Are you planning a little get-together and puzzling over what to serve your guests?
With food trends like veganism growing at a rate of 11.8% per year, it’s hard to keep track of who eats what nowadays. Finger foods are the easy way out when it comes to letting everyone decide for themselves.
Check our top tips for effortless planning and our best selection of easy and impressive finger snacks for parties.
Prepare in Advance
The last thing you want when you’re hosting a party is to be rushing around while your guests are arriving. Clever planning helps relieve this stress.
It’s also a good way to free up your time so you can enjoy socializing with your guests.
One of the best ways to prepare is by stocking up on pre-made snacks from suppliers like Big Chef Online, The XCJ, or Appetizers USA. When you’ve got a stash of snacks to hand, you’ve always got something to offer friends who pop in announced too.
You can also prepare some of the snacks beforehand and freeze them until the big day.
These are some of the best easy finger food recipes to make ahead.
Cheese Balls
Beat 8 ounces of goat cheese, 8 ounces of almond milk cream cheese, 2 teaspoons of honey, and half a teaspoon of lemon rind together in a bowl.
Divide the mixture into 36 portions and roll them into balls then freeze them for 10 minutes. In the meantime, chop half a cup of roasted salted almonds with 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme and set aside.
Remove the cheese balls from the freezer, roll them in the nuts and freeze them for another ten minutes. You can keep these snacks in the refrigerator until needed.
Mini cheese balls are a top hit on the list of finger foods and they’re okay for vegetarians if you make them with almond milk only.
Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings
Chicken wings are everyone’s favourite finger food appetizers. You can make these super-easy ones well in advance and freeze them to cook on the day. Here’s how:
Combine ¼ cup of flour and ½ cup of water in a bowl. Then add 1 cup of brown sugar, ¼ cup of vinegar, ¼ cup of soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon of ketchup. Mix well.
Place 3 lbs. of chicken wings in a resealable bag and pour the flour mix into the bag with the chicken. Squeeze out the excess air, seal the bag, and freeze.
On the day, you should thaw the chicken and then cook it in a slow cooker for four hours on high. Alternatively, you can bake them, covered, for 45 minutes at 350°, and for 10 minutes uncovered.
Cucumber Canapes
Mix the following ingredients until smooth, cover, and refrigerate for 24 hours.
- 1 cup of mayonnaise
- 3 ounces of softened cream cheese
- 1 T of grated onion
- 1 T of minced chives
- ½ t of cider vinegar
- ½ t Worcestershire sauce
- 1 minced garlic clove
- ¼ t of paprika
- 1/8 t of curry powder
- 1/8 t each dried oregano, basil, parsley flakes, dill, and thyme
To assemble, cut slices of bread into 2½ inch rounds with a biscuit cutter and spread them with the mayonnaise mixture.
Lastly, place a slice of cucumber on top and garnish with pimientos and dill.
Mini Grilled Cheese Bites
Cream 1 cup of softened butter, 2 jars of American cheese spread, and a large egg together. Add ¼ cup of salsa, a 4-ounce can of chillies, and 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, and mix well.
Spread a thick layer of the mix onto slices of white bread, top with another layer of cheese mix, and cut the bread into quarters.
Bake the cheese squares at 350° F for 10 minutes. Allow the mini sandwiches to cool, transfer them to an airtight container, and freeze them until needed.
On the day, all you need to do is bake these appetizers for another 10 to 15 minutes.
Quick Finger Snacks for Parties
While you’re busy heating your pre-prepared snacks, you can whip up a few extra super easy party appetizers.
Cheesy sausage roll-ups are a hit with most guests and only take a few minutes to prepare. Here’s the drill:
Cheesy Sausage Roll-Ups
These savoury bites are always the first to go on every occasion. Here’s how to put them together:
- Warm-up two 6-inch tortillas in the microwave and cut them into strips.
- Next sprinkle some grated cheese on each strip, pop a cocktail sausage on top and roll them up.
- Bake the roll-ups for 10 minutes at 375° F and serve.
Antipasto Skewers
You won’t find many recipes easier than this one. Simply thread your choice of bite-sized ingredients onto a skewer, and refrigerate them until needed.
Some ideas include folded salami, grape tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and stuffed olives.
Dijon Bacon Dip and Pretzels
Pretzels are always a crowd-pleaser. Serve them with this easy dip:
Blend 1 cup of mayonnaise, ½ cup of Dijon mustard, ¼ cup of bacon bits, and a tablespoon of horseradish. Chill the dip until needed.
Smoked Salmon Lettuce Rolls
Smoked salmon’s a classic party treat, so keep up the fine tradition with this easy variety. Here’s how:
- Arrange 8 tender lettuce leaves on your work surface.
- Place a slice of avocado and top, drizzle with lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper.
- Divide two ounces of cold-smoked salmon into eight equal portions and place these on top of the lettuce and avocado.
- Finally, roll up the lettuce leaves.
As a final touch, mix the following ingredients to create a delicious dipping sauce for the rolls.
- ¼ cup of tahini
- 1 t of soy sauce
- 1 t of Sriracha
- 1 T fresh lemon juice
You can keep the salmon rolls and dipping sauce in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve them.
Celebrate in Style
Do you want some more guidance for hosting parties that are the talk of the town?
We’ve got all the best tips for socializing, whether you’re considering finger snacks for parties or planning a five-star wedding.
Keep browsing for more.
