HORS D’OEUVRES
- “Big Top Bites” (Mini Corn Dogs)
Ingredients: Hot dogs, cornmeal batter, skewers
Instructions:
- Cut hot dogs into thirds. Dip in cornmeal batter.
- Fry or bake until golden. Insert a lollipop stick or skewer.
Presentation: Serve upright in foam blocks or popcorn containers filled with shredded paper.
- “Juggling Jell-O Cups”
Ingredients: Red, yellow, and blue Jell-O, clear plastic cups
Instructions:
- Layer different colored Jell-O in clear cups. Chill between layers.
Presentation: Serve on a tray with polka-dot napkins and tiny spoons.
- “Circus Animal Sandwich Wheels”
Ingredients: Bread, ham, cheese, peanut butter, jelly (mix options)
Instructions:
- Cut sandwiches into circles or animal shapes with cookie cutters.
- Optional: roll sandwiches into pinwheels using tortillas.
Presentation: Stacked in rows on red trays, labeled by type.
- “Clown Nose Poppers” (Cheese Balls)
Ingredients: Mini mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, toothpicks
Instructions:
- Alternate cheese and tomato on mini skewers.
Presentation: Serve in red-striped cupcake liners or arranged in rows to mimic a clown face.
MAIN DISHES
- “Ringmaster Sliders”
Ingredients: Mini burger buns, beef or chicken patties, cheese, ketchup
Instructions:
- Grill or bake patties, place on mini buns with toppings.
Presentation: Place on a tray lined with red-and-white wax paper. Add mini flags with fun titles like “Strongman Burger” or “Acrobat Chicken.”
- “Tightrope Mac & Cheese Cups”
Ingredients: Macaroni, cheddar cheese, milk, butter, breadcrumbs
Instructions:
- Scoop baked mac and cheese into muffin tins for single servings. Top with breadcrumbs and bake.
Presentation: Serve in colorful silicone cups. Arrange in rows to mimic circus seats.
- “Popcorn Chicken Cones”
Ingredients: Bite-size chicken nuggets, waffle cones, ketchup
Instructions:
- Bake or fry popcorn chicken. Place inside waffle cones.
Presentation: Stand cones in a cupcake tray or foam block covered in striped fabric.
DESSERTS & SWEETS
- “Lion Tamer Cupcakes”
Ingredients: Vanilla or chocolate cupcakes, frosting, animal crackers
Instructions:
- Frost cupcakes in bright colors. Top with frosted animal crackers or edible eyes and candy “manes.”
Presentation: Display on a cupcake tower with striped wrapping around each level.
- “Cotton Candy Clouds”
Ingredients: Bagged cotton candy
Instructions:
- Pull apart and shape into cloud puffs. Place in cupcake liners or mini bags.
Presentation: Pile high in a vintage-style popcorn cart or a plastic fishbowl labeled “Clown Clouds.”
- “Cannonball Cake Pops”
Ingredients: Crumbled cake, frosting, chocolate coating
Instructions:
- Mix cake crumbs with frosting, shape into balls, dip in melted chocolate.
Presentation: Stick upright in foam blocks covered in gold or silver wrapping paper.
- “Peanut the Elephant’s Banana Bites”
Ingredients: Banana slices, peanut butter, chocolate drizzle
Instructions:
- Sandwich banana slices with peanut butter, freeze slightly, drizzle with chocolate.
Presentation: Serve on a tray with a cartoon elephant cutout sign.
- “Carousel Cookie Station”
Ingredients: Sugar cookies, icing, sprinkles, decorating tools
Instructions:
- Set up a decorate-your-own cookie table with carousel horse shapes and fun toppings.
Presentation: Use a rotating tray and striped tablecloth for the full effect.
Detailed Recipes
- Big Top Bites (Mini Corn Dogs)
Ingredients:
- 6 hot dogs
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1 egg
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
- Lollipop sticks or skewers
Instructions:
- Cut hot dogs into thirds. Insert a stick into each.
- In a bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk milk and egg together.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients to make a thick batter.
- Heat oil in a deep pan to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Dip each hot dog piece into the batter, coating completely.
- Fry until golden brown, about 2–3 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve upright in cups or containers.
- Tightrope Mac & Cheese Cups
Ingredients:
- 1½ cups elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups milk
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- Cooking spray or muffin liners
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a muffin tin or use liners.
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute.
- Slowly add milk, whisking constantly, until thickened (about 3 minutes).
- Add cheese and stir until melted. Season with salt.
- Stir in cooked macaroni and mix well.
- Spoon into muffin cups. Top each with a sprinkle of breadcrumbs.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes until golden on top.
- Let cool slightly before removing.
- Popcorn Chicken Cones
Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooking oil for frying
- Waffle cones
Instructions:
- Marinate chicken in buttermilk for 30 minutes.
- Mix flour, paprika, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl.
- Remove chicken from buttermilk, coat in flour mixture.
- Heat oil in a deep skillet to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Fry chicken in batches until golden and cooked through (about 4 minutes per batch).
- Drain on paper towels.
- Fill each waffle cone with several pieces of chicken.
- Serve in a stand-up cone holder or cupcake tray.
- Lion Tamer Cupcakes
Ingredients:
- 1 box vanilla or chocolate cake mix (plus required eggs, oil, water)
- 1 can vanilla frosting
- Food coloring (red, yellow, blue)
- Animal crackers or circus-themed sprinkles
Instructions:
- Preheat oven and prepare cake mix according to box instructions.
- Divide batter into cupcake liners and bake. Cool completely.
- Divide frosting into separate bowls. Tint with different food coloring.
- Frost cupcakes with colorful swirls.
- Top with frosted animal crackers or circus-themed candy.
- Arrange on a tiered stand or decorative tray.
- Cannonball Cake Pops
Ingredients:
- 1 baked cake (any flavor)
- 1/2 cup frosting (vanilla or chocolate)
- 12 ounces chocolate coating or candy melts
- Lollipop sticks
Instructions:
- Crumble the cake into fine crumbs in a large bowl.
- Mix in frosting until the mixture holds together when pressed.
- Roll into 1-inch balls. Place on a tray lined with parchment paper.
- Chill in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Melt chocolate coating in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Dip one end of a stick into chocolate, then insert into a cake ball.
- Dip the cake ball fully into the melted chocolate. Let excess drip off.
- Place upright in a foam block or stand until set.
- Optional: decorate with sprinkles or edible stars.
- Peanut the Elephant’s Banana Bites
Ingredients:
- 2 bananas
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions:
- Slice bananas into 1/2-inch rounds.
- Spread a small amount of peanut butter on one slice, top with another to make a sandwich.
- Place in the freezer for 15–20 minutes to firm up.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips with coconut oil.
- Drizzle chocolate over banana bites or dip half of each bite.
- Chill until chocolate is set.
- Serve on a tray with a fun elephant label.