel like…

an after-school party!

i adore balloons…i don’t even care if they’re filled with helium!  there’s something about a simple balloon that can just make you smile!  i really don’t know why i don’t use them more often at home…but that’s something i’ll be sure to remedy!  i used to play “balloon volleyball” with my kids all the time…and even today if there’s a balloon in the house the boys are still drawn to batting it around!  a single balloon is packed with ageless fun…so that’s what i used to help make a holiday treat look like a mini party!  they had to be Irish green of course, and this curly ribbon from Ikea is perfect for festive, curly-Q tails!

no helium required…just blow ’em up and then scatter them about!

i just tossed them on the back of my hutch to add some festive and inexpensive color behind the first treats i dished out to welcome the month!  it was a dark and dreary day but spirits were bright inside while everyone enjoyed a bottle of milk topped with a cookie and mini cake!

i took simple wafer cookies to help transform the milk bottle into an edible cake stand!

i love these wafer cookies…i bought them to use for a different spring treat but thought they’d also make a great “plate” to hold goodies on top of a glass of milk!  you can find wafer-style cookies in most grocery stores, but places like Big Lots and Aldi often have unusual cookies and packaged baked goods that are interesting and inexpensive!  i found these at Aldi stores.

they’re pretty crispy but if you take a sharp kitchen knife you can carefully cut out an opening for a straw…

a treat fit for a Leprechaun!

these straws were leftover from last year…but you could easily make the same kind with a craft-paper cutout glued to a regular paper straw!  the thin cookie is just the right size to hold this mini cake topped with holiday sprinkles!

the straw helps to hold the cookie in place on top of the glass…a perfect shelf for any treat!  it’s wide enough that it would fit on a regular juice glass if you don’t have milk bottles.  and if you want to highlight any treat i suggest serving them on a pedestal ’cause they look extra special perched up high…and there’s no rule that says you can’t stack beverages on one too!   the goodies on a cake plate surrounded by simple balloons would fit right in at any party…even though it’s just an after-school surprise to welcome the month of the Leprechauns!

i think i’m going to keep a box full of balloons in my supply pantry from now on….and in my kitchen pantry, a box of wafer cookies for a quick way to dress up my bottles of milk!  of course for an adult gathering you could fill the bottle with wine and stack chocolates upon the cookie!  hmmm…i could drink wine through a straw!…maybe next time!

no matter the holiday or occasion…you can easily transform a simple snack into something special for your favorite people!

balloons, cookies, mini cakes, straws…the simple makings for~

a festive treat any Leprechaun would love!

share your party ideas with me!  the more inspiration the better, right?  happy Friday everyone!