Host an enchanting Princess & The Frog Disney dinner. We share a full menu inspired by the film and New Orleans favorites. All the recipes are included. Our easy and elegant decor ideas will make it an evening to remember.
The Tablescape
We dressed our table like a southern belle with a dark green tafetta tablecloth, cream china, vintage silver, and cream linen napkins trimmed with magnolia napkin rings. We think Tiana would have approved!
The magnolia napkin rings were the showstopper of the table and were so easy to make. Learn how to make them here using a paper towel tube, florists tape, and a magnolia.
We love having fresh flowers as a centerpiece but because fresh magnolias weren’t available we chose to create an arrangement with white hydrangeas and a green glittery dragon fly from the swamp. I’d like to think he and Ray were friends!
A touch of moss and dried flowers in a glass box gave a nod to the beautiful swamp where much of The Princess and The Frog takes place.
The Decor
We created an enchanted swamp ambiance with warm light created with candles and little white lights. Ferns and mosses adorned the serving buffet area.
Anna created an adorable Tiana print available for free download. I love the quote she included – ” There’s magic in the air tonight and anything could happen.” Does that just capture the essence of the film? Be sure to download your copy here.
The Menu
As much as we loved creating an elegant 1920’s tablescape with touches of an enchanted swamp, the food was our favorite part of The Princess and The Frog Disney dinner!
Cucumber Ginger Magnolia
This refreshing non-alcoholic spritzer was as beautiful as it was tasty. The drink actually looked like it was illuminated by candle light! It was made with one part ginger ale and one part white grape juice and is garnished with a slice of fresh cucumber.
Cajun Artichoke Cheese Dip
We started the meal with a rich and gooey cajun artichoke cheese dip accompanied by cruidite, baguette, and crackers! Yum! I searched high and low for a recipe and ended up creating my own. Get the recipe here.
Greens with apples, Feta and Pecans
A salad of mixed greens, apples, pecans and feta with balsamic vinegarette offered the perfect combination of fresh flavors between courses. Get the recipe here.
Vegetable Gumbo
Our main course was a delicious veggie Gumbo. This rich stew is easy to make and loaded with delicious vegetables. This recipe is a favorite among vegetarians and meat eaters alike because of its rich flavor and hearty texture. Get our recipe here.
We served our gumbo with a side of warm buttermilk cornbread. It’s perfect for soaking up every bit of deliciousness! Our favorite cornbread recipe comes from Martha Stewart. You can link to it here.
Tiana's Lemon Drop Cupcakes
We were inspired by Tiana’s beautiful ball gown and wanted to create a signature cupcake in yellow and green. We think this cupcake is both beautiful and delicious! Light lemon cake is filled with fresh lemon curd and topped in layers of lemon infused buttercream. The cupcakes are adorned with green buttercream and sugar pearl flowers and iridescent sugar. Get our recipe here.
We created a cupcake wrapper inspired by Tiana’s gown as well as a water lily cupcake topper. You can download them here: cupcake wrapper and water lily toppers.
Mickey Beignets
Our family loves the beignets at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter! They are warm, pillowy, light, and so sweet!
We decided to try making these delicious treats and to my surprise and delight it wasn’t difficult at all! We used Disney’s own recipe. The only problem we had was eating all the beignets while they were fresh and warm! See our process for making beignets and access the recipe here.
mini King Cakes
King cake is the quintessential Mardi Gras treat! We created a quick and easy version using refrigerated cinnamon rolls. They are warm, gooey, and delicious! Will you find a hidden baby inside? Get our recipe here.
Fun Activities
Our family had a fabulous time learning about New Orleans culture, Mardi Gras, jazz origins, and southern cuisine through our The Princess and the Frog movie night.
Our family is in the process of traveling around the world through Disney movies. The Princess and The Frog is our sixth stop! To see our other destinations click here.
Our family enjoys learning about the culture and geography of each destination in our Around the World with Disney Movies series and this was no exception. We are experiential learners and love immersing ourselves through listening, reading, and hands-on activities! Below are some resources that we recommend.
Music
Jazz originated in New Orleans and my husband {who just happens to be a professional jazz musician} gave our kids a lesson on jazz history. He also chose a perfect playlist for our evening which included a bit of dancing!
- Experience some New Orleans jazz with this playlist
- Learn about Louis Armstrong, a famous jazz musician from New Orleans from Brain Pop
- Learn about New Orleans Jazz from Lincoln Center
- Read How Jelly Roll Martin Invented Jazz by Jonah Winter
- Read If Only I Had a Horn: Young Louis Armstrong by Roxanne Orgill
Art
Our family created a vibrant oil pastel project depicting Bourbon Street. You can find the tutorial from Studio 77 here.
Mardi Gras
No study of New Orleans would be complete without learning about Mardi Gras! Below are some fun resources and activities.
- Read Mimi’s First Mardi Gras by Alice Couvillon
- Watch a video about Mardi Gras for Kids from PBS
- Make a Mardi Gras Mask from 100 Directions, a Mardi Gras Jester Hat from Mardi Gras Outlet, and a Jester Collar from Activities for Kids
- Make Kings Cake from King Arthur Flour and watch a video about the history of Kings Cake
General New Orleans Resources
New Orleans Virtual Tours of over 2 dozen museums, landmarks, and cultural attractions.
The Runaway Beignet by Connie Morgan
Cendrillon: A Cajun Cinderella by Sheila Hebert-Collins
Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans by Phil Bildner
New Orleans #4 (Recipe for Adventure) by Giada De Laurentiis
A Whole Lot of NOLA: Easy Recipes for the Young Chef by Chef Melissa Hinton
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What wonderful memories you’re making!! I love this. I’ll pin for future reference!
Thanks so much!
How pretty! What a fun celebration!
Thank you!