Learn how to host a fun party for adults with this collection of party pleasers and recipe ideas. You’ll love my original peach tea rum punch recipe for a crowd. This recipe for party punch with alcohol is perfect for entertaining this summer and it tastes amazing. Plus discover my crowd favorite black bean dip recipe along with creative ways to style your next gathering including ideas for drink stations and a BBQ sauce bar.

Over the weekend I hosted an amazing, super fun cocktail & cookout party filled with (now) proven party pleasers. I went all out for this party and included a selfie spot with props – this was not a thing twenty years ago – and in addition to make your own cocktail stations, I also included two pre-made spiked punches.

There was also smoked pork butt, brisket and lamb along with grilled veggies and homemade dessert selections. I also made my fantastic black bean dip for pre-dinner snacking.

For the smoked meats we offered a BBQ sauce bar with four sauce and a crazy hot pepper vinegar. I also set out pink Himalayan salt in a dish and black peppercorns for extra seasoning.

I purchased my alcohol for this party from Mouth.com as they offered cocktail kits with recipes. This made the entire process of planning the cocktail menu a lot easier.

Their Au Pear Cocktail Kit was a huge hit. Made with Square One Botanical Vodka and George Spiced Pear Liqueur, this was also the most complex cocktail recipe. Fortunately we had someone dive right in with this one from the start so no one was intimidated by the process.

My own Rooibos Peach Tea Rum Punch Recipe was also a party pleaser. Made with a combination of light and dark rum as well as Adagio’s Rooibos Peach Tea, this rum punch recipe for a crowd offered lighter alcohol content and tasted exactly like summer peach tea!

(Keep reading to learn how to make my original Rooibos Peach Tea Rum Punch Recipe further down as well as my black bean dip recipe!)

The Paladone Face Coasters I’d purchased some time back were another of many party pleasers.

We had the most fun with these coasters and everyone loved them.

We also had a blast playing with the mouth photo sticks I found and bought from Oriental Trading.

It didn’t end there though. In addition to a blow up selfie frame, we also had a battle ax which turned out to be brilliant for creating memorable photos.

And of course everyone went home with fun party favor bags filled with handmade donut soaps, handmade solid donut salt scrubs, illustrated temporary tattoos and artisan lollipops.

Recipes for Party Pleasers

So, are you ready to make your own party pleasers? Learn how to make my black bean dip recipe and Rooibos peach tea rum punch recipe below.

Rooibos Peach Tea Rum Punch Recipe

© Rebecca D. Dillon

Ingredients:

64 oz. water
4 Tablespoons Adagio Rooibos Peach Tea
1 1/2 Cups light (clear) rum
1/2 Cup dark or special rum
1/2 Cup simple syrup
2-3 ripe peaches

Directions:

To make this Rooibos Peach Tea Rum Punch Recipe you’ll first need to wash and dry the peaches. Once clean, cut the peaches in half and remove the seed. Then cut the peaches into wedges. Place the peaches in a large heat safe pot or container. (I used a large 8 cup glass Pyrex measuring cup as it has a spout.)

Then fill 1-2 paper tea filters with 4 Tablespoons of tea. (You can put all 4 Tbs into one tea bag or split it into two tea bags as desired.) Place the tea bags into the container with the peaches.

In a large container or an electric kettle, bring half the amount of water needed to a boil.

Once the water boils, remove from heat and pour over the tea bags and peaches.

Steep the tea for 5 minutes, then remove the tea bags from the container, squeezing them to remove the excess tea from the bags.

Measure out the simple syrup and stir into the hot tea.

Now measure out and the rums and the remaining water and combine in a separate gallon sized container.

Pour the hot tea into the rum/water mixture and mix well.

Cover and refrigerate until use.

You can remove the softened peaches if desired for another dish or leave them in the tea for visual interest.

To drink, simply pour the Rooibos peach tea rum punch over ice and enjoy.

Party Pleasing Black Bean Dip Recipe

© Rebecca D. Dillon

Ingredients:

2 cans Bush’s black beans, drained
1 can shoepeg corn
1 cup Pace Chunky Mild Salsa
1 red pepper, chopped
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
2 bags of Tostitos Scoops or tortilla chips

Directions:

Drain the cans of black beans and corn. Combine the beans and corn in a large container with washed/dried/chopped peppers and onions, salsa, lemon juice, olive oil and spices. Mix well, then cover and refrigerate overnight.

Remix the black bean dip before serving, then serve with tortilla chips.

I hope these recipes and ideas help to inspire your next party or event – even if it’s not soap! Also, be sure to let me know what some of your proven party pleasers are in the comments. And, for more party ideas, be sure to follow my Party Ideas Pinterest board.

And don’t forget you can you can find & follow me on Pinterest, Facebook,  Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Or subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss a post.