These Are the Biggest Summer Entertaining Trends, According to Pinterest
It’s more than halfway through May and while many of us have still yet to see anything that looks like outdoor-entertaining weather, that doesn’t mean people haven’t been saving recipes and tablescapes on Pinterest for months, getting ready to go outside and celebrate the minute the skies turn blue.
Pinterest just released its 2018 Summer Entertaining Report, which sheds light on the season’s entertaining trends by tracking all the things the platform’s users have been pinning in relation to summer parties. And if the world’s Pinterest boards are anything to judge by, wine slushies and big-batch cocktails are about to get even bigger this summer.
Here are some of the summer’s biggest entertaining trends, according to Pinterest.
Wine Slushies
Frosé was huge last year, and it does not appear to be going anywhere in 2018. Saves and pins of wine slushies have increased by 3037 percent since last year, so it looks like the reigning “it” drink of summer will stay on the throne for one more year, at least. Check it out on Pinterest here.
Grill Bombs
Grill bombs are basically onions stuffed with seasoned meat, then wrapped in bacon and cooked on the grill. They’re pretty wild, and their popularity has increased 133 percent since last year. Check them out here.
Picnic Pies
Forget sandwiches — little handheld picnic pies are adorable, easy to eat, and simple to pack and carry in picnic baskets. They can be stuffed with anything from kale to cauliflower, and can be vegetarian, vegan, or full of six different kinds of meat. The popularity of these has increased 78 percent since last year. We’ve written about turning leftovers into hand pies in the past, and you can see more of them on Pinterest.
Big-Batch Cocktails
It’s prime outdoor party season, but no one wants to get stuck being a full-time bartender at their own party. Big-batch cocktails have seen a 60 percent increase since last year, and it’s easy to see why they’re so in demand for summer parties — they’re an easy way to keep drinks in everyone’s hands, including the host’s. Here are some of our favorites. And check them out on Pinterest, too.
Seafood Boils
Nothing says summer entertaining like a classic seafood boil, and pins of seafood boils have increased 93 percent since last year. Here are our tips on hosting a crawfish boil (hint: getting messy is half the fun) and you can find more ideas on Pinterest here.
Build-Your-Own Bruschetta Bar
Bruschetta bar pins have increased by 159 percent since last year, and it’s easy to see why this is a hit. It looks fancy as heck, and all you have to do is set out an array of different meats, cheeses, and toppings, and let people arrange their own bruschetta. Check them out on Pinterest.
Pepper Cocktails
Spicy cocktails are especially refreshing in the summer, and cocktails made with peppers have been popular in restaurants for a while. Now homemade versions like peppercorn shrubs have spiked on Pinterest by more than 347 percent since last year. You can check out this big-batch rosé, gin, and pink peppercorn cocktail on the Kitchn, and see more on Pinterest.
Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches
Whoever first decided to make an ice cream sandwich with waffles instead of cookies was a genius. These cold treats have increased more than 143 percent since last year. Check out some of the waffle-encased variants on Pinterest.
Edible Table Runners
Edible table runners have increased by 125 percent since January, and when I first read “edible table runners,” I definitely thought we were talking about leaving massive strips of Fruit by the Foot down the center of our tables, but what people are actually looking for are seasonal table runners and centerpieces made of grapes, pomegranates, artichokes, even coconuts. An extra-long charcuterie board also makes a good centerpiece. See some in action on Pinterest.
Water Bars
If you have guests over during the summer, you have to keep them hydrated. Water bars let guests mix up a variety of flavors. These have jumped in popularity by 171 percent last year, and they’re a really good way to decorate a bar cart. See some ideas here.
What are your summer entertaining plans?