Sharing is caring: Host a festive holiday “share” party
This past weekend, I got together with five girlfriends to make holiday truffles. We sat around a table, had a tasty brunch, sipped on some Naked Juice and then worked on our chocolate creations and had a fabulous time together. (As an ambassador for Naked Juice this past year, I always have extra bottles of the good stuff on hand, and many of my friends get to benefit from that — there’s always plenty of juice to share.)
In addition to the fact that I enjoyed trying something new like making truffles for the first time, I also absolutely loved the idea of creating things together with friends, which we could then give away to others and continue spreading the holiday cheer.
Because we had so much fun, this activity is definitely one that we plan to continue each year and perhaps even expand upon. And it made me realize that there are plenty of ways you can get your friends together this holiday season to create things, spread cheer and share.
Host a festive holiday “share” party
For instance, you can host a get-together in which you all …
- Bake holiday cookies.
- Wrap Christmas gifts.
- Create healthy no-bake granola bars.
- Make ornaments or wreaths.
- Collect canned goods for charities.
- Design and create Christmas cards.
- Swap healthy recipes.
- Decorate picture frames.
- Make shadow-box collages.
- Swap healthy frozen casseroles.
- And of course, make truffles.
Everything you make can be packaged up with care and gifted. These types of things make perfect host/hostess gifts, which is exactly what I plan to do with some of the truffles I made. And I know the recipients will be very happy to receive something hand-made and unique.
And when you get together with your friends, be sure to put out a spread featuring a combination of healthy, sweet and savory food and treats to fuel up your adventures. Of course, you get bonus points for choosing one of these party-sized Naked Juices …
So many vitamins and nutrients in these party-sized juices, with no sugar added, just real fruit, veggies and juice.
A quick look at how to make truffles
Because it’s something I always wondered about, I couldn’t pass up the chance to tell you about truffle making during our “share” party and how we did it. While I’m not an expert at making truffles at all, here is the general process we followed …
- Each person prepared their own ganache (the delicious inside of the truffles) at least 12 hours before we got together to make the truffles. Ganache is made up of one pound of special baker’s chocolate, 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream and optional flavoring. Some of us used milk chocolate and some of us used dark. I made banana cream-flavored milk chocolate ganache. While I could have used a fresh banana, in order to increase the shelf life of my truffles, I chose to use the flavoring. The process of making ganache took about 10 minutes total and was surprisingly easy. All you had to do was bring the whipping cream to a boil, remove it from heat, add the chocolate and whisk it all together then pack it up in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- On the day of truffle making, when we got together, we each pulled out the ganache to let it warm up just a bit for about 30 minutes. Then we began to form the truffles into little even-sized balls with our hands. First, we washed our hands with cold water and continually put our hands in powdered sugar to keep the chocolate from sticking to them. We also set out wax paper, to place the made chocolate balls, labeling the flavors, because otherwise you couldn’t really tell them apart. We each formed about 28-30 truffles with our ganache flavors, then we shared about five of each flavor with every lady in attendance, so we all ended up with a little bit of everything. Sharing is key!
- The next step included adding the outside layer of chocolate to each truffle. We melted the dipping chocolate in little containers, which sat in hot water to stay soft. Then, we dipped each truffle using a dipping tool until it was fully immersed in the chocolate, then placed each on the wax paper to dry. At that point, we had the option of adding a few toppings, like peppermint bark, hazelnuts, coconut and more, and I went a little overboard on my extras, as I tend to do. This was perhaps the trickiest part, because you had to be fast when dipping and covering each truffle, as the chocolate tends to harden quickly.
- From there, we added some decorations, like gold-flecked powder on the banana cream and green-chocolate drizzle on the mint truffles, making everything look quite fancy. The drizzle was very similar to the coating, in which we melted the colored chocolate chips in a plastic container over some hot water, then used a spoon to let a thin line of the chocolate fall onto each truffle. This was my favorite step outside of eating the truffles, even though I didn’t exactly achieve perfection in my designs, it was still fun.
- At the end, we took a knife to cut off the “legs” of the truffles, which was the excess chocolate not formed into the circle, which had dried to the wax paper. Then, we put the truffles in foil holders and transferred them to gift boxes or storage containers. Of course, along the way, we sampled as we wished. And boy, are those things tasty. I mean, wow.
I packaged up five small boxes of assorted truffles to share with people over the next couple of weeks and will be splitting the rest with Dave as dessert. And let me tell you, it would be a Christmas miracle if our extras are still around by the weekend.
The entire process of making the truffles on the day of was about two hours. I will admit we had a little assistance, because my girlfriend’s mom was a pro, and she walked us along the steps and kept a good eye on everyone’s creations, keeping us in line. It was a super fun time and not really as complicated as I thought it would be. It also helped that we got high-quality ingredients from a local confectionery as well, because you can’t expect decadent truffles with your everyday over-the-counter chocolate chips. No way.
On that day, my friends and I decided that we’re going to make holiday truffles together each year. But we’re building on that, with plans to also coordinate an old t-shirt transformation party, in which we all bring old t-shirts and turn them into something cool. And I know for all of the future parties, I’ll always be in charge of bringing something healthy to drink or eat to kick off the festive fun, especially if I have a plethora of tasty Naked Juices in my fridge.
Invite friends and plan a “share” party
Go for it! When you’re brainstorming what you can create at your “share” party, why not start up a group text with your friends, because a few minds together are way stronger than one. Sharing is caring, ladies and gentlemen. Have a fabulous day!
Sharing is caring. Get your friends together for happy holiday fun #NakedJuice #SharingIsCaring ... Click To Tweet*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Naked Juice. As a brand ambassador, I was compensated and received product. However, all thoughts an opinions are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that work with me and A Lady Goes West!
Questions of the day
Have you ever hosted or been to a sharing party?
What’s your favorite thing to share?
What’s your favorite holiday treat?
How fun! I always wanted to host a bake party with my girlfriends but sadly they live far away. I can’t believe it took you two hours! I never spend the much time. It must be the ganache and toppings!
Hi Megan! I know! I love that I have a good group of girlfriends out here now, but it definitely took a while to find them! 🙂 Hope you get to do some baking anyway, which I know you will. 🙂
Sounds like a lot of fun! They look delicious! I’m just kind of curious as the what type of dipping tool you use as I seem to struggle with that part?
Thanks Ashley!
Happy Holidays!
Hi Kim! We each bought a plastic dipper tool, which looked like the one in the middle of this group: http://goo.gl/lC6Jcw It definitely worked well!
That actually sounds like such a fun idea! I can’t wait to do this in the years to come when I have a bigger apartment!
For sure, Hilary! I was never able to host until this year when we moved out of the City, but luckily this latest get together wasn’t even at my house. Have a great day! 🙂
Oo, I love this idea! But we have to use someone else’s house, or I will eat all the fixings!
The fixings are good, but boy, the whole truffles … I mean TO-DIE-FOR!!!!!! Have a great day, Susie. 🙂 Hope the trunk show went well.
I love doing these parties! Especially cookie parties..I love to bake and I love to eat, so win/win!
Ditto, Gretchen! It’s even more fun when you get to eat the fruits of your labor heheh! 🙂
Ha – this is exactly what my post is about this morning! Although Gild actually sends all of the supplies, which makes it INCREDIBLY easy for the host and guests. I make earrings, while some of the other bloggers made sunbeam mirrors and ceramic jewelry trays. Perfect for our festive, holiday blogger get-together!
After this party, we actually loved the DIY idea so much that we got together over the weekend to make bath salts and body butter from scratch. Gift that I know the females in my family will love. 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Well sounds like we are both in the sharing and together spirit, Jessica! I’ll check out your post! 🙂
Well this sounds super fun. I would love to go to a party like this! Thanks for including directions 😉 Love Naked juices, too!
Thanks, Heather! It was a great time, and I’m so excited we may make it a tradition. 🙂 Have a fabulous day, lady!
What a cute idea!!! I love to have some friends over to wrap gifts and drink wine and eat good food. Makes wrapping things really fun!
Hi Jenn! Yes! I actually wrapped all my presents this weekend and was wishing I had done it in a group setting. I put on Christmas tunes, but wine and friends would have made it even better! Have a great day! 🙂
Looks yummy! When we were in college, a bunch of us would get together to make/ice cookies and oreo balls, construct graham cracker houses, exchange gifts, and of course dance to *NSync Christmas music. I miss those days 🙂
Ohhhhh The ‘NSYNC Christmas tunes … now those take me back. LOVE IT, Jessie! 🙂
I haven’t hosted a sharing party, but I LOVE making truffles, and I think you just inspired me to make some before next week! 🙂
Making truffles is definitely something I plan to do again, Emily! Have a sweet day, lady! 🙂
Hi Ashley! I LOVE your idea about a “Share Party”! That is such a fun way to get together with your girlfriends and learn something new. That is so fun about the truffles – making your own ganache beforehand is genius & such a fun way to have a variety! I absolutely am obsessed with that idea. Thanks for posting the process – I will def give it a go. I also love the thought of wrapping gifts together – It can make a pretty tedious process fun, especially with some Naked Juice mimosas! 😉 Happy holidays! xx SS
Hi Shannon! Would you believe I’ve never actually tried using Naked Juice in a mimosa? Clearly I need to change that! hahah! Have a great day, lady! 🙂
I love the idea of doing something within the holiday party. Giving it a purpose, such as creating cards for charity or whatnot is ingenious! Love your active life, Ashley! Thank you for sharing about your sharing. 😉
Hope you have a wonderful rest of your Tuesday!
Ohhh thanks, Julia! Right back at ya! 🙂
What a fabulous idea for a holiday get together! I always found that the best quality time I had with family members was when we were baking or creating together. Bonus – getting everyone in one room. And the best part? You get these yummies out of it! I’m going to set this up as a must for my girlfriends at home next year! xx
Togetherness and sweets. You can’t beat that! Hope all is well, Jill! I’m sad I missed your Tiffany’s event! 🙁
Looks like a great weekend 🙂 Those truffles looked amazing. I’ve never had Naked juice but I sure want to try it now!!
Hi Rachel! It’s good stuff, I can assure you! 🙂
Andddd…now I’m super hungry again. Noooo! This looks so good, and a Naked Juice would be so refreshing right now! *-*
Hi Farrah! I bet you are in need of quick nutrients! Hope all is well in the medical world. 🙂
What an incredibly cool idea, I have never heard of this but it sounds like the most amazing idea ever!! Thanks for sharing xo C
Truffle making is awesome! 🙂 Hope you have a great week, Courtney!
How fun! I have been to a few sharing parties. I’ve done an ornament party and a cookie party. My favorite holiday treat is shoo fly pie. It’s a family tradition in my family and we eat it at Thanksgiving and Christmas. I believe it’s originally an Amish recipe. My dad’s family is from Pennsylvania and I think my grandma got it from there. It’s basically just molasses, flour, sugar and butter in a pie crust. But, it’s so good and my absolute favorite. However, none of my kids or husband like it! So, I have to eat the whole pie myself 😉 I take it to every holiday event we go to and usually only one or two people will even try it! I don’t get what the problem is!
Okay, send me some shoo fly pie, because it sounds just delicious. I’ve never heard of that and love the tradition behind it! YUMMY!
What a great way to separate out the bliss balls when making them! The flavours all sound amazing!
I love that you call them bliss balls. THAT’s a good name for these delicious things!