12 Colorful BBQ Essentials for Your Next Party

Jaguar's Coupe

Though originally crafted for a May holiday (hola, Cinco de Mayo), this spicy drink can be a total fall mocktail. It's zesty and sweet all at the same time, and brings some warmth via bell pepper juice. Give this one a try when you don't feel like sipping on some alc. (via Nikola Nikoletić, Head Bartender at Patent Pending for Brit + Co)

Sleepy Girl Mocktail

Easily crafted with just 3 ingredients, this Sleepy Girl Mocktail encourages relaxation and a refreshing night of sleep. It's perfect for cozying up and sipping alongside your favorite book! (via Brit + Co)

Ginger, Orange, Cranberry, + Raspberry Spritz

For this sipper, you'll use a can of Cranberry Raspberry Spindrift alongside some fresh ginger and orange to craft a crisp glass that's sure to bring forth fall feels. (via Spindrift)

Espresso Martini Mocktail

The girlies love an espresso martini – so make sure you've got this virgin recipe in your arsenal for your besties who don't drink. Use some pumpkin spice syrup to truly make this a fall mocktail you can't miss! (via Pink Owl Kitchen)

Honey Blackberry Mint Mocktails

Blackberry and mint is *the* combo of the season. Those bubbles, though! (via Bowl of Delicious)

Apple Lemonade

Apple juice (or cider) gets a citrusy twist from lemon juice in this crisp, refreshing fall mocktail. (via The Endless Meal)

Sparkling Cranberry Kombucha Mocktail

All fall cocktails require for that extra oomph is a splash of kombucha – this holiday-forward one will provide a great flavor transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas, with the help of cranberry. (via The Real Food Dietitians)

Non-Alcoholic Juicy Julep

This sip is seemingly summery, but we urge you to make it work for fall. It's heavenly. (via Completely Delicious)

Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail

Swap the bourbon for sparkling water (or apple cider!) to make this fall-spiced cocktail a true mocktail. (via Amanda Wilens)

The Hermoine Granger

To make this cute Harry Potter-inspired mocktail, substitute the vodka for lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Woodford Spire Cocktail

Trade bourbon for black tea to make this cranberry-lemonade cocktail a very delish fall mocktail. (via Barley & Sage)

Pomegranate Pomander Spritz Mocktail

Non-alc bitters and vanilla extract work together to really forge some unforgettable flavors in this fall mocktail. (via The First Mess)

Harry Potter Pumpkin Juice

Inspired by the pumpkin juice at Harry Potter World, this fall mocktail mixes apple cider, pumpkin puree, and apricot nectar with vanilla and pumpkin spice – yummm. (via A Spicy Perspective)

Cranberry Mocktail

The thyme garnish on this fall mocktail is a no-brainer for amping up the seasonal vibes! (via Crowded Kitchen)

Take a cue from one of our favorite singers with this Memorial Day recipe. This throwback tribute to T. Swift’s 2014 cake will always be worthy of bringing back via baking pan. (via Brit + Co.)

If you want to set off some serious fireworks at your Fourth of July BBQ, be sure to whip up a creamy, berry-filled treat like this one! Loads of berries make for a healthier alternative to other dessert options, which is always a good idea. (via Brit + Co.)

What’s the only thing better than homemade donuts? Nothing. Except when they’re red, white, and blue all over. Keep 'em plain or add sprinkles, chocolate chips, or even edible glitter. However you choose to serve them, they're sure to be the star of the show. (via Brit + Co.)

If you’ve already got a couple of boxes of white cake mix, you’re well on your way to making this simple poke cake. Once you’ve poked your holes in the cake, black cherry gelatin is poured in and left to form those signature red stripes. Yummm. (via Brit + Co.)

For a healthier treat option, these chocolate-covered bananas lend themselves to some pretty cool decorations, alongside getting in some fruit! (via Brit + Co.)

Caprese salad just got a fruity update. It’s hard to beat the simple combo of sweet tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil — unless you add a handful of blueberries, too! (via Brit + Co.)

Have pie, will travel (to the BBQ, of course). Try out different flavors of cream pie, or just make yours plain. Whichever you choose, don't forget about the berries on top! Our personal fave design is the star, but the stripes work *just* as well. (via Brit + Co.)

Jello shots are a must for the 4th. Instead of choosing between red, white or blue, why not layer all three? Top each shot with a squirt of whipped cream and edible blue glitter to make them really special. We'll take two, please! (via Brit + Co.)

If you’re scrambling for a last minute treat to bring to your neighborhood BBQ, scramble no more! This festive, patriotic treat is perfectly summery and super easy to make. (via Brit + Co.)

This delish DIY pudding will satisfy your craving for something sweet, *and* it’s totally vegan, so it's great for anyone who deals with dietary restrictions. What’s more, it’s super simple to prepare for your holiday picnic. Drizzle some honey on top for good measure. (via Brit + Co.)

Get your chill fill of creamy desserts a la classic cone, layered milkshake, or ice cream “soup.” YUM. Try one of these recipes, or try a different one each day of the holiday weekend! (via Brit + Co.)

Funfetti is always a great idea, but you *might* want to buy more sprinkles than you think you need… just in case you feel like adding extra on top. The good news is that this technique of icing the cake is a lot easier than it looks, and is a great beginner baker method to know. (via Brit + Co.)

Red, white and blue desserts don’t have to be artificially colored. These swirled homemade popsicles feature a mix of yogurt and berries that mimic the colors of the flag – naturally. (via Real Food By Dad)

This refreshing cocktail will be the buzz of your cookout. Hibiscus tea, fresh ber ries, and lemon sparkling water combine with vodka to make the most incredible summer drink that’s perfect for Independence Day. Just leave out the booze to make it appropriate for anyone who prefers a mocktail. Don't worry, it's still super tasty. (via My Modern Cookery)

Get your sparklers ready, because this cake deserves some *extra* bling. Taking the time to add some food coloring to your cake batter results in a beautiful pattern you’ll be so excited to cut into. The star-shaped sprinkles are just the cherry on top. (via Love Bakes Good Cakes)

Infuse this easy (and healthy!) yogurt treat with sliced strawberries, blueberries, and granola to emulate the colors of the American flag! (via Feel Good Foodie)

This popcorn is decorated with ALL the sprinkles, and is sure to cause a few new fireworks. Fill some paper bags with popcorn, and gift them to your party guests as they arrive. This is perfect for a loooong night of snacking. (via Spicy Southern Kitchen)

The Fourth of July is the USA's birthday, so it only makes sense that you make her a birthday cookie cake to celebrate! Use seasonal red, white and blue M&M’s and a ton of sprinkles to decorate. Making cookie cake yourself is also great because you know exactly what ingredients are added, and can make any swaps you need to. (via Crazy For Crust)

This star-spangled dessert is so simple to prepare, it’s practically unconstitutional. Investing in a few different sizes of star-shaped cookie cutters allows you to create a fun pie dough crust in place of a traditional lattice topping. (via The Simple Sweet Life)

Red velvet is the obvious choice for a patriotic cupcake. It’s vibrantly red, and it’s a southern-bred staple recipe, perfect for any Independence Day occasion. Top with cream cheese icing to keep it classic, and then go crazy with red, white, and blue sprinkles. (via Olivia’s Cuisine)

Everyone will love that they get their own personal brownie bite, and you’ll love how easy they are to make. To prepare the pizza base, you’ll bake your brownie batter in a sheet pan and use a biscuit cutter to cut out each individual round. (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)

This refreshing 4th of July recipe will come in handy for hot summer nights. (via Feel Good Foodie)

If individual parfaits seem too cumbersome to serve for a party, keep in mind that you can make all the components ahead of time and assemble right before serving. Even those show-stopping edible stars can be made way in advance to make your life easier! (via Just a Taste)

If the holiday snuck up on you this year, these fruit skewers are the perfect last-minute patriotic addition to your BBQ buffet. Simply by threading blueberries and strawberries on a skewer and drizzling white chocolate on top, you’ll create a tasty treat that looks like it took you all day. (via Nourished Peach)

If sangria is more your speed, then you need to make a *huge* pitcher of this recipe before your cookout. In addition to adding some berries, take a few minutes to cut out some apple stars for a garnish — you’ll be glad you did. (via Gimme Some Oven)

Seriously, how cute are these candies? Definitely get the kids involved to save yourself from sticky fingers. They're the perfect firework-watching treat that everyone on the block will want to taste. (via Mom on Timeout)

When you bring out a platter of these red, white, and blue treats at your BBQ, people will *gasp* with nostalgic emotion. This classic dessert is so good, you may want to think about setting a few aside for a midnight snack. (via Food Fanatic)

We’ve all heard of poke cake, but have you ever had it in cupcake form? These are so moist and flavorful, you’d never know they’re made with all boxed ingredients. For an extra frosty treat, freeze the blueberries before you put them on top. (via Taste and Tell)

Talking to Vanity Fair for her newest film Lee, Kate Winslet revealed one project she wishes fans asked about more is Iris. The 2001 film stars Kate as a young Iris Murdoch against Judi Dench's older counterpart. And for Kate, nothing was more terrifying than working with such a wonderful actress.

"People don’t really ask me about Iris. It’s such a delicate film," she says. "It was the first thing I had done after having my daughter. Going to work with a baby, I’m playing Iris Murdoch, looking to Judi Dench’s older Iris Murdoch — I was sh—ting myself."

Considering how nervous I get when I meet my heroes, I can only imagine what it was like to meet Dame Judi Dench. Talk about a dream! Another film Kate loves is Revolutionary Road, and not just because she got to reunite with Leonardo DiCaprio.

"The thing that people say is, 'You got to work with Leo again.' Then they go off on the whole Leo tangent, which I totally understand," she says of the film, which follows an ambitious couple who find themselves trapped in the reality of 1950s suburbia. "But Revolutionary Road — f—king hell, it just knocked us all sideways. Unbelievably difficult material. I was very proud of that film and what Leo and I were able to create as Frank and April. It was so brutal."

The process for getting Lee into the world sounds equally brutal, considering Kate started working on it over a decade ago. As producer, Kate tells Vanity Fair she doesn't mind the fact she's done more for the film than if she only had an acting credit. "That has felt very necessary for this film. But it’s also just really important to me," she says. "It’s important to me that people know that it’s out there and might feel compelled to go and see it."

Because it turns out, commercial success or stardom on its own doesn't actually help your movie get made! "It doesn’t matter who you are," she says. "No one’s going to go, 'Oh, I’ll just back that pony because she was in Titanic.' It doesn’t happen that way, and I never expected that. That’s really important to say."

"I've gotten older and I’ve learned more and felt more confident in myself about whether or not I could actually do it," she adds. "It’s not something I would’ve done had I not felt so passionately about the subject, and Lee was just—she wouldn’t let me go."