Cocktail Party Menus and Ideas

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Cocktail Party Menus --Themes and Ideas

Putting together a sumptuous cocktail party menu should be a pleasure. Have fun, after all, you're cooking for a party! These "pint-sized" parties are a great way to bring friends and family together to toast one another's good company.

Often hosts choose the proverbial chips and dips and soggy freezer appetizer trays. Resist the temptation! Be all about the food!

Pair homemade goodies with store bought products to save time and trouble. For instance, prepare easy Pan Fried Onion Dip with vegetable chips or baguette slices.

A theme sets the tone for your party food and cocktail selections. These menus combine store-brought items with your own fabulous preparations. Remember to check out cooking for a crowd tips and directions

How much alcohol do I buy?

How many cocktails will my quests drink?

More Cocktail Party Menus

mixed drink recipes

Great Drink and Punch Recipes

Champagne bottle in ice bucket

HOLIDAY SOIREE

This is the time when you need more time. It is time to BOMO..buy one make one.
BUY: Dips and spreads; flavored hummus; smoked salmon; prosciutto, salami and pepporoni. Serve these with crackers and cheese or cream cheese.
Crudites; cut cheese

THE COCKTAILS
The holidays are a perfect time to show off your bartending skills! French Connection and Mint Martini are good drinks for this menu. Also serve hot cider and Brandied Spice Coffee. Find these and other spirits at Drink and Party Punches

THE MENU
Mixed Nuts - Olives

Marinated Cheese Appetizers
Serve with crackers; crispy flatbread. Add sliced pears, apples or dried figs and apricots

Spinach and Artichoke Dip - Carrot Sticks

Caramelized Onion Pizza

Cold Fillet of Beef with Garlic Red Wine Vinaigrette
Serve with specialty breads, crackers
flavored mustards, horseradish sauces and butters

Barbecued Tandoori Shrimp Salad

Cranberry Cream Spread with Ginger Snaps
Mix whipped cream cheese with dried cranberries, a pinch of sugar and dash vanilla. Spread on cookies or gingerbread

Purchased Gourmet Cookie - Brownie Platter

LAST MINUTE PARTY TIME

Here's a simple menu addition

Turkey and Cranberry Muffins

Split your favorite orange mini muffins in halve. Place a piece of deli turkey and small dollop of whole cranberry on top. Good additions: Swiss cheese and/or green onions. Prepare 2 muffins per guest, about 1 pound of sliced turkey and 1 can of whole-berry cranberry sauce

THE COCKTAILS
Serve easy to make drinks or even ask guests to bring their favorite beverages.

THE MENU

Purchased Dip and Guacamole
Serve with potato, pita or bagel chips. This recipe can be easily cut in half

Tapenade
Serve with crisp crackers and Feta cheese cubes

Sweet and Sassy Shrimp Kabobs

Pork Bites with Sweet Apple Chutney

SOUTHERN NIGHTS

Southern cooking is unassuming and comforting

Also consider:

Buffalo Wings

Crab Salad Lettuce Wraps

Chicken Pecan Finger Sandwiches

Mini Crab Cakes with Remoulade Sauce

Strawberries and Chantilly Cream

THE COCKTAILS
Mint Juleps, Mojitos, Daiquiris, bourbon based mixed drinks, iced tea and iced coffee based cocktails, cordials and liqueurs, non-alcoholic flavored ice teas and lemonade, hot coffee

THE MENU

Nuts and Olives

Spicy Hot Crab Dip

Assorted Crispy Crackers

Tender-Crisp Vegetable Crudités and Creamy Garlic Dip

Crispy Oven-Fried Chicken Wings

Creole Boiled Shrimp On Ice with Horseradish Salsa

Grilled Sweet Onion and Arugula Finger Sandwiches

Lemon Chiffon Cake and Fresh Strawberries

ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET

mixed drink

This menu is very easy elegance

Also consider:

Out of this World Garlic Dip

Grilled Shrimp with Salsa Verde

Baby Lamb Chops with Baby Baked Potatoes

Tender-Crisp Vegetables with Creamy Garlic Dressing

THE COCKTAILS
Feature drinks your guests will consider Hollywood trendy and sophisticated. Champagne (definitely), Cosmopolitans, Sex on the Beach, other Vodka Martinis filed with olives, specialty coffees

THE MENU
Nuts and Olives

Hot Crab Dip

Assorted Crackers and Chips

Herb-Crusted Beef Roast with Horseradish Sauce

Sliced thinly with Dark Breads and French Bread

Flavored Mustards, Horseradish Sauces and Butters

Raw Vegetables on Ice with Herb Dipping Sauce

Fruit and Cheese Board

Mini Chocolate Cakes

international smorgasbord

For an uncomplicated party theme, decide on your favorite ethnic or national cuisine and design a menu based on its' traditional finger foods and dishes

Also consider:
Purchased Greek Salad or Antipasto from your favorite deli or salad bar

Grilled Sausages with Mustard and Tortillas

Gingered Asian Pork Balls with Cilantro Salsa

Favorite New Orleans Shrimp Salad

THE COCKTAILS
Feature cocktails and drinks from around the world or at least drinks that sound like it such as, Irish Coffee, Singapore Sling, Manhattan, White Russian, Virgin (Island?) Daiquiris.

THE MENU

Out of this World Garlic Dip

Vegetable Crudités

Pickled vegetables, roasted red peppers, pickles olives, nuts, cheeses, assorted crackers and chips

Melon and Prosciutto

Italian Tomato Bruschetta

Cumin-Scented Moroccan Kebabs with Minted Yogurt Dip

Barbecued Tandoori Shrimp Salad

Sesame Flatbread

Italian Cookies or French Pastries

Poker Party

This menu suits any kind of card party or a board games party. Serious card players like foods that are not messy. Set-up the food table away from the action and provide plenty of napkins and wet wipes.

Also consider:

Mini Crab Cakes with Remoulade Sauce

Ham and Black Bean Salad

Fruit in Wine

THE COCKTAILS
Offer traditional mixed drinks such as rum and cola, scotch and soda, gin and tonic and bourbon and water. Bottled beer and and brandy are also welcomed. Also ginger ale and other sodas, tea, coffee and mineral water

THE MENU

Spinach Dip in Bread Bowl

Marinated Cheese Skewers

Assorted Crispy Crackers

Orange, Grape and Almond Fruit Salad

Roast Beef and Horseradish Finger Sandwiches

Spicy Popcorn and Nut Mix

Potato chips, pretzels, pickles, olives

Vanilla Wafers and Sugar Cookies

a Wine tasting party

Do you like it? Would you buy it? That's all you need to know for an informal wine tasting. Select a few wines you are familiar with that go with your menu (ask your wine merchant for help) Also ask a guest or two to bring a compatible bottle

Also consider:

Shrimp with Rice Vinegar Dipping Sauce

Rosemary-Garlic Roast Beef Tri-Tip

THE COCKTAILS
Also offer cordials and liqueurs, non-alcohol flavored ice teas and lemonade, hot coffee

THE MENU
Nuts and Olives

Ginger Orange Chicken on Curried Toast Canapés
Top with Apple or Mango Chutney

Skewered Shrimp Marinated in Lime-and-Basil Vinaigrette

Gravlax on Pumpernickel with Dill Mustard Sauce

Tropical Fruit Kebabs

Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Serve with tomato sauce and dinner rolls

Simple Mixed Green Salad

Lemon Sorbet and Crispy Sugar Cookies

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