If you’re like me, you’re a mother’s girl. There is just an undeniable bond between a mother and daughter that can’t be described in words. So, rather than expressing your utmost love for your mother through a poem this Mother’s Day, throw your mother and the influential women in your life a tea party next week! Tea parties are the perfect party theme to truly bond with your guests over delectable pastries, while feeling elegant and girly. To start, you have to decide on what to serve. Keep all the food light and dainty. Some of my favorite tea party foods include: cream cheese & cucumber finger sandwiches, fresh fruit, cupcakes, and biscuits. For beverages besides traditional tea, you can experiment with fruity flavored tea. And a classic must have dessert that every proper tea party needs are French macaroons! They are dainty sophisticated cookies with a chewy jam center. I found a great recipe from Martha Stewart.
Yield: Makes 35 macaroons
Ingredients
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For the macaroons
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 3/4 cup almond flour
- 2 large egg whites, room temperature
- Pinch of cream of tartar
- 1/4 cup superfine sugar
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Suggested Fillings for macaroons
- Chocolate Ganache
- Swiss Meringue Buttercream
- Raspberry Jam
Directions
- Pulse confectioners’ sugar and almond flour in a food processor until combined. Sift mixture 2 times.
- Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk whites with a mixer on medium speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar, and whisk until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low, then add superfine sugar. Increase speed to high, and whisk until stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes. Sift flour mixture over whites, and fold until mixture is smooth and shiny.
- Transfer batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip, and pipe 3/4-inch rounds 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets, dragging pastry tip to the side of rounds rather than forming peaks. Tap bottom of each sheet on work surface to release trapped air. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Bake 1 sheet at a time, rotating halfway through, until macaroons are crisp and firm, about 10 minutes. After each batch, increase oven temperature to 375 degrees, heat for 5 minutes, then reduce to 325 degrees.
- Let macaroons cool on sheets for 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. (If macaroons stick, spray water underneath parchment on hot sheet. The steam will help release macaroons.)
- Sandwich 2 same-size macaroons with 1 teaspoon filling. Serve immediately, or stack between layers of parchment, wrap in plastic, and freeze for up to 3 months.
After you decide on an array of confectionaries to serve, you need an elegant and feminine table setting to create a proper tea party. My tip is to shop in vintage or thrift stores to find antique tea pots and cups with intricate designs. This will give your tea party a vintage feel. Also, use things you have around the house already. You can use old vases and glass jars to display macaroons or fresh flowers in. Create elevation on your table by using cake stands, glassware, and stacking deserts to add interest to the eye. Here is some decor inspiration I found online that I thought was just adorable!
Finally, it’s time to figure out what to wear! As the hostess, you need to be able to move around, but you still need to make a statement. Here are some outfit ideas. Keep in mind that you want to look elegant but still fun and stylish. Try to be unexpected and stray away from the traditional floral sundresses. Try bold geometric and tribal prints for size. Good luck and Happy Mother’s Day!
