Celebrate Labor Day in sweet, sweet style this year. Make the most of the long weekend by bringing your favorite people together to say bye-bye to summer. Keep things labor-free by picking a location and letting that inspire the rest of your weekend. To make things even simpler, we’ve rounded up a few fun and simple ideas from the Dessert Week team. Pick your favorites and make them your own!
Photo: Tyler Allen @tylerelainee
Outdoor Vibes
Head to the beach, a pool, a nearby park, or even your own backyard. Gather up some games like giant Jenga, corn hole, or horseshoes to get some friendly competition going. For a whimsical vibe, fill a cooler with water balloons and let a water balloon fight cool you down in the Summer heat.
For the littlest Labor Day revelers, go with the classics: potato sack races, toy water guns, and face paint are sure to please. And if you’re looking for a sweet treat to offer your little ones, go for some low sugar lollipops or fresh fruit pies. Personally, we’re huge fans of The Pie Hole LA’s apple crumble and strawberry rhubarb pies.
Home Base
Photo: @jayjayteev
Host a themed dinner party like a “diner en blanc” where everyone dresses in white. (Of course, if you still choose to wear white after Labor Day, we won’t judge you.) Add a little color to your décor with Independence Day star garlands, flags, star spangled plates and cups, and sparklers that you may have left over. Remember, the name of the game this weekend is keeping things easy as pie.
Grab a few treats from a local hotspot. Dessert Week is based in Los Angeles, and here in La-La Land we’ll be picking up some fresh fruit tarts from Porto’s Bakery in Burbank. They’re portable, beautiful, and a somewhat virtuous option for satisfying our sweet tooth.
Backyard Cook-Out
Keep things simple by choosing make-ahead recipes and picking up dessert from your favorite sweet shop. Prepare a couple salads and in true Labor Day spirit, grab some hot dogs and hamburgers for the grill. Set up a fixing station for a stress-free, serve-yourself system. For a fun way to spruce up your cocktail station, fancy up your ice cubes by freezing herbs or fresh fruit in the ice cube trays. All of this can be done ahead of time, so all you have to do is enjoy the party.
Photo: @thegatheringseason
When it comes time for dessert, lay out a colorful array of macarons. The bite-size gluten-free treats are sure to satisfy any sweets-lover. Here in LA, we’re going to get our hands on some of Bottega Louie’s coveted creations. They pair beautifully with champagne or a crisp white wine (which you can keep cool in the summer heat with those gorgeous ice cubes).
Now all you need is a good playlist, and you’re ready for a memorable (but easy!) Labor Day. Share your party pics with us by tagging us on Instagram @dessertweek or using #dessertweek. And follow us on Facebook for more easy dessert ideas every day of the week!
