This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BlackberryAffair #CollectiveBias ~ Do impromptu get togethers make you panic? Fear not! Our 3 simple party tips will keep you stress-free; we included a recipe for Ginger Ale Cupcakes too. ~

Has your husband ever called you on his way home from work to announce that he invited someone over for dinner? Has he chuckled into the phone and apologized for the impromptu get together? Have you ever hung up the phone in a blind panic and tried to figure out what on earth you were going to make for this special someone? Yeah, well I’ve been there and I feel your stress.

Although I love seeing our friends and family, I am not really a fan of last minute gatherings. I blame this fully on my Type A personality, and as such, I always like to be prepared. I mean what on earth am I supposed to whip up for dinner when I haven’t gone grocery shopping in days? How can I make a delicious dessert for the kids when I used up the last of the eggs this morning at breakfast?

Well, never fear. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to keep my entertaining life as stress-free as possible. One of them even involves making these tasty Canada Dry® Blackberry Ginger Ale Cupcakes without ever cracking a single egg! (See the recipe at the end of this post!)

For now, I’ve compiled three tips that will help you pull off a successful get together with style and flair – even at a moment’s notice. As long as you keep these tips in mind, you too can pull off an impressive spread that doesn’t require you to spend the entire evening locked away in the kitchen.

3 Simple Party Tips for Impromptu Get-Togethers

1.) Always have a steady supply of paper goods on hand.

I always like to keep a fun assortment of paper plates, napkins, and festive straws in the downstairs pantry. I wait for them to go on sale and then stock up. I try to focus on buying brightly colored partyware because we have a black dining room table and they really pop! Plus, for a last minute get together, the idea is to be spontaneous with an anything goes attitude. So who wants to spend the evening doing dishes?

2.) Stock up on beverages that can be kept at room temperature.

I always keep a steady supply of non-perishable beverages on hand too. This way, I can cater to everyone’s personal tastes without needing to run out to the grocery store at the last minute. Now that spring is here, we like to stock up on Canada Dry® Blackberry Ginger Ale because it’s only available at select Ahold stores from March – May 2016. We have to get it while it lasts!

3.) Buy dry and canned goods in bulk whenever you can.

Whenever dry goods go on sale, I buy lots of them. Nothing pulls a party together faster than being able to run down to the pantry and whip out a tasty assortment of snacks. As long as I have canned beans and crackers, I can make a quick party dip appetizer in two seconds flat. With dry pasta and canned tomatoes on my shelves, I can whip up a fast Italian dinner for our friends. And who could forget about dessert? With boxed cake mix on the shelf, I can always make some tasty cupcakes. The idea is to keep the prep work as simple as possible.

BLACKBERRY GINGER ALE CUPCAKES

MAKES 12 CUPCAKES.

Ingredients:

1 box of vanilla cake mix
1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) soda (We use Canada Dry® Blackberry Ginger Ale.)
1 container of vanilla frosting
1 container of blackberries
1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Directions:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Pour the dry cake mix into a large bowl. Add fizzy soda to the dry ingredients. Using a hand mixer, blend on low for 1 minute, scraping down sides of the bowl, until all dry ingredients are wet. Then, beat on medium for 2 more minutes.

Step 2: Line muffin pan with 12 cupcake liners. Divide the batter among the cups and bake according to cake mix package instructions. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

Step 3: Meanwhile, pour frosting into another large bowl; set aside. Place a fine-meshed colander over a bowl and using a garlic press, squash the juice from 20 blackberries into the bowl. The colander will keep the seeds from getting through. Add your freshly squeezed blackberry juice into the frosting bowl. Using the hand mixer, blend ingredients until incorporated.

Step 4: If your frosting is a bit thin or runny, simply add the powdered sugar into the frosting bowl by the 1/4 cup and mix until you achieve your desired consistency again. Frost cupcakes and place a blackberry atop each one!