Some of the best get togethers are the ones that do not take much planning at all. This fall, I wanted an easy reason to have friends over, and it turns out coffee, pastries, and boozy treats are basically all the invitation anyone needs. Who does not love an excuse to sip something good and catch up? That is exactly the idea behind this at-home coffee shop brunch, styled in pink and orange for a fresh take on fall. There is no need for a big production to host well. A pot of coffee, a spread of pastries, and a few sweet treats set out are enough to make people feel welcome.
A Simple Tablescape
I did not overthink the table. A cluster of checkered and striped pumpkins in varying sizes and heights down the center, a few coordinating linens, and that was really it. Simple pieces like this do a lot of the work, so you get a table that feels put together without spending a whole afternoon on it.
Invitations Made Easy
I designed simple invitations that matched the palette, pink and orange with a little coffee shop charm, then printed them at home along with a few coordinating paper goods, round stickers for the to go cups, and party favor gift tags. It is a small but impactful touch.
The Coffee Bar
Since this whole idea was built around coffee, the drink station was the centerpiece. I set up a coffee bar with all the fixings, and of course, a bottle (or five) of Jackson Morgan on standby. A splash of Spiced Pumpkin Roll stirred into coffee is basically a boozy pumpkin spice latte without the trip to the drive through. Guests could doctor up their own cup exactly how they liked it, which made hosting almost effortless.
The Menu
No coffee shop is complete without a pastry case, so I put together a small spread of treats to go alongside the coffee bar.
- Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bundt Cake (from Jackson Morgan’s recipe)
- Brown Sugar Pop Tarts
- Salted Caramel Coffee Cake
- Salted Caramel Rice Crispy Treats
- Boozy Pumpkin Donuts
I kept the menu easy by leaning on make ahead items and a few premade grocery store brunch staples, so nothing needed last minute attention. A little bit sweet, a little bit boozy, and easy to set out for guests to help themselves.
