Do you have any suggestions for an appetizer or hors d’oeuvre to bring to a holiday party? The main thing is to avoid anything that needs to be heated or otherwise prepped at the party when the host probably has a million things to do.
This was a question that came up during our weekly live chat, where we help you level up your skills in the kitchen. Here are some appetizer recipes that travel well for your next holiday soiree.
First things first: No, you don’t want to bring anything that requires much last-minute prep that requires you to take up precious space in the host’s kitchen. (I’ve thrown my fair share of holiday parties and would rather not have a guest show up with a bag of ingredients and ask for a knife and a cutting board…) Another important consideration when traveling with food is texture, particularly dishes that are best served crispy or crunchy that might get soft over time. While you can bring these items, know that they won’t be at their absolute best by the time people are eating them.
So, ideally you’d bring fully assembled dishes that are served cold or at room temperature, such as dips, charcuterie boards and breads. However, I will say that heating is typically okay with three caveats: You ask the host for permission beforehand, the dish gets heated in the oven (so it’s hands-off), and it is brought in an oven-safe container (so that you don’t have to dirty the host’s dishes).
Appetizer recipes that travel well
