The holiday party detail that separates the women from the girls? Having a few chic homemade appetizers that are elegant but oh-so-easy to prepare.
It's tempting to go all Martha Stewart at your party and overdue the homemade food. But as we've gotten wiser about our party hosting, we've learned to buy some excellent cheeses, superb charcuterie and concentrate on a handful of homemade appetizers that knock it out of the park.
Souffles, Croque Monsieurs, omelets, when it comes to making cheese reach regal heights, the French are total masters. So it's no wonder that these Gougères, aka cheese puffs, are always a hit at our cocktail parties.
Another no-brainer? Making some freshly baked bread topped with all sorts of deliciousness. We vote for this sweet-pungent grape and blue cheese mini focaccia that pair well with anything from bubbles to a classic cocktail.
Imagine your favorite lox and schmear combo did a semester abroad in France, and you've got an idea of how this effortlessly elegant Smoked Salmon & Herbed Creme Fraiche Spread tastes.
When you're looking for something elegant, easy, and doable for everyone from your gluten-free friends to the low carb people? These crab bites are a perfect choice.
Why do we love the South? Because they pickle things we'd never imagine pickling — from watermelon rinds to shrimp — and it always tastes amazing. This riff on a classic pickled shrimp recipe is a bit citrusy, spicy, and way more interesting than any storebought ring of shrimp and cocktail sauce.
Yes, we make this because it's an excuse to eat popcorn chicken without seeming all trashy about it. But also because this Taiwanese version has tons of spices and fried basil for a twist that's totally unexpected but equally crave-worthy.
Normally we're anti-fried food or anything that keeps you in the kitchen for a dinner party (unless it's popcorn chicken, of course), but these risotto balls are a major exception. You can 100% make them ahead (even fry them) and then reheat them in the oven right before serving!
The best thing about this recipe? If you have leftovers (you probably won't, btw), they're as tasty for breakfast with a cup of coffee as they are as a cocktail party app.
It is our firm belief that any party with popcorn is only made more delicious. This stovetop kettle corn takes a second to make and gets eaten even faster!
Another welcome twist on classic hummus is this version made by whirring together roasted garlic, herbs, pumpkin, and maple syrup. It has all the best fall flavors and is completely comforting all whiile being totally healthy.
Not so much caviar as a smooth, sweet, nutty beet dip, we first tried a version of this on a trip to Israel and recreate it whenever beets are in season.
We've all had that classic holiday appetizer of cranberry brie bites, yes? Well, here we modernize it with just 5 minutes extra cooking time by adding in sage-scented pears, pomegranate seeds, and a hot honey garnish.
If ever there was an appetizer that was as equally impressive as it was low fuss, this would be it. Fry the sage days ahead and then assemble when you're party starts and you're good to go!
We don't know about you, but we can never get enough of prosciutto and melon in our lives. When the melon is no longer in season, we switch to persimmons and top it with this inky sweet-tart balsamic honey glaze.
If you're looking for a total curve ball of an appetizer, this is it. We take gougeres (aka French cheese puffs) and layer into them some fresh mint, whipped goat cheese, and a date spread for a sweet-salty bite that is an instant favorite!
Nothing screams chic like a gorgeous display of cheese and fruit! Spice up your appetizer platters with a batch of these impressive Blistered Balsamic Concord Grapes.
This sweet potato appetizer is essentially crisp sweet potato chips scattered across whipped goat cheese. It may just sound like a healthy plant-based appetizer, but that is discounting it. The smoky, crisp sweet potato combined with the ethereally light, sweet, peppery, herbed goat cheese is pure hors d'oeuvres magic.
Speaking of pulling out the stops, pulling out some uber fresh seafood pretty much always impresses guests. If you have access to great scallops, this crudo with a spicy tart topping is a must make.
Yes, great oysters are incredible with nothing more than a squeeze of lemon. But, when you want to up the ante, turn to this sweet, tangy, tart pomegranate mignonette granita that's as tasty as it is beautiful!
For something a little more laidback, turn to this Mexican twist on ceviche known as Aguachile. Shrimp marinated in a bright herb and chile sauce and you serve it with tostadas!
When it comes to simple and easy, ceviche is at the top of our list. With quality ingredients and just a little bit of patience, this recipe uses fresh shrimp and juicy watermelon to come together in no time.
What’s the best way to keep your hands busy during a conversation? Peanuts! This spicy, Thai-inspired version is our go-to for a chic twist on the classic party snack.
We go for the roll of all-butter puff pastry sitting in our freezer whenever we want to impress. And trust us, this classic French pastry never disappoints.
If you adore Spanish tortillas as much as we do, then you'll love this version of the classic recipe made much easier thanks to storebought potato chips!
ISO an app that's more of a meal but still simple and make ahead? Then you'll be all about this recipe of slow-cooked shredded chipotle chicken tostadas!
Another take on sweet-sour agrodolce that we adore? This grape version made with pine nuts, currants, rosemary, and shallots. It's fabulous atop bread with curls of prosciutto but you could also add in cheese or use it as a topping for roasted salmon, grilled steak, or seared pork chops.
Healthy-ish, loaded with fall flavors, and totally elegant, these salad cups do take some time to assemble, but they're well worth the effort. And the Maple Lemon Cream sauce is fabulous; we insist you make it even if you never make these salad cups!
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