The One With…Friends!

F • R • I • E • N • D • S

Coffee Bar Party

Friends themed party ideas

🎵 ”I’ll be there FOR YOU!!!” 🎵

That song automatically comes to my mind when I here FRIENDS. What a classic sitcom that ran for a decade, with great writers, an awesome cast and one of those shows that had a little bit of everything, from drama and love, to a LOT of comedy and of course, friendship. A group of 20 something’s that are discovering life, love and how to make it on their own. I guess since it started right when I was finishing up high school, I could definitely relate and fell in love with the show and still enjoy it today. With the FRIENDS reunion show airing this Thursday, May 27th on HBO Max, I felt inspired to have a little fun while watching and reminiscing.

I thought to myself, what would be a fun way to give a nod to this classic show? Most of the episodes started or ended in the famous “Central Perk” coffee shop, which I had the pleasure of visiting the set while in LA at the Warner Brothers Studio. They let visitors immerse themselves by recreating scenes on the famous coffee shop couch. I opted out for that, but enjoyed a cup of hot coffee and a cookie from the Central Perk. ☕

Warner Brothers Studio 2019. (photo taken by my husband, Kevin)

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What would invoke that feeling of being at the Central Perk, but a fun coffee bar party!

Start by preparing a small table with a few festive coffee shop colors like green, white gold and brown. Maybe some balloons and a table cloth. Find fun clip-arts to print on cardstock (save time and ink and send the order to a place like Office Depot.) You’ll see in the next photo that I used a “Central Perk” printout taped on a green paper background for a nice effect to the theme.

I also made a few muffin toppers by attaching some fun printouts to a toothpick.

Now make a pitcher of iced coffee and a thermos dispenser with hot coffee and add some creamers, whipped topping, chocolate syrup, cookies…and you must have some type of coffee shop bakery treat like muffins. I made ginger spiced streusel muffins, find my recipe here. Now, put out some dessert plates and napkins and you are all set!

I threw down a few coffee beans on the spread just for fun, but it made it smell more like a coffee shop also, which I loved!

Your friends can make fun iced coffees like these, topped with whipped cream, cookies or strawberry roulette cookies with strawberry slices.

You can also have some cute paper straws for the iced drinks.

Use a small chalk board to make a coffee shop sign.

Find my recipe for these Ginger Spiced Streusel Muffins here.

I had a old white one that I painted green with some spare acrylic paint. just make sure to use painter’s tape to tape off the chalkboard and let dry completely.

I used one of the cutout Central Perk clipart’s and taped in the center before using a chalk marker to write out the treats being offered.

Try my recipe for Raspberry Hot Mocha. Make sure you have a few big colorful mugs like the cast used in Central Perk.

Or make ahead of time, let cool and refrigerate until party for a unique and indulgent flavored iced coffee.

Want a frappe? Have a blender station set up with ingredients and instructions for a couple flavors.

This one pictured is my Chocolate Banana Frappe. It’s somewhat healthy and absolutely delicious and will keep you going while you are binge watching FRIENDS!

How about a mug cake?

This S’mores mug cake is a decadent and amazing individual treat. What’s not to like about smores in cake form, all contained in a mug, with no mess? That’s right…nothing! 🥰 Find the recipe here.

Now you didn’t think I’d end this with out having Rachel’s famous Thanksgiving trifle recipe, did you?

Anyone who’s a fan of the show knows the story about this trifle that she made half sweet, with lady fingers, jam and custard, and half savory, using meat, potatoes and peas. 😂 Joey liked it and said it best: Jam…good, custard…good, meat…good…what’s not to like? It actually sounds like something my brother, Doug, would say…haha! (you know it’s true, Doug!)

I didn’t make Rachel’s exact version, I just couldn’t combine custard with meat…and I HATE peas! 😝 but check out my sweet version that’s a raspberry lemon trifle.

(…and since one of my built-in apps is not working today, I’ll post the instructions below and add the recipe later to my dessert section.)

Ingredients:

• Lemon pudding mix

• Cool whip topping

• Raspberry Jam

• Lady Fingers or Shortbread cookies, (I found this cute round ones that were lemon flavored)

• Chopped pecans (1/2 cup)

• Mini chocolate chips (1/2 cup)

• Fresh Raspberries

• Mini marshmallows (1/4 cup)

• green food coloring

(Keep in mind the size of your trifle dish, mine was a small one, so you might need to adjust the amount of ingredients depending on what you use.)

Start by making your lemon pudding, following the directions on packet and then let cool completely.

Add 1 cup lemon pudding and 1 and 1/2 cups whipped topping and to a medium bowl and mix until smooth and well blended.

Next, to make your fake peas, start by cutting each marshmallow in half and then placing in a small bowl.

Mix 1 drop of green food coloring with 1 tsp water and brush onto the marshmallows. Then place the marshmallows on a paper towel or plate to dry excess off and use later.

First, line the bottom with the cookies or lady fingers.

Then spread a layer of raspberry jam on top, all the way to the sides.

Now use your lemon pudding mixture to spread over top of the jam and then insert more cookies around the sides of trifle dish.

Sprinkle some fresh raspberries over the pudding mixture.

Put the 1/2 cup chopped pecans and the 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips in a baggie and mix all together to “resemble” ground meat.

Sprinkle the fake “meat” mixture over the top and then place a few “pea” marshmallows on top and sides.

Lastly, spread a layer of cool whipped topping and add some more fresh raspberries for garnish.

Now you and your friends are ready to dig in!

NO peas, NO meat…but very tasty and fun!

I hope everyone found something to enjoy or a neat idea for your watching party…or perhaps a fun and individual treat you might want to try. If you try anything, I’d love to hear how it went. Feel free to leave a comment or tag me on Instagram or post your photos on my Pinterest page. Have fun and enjoy! ….and remember: “I’ll be there for you!”

💜Julie