When I’m in a little black dress with a glass of champagne in one hand, the last thing I want in the other hand is anything on a plate that requires a fork and knife.
Here are 25 bite-sized and finger-food ideas to help make your night a smashing, forkless success. Many are vegan and gluten-free, and as a bonus for the cook many recipes are ready in just five minutes so you can spend more time perfecting your eyeliner and less time in the kitchen. Or if you’re like me on New Years Eve, more time on the couch with my remote control.
Dips
Double Melted Cheese and Red Pepper Dip (GF) – Make in 5 minutes in microwave
“Cheater’s” Guacamole (veagn, GF) – Make in 5 minutes
Corn and Double Cheese Dip (vegan, GF, serve warm or cold) – Make in 5 minutes
Stovetop Hot Pepper Jelly (vegan, GF) – Ready in an hour, no canning required. Serve over warm brie with crackers. Heavenly
Spinach & Artichoke Dip (vegan, GF, fat-free option, serve warm or cold) – Make in 5 minutes
Appetizers
Roasted Grapes and Balsamic Reduction with Cheese and Crackers
Avocado, Cream Cheese, and Salsa-Stuffed Puff Pastries (easy to keep vegan)
Mini Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches
Baked Parsnip Fries with Creamy Balsamic Reduction Dip (vegan, GF)
Tempeh and Cucumbers on a Stick with Brown Sugar Balsamic Reduction Dip (vegan) – Make in 5 minutes
Snacks and Munchies
Vanilla Cake Batter and White Chocolate Chip Caramel Corn
Parmesan Ranch Snack Mix – Make in 5 minutes
Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Almonds – (vegan, GF)
Eat Your Booze
Baked Eggnog Vanilla Donuts and Mini-Donuts with Eggnog Rum Glaze
Pina Colada Dip (vegan, GF) – Make in 5 minutes
No Bake Rum Cake Balls (vegan, GF) – Make in 5 minutes
Dark Rum Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Chocolate
Cinnamon Sugar Chocolate Pretzels (no-bake, vegan, GF) – Make in 5 minutes and one of the best things I made in 2012 on the work-reward scale and my husband begs for these
Nutella Brownie Truffle Bites (no-bake with vegan and GF options) – Make in 5 minutes
Thin Mints (vegan, no-bake) – Make in 5 minutes
Quintuple Chocolate Fudgy Brownie Cookies – The most decadent cookie I’ve ever made or eaten
Quench Your Thirst
Bananas Foster Shooters (vegan, GF) – Can be made with or without alcohol
Peach Mango Pineapple White Sangria – A great way to stretch a bottle of wine and serve a crowd
Coconut Water Champagne Fruit Punch (Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free, No Sugar Added)
What are your New Year’s Eve Plans? What do you like to eat at New Years Eve parties?
I am happily plan-less and we’ll be staying home. Not in the bars or on the roads sounds like the best kind of NYE to me. I’ll be catching up on laundry, email, and whatever has accumulated on my DVR since I’ve been traveling for a month. I’d prefer to be at home, read cookbooks, and strategize when I’m cooking next. Back in the day, I used to love going out and I still do love champagne but who says I can’t have a glass. On my couch.
Feel free to share your favorite recipe links or tell me about your fabulous plans.
That corn and double cheese dip looks incredibly addicting! Definitely need to bookmark that recipe for super bowl day!
So lovely, I remember those avocado puff pastries – must make those soon!! Happy New Year, Averie!!
I’m staying home too! If there was an enticing plan, I might leave my couch, because I’ve been stuck here, sick, for about a week, and am over it. But it will probably be relaxing to just stay home with the fam . and make goals for the new year.
Eek feel better soon! :)
Agreed – I love finger foods and small bites most of the time, not just when donned in a cute dress with a drink in hand. I love to nibble.
Great round up of fun party foods. I’m torn on plans. Friend having a party, but I really don’t feel up to it. Would much rather stay in and stay safe. Happy New Year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR, all!
Looking forward to more great recipes here in 2013, especially healthy ones (low- or no-carb/paleo) :)
oh girl I could not agree with you more…on new years it has to be just a bite size of deliciousnes so a girl can look so pretty and sassy in her black dress..your corn and double cheese looks perfect and… when did your malibu rum fruit loop slip by me…I have to say it does kind of crack me up how fresh and bright they look and so kid friendly ;-) Happy New Year!!
I love their brightness too :)
These all look so wonderful!!! Happy New Year!!
Love this round up, one of each, please!!
NYE is totally not my scene. But if I was invited somewhere I’d probably change my mind. I’m happy with champagne at home too. Although looking at all these party foods kind of makes me want to throw a party for an excuse to make them.
Well when I was your age, I didn’t miss a party out but now…well…staying in is just fine!