How food is presented can be as much fun as preparing it and eating it. Food bloggers share some creative and fun ways to serve up yummy appetizers at your next party.
Finger food on a stick
Finger food is even more fun when you don’t have to get your fingers dirty! We love these classy fruit and cheese kabobs from Angela of Gast Family Recipes that require only three ingredients and are fun (and healthy) for kids too. Simply thread cheese cubes, grapes and apple chunks onto food skewers and serve in a pretty bowl.
Fun finger food ideas for family night >>
Dip it
You may not think of Brussels sprouts as food for dipping. But they become perfectly dip-able when you bake them and serve them with a garlic aioli. Anna Costa of Costa Kitchen created this unique recipe as a new way to serve Brussels sprouts. They can also be served as a side dish, and they pair well with pork chops, according to Anna. Click here for complete recipe >>
Warm cheesy beer dip with soft pretzels >>
Think outside the plate
In addition to serving foods in non-traditional ways, serve food in creative containers to make your appetizers more fun. The sisters at The Sisters’ Soiree also believe in serving appetizers in fun ways that are “outside the plate.” Amanda Willis suggests using mason jars for pretzels and veggies, shot glasses for little bites like an individual shrimp cocktail or a taste of gazpacho and martini glasses for dips. She also invites party hosts to use things around the home (such as baskets, flat stones or small vases) as serving trays — but clean them well before serving food on them!
Best party dip recipes >>
Serve something sweet
Dessert can totally become a fun appetizer when you serve it in a cute cocktail shooter like these gorgeous layered blueberry lemon shooters from Pretty Bitches Can Cook Too.Click here for the full recipe >>
Sweet appetizer ideas to start the party right >>
Dress up everyday food
Jennifer Sbranti, graphic designer and founder of hostess with the Mostess, makes to-go food and store-bought appetizers more fun by adding theme accessories — like putting disco ball drink stirrers into cocktail glasses, adding craft poms to ordinary toothpicks for appetizers or sandwiches, decorating mini wooden spoons for decadent desserts or adding edible shimmer to add a “little sparkle” to shortbread cookies or macarons.
Shape up!
Lora Lennartz of Diary of a Mad Hausfrau suggests making traditional dips like hummus and pita more fun by cutting the pita into theme or seasonal shapes. Click here for her pecan pesto hummus recipe with leaf-shaped pitas >>
Party tip:
Prepare as much as possible before the party so you can spend time visiting with your guests — not stuck in the kitchen! Look for recipes you can make a day or so in advance, put drinks in a cooler and food out on buffet tables so guests can help themselves to refreshments.
More fun food ideas
5 Favorite finger foods
How to make any appetizer look gourmet
How to make a great appetizer menu
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