Encanto tells the story of an extraordinary family who lives in the mountains of Colombia! This magical and inspiring film makes a perfect entertaining theme. Host a festive Encanto dinner or movie night with our Encanto themed dinner menu, easy and affordable DIY decor ideas, and delicious recipes. Read on for all the details, recipes, and resources.
About encanto
The story of Encanto is set in the mountains of Colombia during the early 20th century. After fleeing an attack on their village, the Madrigal family moves into an enchanted house hidden away in the mountains. Encanto means “miracle.” The magic of Encanto has blessed each child with a special gift, except for Mirabel.
The film celebrates diversity, individuality, and deep family bonds. The butterfly accurately depicts the rebirth experienced by Abuela and the whole family. It is rich in cultural and historical influences. The foods in the film are inspired by traditional Colombian fare: arepas, ajiaco, empanadas, and lush tropical fruits. Sadly, the violence and displacement experienced by the Madrigal family mirrors that of the Colombian people who have been caught up in Civil War for many years.
the Tablescape & Decor
This tablescape is fun and easy to create! A centerpiece features brightly colored tissue paper flowers and paper jungle leaves. We created our own version of the magical candle from the film using a battery operated pillar candle and gold butterfly transfers from the Dollar Tree. We added small white votives around the table and added gold butterflies with adhesive dots.
Our place settings and flatware are from Tableluxe. We loved the way the blue flowers tied in so nicely with Mirabel’s fabulous blue floral skirt. Unfortunately the floral dinnerware isn’t currently available, but their classic white square dinnerware kit is.
We added hurricane glasses and turquoise cloth napkins to complete the place settings.
To make the tissue paper flower napkin rings, we purchased an inexpensive pom garland from the Dollar Tree. We cut it apart and used the small tissue paper flowers individually. Each garland includes six 6-inch flowers. We used the remaining garland ribbon to tie around the napkin rings. It was perfectly easy, affordable and very festive!
The Menu
This menu is absolutely delightful! The dishes were inspired by authentic Colombian foods served in the film and celebrate the characters and their gifts. Read on for details.
Abuela's Mariposa Sipper
Mariposa means “butterfly” in Spanish, mirroring Abuela’s metamorphosis in this rich story. We created a layered drink made with tropical fruit juice – orange, pineapple, and guava. Rose grenadine gives a beautiful layered effect. We also added a gold butterfly between dark and light layers in the drink to signify Abuela’s rebirth. This drink recipe was also featured on our Moana Disney dinner. Get the recipe here.
Dolores's Ajiaco
Dolores’s gift is incredibly acute hearing, and her blessing is symbolized by musical notes on Mirabel’s colorful skirt. The flavors of this traditional Colombian soup work together in harmony. The ingredients are very simple, yet delicious together. Ajiaco is traditionally made of chicken, chicken broth, three types of potatoes, fresh corn, and a Colombian herb called guascas. The soup is served with sour cream, fresh avocado and rice. We found a delicious and hearty vegetarian version for our dinner. Get the recipe we used here.
Julietta's Arepas con Queso
Julietta, Mirabel’s mother, has the gift of healing through food and is known for her delicious arepas. Arepas are a staple in Colombia and throughout South America. They are eaten morning, noon and evening for very good reason – they are delicious and very simple to make! These arepas con queso are bite size and are topped with queso fresco and mango salsa. They take only a few ingredients and minutes to make. Get our recipe here.
Antonio's Tropical Fruit
Little Antonio receives the gift of communicating with animals. To celebrate his gift we created a parrot out of a pineapple and nestled it on a bed of tropical fruits including watermelon, mango, pineapple, kiwi, and strawberries. Watch a tutorial here to make your own pineapple parrot.
Pepa's Empanadas served with Rice
Pepa is a nervous and emotional character with a gift that allows her to change the weather at will. In fact, her mood affecting the weather sometimes makes it a curse rather than a gift! These empanadas named in her honor pair a rich and savory filling with light, crisp, buttery crust. They are a crowd pleaser and are delicious with chicken or black bean rice. Get our recipe here.
Mirabel's Dulce de Leche Cupcakes
Mirabel is the only Madrigal who doesn’t receive a gift as a child, but the gift within her brings healing and unity to her family. A filled cupcake seemed a perfect way to represent Mirabel. These spiced cupcakes are topped with blue and white buttercream flowers, pink sprinkles, and a gold butterfly to reflect her lovely outfit. The best part, however, is the rich and sweet dulce de leche center, which mirrors Mirabel’s beautiful spirit and love for her family. We designed beautiful cupcake wrappers which are available as a free printable here. Get our recipe for dulce de leche cupcakes here.
Isabela's Floral Cake Pops
Isabela is Mirabel’s oldest sister and has the gift of creating lush and beautiful plants and flowers. Her signature colors of lavender pink are mirrored in these dainty floral cake pops. Vanilla cake is enveloped in a crunchy lavender coating and are embellished with pink and white fondant flowers and gold candy pearls. Cake pops are surprisingly simple to make and are a favorite on any dessert buffet. Get our recipe here.
Luisa's Churros served with Dulce de Leche
Luisa, Mirabel’s older sister, is gifted with superhuman physical strength. She is considered the “rock” of the family but she struggles fear that she will disappoint her family. Her character reflects the anxiety so many struggle with. We served churros with dulce de leche in her honor. This universally loved Latin American treat is easy to make and fun to serve. Get Martha Stewart’s recipes for churros and easy dulce de leche. If you’re not up for homemade churros, we love the frozen Goya churros also. Just thaw, fry in oil, and roll in sugar. Yum!
Bruno's "Broken Vision" layered desserts
Bruno is the mysterious uncle of Mirabel who has been shunned by the family because of his frightening visions. He lives in the walls of La Casita with his friendly rat companions. We created a layered dessert in Bruno’s signature color of green. The layers of jello and green tinted whipped cream are topped with fondant rats and edible green glass symbolizing the broken vision. The edible glass shards are made of Jolly Ranchers are so fun to make and break. Get our recipe here!
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