You don’t need to spend a lot of time or money to serve impressive party appetizers. Here are some elegant, yet simple appetizer recipes for your New Year’s Eve or post-holiday cocktail party.

Choose one or more to serve with your tried and true crowd-pleasers–e.g., pigs in the blanket, baked brie, mini quiches, or bruschetta. And see even more suggestions following these recipes.

Pear and blue cheese appetizers

Serves 15

1 cup crumbled blue cheese
*4 medium ripe pears, cored and finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 1/2 Tbs. of Italian vinagrette dressing (add more or use less according to taste)
4 medium heads endive

Directions 

1. Combine cheese, pears and walnuts in medium bowl. Drizzle with vinaigrette dressing. Evenly spoon mixture onto endive leaves; add additional dressing, if desired.

*Substitution: Try using goat cheese instead of blue cheese.

Recipe adapted from and photo by Wish-Bone

Holiday cheese truffles

Makes 4 dozen

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 pkg. (8 oz.) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 tsp. garlic powder
Dash ground red pepper (cayenne)
1/4 cup chopped roasted red peppers
2 green onions, sliced
1-2/3 cups chopped pecans
Crackers

Directions

1. Beat first 4 ingredients with mixer until blended. Divide in half. Add roasted peppers to half and green onions to other half; mix each until blended.
2. Refrigerate several hours or until chilled.
3. Shape into 24 (1-inch) balls. Roll in nuts.
4. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve with crackers.

Recipe adapted from and photo by Kraft Foods

Prosciutto asparagus spirals

Makes 30

1 pkg. (17.3 oz) puff pastry sheets, thawed
6 Tbs. garlic & herb spreadable cheese, softened
8 slices prosciutto or thinly sliced deli ham
30 medium asparagus spears, trimmed

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 400°F.
2. Unfold the pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Spread 3 tablespoons cheese on each pastry sheet.
3. Top each sheet with 4 slices prosciutto.
4. Cut each sheet into 15 strips crosswise, making 30 in all.
5. Tightly wrap 1 pastry strip around each asparagus spear, prosciutto-side in.
6. Place the pastries seam-side down onto 2 baking sheets.
7. Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown.

Recipe adapted from and photo by Pepperidge Farm

Stuffed hot peppers

Makes 24

24 banana peppers
4 lbs. mozzarella cheese, shredded
4 cups ricotta cheese
2 Tbs. chopped anchovies
2 cups bread crumbs
Fresh parsley, chopped fine
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cut off tops of peppers and remove cores. In bowl, mix all remaining ingredients.
3. Roll cheese mix into log shape and insert into peppers.
4. Place peppers on oiled cookie sheet and  bake until peppers look roasted and cheese is melted.

Recipe adapted from and photo by Sorrento

Here are more delicious party appetizers:

• Make-ahead spinach phyllo roll-ups
• Mini new potato bites
• Sweet-and-sour shrimp puffs
• Scallops wrapped with bacon
• Parmesan stuffed dates
• Cheese truffles
• Five-spice appetizer meatballs
• Mediterranean polenta rounds

Filed under: Entertaining, Festive foods