How to Host a Thanksgiving Cocktail Party
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Learn how to host a Thanksgiving Cocktail Party for friends and neighbors.
Simple appetizer style food and lots of drinks with merriment had by all!
Hosting all kinds of gatherings during the holidays can be stressful. But, it doesn’t have to be!
When you have a host of folks who want to gather, and you’re trying to make dates and times match for everyone, make it easy on yourself by doing it cocktail style.
Hosting a Thanksgiving Cocktail Party is a great way to gather lots of people and enjoy good food. Just like on a real day, but might I say more fun?!
Cocktail style parties don’t necessarily mean alcohol, so if that doesn’t make your skirt fly up, then find the mocktail recipes in this gigantic roundup and go wild!
I have a few tips for you when hosting cocktail style parties:
First, you’ll want to plan your menu for items that do not use forks or spoons! Toothpicks and skewers are fine, just nothing that requires extra and extra of one thing.
Next, you’ll want to make sure it’s all help yourself. A big cheese board filled with meats, cheese, veggies, and fruit is so great. You can check out this cheeseboard roundup to get lots of inspiration!
The last tip I have for you is to ask others to bring things! Give them a category, recipe, or theme to follow and let them do the work.
Before we get to the recipes, I’ll walk you through a few items you must have when hosting a thanksgiving cocktail party.
Must-Have Items:
Large white platters – these are used over and over for any party, so invest in a bunch.
They come in all shapes and sizes, take a look at my Thanksgiving Idea List and see all the options. You’ll find all kinds of items to make your thanksgiving cocktail party and thanksgiving day amazing!
Festive Napkins – these always make a party feel just a little more special. It lets guests know you thought about them enough to have fun napkins. <— Trivial, I know! But, how many times have you been at a party with fun-themed napkins and said “Oh! How fun are these?!”
Something to Eat With – while I talk about not having flatware, you should have a few options for skewers, toothpicks, etc. I’ve started using these bamboo forks that are little, come in a large 100 pack, and you just toss them! And, they’re super fun!
Alright, take notes, pin a lot, and save the recipes you want to try! There are tons of amazing ideas — you might even want to save some for the Christmas season coming up! Learn how to host a Cocktail Style Thanksgiving Gathering for friends and neighbors.Simple appetizer style food and lots of drinks with merriment had by all! Pear Blue Cheese Puff Pastry Bites ~ 2 bite-size golden, flaky puff pastry topped with maple bacon onion jam, sweet caramelized pears and salty, bold blue cheese. A simple, elegant appetizer as festive as the holidays. These Apple Polenta Gorgonzola Bites are super easy and delicious! The perfect quick appetizer to make for a party or holiday! Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts are an incredibly delicious appetizer that is super simple to make for holidays, parties and game day get togethers. Only 3 ingredients in this easy appetizer! Knorr Spinach Dip is one of the easiest appetizers you can make. A classic spinach dip made with just a few ingredients and it’s always the hit of any party! Gougères are cheesy, light puffs made with pâte à choux, the “cream puff” batter. They are wonderful as hors d’oeuvres, appetizers or wine-tasting-palate-cleansers. They can be stuffed with a savory filling for a more substantial bite. Baked Brie with Apricot Jelly is the three-ingredient recipe you need for a fall appetizer idea!One of the easiest appetizer recipe you can make! Turn your favorite baked brie recipe into the cutest fall appetizer by stuffing it into a pumpkin! Stuffed mushrooms only take minutes to prep and make a tasty party food! The creamy filling is full of fresh herbs and garlic, perfect with the soft baked mushrooms. You can even prep them ahead, freeze them and then bake! A colorful and unique update to the classic pinwheel recipe, these turkey cream cheese pinwheels are bursting with flavor. Serve these creamy delights at your next cocktail party. Yum! Cream cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, and blue cheese are blended together for a blue cheese cheese ball with a sharp, piquant flavor that’s creamy in texture with chopped celery and pecans for a delightful crunchy contrast. Pairs excellent with wine! sweet peppadew peppers filled with a dairy free Boursin style cheese make a perfect sweet savory bite! these will go fast, every party loves them. Foodies, meet these delicious Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs. Turkey, juicy bell pepper and fresh herbs all mixed up into a perfect cocktail party treat} Foodies, meet these delicious Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs. Turkey, juicy bell pepper and fresh herbs all mixed up into a perfect cocktail party treat Sweet potato bites with avocado mash, feta and pomegranate seeds are the perfect healthy appetizer for using up your leftover holiday ingredients. Enjoy this sweet and savory combination with some leftover turkey or before your next meal! This decadent fig baked brie is cheesy, easy, and amazing. It's super straightforward, low in sugar, and tastes delicious! Delicious and easy hot crab dip made with real lump meat. Serve with crusty bread or chips. Butternut Squash Guacamole is the perfect healthy appetizer for tailgates, holidays, or a potluck! Made with your favorite fall ingredients like squash and pepitas, enjoy this easy appetizer recipe in 30 minutes or less. A handful of ingredients and 30 minutes of your time is all that is standing between you and this amazing puff pastry spiral with baked camembert, honey, rosemary and thyme. Perfect for sharing! easy butternut squash bruschetta recipe that puts a fun twist on a classic holiday appetizer! Butternut squash and apples get tossed in delicious spices, roasted, and layered on ricotta cheese with a balsamic drizzle. The best part? It’s ready in 30-minutes! Cheesy Potato Poppers – croquettes recipe is ultimate perfect bite – crispy, spicy, cheesy and yummy!! These non fried poppers are going to rock and roll your next party ! Vegetarian, gluten free, soy free and low calorie, this recipe is easy to make but feels total gourmet. These Ritz Bites are simple to make and the perfect bite sized snack to share with friends. Avocado deviled eggs will be the first thing gone during Thanksgiving. They’re easy, creamy, colorful, and so delicious! These pretty Pear, Pecan and Goat Cheese Appetizers are easy, delicious and full of fall flavor that's perfect for Thanksgiving! They're also gluten-free! Spicy Chorizo Balls These Harvest Salad Bites with Honey Goat Cheese are the perfect low carb appetizer for your Holiday party! Bacon wrapped brussel sprouts are the ultimate party appetizer. Colourful brussel sprouts are wrapped in maple brushed bacon, topped with cracked black pepper and roasted until the bacon is crisp and the sprouts are tender. A fun, creamy and flavorful dip filled with chunks of caramelized onions and serve with potato chips! This Turkey Cranberry Crescent Braid is a fantastic way to use leftover turkey and cranberry sauce. But don’t worry about waiting for leftovers! You can make crescent roll braid recipes like this one with turkey from the deli and canned cranberry sauce, too. This Roasted Shrimp Cocktail with Cranberry Horseradish Chutney is a fun and festive twist on the cocktail party classic! A delicious, fun, budget friendly appetizer and finger food! Take the classic deviled eggs to the next level by adding bacon! Roasted Red Pepper Ricotta Crostini are quick and easy, gourmet little bite-sized appetizers that are ready in 15 minutes and perfect for the big game and your homegating party or any party. Spiced Potato Puff Pastry Baskets This Roasted Kabocha Squash Hummus topped with Middle Eastern Spiced ground Lamb and Lemon Parsley sauce makes the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer for a cozy autumn-inspired dinner. People cannot stop asking for this Chex Mix recipe! Combining a few of the original recipe components, along with a few new and improved ingredients! This Christmas foodie gift will have people bringing an empty jar back and asking for refills! This cranberry mimosa is a festive and easy holiday cocktail. With just three ingredients, it’s simple to keep everything on hand for impromptu gatherings. And of course, cranberry mimosas are a perfect fit for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or Christmas get-togethers. This drink is a favorite anytime we want something a little more celebratory than plain old water. It’s made with muddled basil and lemon, simple syrup or sugar-free Stevia option, and sparkling water. This pumpkin pie punch is the perfect fall festive drink for adults and an excellent cocktail to serve at Thanksgiving gatherings! Loaded with the wonderful flavors of apples, cinnamon, and the sweetness of honey, this Sparkling Apple Pie Cocktail is just perfect for Fall & Thanksgiving sipping. A Pumpkin Kentucky Mule with Ginger and Spice is “autumn in a glass”… Pumpkin butter (homemade or purchased), bourbon, ginger beer, and cardamom bitters get garnished with a cinnamon stick and candied ginger. This simple cocktail may become your new fall favorite! Add a fabulous seasonal twist to your cocktail line-up with this delicious Pumpkin Spice White Russian! It's just perfect for fall sipping. Flavors of autumn fruit – apple and pear – infuse the gin in this off-dry Apple and Pear Martini. Absinthe, apple cider, dry vermouth, aromatic bitters, and muddled fresh sage complete this delightfully unique cocktail… perfect with your holiday meal! This Sugar-Free Cranberry Pomegranate Citrus Mocktail recipe is easy, delicious, and health-promoting for an alcohol-free fizzy drink to serve friends and family! This delicious autumn harvest sangria is the perfect recipe for Thanksgiving! Made with delicious fruits from the bountiful gathering of end-of-season produce, this fall sangria recipe is perfect for your Thanksgiving gathering! Old Fashioned Wassail takes apple juice, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and spices and transforms them into the ultimate winter warm-you-up drink. This pumpkin pie martini is a perfect after dinner drink and made with just a few ingredients. The ultimate festive and delicious Frosted Cranberry Cocktail. A signature drink for the holidays. Apple cider takes on a grown-up twist with the addition of bourbon in this delicious Apple Cider Cocktail. Made easy with just a handful of ingredients it’s the perfect excuse to throw a fall gathering. The Perfect Pear has bright citrusy flavor from fresh-squeezed orange and lemon juice and a wonderful autumnal feeling from the pear brandy. Take the edge off the family drama this year by making a big batch of Sparkling Spiced Pumpkin Punch to serve all day long. The easy Champagne Punch recipe is great for a crowd and is filled with all the flavors of fall. Simple and so festive! This Cranberry Rosemary Shrub Cocktail is the perfect Thanksgiving cocktail! A homemade cranberry shrub with hints of black pepper, rosemary, and cinnamon is combined with bourbon and seltzer for a festive and colorful drink. Cranberry Moscow Mule is the perfect holiday cocktail recipe, be it Thanksgiving, Christmas or 4th of July! Easy to put together, easy to tweak, fun to drink and so delicious! Non-alcoholic version provided. This cranberry wassail recipe is the perfect drink to serve at any holiday celebration, or just a cozy night at home. It’s sweet, tart, and tangy, with just the right amount of spice. Apple Oatmeal Cookies! Oatmeal cookies are even better when they’re loaded with chunks of fresh apple and iced with an apple glaze. I use a secret ingredient to amp up the apple flavor. These cranberry cream cheese danishes are so simple and delicious! They are perfect for holiday parties. Mini Salted Caramel Apple Pies are a bite size dessert using fresh apples, caramel sauce and pre-made pie dough. So delicious but a really simple recipe. Air Fryer Pumpkin Pie. Two easy to follow ways to make pumpkin pie in the air fryer. Our air fryer version of homemade pumpkin pie is delicious and includes homemade air fryer pie crust. Perfect for either the air fryer or the air fryer oven. Nachos just reached a new level. These vegan apple pie nachos are a healthier (and tastier!) spin on traditional apple pie. Wow your holiday guests this year with a fun, innovative dessert. These rich pumpkin chocolate chip loaves are a cross between super moist quick bread and tender, pumpkin spiced, chocolate studded cake. Glazed with white chocolate ganache and baked into individual serving size mini loaves, these are one of my favorite things about Fall. Soft and moist pumpkin spice bread and a decadent cream cheese filling come together to create the ultimate fall breakfast or snack! Even better, it’s low in sugar so it won’t derail your plans to eat healthy during the holidays.Cocktail Style Thanksgiving Gathering
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs + Meal Prep {Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Paleo, Keto}
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Parmesan {Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Keto}
Puff pastry spiral with baked camembert, honey, rosemary and thyme
21 Day Fix Roasted Shrimp Cocktail with Cranberry Horseradish Chutney
Roasted Kabocha Squash Hummus with Lamb & Lemon Parsley Sauce
Healthy Cranberry Wassail Recipe {the perfect holiday spiced drink}
Lots of great tips here and so many delicious recipes.
Thanks, Dannii!!
So many delicious ideas! Can’t wait to try some of these for our Thanksgiving!
Definitely!!! I’ll be trying several, for sure!
Forget the Turkey, I want to eat all of these all night instead. The cocktails are fabulous too!
Right?! Give me all the snacks and booze!
Love the idea of doing a cocktail party rather than a big meal! Checking out those bamboo forks now. Perfect for parties!
I ordered 500 accidentally a few years ago, so now we use them for everything! They’re wonderful – and I’ve never gotten a splinter in my mouth. 😉 I was super worried about it at first!
so many tasty ideas on this list! love all the cranberry apps inparticular.
I can’t wait to try the shrimp cocktail with cranberry sauce!!