The Bloody Mary bar may be great for a hangover, but the Bellini bar is made for special occasions. Sunday brunch, birthdays, bridal showers, baby showers, weddings, and get-togethers are all better when there's a Bellini bar at the party. Requiring only two ingredients and a bit of creativity, you can easily create a gorgeous diy Bellini bar at home for your next celebration.
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When it comes to setting up your stylish homemade Bellini bar, there are a few things you'll need. Gifts.com has come up with a clever method that is not only easy, but it will be the talk of the party. The key is to have everything labeled and set up from first ingredient to last. To start, you'll want to bust out the fancy champagne flute glasses, but don't leave the rim without a special touch.
Like salt on a margarita glass, a sugar rimmed Bellini glass can add a touch of sweetness. Next to the glasses you can set up a sugar station where guests can dip the glass in a bowl of water, then dip it into a bowl of sugar.
Then, you'll need a bottle of prosecco, or Italian sparkling wine. Depending upon your party size, you may need a few bottles - you get about four to six Bellinis per bottle. You'll want to keep the bottles chilled, so it's a good idea to set up an ice bucket.
Then comes the fun part, the purees! Using your favorite frozen fruits, you can whip up tasty pureed fruit for your Bellini. Once you've made the purees a day ahead of time, pour them into labeled carafes or small pitchers and put out some extra fresh fruit for garnish.
You can even include some gorgeous edible flowers for a delicate look or add some fresh herbs like mint for a refreshing touch. With a handful of tasty options, friends can mix up the perfect Bellini for any occasion.
Oh, and don't forget all those tasty treats! Mini cupcakes, scones, crostinis, a charcuterie board, or even a breakfast casserole all go smashing with a fruity, sparkling Bellini. The trick with the snacks is to keep the recipes simple, and choose foods that can be served on a cocktail napkin.
As far as the decorations go, it really depends upon the occasion. Dress up the bar with balloons, flowers, banners, or whatever is appropriate for the celebration. Either way, you're guests are going to rave about the Bellini Bar.
Now that you know how to set up a decorative Bellini bar, let's get to the Bellinis themselves. With these four scrumptious fruity flavors, there will be a taste for everyone at the table.
Speaking of everyone, if there are a few kids in the bunch or a person that isn't partaking in champagne, turn the cocktails into mocktails with a bottle of sparkling cider. This way, everyone can enjoy the Bellini bar!
1. Mango Bellini
For a tropical twist, the Mango Bellini is where it's at. Frozen mangoes are pureed, then added to the sparkling wine of your choices for a dazzling treat!
Ingredients
- Mango puree
- Champagne
- Sugar rim
Directions
- Stir sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium heat for about five minutes or until the sugar dissolves. Let cool.
- Using a blender, blend frozen mangoes with sugar syrup.
- Strain through a fine-meshed strainer and into a bowl. Discard seeds if needed.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Refrigerate puree for one day. Pour 2-4 tablespoons of mango puree into a champagne flute. Slowly pour the prosecco/champagne to fill the flute.
2. Strawberry Bellini
Strawberries already make a great edition to a glass of prosecco, so why not try them in a Bellini? While traditional Bellinis call for peaches, this spruced up Bellini showcases the sweetness of strawberries in the most delicious way. With a bit of strabwerry puree and a glass of prosecco, you'll be cheersing the Bellini way.
Ingredients
- Strawberry puree
- Champagne
- Strawberry wedge
Directions
- Stir sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium heat for about five minutes or until the sugar dissolves. Let cool.
- Using a blender, blend frozen strawberries with sugar syrup.
- Strain through a fine-meshed strainer and into a bowl. Discard seeds if needed.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Refrigerate puree for one day.
- Pour 2-4 tablespoons of strawberry puree into a champagne flute. Slowly pour the prosecco/champagne to fill the flute.
3. Pineapple Bellini
Is pineapple your favorite fruit? Add it to your Bellini. Pour one part pineapple puree and two parts champagne into a flute and add a pineapple slice for garnish. One sip and swear you're vacationing on a Hawaiian Sunday.
Ingredients
- Pineapple puree
- Champagne
- Pineapple wedge
Directions
- Stir sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium heat for about five minutes or until the sugar dissolves. Let cool.
- Using a blender, blend frozen pineapple with sugar syrup.
- Strain through a fine-meshed strainer and into a bowl. Discard seeds if needed.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Refrigerate puree for one day.
- Pour 2-4 tablespoons of pineapple puree into a champagne flute. Slowly pour the prosecco/champagne to fill the flute.
4. Blueberry Bellini
There's nothing better in summer than gorging on a basket of blueberries. Well, okay, that and a Blueberry Bellini. Taking blueberry puree, pour it into your champagne and you're ready to toast to the warm days of summer.
Ingredients
- Blueberry puree
- Champagne
- Sugar rim
Directions
- Stir sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium heat for about five minutes or until the sugar dissolves. Let cool.
- Using a blender, blend frozen blueberry with sugar syrup.
- Strain through a fine-meshed strainer and into a bowl. Discard seeds if needed.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Refrigerate puree for one day.
- Pour 2-4 tablespoons of blueberry puree into a champagne flute. Slowly pour the prosecco/champagne to fill the flute.
