Serve up some fun this summer by creating a colorful tablescape filled with festive under-the-sea treats and beach or pool party food. You can use all these creative Beach-Themed Party Ideas when you host your backyard pool party, destination wedding, or summer graduation party.
You might have noticed that it's been a bit quieter than normal on the blog the past two weeks. Well, that was because I was trying to keep my head above water while creating hundreds of festive under-the-sea, beach-themed treats for a graduation party celebrating my nephew, Brian, and his friend, Dylan. I had so much fun coming up with beach-themed party ideas for this event.
When the guys told me they wanted to have a pool/beach-themed party I couldn't have been happier. I've created lots of traditional graduation party food over the years but I was excited to do something a bit more whimsical for this event.
The beach is my favorite place in the world, and I have an affinity for the playful animals that live under the sea, especially dolphins, so spending two weeks making and decorating beach-themed desserts was a huge treat for me.
I couldn't have done all this without help though.
My sister, Kathy, mom, Louise, and friend, Kim, helped create decorated beach-themed cookies, caramel rice krispie treat sea animals, chocolate beach pails, ocean blue cake pops, chocolate popcorn, and more.
We worked long hours but seeing all the desserts together on the ocean-blue table was worth it.
Beach and Pool Party Ideas
The party was hosted at a gorgeous home on the most beautiful sunny day. Guests dined poolside, played volleyball and corn hole, and soaked up the sun. A few brave kids even hopped into the chilly water.
We set up the dessert table indoors so that nothing would melt. The whole house had a tropical feel to it and the dessert table was definitely the focal point. All of the guests raved about the look and taste of all the beach-themed desserts.
It felt so good to be part of such a special day and my nephew couldn't have been happier. His friends were sharing pictures of this table on social media and his party was the talk of the high school.
Beach-Themed Desserts
I made sure to create some beach-themed desserts that I knew my nephew would love including these beach ball cheesecakes and blueberry mousse cups.
His school colors are royal blue and white which couldn't have worked better with a beach-themed tablescape. We incorporated those colors in several of the desserts.
Cookies, Rice Krispies, and More
We also tried to incorporate some graduation designs in our treats.
The Rice Krispie Treat Dolphins and Cookies 'n Cream Shark Cookies were both decorated with modeling chocolate graduation caps.
The sea horse cookies also had blue graduation caps and a few of the caramel rice krispie treat turtles wore caps too.
Other than that, the focus of the food was really the beach which really made this indoor beach party a lot of fun.
How to Decorate Your Beach-Themed Graduation Tables
The dessert table was set up near the boys' graduation tables. The families created really wonderful displays with lots of pictures and awards. The tables were also decorated with the beach theme in mind.
The dessert table was covered with three blue plastic tablecloths. The bottoms of each tablecloth were cut to look like waves. We added some height to the tables using clear acrylic cupcake towers and large beach pails. I put a box under the tablecloth in the center to really make the tower filled with the Chocolate Beach Pails really stand out.
You might notice in the image above that the blue bubble background paper is not behind the table. We added it after this picture was taken.
As you can see, there are so many tutorials and recipes for me to share with you. I went a bit overboard in creating all these desserts, but we had no idea how many guests would stop by the graduation party open house. It turned out to be about 150 so we were glad we were prepared.
You can find links to all the beach party recipes below. But first, I want to show you my absolute favorite dessert on this table.
Tower of Chocolates
I couldn't have been more excited to share these Mini Chocolate Beach Pails filled with Dulce de Leche Mouse, Toffee Bits, and Chocolate Shells with all the party guests. They were my absolute favorite creations on the table.
Not only did they look adorably cute, but they tasted amazing.
You can find links to all the recipe tutorials below. Which is your favorite?
Beach-Themed Party Recipes
Sugar Coated Sea Horse Cookies • Chocolate Beach Pails • Butterscotch Crunch Starfish
Sandcastle Lollipops • Caramel Rice Krispie Turtles • Beach Party Popcorn
Under the Sea Popcorn • Beach Ball Cheesecakes • Under the Sea Gumdrops
Caramel Rice Krispie Treat Starfish • Chocolate Sea Shells • Rice Kripie Treat Dolphins
Sugar Coated Sea Horse Cookies • Sugar Coated Sea Horse Cookies • Palm Tree Cookies
Embrace the beautiful weather that we are having and make some of these other gorgeous and scrumptious Summer Fun Recipes.
More Summer Fun Recipes
Veggie Pizza Fish • Mediterranean Grilled Vegetable Pizzas • Fruit Pizza Watermelon
Googly Eye Sea Creatures • Fruit Pizza Beach Ball • Goldfish Marshmallow • Peanut Butter Fudge Starfish
Starfish S'Mores • Ice Cream Cone Goldfish • Rice Krispie Treat Sand Castle • Beach Ball Pie
- Gingerbread Cookie Cups - December 2, 2023
- Cheeseburger Skulls - October 15, 2023
- Mini Peanut Butter Cheesecakes - June 20, 2023
Tavette
Butterscotch crunch starfish & the dolphins with graduation caps are the first ones that caught my eye, but EVERYTHING was amazing and oh-so-clever, as usual! We Fla. people love everything beachy.
Even though some of your guests have seen your amazing work hundreds of time - you never to fail to create yet another show-stopping buffet. It's just mind boggling. I fully understand why it will take a while to post everything, but lucky us - that you do share your ideas and recipes for all the fun stuff you make. It's even going to take me a while to zero in on all the goodies on this table.
Tavette - S. Fla.
Beth
Wow, so many requests for the Butterscotch Crunch Starfish. I better get that one up soon! Funny thing is that I didn't actually plan to do a tutorial for that recipe. It was one of two recipes that I created for the table that I didn't photograph. We made them late at night and I was too tired to bother. But, I just bought the ingredients to make another batch of them, so I can share the tutorial with you all. I'll have the recipe up within the week.
About 2/3rd of the guests at this party had never seen or eaten any of my treats, so it was really fun getting to see their reaction to the table. I love seeing the joy my fun treats bring. It's the best part of what I do! I am so grateful to have readers like you who come back time and time again to be inspired to make some of the treats yourself. Thanks! 🙂
Karen @ Sugartown Sweets
It all looks so amazing and beautiful. I'm sure your nephew and his friend felt very blessed indeed to have you all creating these yummy treats. I would love to see how you made the coconut trees and those awesome butterscotch crunch starfish!
Beth
The boys did seem really happy to have such cool desserts at their party. They got a lot of compliments during the party, as did I. The trees were definitely one of my favorite treats and I am excited to share the tutorial. Your the second person to request the recipe for the starfish, so I'll be sure to get that one done soon. Thanks!
T. Oliver
Hi, can you put up a tutorial of how you made the butterscotch starfish?
Beth
Absolutely. I'll work on it soon!
Gigi
Hi
This theme & the treats are amazing. So many clever, cute desserts. I don't know which ones to chose but I'm sad because I realized you just posted this & I'm have my beach party this coming Memorial weekend. I wish there were some recipes and tutorials. I couldn't pick a favorite, I like everything lol
Beth
Thanks, Gigi! Sorry I wont get all the tutorials up quickly enough for your party, but I do hope you have a great time. I'm sure it will be wonderful!
Beth
Gigi, I just added pictures and links to some of my other festive Beach Party themed recipes in the post. Be sure to check them out!
The Partiologist
This party table looks incredible, I'm in love with your beach themed sweets!! The graduation boys sure were lucky to have you to get all these sweets together for the party. I can't pick a favorite, but I'm ready to ride the waves!
Beth
Thanks, Kim. I was really happy when everything was all set out on the table. The boys really loved all the treats and enjoyed showing it off to their friends.