Friday, June 14, 2019 / by Haley Latham
5 Finger Food Appetizers For Your Next Party
If you’re planning on hosting friends or family this summer, organizing the menu can be a stressful task. Here are a few simple recipes that are perfect for any occasion:
7 ingredients – Gluten-free – Serves 8
Package of prosciutto
Basil, fresh
Grape tomatoes
Balsamic glaze
Black pepper, ground
Mozzarella cheese balls
Toothpicks
For each toothpick: one grape tomato, one leaf of basil, one mozzarella ball, and one smaller piece of prosciutto. Top with ground
black pepper and drizzled balsamic glaze.
For a vegetarian option, leave the prosciutto out.
2. Loaded Taco Bites
5 ingredients – Approximately 42 Taco Bites
1 package of Won Ton wrappers (in the produce) or 1 package of tortilla scoops
1 lb. ground meat of your choice
1 taco seasoning packet
1 can black beans, drained, rinsed, and chopped
3/4 cup shredded cheese
Toppings of your choice: finely shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced onion,
sour cream, sliced olives, avocado, and jalapenos (for the more daring)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
If using Won Ton wrappers: coat a nonstick muffin pan with cooking spray. Gently press
one wrapper into each muffin cup.
If using tortilla scoops: layer chips on a baking pan.
Brown your meat and add seasoning packet and cook as directed
Stir the chopped black beans in with the meat
Fill each cup with meat and bean mixture
Sprinkle with cheese
Bake for 8 minutes
Remove from oven, sprinkle with your toppings, and enjoy!
3. Creamy Spinach Bites
8 ingredients – Vegetarian
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. shredded monterey jack cheese
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 yellow onion, finely diced
10 oz. package frozen spinach – thawed and drained
1 box of puff pastry sheets
1 egg
1 tbsp. water
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Combine the egg and water in a small bowl, beat until well mixed
Combine softened cream cheese, monterey jack cheese, garlic powder, and onion in a
bowl and mix well
Add spinach into the cream cheese mixture and stir
Unroll puff pastry sheets and brush both sides with the egg and water mixture
Spread the cream cheese and spinach mixture over one side of the puff pastry
Roll up the puff pastry and slice
Place rolls on a greased baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until the puff pastries
turn a golden color
Serve and enjoy!
4. Pear & Brie Crostini with Thyme & Balsamic
6 ingredients – Vegetarian – Serves 4
1 pear, sliced 1/3
8 sprigs of fresh thyme
Balsamic glaze
Olive oil
8 slices of baguette
20 ¼ inch slices of brie cheese
Preheat grill to medium heat
Drizzle one side of baguette slices with olive oil
Place oiled side down on grill
Toast until crisp and golden brown
Remove to a plate, toasted side up
Add one slice of pear and one slice of brie
Top with a thyme sprig
Drizzle with balsamic glaze
Serve and enjoy!
5. Deviled Strawberry Bites
8 ingredients – Vegetarian
18-24 large strawberries
8 oz. package of cream cheese
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup sour cream
2/3 cup white granulated sugar
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice (optional)
Prep strawberries by cutting off the stems and slicing in half
Cut a small sliver off the back so that they lay flat
Use a small melon baller to carefully hollow out the middle (just enough that the cream
cheese filling will not fall off)
Place softened cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon juice in a
medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth
In a different medium bowl, beat the whipping cream until still peaks form (about 5
minutes)
Mix the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture
Fill a piping bag with the cream cheese mixture (can use a star tip) and pipe onto each
sliced strawberry
Finish with a sprinkle of graham cracker crumbs
Serve and enjoy!