25 New Years Eve Small Bites and Finger Food Recipes

PinSave

This post may contain affiliate links.

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

Double Melted Cheese and Red Pepper Dip

“Cheater’s” Guacamole (veagn, GF) – Make in 5 minutes

“Cheater’s” Guacamole

Corn and Double Cheese Dip (vegan, GF, serve warm or cold) – Make in 5 minutes

Corn and Double Cheese Dip

Stovetop Hot Pepper Jelly (vegan, GF) – Ready in an hour, no canning required. Serve over warm brie with crackers. Heavenly

Stovetop Hot Pepper Jelly

Spinach & Artichoke Dip (vegan, GF, fat-free option, serve warm or cold) – Make in 5 minutes

Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Appetizers

Roasted Grapes and Balsamic Reduction with Cheese and Crackers

Roasted Grapes and Balsamic Reduction with Cheese and Crackers

Avocado, Cream Cheese, and Salsa-Stuffed Puff Pastries (easy to keep vegan)

Avocado, Cream Cheese, and Salsa-Stuffed Puff Pastries

Mini Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches

Mini Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches

Baked Parsnip Fries with Creamy Balsamic Reduction Dip (vegan, GF)

Baked Parsnip Fries with Creamy Balsamic Reduction Dip

Tempeh and Cucumbers on a Stick with Brown Sugar Balsamic Reduction Dip (vegan) – Make in 5 minutes

Tempeh and Cucumbers on a Stick with Brown Sugar Balsamic Reduction Dip

Snacks and Munchies

Vanilla Cake Batter and White Chocolate Chip Caramel Corn

Vanilla Cake Batter and White Chocolate Chip Caramel Corn

Parmesan Ranch Snack Mix –  Make in 5 minutes

Parmesan Ranch Snack Mix

Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Almonds – (vegan, GF)

Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Almonds

Eat Your Booze

Baked Eggnog Vanilla Donuts and Mini-Donuts with Eggnog Rum Glaze

Baked Eggnog Vanilla Donuts and Mini-Donuts with Eggnog Rum Glaze

 

Malibu Rum Fruit Loops Treats

Malibu Rum Fruit Loops Treats

 Pina Colada Dip (vegan, GF) – Make in 5 minutes

 Pina Colada Dip

No Bake Rum Cake Balls (vegan, GF) – Make in 5 minutes

No Bake Rum Cake Balls

Dark Rum Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

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

Cinnamon Sugar Chocolate Pretzels

Nutella Brownie Truffle Bites (no-bake with vegan and GF options) – Make in 5 minutes

Nutella Brownie Truffle Bites

Thin Mints (vegan, no-bake) – Make in 5 minutes

Thin Mints

Quintuple Chocolate Fudgy Brownie Cookies – The most decadent cookie I’ve ever made or eaten

Quintuple Chocolate Fudgy Brownie Cookies

Quench Your Thirst

Bananas Foster Shooters (vegan, GF) – Can be made with or without alcohol

Bananas Foster Shooters

Peach Mango Pineapple White Sangria – A great way to stretch a bottle of wine and serve a crowd

Peach Mango Pineapple White Sangria

Coconut Water Champagne Fruit Punch (Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free, No Sugar Added)

Coconut Water Champagne Fruit Punch

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.

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

Get the latest recipes via email!

Leave a Comment

Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Comments

  1. That corn and double cheese dip looks incredibly addicting! Definitely need to bookmark that recipe for super bowl day!

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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!

  5. HAPPY NEW YEAR, all!

    Looking forward to more great recipes here in 2013, especially healthy ones (low- or no-carb/paleo) :)

  6. 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!!

  7. 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.