A Holiday Cocktail Party
Cocktails and apps that will make you feel fun & festive...
The holidays are all about hosting, and who doesn’t enjoy a holiday cocktail party!? There is something so elegant about getting all dressed up, sipping on something festive ladled out of a pretty punch bowl, and snacking on bite-sized nibbles! And while it might seem more formal, it can also be a more relaxed alternative to a sit-down dinner AND you have the added benefit of expanding your guest list.
This menu is a round-up of bites that will delight your guests, and keep you mingling amongst the party and out of the kitchen. Not planning on hosting a cocktail party? This round up is a great collection of small bites you can serve as an app for your next dinner party, bring to a party you are not hosting, and they are all just great to have in your repertoire!
However, we hope that this round up, along with our tips, grocery list and prep timeline WILL give you the confidence and inspire you to send out that holiday invite and host a cocktail party this season. Because life is boring, it’s your job to make it fun!
Holiday Cocktail Party Menu:
Winter Aperol Spritz
Holiday Brie
Gorgonzola & Filet Crostini
Ham & Cheese Pinwheel
Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
Procuitto Wrapped Endive Salad Bites
‘Elegant yet Easy’ recipe (subscribers only): Red Wine Braised Short Ribs over Parmesan Polenta
Holiday Cocktail Party Tips:
Some key hosting pieces for a cocktail party: these bistro glasses are perfect when hosting a crowd, a good punch bowl is key, and this one from target is a great price point and cute holiday cocktail napkins add a fun and festive touch!
Set up a champagne tower to hold couple glasses and get a large beverage tub to make wine and champagne self service easy for guests. And batch out a cocktail in the a punch bowl. It just feels right for the holidays!
Lay out a holiday tablecloth on your dining room table and set out all of your food. When planning a cocktail party menu I love to serve something cheesy, a meat appetizer, a seafood seafood appetizer, a veggie forward appetizer, and a few snacky things like nuts or snack mix. You can account for 5-6 bites per guest.
Don’t like to cook? Stock up on some prepared hors d’oeuvres from your local gourmet grocery store.
For dessert, we love to set out a tray with small cookies, brownie bites and bowls of chocolate covered candies. Trader Joes’ is a great place to stock up on these items.
Make sure to have a roaring fire (see our trick for lighting a fire) and a great holiday playlist. Make sure to light lots of candles around the house - we float candles in a big bowl filled with cranberries - see inspiration here.
Our moms both use to set out luminaries down the driveway. It’s such a beautiful and easy way to make an immediate impact on guests. Don’t forget to weigh down the bags with sand so they don’t blow away.
Is it a family affair? Order platters of chicken nuggets from your favorite fast food place to include on your buffet.
Want to make hosting even easier? Hiring someone to help, mostly with keeping the buffet station and bar stocked, gathering used dishes laying around, and keeping things tidy will make a huge impact and give you the freedom to enjoy the party yourself!
It’s bubbly seasons! And we all need to stock up! Poema is a certified organic cava that is crisp, easy to drink and absolutely delicious. They are offering a 25% discount on all orders - use code HABITUAL at checkout. Anyone who orders a bottle will also get a free champagne stopper! Shop here!
Holiday Cocktail Party Essentials:
For Subscribers Only:
NEW ‘Elegant yet Easy’ Recipe- Red Wine Braised Short Ribs over Parmesan Polenta
Holiday Cocktail Party Shopping List & Prep Timeline
When my family moved to San Francisco, a new city where we knew a very limited about of people, we did what any sane person would do- we made a list of everyone we knew, or friends of friends we wanted to get to know better, and started inviting people over for dinner parties. So many great memories and friends were made during that time! I would prep my meal during my kids nap time the day before, and often made these short ribs. This recipe does take time (we also included slow cooker directions!), but it is very simple to execute, it presents beautifully and couldn’t be more delicious. We use boneless short ribs for ease, and feel that the flavor is in no way sacrificed, but you can use bone in, and we have shared all of our short rib knowledge to give you the confidence you need to execute this meal. These slow braised, fork tender ribs are served over a bed of soft polenta that comes together in minutes due to a simple hack my mother-in-law taught me years ago. You will never make polenta any other way! As the temperatures drop this is the perfect easy, yet elegant to make for a Sunday Supper, to share with friends fireside, to serve your houseguests in town for the holidays or for a festive holiday dinner party!