Simple Snack Ideas for a Cocktail Party

Hosting a cocktail party is not as challenging as you may think. You stress less because you need not worry about preparing full meals like dinner parties. You can have a caterer to go through the food preparations and a bartender to prepare the drinks while you mingle with great company. 

You can even make the food preparations yourself because you only serve up finger foods, hors d’oeuvres, or snacks to accompany your prepared cocktails. Simple snacks for cocktails do not require a lot of effort to prepare. You spend a lot less time in your kitchen and more getting dressed up for the occasion and looking forward to having an enjoyable and relaxing time. 

Best Snack Ideas For A Cocktail Party

Here are some simple ideas for cocktail party snacks.

Pate with Bourbon and Cranberry Gelee

Foie Gras Toast and Candied Onion
foie gras toast and candied onion

https://www.seriouseats.com/chicken-liver-pate-bourbon-cranberry-recipe

Pates are a typical cocktail party. You can serve them with crackers or on toothpicks. This chicken liver pate is flavored with apple cider and bourbon with cranberry gelee topping. The smooth and silky texture makes it a perfect snack for a holiday gathering.

Ingredients:

  • Chicken Livers – 2 Pounds, Trimmed of Sinew and Fat
  • Kosher Salt
  • Black Pepper – Freshly Ground
  • Shallots – 2, Minced
  • Thyme Leaves – 1/2 Tsp, Fresh, Minced
  • Bourbon Or American Whiskey – 2 Ounces
  • Unsalted Butter – 1 1/2 Sticks, 12 Tablespoons
  • Gelatin – 1/2 Envelope, Unflavored
  • Cranberry Juice – 1 Cup, Unsweetened
  • Sugar – 2 Tbsp

Procedure:

  1. Pat the livers dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet until it starts smoking.
  2. Now cook the livers for 4 minutes, by turning them over until browned on both sides. Make sure that the center is pink.
  3. Transfer the liver to a food processor bowl. And repeat steps 1 and 2 until all chicken livers are cooked.
  4. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add thyme and shallots and cook for 2 minutes while stirring.
  5. Now add bourbon and keep cooking until scraping up the browned bits from the skillet.
  6. Add cider and scrape the shallots into the food processor bowl with the livers.
  7. Now mix the ingredients with the butter until a smooth puree is formed.
  8. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large bowl and use a wooden spoon to press the mashed liver into it. Season the mashed liver with salt and pepper.
  9. Smooth the top of the liver, press the plastic wrap directly against the surface, and refrigerate it for 2 hours or overnight.
  10. In a measuring glass, sprinkle the gelatin over the cranberry juice. Let it stand for 15 minutes.
  11. Transfer the gelatin and cranberry juice into a small saucepan and add sugar. Heat the mixture over medium-high heat until the juice simmers and sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let it cool.
  12. Carefully pour the cooled cranberry juice over the top.
  13. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 2 hours. Also, the pate can be refrigerated for 5 days before serving.

Hoisin-Glazed Cocktail Meatballs

Meatballs with glaze
Chicken Meatballs with glaze

https://www.seriouseats.com/hoisin-glazed-cocktail-meatballs

These hoisin-glazed cocktail meatballs are tangy, sticky, and perfect for a cocktail party or holiday party. The meatballs are perfect for dipping with a party toothpick. The mixture of beef and pork creates perfectly moist meatballs. The glaze or dip makes them so tangy that guests want more.

Ingredients:

For Meatballs

  • Pork – 1/2 Pound, Ground
  • Beef – 1/2 Pound, Ground
  • Hoisin Sauce- 1 Tbsp
  • Soy Sauce – 2 Tbsp
  • Ginger – 1 Tbsp, Minced or Grated
  • Garlic Cloves – 2, Minced or Grated
  • Scallion – 1, Minced
  • Sesame Oil – 1 Tsp, Toasted
  • Honey – 1 Tbsp
  • Breadcrumbs – 1/2 Cup, 1 Ounce
  • Egg – 1, Lightly Beaten
  • Black Pepper – 1/4 Tsp, Freshly Ground

For Hoisin Glaze:

  • Hoisin Sauce – 1/4 Cup
  • Ketchup – 2 Tbsp
  • Honey – 1 Tbsp
  • Rice Vinegar – 2 Tbsp, Unseasoned
  • Sesame Oil – 1 Tsp, Toasted
  • Soy Sauce – 1 Tbsp

Procedure:

  1. For meatballs, adjust the oven rack into the center position. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Combine the meatball ingredients in a large ball and use your hands to stir the ingredients. Make sure not to overmix the ingredients.
  3. To prevent the meatballs from sticking, use wet hands.
  4. Shape them into 1to 1 1/2 tablespoon-sized meatballs. Space the meatballs an inch apart on the baking sheet or parchment paper.
  5. Bake the meatballs for 15 to 20 minutes until cooked thoroughly.
  6. Meanwhile, for the glaze, combine the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan. Boil over medium heat while stirring it frequently.
  7. Cook it for 5 to 7 minutes until the mixture thickens. Now set aside and let it cool.
  8. To serve, brush the meatballs with glaze and use sesame seeds and green onions for garnishing. Also, you can use an additional hoisin glaze for dipping meatballs.

Bacon-Wrapped Figs with Blue Cheese and Bourbon

Bacon-wrapped figs
Homemade Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese

https://www.seriouseats.com/bacon-wrapped-figs-with-blue-cheese-and-bourbon

This bite-sized snack for a cocktail party is best because of crispy and brown bacon with cheese. Also, the bourbon-spiked caramel glaze makes it tastier for the gathering.

Ingredients:

  • Bacon – 8 Slices, Thick-Cut, Cut in Half
  • Ripe Fresh Figs – 8 Firm, Halved Lengthwise
  • Creamy Blue Cheese – 6 Ounces, Crumbled
  • Bourbon – 1/2 Cup
  • Unsalted Butter – 3/4 Cup
  • Light Brown Sugar – 3/4 Light Packed,
  • Flaky Salt – For Sprinkling

Procedure:

  1. Preheat the grill and place it in the upper position of the rack. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  2. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until most of the fast has been melted. Make sure that the bacon is still malleable.
  3. Now transfer the bacon to a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb the fats.
  4. Use a melon baller or small spoon to scoop out the center of each halved fig. top each hollowed-out fig half with blue cheese. Wrap half a strip of bacon around the stuffed fig and secure the wrapping with a toothpick.
  5. In a medium saucepan, cook the bourbon over medium heat until it is reduced to half. Beat the butter and brown sugar together until the brown sugar dissolved and the butter melted. Continue cooking until the sauce is thick while stirring occasionally.
  6. Use a pastry brush to brush the bourbon glaze over the top side of each fig wrapped with bacon. Now grill the bacon for 4 minutes until it is brown.
  7. Sprinkle coarse sea salt for taste and serve hot.

Other Snack Ideas For Cocktail Party

Fresh fruit platter

 

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A fruit platter is not only simple to prepare, but can be the main star of a cocktail party. Your choice of fruits is beautifully arranged in bite pieces for easy serving. An excellent fruit platter’s secret is choosing the freshest fruits and making sure that they are ripe and rich with flavors. 

It would also be best to have various types of fruits in an assortment of colors to make your fruit platter more inviting and mouth-watering. Avoid fruits that can turn brown quickly. These include apples and bananas. Your guests can still enjoy them, though, if you serve them whole instead of cut-up or sliced. 

It would also be best to have more than enough fruits available for guests. Leftovers don’t have to go to waste as they can be made into your favorite smoothies.

Mini sandwiches

Mini Sandwich on wooden board
Food catering. Holiday treats. Cuisine Culinary Gourmet Buffet. Kosher catering background. Food industry. Business lunch, snack. Catering menu. Vegan sliders, ham, vegetable slider bar

Mini sandwiches are another excellent addition to cocktail party snacks. There are several options when it comes to fillings, and you can come up with a variety of them served on a tray. Because they are small, they are easy to eat and as delicious as you prepare them. When you make mini sandwiches, go for thinner and wider bread types to make them easier to slice. 

Try not to overstuff them with filling, so it doesn’t get too messy when they are eaten. They can also be prepared a day or two before, especially tuna or egg salad sandwiches. Sandwiches with lettuce and tomatoes are best prepared an hour before the party where you will enjoy friends, family, games, options like live22, and more.

Cocktail Party Snacks – Appetizers For Boozy Bash

When you decide to throw a cocktail party at home, then you might be thinking of snacks to serve with different cocktails. Crispy, chicken liver pate, meatballs, sandwiches, fruit platter, and many more can be paired with different cocktails.

Try to make these appetizers for the planned boozy bash a night before or prepare them to cook at the last minute. While planning a gathering at home, you can go for healthy party snacks who are health or diet conscious.