Hunger Games Party
So, you know how even though I’m 32, I’m actually like, 12?
Well, I have been obsessing about the Hunger Games movie premier this week.
O.B.S.E.S.S.I.N.G.
And I know I got super excited about the Twilight movies and Harry Potter, but this is way worse. WAY. So if the movie sucks, I will probably go home and cry and my husband will shake his head and watch Full Metal Jousting and wonder why he married a child adult.
But I can’t help myself. I’ve got a fevah and the only prescription is….
MORE HUNGER GAMES.
So lately I’ve been searching the internets for some fun Hunger Games food inspiration, but haven’t been finding much. Which brought me to the decision to make my OWN Hunger Games dessert party…
For myself.
Yes, I spent a perfectly good Saturday afternoon setting up a pretend party. I did it for YOU, okay?? Because the world needs Hunger Games party ideas.
Wanna see what I came up with?
Super cute cupcakes didn’t really seem appropriate given the theme and feel of the story, and there really wasn’t a ton of food inspiration in the books. I reread the first one and made note of foods that stood out or seemed to have some type of meaning to the story.
When Katniss was leaving for the Hunger Games, Peeta’s dad came to visit her and gave her some cookies in a white paper bag, so I decided that those would be perfect. I don’t imagine his cookies having a ton of color and cute sprinkles, so I made these using a spice cake mix.
I placed the bags of cookies in a wooden crate.
I added some little bags of chocolate rock candy for fun and to add some color. I found these at the Candy Craze candy store in my mall. You could also probably find them online.
Another thing that stood out to me was the bread that was spread with goat cheese and topped with apples that Peeta and Katniss ate in the cave at the Hunger Games. Goat cheese had a special significance because it made Katniss think of her sister Prim.
But because I wanted to make DESSERTS, this is actually goat cheese frosting spread on slices of Sara Lee pound cake! The goat cheese frosting was actually very good, just a tangy and richer cream cheese frosting. But if goat cheese isn’t your thing, feel free to use regular cream cheese frosting instead.
Top with apple slices that have been tossed lightly in citrus juice so they don’t brown.
Of course, the poisonous berries are the turning point of the whole series, so I had to incorporate them somehow. I decided to do fun little mini cakes, placed in parchment paper cupcake liners. The cake is just circles cut from pound cake slices, but you could easily use your favorite cake recipe or mix instead.
I used the goat cheese frosting that I made and topped them with a blackberry sauce and candy “berries”. I bought the berries at Candy Craze, but I’ve seen them at Walmart and Target in the candy aisle. The candy berries would also be super cute in favor bags.
For the drinks, I had to go with orange juice, because Katniss had never tasted it until her first trip to the Capitol.
I found these fun straw flags HERE at Living Locurto. She also has lots of other Hunger Games Printables if you need them!!
The recipes I used are below:
Spice Cake Cookies
INGREDIENTS
- Box Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix
- 1 stick butter or margarine, softened
- 2 eggs
- Coarse sanding sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In the bowl of a mixer, beat cake mix, butter or margarine, and eggs on medium until fully combined. Drop by spoonfuls on an ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle generously with sanding sugar and bake for about 10-12 minutes, until cookies have puffed up and edges have set. Remove from oven and let cool on sheet for a few minutes before removing to cooling rack.
Goat Cheese Frosting
INGREDIENTS
- 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
- 6 oz goat cheese, softened
- 2/3 cup powdered sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
1. In the bowl of a mixer, beat goat cheese and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and combined.
2. Add powdered sugar and beat on medium low until just blended. Increase speed to medium high and beat for about 2 minutes, until light and fluffy.
Notes:
If you prefer, you can substitute cream cheese for goat cheese.
Blackberry Sauce
Adapted from Bake at 350
INGREDIENTS
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1/3 cup water
- 12 oz frozen blackberries, thawed
INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together cornstarch, sugar, and water. Add blackberries and stir until mixture comes to a boil. Boil an additional minute, stirring constantly.
2. Pour mixture into a mesh sieve placed over a medium bowl, to strain out the seeds. Chill before pouring over cakes.
I got little glass bottles, straws, and white cookie bags at Shop Sweet Lulu.
I hope you got some fun inspiration for a Hunger Games party of your own. Have a happy Monday and may the odds be ever in your favor!!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I realize you could be doing more important things with your time. Like watching the news or washing socks. I hope you stay awhile. Much more fun than socks, I promise. 
It is all just darling! I especially LOVE the mini cakes!!! Cant wait to see the movie AND read your review of it. You’ll tell us what you thought…. right???? ;)
Now I want to have a hunger games party! I love those milk glasses they seem to be always sold out when I go to order them.
I just ordered some from Red Hill General Store online. Very reasonable prices and fast shipping.
You. Are. Fabulous! And my new favorite person :):) Thank you! Such wonderful ideas, I can’t wait to try them!
Love it!! I too have been hunger games O.B.S.E.S.S.E.D…and lets just say we are the same age! Haha! Thanks for sharing!
Super duper cute ideas! I LOVED The Hunger Games and can’t figure out how I’m going to make it to the theater, but I must! Maybe I could pretend to be grocery shopping or something!
O M G!! Come to my house & we’ll have a HUGE Hunger Games party!! I’m sooooooo excited for the movie!! I’m going to see it @ my towns little theater @ midnight & I’m usually in bed by 9!
Bravo! Reading this post makes me want to go and reread book #1. These are some very creative ideas :)
Great, now I’m even more depressed I don’t get to go see it at the movies. Maybe when my daughter goes to the ‘rents in 3 weeks. Stiil, cute party, love the desserts though!
I LOVE that you had a Hunger Games party for yourself! I might have to go see the movie by myself.
This is GREAT!!! Read all the books, going with my three teen/young adult daughters, hoping to keep the eyelids propped with toothpicks! LOVE all your ideas!
Love all of your ideas! I can’t wait for the movie either…I guess that makes me 12 too? I don’t even care!
Where do I RSVP? I’m so down with coming to your Hunger Games Party! Finished the book in 1.5 days—it was amazing.
Okay, my 6th graders are going to go bonkers when I show them this. We are all meeting at the theater for the movie. It’s THE BIG THING in my classroom. (One girl even made a Peeta Valentine bag that is on my class blog!)
I’m obsessing over the movie as well! I’ve been all over the intraweb and found quite a bit actually…. Check out Fictional Food http://www.fictionalfood.net/category/books/hunger-games-book/
I also made some cute Katniss Kills Squirrels Cupcakes :) However, i think that my squirrels taste way better that hers. Just sayin’.
Omg your funny Im throwing a party and need more ideas
I love this party idea because I too have been obsessing over the hunger games and would love to throw a party and then go see the movie after!!
YAY!! I love these ideas!!! I made some cupcake toppers last night for The Hunger Games. I’m so excited!!!
So next time you have a pretend Hunger Games party you should invite me! We could talk about how awesome THG is and eat yummy food! Because now I want to have my own pretend party for myself using your fantastic recipes!
I was literally JUST thinking about this on the way home from the beach today. Goat cheese was the first thing that came to mind. I also remembered that she really loved the hot chocolate. Cookies seem like the only thing I could sneak in to the movie theatre. I was also thinking goat cheese brownies? Is that disgusting? I don’t know.
Oh my gosh, can I PLEASE come to your Hunger Games party??! I am so, so loving this!! Best party ever. Seriously cannot wait for Friday!! :)
Wow…I wish we lived closer so we could have a real hunger games party. Just wow, everything looks incredible
Jww
Gorgeous and creative ideas!! Everything looks delicious and you did a great job tying it all together with the book!
Confession time. I am one of three people in America who hasn’t read the book. I’m completely in the dark about the plot. I was talking to the girl who helps me take my groceriers to the car and she said she’d never even HEARD of The Hunger Games. Huh? Guess I better get with it and get me a copy. Kristan — as usual you are my inspiration. Love the cute, easy-peasy ideas you have. Plus, I learn something new — like I knew about rock candy (although I’ve never tried it — what do they taste like?) but I had no idea there’s candy in the shape of berries. Yes, I live under a rock.
I LOVE The Hunger Games! I made cookies on my blog here: http://notyourmommascookie.com/2012/02/may-the-odds-be-ever-in-your-favor-hunger-games-cookies/. I also did a guest post on arrow cookies for Katniss! http://raegunwear.blogspot.com/2012/03/hunger-games-cookies-tutorial.html. Thanks so much for these wonderful ideas!
You have mad creative skills girl!
Ah I want to come to your party! My husband and I definitely bought tickets to see the movie on Saturday… can not wait!
I am also OBSESSED with this series and CANNOT WAIT for the movie! Great party food!
I wish I was at your house on Saturday!! WHat a fun post :)
Eeee yay for Hunger Games!! I can’t wait for Friday :D Here’s another good resource with a bunch of recipes for Hunger Games :D http://www.fictionalfood.net/category/books/hunger-games-book/
WOOOOO I LOVE THE HUNGAH GAMES.
I think I’m going to make Peeta’s cheese buns sometime this week and post them, so stay tuned. :]
This is so awesome! Kiddo has plans to go see the movie Friday night with friends, which made me sad because I wanted him to see it with ME….but I decided I’m going to see it BY MYSELF in the middle of the day while he’s at school next week. I’m so looking forward to eating that bag of popcorn all by my lonesome. I think I’d like to take along some of your cookies, too!
I love these ideas! I just finished re-reading the book yesterday and obviously I can’t stop there so I’m on to Catching Fire again. I wish I would have gotten one of those cool t-shirts you posted a few days ago but I dilly-dallied and then when I went back to the page and messaged the artist she told me Lions Gate made her take down all of her Hunger Games items. Bummer. I hope you got yours though. Have fun this week at the movies!
This is SO cute! I love Hunger Games, too.
I just sent this post to my roommate. She’s OBSESSED as well. We’re going to the midnight showing when it comes out.
ahhh you are so creative!! This is amazing-that goat cheese frosting looks unbelievable!
I am also an adult child that is O.B.S.E.S.S.E.D. with all things Hunger Games so naturally you are my hero.
Best party ever. Your ideas reminded me why I loved the series so much (I read them a while back). Awesome ;)
This. Is. Awesome. And I’m not worried even a little bit about you. ;)
I want to come to your party!! I am 33 and obsessed too, so you can take solace in that :)
This is fabulous! Such clever ideas.
I cannot wait for the movie this weekend!!!!!
You are crazy talented. Like you should have your own party catering business or something.
You are a genius! This all looks so great and so true to the book! Can’t wait to see the movie :)
what?? no Lamb stew with dried plums?? After all it was/is Katniss’ Favorite thing about the Capital!!– Cant wait.. It’s going to be a Big Big Day!!
Yay!! I am glad to see another adult just as obsessed as I am! I asked a few people over for a party before going to see the movie and to my surprise there are going to be over 50 people coming!!! (Ok I REALLY didn’t think it was going to explode out of control so I told people they could ask anyone they wanted to). I wrote about my prep here: http://www.playdatecrashers.com/2012/03/a-hunger-games-party/?fb_comment_id=fbc_386964117998165_5223502_387054461322464
and will share your link on my FB event page just in case people need more recipe ideas. Your party looks amazing
Hey, I just stopped by… showing a friend your cute ideas and there were my printables! Cool. Love the party ideas! I CAN’T wait for the movie! Whoot!
Soooo, two things:
1. This. is. awesome. and I totally would have attended your pretend party Saturday.
2. I saw you in the Entertainment Fort Smith magazine!!!!! And I was soooooo proud to see you in there – that’s awesome! :) I told my husband that even though I’ve never met you in person, I read your blog and feel like I could totally talk to you in person if I were to even run into you out and about. I promise I’m not a stalker….my husband would want you to know that.
LOVE the spread.
Also Hunger Games fans feel free to check out http://www.fictionalfood.net/
The people there are AMAZING at recreating food from books and movies. AH-maze-ING!
You are so completely amazing.
Of course, you could have saved some time and served nothing so that everyone at the party got hungry. ;-)
Very clever post.
Did you see the movie yet? Is it as good as the book? I was disappoints with the second book so the third is still unread in my kindle. I was wondering about the movie.
This HG party you made is EPIC! Thank you so much – when my daughter sees this, she will keel over in excitement (she IS 12). My son, 17, just might, too! I wonder if we can replicate this for her and her friends before they go see it Friday night. I’ll give it my best shot!
I absolutely adore you. I was driving today and suddenly wondered if I’m really 40 or or 14.
I can’t wait for this movie. I’m excited like I was for Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean. Now if I can just convince my husband to be as excited as me. Doubtful. But it’s better than Car Warriors.
I just finished the Hunger Games Sunday night, because I had to see what all the hype was about……OMG, such a great book! I immediately downloaded Catching Fire onto my kindle app.
Can we have a Hunger Games party together and eat up all these yummy desserts, please!?!? I love your take on desserts. When I saw this blog post I was trying to think what kind of food stuck out, besides the stew they ate! I soooooo am making your goat cheese frosting this weekend!
How cute & creative are you! Love this!
Can I come to your Hunger Games party? I had been holding out forever (though I’d been hearing about the book series for quite some time) and I’ve been hooked! I downloaded the trilogy on my kindle fire (cheaper than downloading each book individually) and I’m on Mockingjay, the third and final book. I can’t wait to finish it!
But these all look awesome – and I totally got all the references you made!
oh and I’ll be 35 this year and while I wouldn’t say I was obsessed – I am totally in love with the books!!!
Fun! My kids are excited. I have to admit I’ve yet to read the books. I know, I know…I need to get on it.
I love it! I just started reading the first book, and I can already tell why so many people love it. Can’t wait to see the movie :)
I have not read the book, but seeing the previews has made me want to… and the fact that you are obsessed and making desserts in honor of it are pushing me over the edge… kindle here I come…
Thanks for the great ideas! My 10 year old read the books and then let his teacher and then friends borrow them, so I have not been able to read them yet. We are having a Hunger Games Birthday Party Sleepover for him this weekend with a trip to see the movie with 12 of his friends. If you don’t mind, I am going to incorporate your poisonious berries idea into the birthday cake! I am decorating the house with parachuttes I made from disposable paper/foam bowls covered with white plastic (circles cut from white garbage bags) and tied to gifts wrapped in white paper (candy bars). We’re serving Sweedish Fish, Auntie Annies cheddar bunnies, mini baguettes and apples and cheese and bottles of sleep syrup (purple Gatorade with altered labels) along with pizza and cake. We are also going to play “Assassain” with Nerf weapons.
I am 50? something and I too am obsessed with “The Hunger Games” series! I never thought about a Hunger Games party but it will definately come together now! By the way, have you seen the China Glaze polish inspired by The Hunger Games? 12 different colors for all the districts! Oh ya, I got them all ;) Can’t wait for the movie!
Thanks for the ideas!
I LOVE THE HUNGER GAMES! I love this! I’m soooo excited!!!!!!
These are great ideas! I love the play on the poisonous berries. If you need something more savory, I made two dishes for my book club – Basil-wrapped goat cheese and grilled lamb skewers with dried plum chutney. http://feedingmysunshine.com/tag/hunger-games/
Enjoy the movie! I know I can’t wait for it.
You are just too much. And I say that in the most loving, admiring way possible. Your creativity astounds me every time!
You are wayy to much fun! I’m totally loving you for making this post! From one OBSESS-E to another, I think the odds are in your favor for this movie being completely awesome. The critic reviews are loving it!!! No crying on the hubs shoulder for you :) Thanks for posting this super fun party! You could of always invited me to come over :)
So impressed. Love it!
[...] Cookbook Queen has lots of awesome THG party food, like spice cake cookies, orange juice, goat cheese on bread with apple slices, poisonous berry [...]
[...] Cookbook Queen has lots of awesome THG party food, like spice cake cookies, orange juice, goat cheese on bread with apple slices, poisonous berry [...]
This is amazing and so are you!!!! I have also set up pretend spa parties to take pics so you are not alone:)
I’m almost done with Mockingjay and I can’t wait to see the movie I also spent about an hour today making a Hunger Games board on Pinterest:) If you’re on it you can follow me. I’m HSG..
Oh, I hadn’t noticed you allow links in your comments:) Here is a link to my board:
http://pinterest.com/homespagoddess/the-hunger-games/
[...] Confessions of a Cookbook Queen ha hecho postres inspirados en las mejores escenas, objetos, etc. de la película. Perfectos para hacerlos mientras esperamos a que llegue el viernes o comerlos viendo la película cuando salga en DVD. [...]
Wow, Wonderful creativity here. I”ve been obsessed with Hunger Games Food and thought I was doing good making the lamb stew and dandelion salad. Your berry cake is genius.
[...] the first part of spring break basically in the most enjoyable nap-coma of my life. I also read The Hunger Games, and I now feel like I can belong to society again because I know what everyone is talking about [...]
Hey you’re never too old to be a kid about somthing. I love the books but am nervous about the movie. I am letting my daughter (39) go first and let me know what she thinks since she has also read the books. You have some great recipes, keep being creative, it keeps you young. A young 61.
[...] @ Confessions of a Cookbook Queen thew herself a little party. With Hunger Games inspired food. So [...]
I love your food ideas for a Hunger Games party! I’m 49 and also totally obsessed with these books. I guess I’ll never completely grow up. I’m happy about that because life is so much more fun when you have an inner child-lol! I can barely wait to be seated in the theater with my big tub of buttery popcorn, icy cold drink, and hear the words, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, let the 74th annual Hunger Games begin!’
Nancy
[...] at all, come back to check it out! Oh and if you’re at all into The Hunger Games, check out this post that Kristan from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen did over on her site. She came up with some [...]
[...] threw you a Hunger Games party!! But you didn’t come, so I had to eat it all by myself. Where were [...]
I’m 22, and I thought i was too old to be obsessed. I’m so glad to have met you. This looks amazing. What a perfect spread. Though the bread from District 11 should have been incorporated somehow. That was such a nice moment.
[...] If you’re feeling more social than solitary, you could host a Hunger Games-themed party. Confessions of a Cookbook Queen has some great ideas to get you [...]
I have recently seen the Hunger Games movie advertised here (Greece). I was a little interested. Reading and seeing what you wrote and made makes me want to see the movie but more than that I want to read the book(s). thank you
I made cookies for the movie premiere! See? (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.310714018994726.74293.117083948357735&type=1)
This is SO creative – LOVE it! I made Hunger Games cookies you might like: http://www.onepreppycookie.blogspot.com/2012/03/happy-hunger-games.html :)
I just love this! Soooo cute! I am taking my son this Friday. Maybe I need to make a pre-movie snack feast!
[...] http://www.confessionsofacookbookqueen.com/2012/03/hunger-games-party-food-ideas/ Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. [...]
- You’re not the only one! (I’m 54, and like really 15, I think!) I was suprised too at the lack of ideas, so I did my own too – for my whole family & their friends! Go on my FB to see my parachutes hanging with the appetizers and flambeed cake (“Girl on Fire”) for dessert. We had a blast! ~And I love your ideas too! Thanks for posting!
(Annette Friesen Cone on FB)
ahah, omg! i`ve been recently OBSESSED and in LOVE with hunger games! i went to see the movie twice! :D i love how you did all this! ?
What a great bparty!!!!! My friend is also obsessed with hunger games, she’s gonna be thrilled with this party idea! For sure I’m goona wear a red dress like Katniss!
Greetings from Greece!
Your friend’s here Kat ;)
The poisonous cakes are to die for!
Lovely ideas, but Katniss did in fact have orange juice before she visited the Capitol. Her first breakfast on the train included some orange juice, which Katniss said she had only tried once before, when her father bought some as a special treat on New Year’s Eve.
[...] I ? the idea of having a Hunger Games Party! [...]
My first time reading your blog. I loved what you created. Beautiful! My 11 year old and I are big fans of Hunger Games. So what did you think of the movie?
I freaking love you!
you’ve just given an idea for my niece’s upcoming debut… thank you!
this is a great idea….for my niece’s upcoming debut. thank you!
[...] Six. Poisonous berry mini cake recipe pinned by Josie Gonzales from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen [...]
This is so great! Love the cookie idea. May borrow for my daughter’s birthday party, Hunger Games theme, of course. ;) Beautiful job!
[...] love food blogs and I just about died when one of my favorite blogs, Confessions of a Cookbook Queen, posted about having a ‘Hunger Games’ foodie party with cool recipes inspired by scenes [...]
Hi! Thank you for your time! Sorry your husband doesn’t understand but we do. Love and hugs, Diana
Thank you so much for the fantastic inspiration. We have read all the books and went to the midnight premier so I understand your obsession! I even dressed up like Effie :) Anyway, I was already planning a Hunger Games party for the DVD. Now I have some awesome inspiration! You are AWESOME!
Hi! I love this!!! super cute and i love how it looks old fashioned! I’m having a hunger games party this septemeber, and this is perfect! THANK YOU! And I really like the glass bottles you used for the juice, where did you get them, and how big? can you post a link? And same with the straws? they’re soooo cute!
Brilliant!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to do it! Very creative and well done! :)
Thanks for the inspiration! We added a couple of foods for the DVD premiere party! Girl on Fire Nachos, Muddy Arena Brownies, Cornucopias of Popcorn, and “Peeta” and Hummus :)
Love this! The only thing i wanted to add is that when i made the cookies, they came out small and not big like the picture. Need to make a double batch if doing for a birthday party and a big big spoon. Can’t wait to see the kid’s faces when i make the little poison cakes!
This is absolutely *PERFECT*!!!! My daughter wants a Hunger Games party for her 13th Birthday. I LOVE your ideas and will definately be using them!
Hi! I love this so much! Supper cute! I’m planning on using it for my Birthdya Party next weekend, which is HG themed. I bought the ingrediants for everything but I was wondering how many mini cake does the recipie make?
[...] This one is slightly more creative… In the Hunger Games book, whilst in the arena Katnis and Peeta eat bread spread with goats cheese topped with apple slices as an offering from the crowds. The goats cheese was significant to Katniss as it reminded her of Prim’s goat. However this is a cake!! Slices of cake topped with goats cheese frosting and apple slices! How cool.. well I thought so. You can see some other super creative Hunger games food over on Confessions of a Cookbook Queen. [...]
[...] Knowing the game itself was the major draw for this party, I didn’t spend much time on decorations or creating theme specific food. For some fun ideas for Hunger Games treats, take a look at Confessions of a Cookbook Queen. [...]
We just had my daughter’s 11th birthday, she’s a huge Hunger Games fan. We used all you’re recipes and ideas for her party. They were DELICIOUS! The party was a huge success. We didn’t have tone to order the milk bottles, which were adorable. We used mason jars which turned out cute too. Thank you for just great ideas and delicious foods. Keep up the amazing creative work.
I love the idea of using Mason Jars..much more rustic!! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipes…thanks for reading!!
[...] Hunger Games ~ Hunger Games Party Food Recipes ~ Fun party food like Cookies from Peeta’s Dad, Chocolate Rock Favor bags, goat cheese on [...]
Howdy great website! Does running a blog like this require a great deal of work?
I’ve no understanding of computer programming however I had been hoping to start my own blog in the near future. Anyway, should you have any suggestions or techniques for new blog owners please share. I understand this is off topic nevertheless I simply wanted to ask. Appreciate it!
To make the best hunger games party, you need the proper hunger games in it. Also another desert for your hunger games party is district 12 cookie coal
I actually found this particular blog , “Hunger Games Party Desserts!
!”, rather engaging plus the post ended up being a good read.
Thanks-Wiley
This really is the fourth posting, of yours I actually went
through. Yet I enjoy this one, “Hunger Games Party Desserts!
!” the best. Cya -Wesley
Hi!
Where did you get the darling little jars that you put the OJ in? I want them for my Hunger Games themed 40th birthday party!
Thank you!