Celebrated on May 5th, as the name would suggest, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. While it's not Mexico's Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a vibrant cultural celebration enjoyed across Mexico, the United States, and many other countries as a way to honor Mexican heritage and pride.
If you'll be celebrating this year's Cinco de Mayo with a party, we'll be sharing our tips for hosting a fiesta to remember. From crafting a mouthwatering menu to setting the stage with vibrant décor, we'll be sharing our Cinco de Mayo party ideas to help you elevate your hosting game and immerse your guests in a cultural celebration that's as delightful as it is memorable.
Cinco de Mayo food
As a Mexican holiday, Cinco De Mayo celebrations often feature a delicious array of Mexican dishes, each contributing to the festive atmosphere and celebrating the rich and diverse culinary traditions of the country. This holiday is a time to enjoy some of your favorite traditional Cinco de Mayo dishes, and possibly even try out some new ones. While you'll have no doubt heard of a few, let the list of dishes below inspire your Cinco de Mayo menu this year.
- Mole poblano: A rich and flavorful sauce made with chili peppers, chocolate, and spices, often served over chicken. As the dish originates in the state of Puebla, no Cinco de Mayo is complete without mole poblano.
- Tamales: Steamed pockets of masa dough filled with various ingredients such as meats, chilies, fruits, or beans wrapped in corn husks
- Tacos: This popular Mexican dish is a Cinco de Mayo staple. Fillings include slow-cooked pork shoulder (tacos de carnitas) or fish.
- Chilaquiles: Crispy tortilla chips smothered in a flavorful sauce, often made with tomatoes, chili peppers, and spices, creating a perfect balance of tangy and spicy notes. Chilaquiles are often eaten for breakfast with various toppings including shredded chicken, scrambled or fried eggs, cheese, sour cream, avocado, and chopped cilantro.
- Pozole: A hearty soup made from hominy (dried corn kernels), meat (usually pork or chicken), and seasoned with chili peppers, garlic, and other spices.
- Elotes: A popular street food in Mexico. Elotes are corn cobs that have been grilled and covered in a mixture of sour cream and mayo finished with cheese and cilantro.
- Esquites: Similar to elotes but the corn is removed from the cob to make a corn salad.
- Seven-layer dip: Though not a traditional Mexican party food, this dish is inspired by our favorite Mexican flavors and is a Cinco de Mayo classic. Simply layer refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, cheese, and chopped tomatoes in an oven dish and top with black olives. Serve with a side of tortilla chips for dipping.
When it comes to Mexican classics, everyone takes their favorites differently. So, why not set up your own taco or burrito bar? Lay out trays of flour and corn tortillas plus fillings like chicken, chilli, rice, cheese, shredded lettuce, sliced green onions, pico de gallo, corn salsa, and guacamole presented in Serving Bowls. You can also add cilantro to a small ramekins for people to help themselves. Why not turn your Cinco de Mayo party into a potluck by asking guests to bring along their favorite Mexican dish?
Cinco de Mayo desserts
If you're looking for some Cinco de Mayo dessert ideas, the list below features some old favorites and some new dishes to try.
- Churros: These fried pastries need no introduction! Dust them with cinnamon sugar and small bowls of chocolate and caramel dipping sauces.
- Tres leches cake: As the name suggests, this sponge cake is soaked in three different kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. It’s often topped with cream and strawberries. Add coconut milk for a tropical twist.
- Flan: A creamy caramel custard dessert with a smooth texture and rich caramelized sugar topping.
- Fried ice cream: Balls of ice cream covered in a crispy coating, such as crushed cornflakes or cookie crumbs. The ice cream balls are then quickly fried in oil and served with chocolate or caramel sauce and whipped cream.
- Sopapillas: Fried puffed dough pillows dusted with cinnamon sugar and served with honey for dipping.
- Mango margarita sorbet: A twist on a Mexican classic, this refreshing and fruity dessert combines the flavors of a margarita with the sweetness of mango, frozen into a delightful sorbet.
- Chilli mango popsicles: Create refreshing popsicles by blending mango chunks with a splash of lime juice and a pinch of chilli powder. Freeze in popsicle molds for a sweet and spicy treat.
Cinco de Mayo drinks
If you're thinking of trying something different this Cinco de Mayo, why not get creative with your drinks? Try a Mexican twist on a Moscow mule by adding one measure of tequila and a measure of lime juice to a tall glass and topping with ginger beer. Garnish with a wedge of lime. You can swap the ginger beer for grapefruit juice to make a paloma.
As it's Cinco de Mayo, a margarita or two also wouldn't go amiss. Alongside your classic margarita recipe, you may want to try something a little different. Some of our favorite margarita variations include:
- Spicy margarita: Add a kick to your margarita with a dash of chili powder or hot sauce. Add a jalapeño pepper garnish to finish.
- Cucumber jalapeño margarita: Muddle cucumber and jalapeño slices in a shaker. Add tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Shake with ice then strain into a glass for a cool and refreshing twist on a classic.
- Ginger lime margarita: Add ginger syrup to your usual margarita mix. Use equal parts ginger to lime juice and add a little more if you like yours with extra zing.
For easy hosting, make your margarita mix ahead of time in a pitcher and leave in the fridge. You can also salt the rims of your glasses in advance ready to serve your drinks once your guests arrive. If you don't have margarita glasses, lowball glassses will work just as well.
You can make non-alcoholic margaritas by swapping the tequila for agave nectar, but there's a wide range of mocktail recipes you can try out too. Why not prepare one of these non-alcoholic Cinco de Mayo drinks at your party?
- Watermelon agua fresca: This fresh and summery drink is the perfect sip for a warm May day. Blend watermelon chunks with a splash of lime juice and a hint of honey or agave syrup. Strain and serve over ice.
- Cucumber mint limeade: Muddle fresh cucumber slices and mint leaves in a glass. Add lime juice, simple syrup, and ice. Top with soda water for a crisp and revitalizing mocktail.
- Mango chili lime mocktail: Blend fresh mango chunks with a splash of lime juice and a pinch of chili powder for a sweet and spicy kick. Serve over ice for a tropical and invigorating mocktail.
Cinco de mayo party decorations
When it comes to decorating for a Cinco de Mayo party, don't be afraid to embrace a vibrant color scheme to create a festive atmosphere. From bright and bold table settings to colorful papel picado banners, elevate the celebratory atmosphere with lively touches.
Bright and bold tableware
Decorate your Cinco de Mayo buffet table with bright and bold tableware. Incorporate colors inspired by the Mexican flag by mixing and matching green, white, and red pieces such as our Greenwich, White, Arc White, and Classic White Tableware. You can also add vibrant pops of blue by using one or two pieces of Imperial Blue or incorporate touches of rust and ochre with Kiln Accents. Don't forget to add some beautiful colored glasses to inject even more energy into your Cinco de Mayo decorations.
Festive centerpieces
Dress up your table with a festive centerpiece such as a mixture of potted cacti and succulents. Alternatively, decorate with fresh flowers in a Large Vase. Classic Mexican flowers include:
- Dahlias
- Marigolds
- Pineapple sage
- Mexican sunflower
- Passion flower
- Yucca flower
- Birds of paradise
- Orchids
Papel picado banners
Add some color to your party space with traditional Mexican papel picado banners. These decorative garlands are made by cutting intricate designs into tissue paper or other delicate materials, and you can buy pre-made options or make your own DIY version if you're in the mood for some seasonal crafts. Hang your papel picado across doorways, along walls, from the ceiling, or in a tree if you're outside.
Party-ready piñatas
It wouldn't be Cinco de Mayo without a piñata! Find a spot in your home or yard to hang a large piñata and fill it with your favorite sweet treats. You can also use miniature versions to decorate your food table. Fill them with candy and let guests take them home as cute Cinco de Mayo party favors.
Fill your Cinco de Mayo party with the vibrant spirit of Mexican culture by taking on board some of these tips. From flavorful dishes and refreshing drinks to vibrant decorations, every detail contributes to an unforgettable celebration.
The tastiest dishes need the perfect canvas. Elevate your Cinco de Mayo food with Denby's tableware and serveware and infuse the fiesta spirit into your table setting with beautifully handmade pieces. You can Shop our Tableware by color to find the perfect pieces for your table setting, and you can celebrate in confidence knowing each one reflects the quality craftsmanship synonymous with Denby.