Who doesn’t love a good holiday cocktail party? It’s the perfect excuse to don something sparkly and pretend to be fancy show your sophisticated side. But as anyone who’s hosted such a fête can attest, what sounds like it should be easier to throw than a dinner party can actually end up being way more stressful when all is said and done. Multiple small bites coming out of the kitchen at once, cocktails being measured and shaken, and a shorter time span (usually 2 hours) can leave any hostess feeling like she wants to crawl under the covers with a gallon of heavily spiked eggnog and Love, Actually on repeat. For any of y’all with parties on the agenda between now and the 25th, I’ve put together an easy breezy menu of bites that can be assembled before guests arrive, along with my favorite holiday punch that’ll let guests help themselves to the booze. Allowing you to attend to more important tasks, like mixing, mingling, and being the social butterfly you are.
*photo: design*sponge
Sparkling Citrus Punch
Guests can help themselves to seconds (and thirds) of this orange, grapefruit, and pineapple-infused punch.
Get the recipe here.
Blue Cheese & Asian Pear Crostinis
Creamy cambozola, crisp asian pear and thyme is seriously the perfect bite.
Get the recipe here.
Vegetable Rolls with Spicy Nut Sauce
Guests will welcome a fresh, healthy option on the appetizer buffet.
Get the recipe here.
Smoked Salmon Bites with Horseradish Crème
Classic flavors in one cute, easy-to-assemble bite.
Get the recipe here.
Endive Leaves with Goat Cheese, Figs, Honey-Roasted Almonds
You can make these up to an hour before the party and pop them in the fridge so they’re ready when guests arrive.
Get the recipe here.
Matcha-Pistachio Chocolate Truffles
Let guests savor something sweet before heading back out into the cold.
