Easy Cold Appetizer Recipes
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In my life I am always the one that hosts the parties. With the pool in the backyard, we are the go-to place for the sports teams, cheerleading events, birthday parties and of course, all the fall holidays. And I’d be lying to you if I didn’t admit that I often cater the big portion of the main dish party food (chicken finger platters coming right from Publix).
But as a side dish recipe site, I take pride in having delicious and homemade appetizers and finger foods at the ready. You will not see me skimping when it comes to serving the side of the plate.
Cold appetizer recipes fulfill just that. If I can pull it, prep it, and serve it all without turning on the oven or skillet, its a total win in my book. I wanted to share some of my very favorite go to recipes for cold finger foods that are perfect for your next get together.
Fruit and Vegetable-Based Appetizers:
Easy to assemble and travel well, vegetables and fruits are a great choice to display on party table. The fruit trays and food always goes first but as long as the veggies are paired with a great dip (also listed below), those get eaten up as well.
Whether you’re looking for elegant cold appetizers or just simple crowd-pleasers, here are 8 great fruit and vegetable cold appetizer recipes that take no time at all.
Dip-Based Appetizers:
There can be no party without a cold dip. Dips pair well with veggies, an assortment of crackers, and even torn bread, making them an easy cold appetizer option that everyone will love.
The best part is that most dips can be made a day or two ahead. If you party has a few days of plan time, you can wake up knowing you are already ready when the first guest arrives. Dips also have the benefit of being the most cost-effective appetizer recipes, so its not hard to set out a variety of the best options.
Below are 10 cold dip recipes that I could personally eat all day long.
- And that isn’t all! You can look through all our 100’s of tried and true dip recipes here.
Sandwich and Skewer Appetizers:
Sandwich and skewer appetizers are perfect cold party appetizers because the focus is on the filling. From meats and cheeses to chopped fruits wrapped in cream cheese, the only limitation is simply imagination.
Skewers and sandwiches are also easy to transport and add variety to your spread without requiring much extra effort. And because anything with bread is a lot more filling, these cold sandwiches and wraps are a great way to offer something more substantial while keeping the party vibe enjoyable.
Make-Ahead Cold Appetizers:
Make-ahead cold appetizers are a lifesaver when it comes to stress-free hosting. Here are some of my favorite recipes that you can prepare recipes in advance but serve cold on the day of your event.
From candied nuts to savory snack mixes, I love making ahead so I can focus on the party and not the cooking. Of course you can always check out our article on no-cook finger foods for parties if you prefer to skip the stove altogether.
Dessert-Based Cold Appetizers:
Sweet appetizers are a must for any gathering, and these desserts are perfect for serving chilled or at room temperature. Dessert dips are usually displayed with fresh fruit and toothpicks or dipping and a variety of small but plain cookies like vanilla wafters or graham crackers.
While fudge is considered a dessert, its really great to serve in small pieces as finger food at parties. Chocolate is great at cleansing the pallet on richer foods and dips and you can cut down fudge to a mini size quite easily after a big meal.
Try our no fail easy fudge recipe featuring milk chocolate and our white fudge recipe as well to really create a stand out platter.
Serving Ideas
With all the food available, the only thing left to do now is prep. Last year butter boards were all the rage and while they are fun, are really only meant for more of an intimate gathering like Valentines day.
For larger events that include lots of adults and kids, I tend to go for more of the individual set up with charcuterie cups. They are easy to buy in sets on amazon for a reasonable price and it keeps everyone fingers out of the food.
You can place vegetable sticks, fruit skewers, mini sandwiches and even dessert in them. As long as you are serving cold food, these work great. I also recommend grabbing some of the dip containers with lids if you go that route so people can have the dip and appetizer together in a personal container. This also works for those that want to take their food to go.
If you prefer warm bites over cold ones, this list of baked party appetizers covers everything from sliders to sweet snack trays.
Alright that’s just about it. I am wrapping up about 40 of my favorite easy cold appetizer recipes and I hope you found one that suites your needs. Follow me over on Pinterest for more ideas as the year develops and tag me if you try anything!~
