How To Throw an Epic Fall Barbeque

The summer might have come to an end, but there’s still plenty of time left in the year to make use of your barbeque. The weather is still mild enough, but the change in season makes it a little different to your average midsummer cookout. So get your family and friends around, and fire up the barbeque while you still can! Here are just a few of the ways you can make a fall barbeque special, and ensure your party is an epic success.

Photo from Wikimedia

Cook Seasonal Produce

Now we’re in fall, take advantage of the awesome fall produce that’s available! Don’t be afraid to think out of the box when you’re planning your fall barbeque.  Just because certain things aren’t traditionally done on the barbeque doesn’t mean they won’t taste great. Ingredients like squash, sweet potatoes, meats marinated in warming spices are all great options to cook on the grill. You have things like mushrooms (which are at their best during the fall and winter) and corn on the cob which are both in season.  We all know they work well on the barbeque. You could even grill some seasonal fall fruits such as apples, quince and figs. Serve with some mascarpone cream for something tasty yet unusual.

Serve Up Warming, Seasonal Drinks

You could whip up a big batch of warming apple cider with spices for guests when they arrive. Or you could create cocktails using seasonal fruits to sip on through the evening. Think pear mimosas, blackberry margaritas and bourbon hot toddies. You could even make some homemade hot chocolate and keep it warm in the slow cooker ready to serve later in the evening. Mugs served with whipped cream, sprinkles and maybe even a shot of Irish cream liqueur are bound to go down well.

Keep Everyone Warm

While the weather is still nice, there’s definitely more of a chill in the air especially as the evening draws on. So investing in fire pits or outdoor fireplaces could is a great investment for the garden. You could provide guests with blankets, and all sit around the toasty fire.  Toast some marshmallows or drink hot chocolate in the cool, crisp evening to finish off the night. Perfect!

Photo from Pixabay

Think About Lights and Decorations

There are so many ways you could go with fall decor ideas. Hollowed out pumpkins displaying seasonal flowers make a fabulous fall decoration which doesn’t look ‘halloween-y’. You could line some mason jars with pretty fall leaves and put some tea light candles inside. You can even buy cute battery operated autumnal fairy lights featuring things like faux leaves. These kind of things will set the ambience. Having lots of lighting around is useful when the days are shorter too. As well as your smaller light sources, it’s worth having an outdoor light or floodlight if your party is going to carry on through the evening.

Have you ever thrown a fall barbeque? How did you make it different to a standard summer one?