Here's a simple — and simply perfect — New Year's Eve menu and game plan for a great cocktail party. It's got a select few of our favorite tried-and-true recipes, plus entertaining tips and tricks so you can set it and forget it. NYE should be fun!
Our NYE party philosophy
Somewhere in our late 20s, we had a brilliant idea. It had been a few years since either of us had really wanted to go out somewhere loud, expensive, and medium-terrible on New Year's Eve. But we also didn't want to think of ourselves (or, hey, be thought of) as un-fun.
So we started a tradition. We found a few friends from college who felt the same way, and we invited them over for a low-key, just-sophisticated-enough New Year's celebration. They'd arrive midday on NYE, spend the night, and leave midday on January first. Over the years, we all had kids, and they grew up with this tradition. Now it's one of the things we most look forward to every year.
Also? We don't make it any harder than it needs to be.
Your New Year's Eve menu and party game plan
Here's all you need to do to host a perfect NYE:
- Choose a signature cocktail. We've shared our three favorite options below. This approach has two benefits: It makes the party feel thoughtful, and it's the only cocktail you'll have to make all night.
- Offer one white wine, one red wine, and two kinds of beer. I'd recommend Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc for a white, A to Z Pinot Noir for a red, Founder's All-Day IPA for a beer with more character, and Peroni for a lighter option.
- Anchor your buffet with a couple of epic platters. You can't go wrong with what we've suggested below: our epic cheese board and classic spinach dip in a bread bowl with crudités. These can be made quickly, in advance. And they're abundant enough to serve as dinner.
- Class it up with the world's best shrimp cocktail. This is the only recipe on the list that requires a bit of work. It's 100% make-ahead friendly, and it's an ABSOLUTE game-changer that will ruin you for other shrimp cocktail forever. Sorry not sorry. Recipes like this serve as conversation points and make your guests feel extra-special.
- Consider our puff pastry appetizers, but also consider Trader Joe's. In the deep midwinter, it's nice to have some two-bite appetizers straight from the oven. We love our puff pastry cups. But we also really love a nice little variety of premade hors d'oeuvres from a place like Trader Joe's (or your regular grocery store freezer section). People won't have more fun just because everything you serve is homemade.
- Include a few sweets, but keep it simple. We love pairing brownies with blondies, both cut into smaller-than-usual squares.
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New Year's Eve Cocktails
Choose one of these signature NYE cocktails for your party and supplement with a favorite red wine, a favorite white wine, two types of beer, and plenty of nonalcoholic beverages.
The Rising Star: A Vodka Cocktail Starring Lillet Blanc
This three-ingredient cocktail is delicious, beautiful, and festive, but couldn't be easier. You can batch it in a pitcher ahead of time and pour into glasses during the party.
The Fifteen: A Cider, Champagne and Whiskey Cocktail
If you're looking for a strong fizzy drink that leans into the warming flavors of winter, you will love this cocktail. It's sophisticated enough without losing wide appeal, and it's easy to make.
Mom's Italian Soda: A Campari and Prosecco Cocktail
Two ingredients. Gorgeous perfection. If you're a Campari fan, don't miss this one for NYE.
NYE Platters
You can easily scale these set-it-and-forget-it platters to the size of your party. Prepare them in advance and let them anchor your buffet.
Epic Cheese Board
You can't go wrong with a gorgeous cheese and charcuterie platter with all the trimmings. It always amazes me that this abundant arrangement comes together in about 15 minutes with zero cooking.
Knorr Spinach Dip in a Bread Bowl
This classic buffet item is retro and kitschy and undeniably crowd-pleasing. We don't welcome seasoning packets into our lives lightly, but this one finds a place on our NYE buffet regularly.
Bite-sized Savory Hors d'Oeuvres
Pass these two-bite wonders on trays while you mingle with guests, or set them on a buffet.
Truly the Best Shrimp Cocktail Recipe Ever
This shrimp cocktail recipe is an ABSOLUTE game changer, and we're sorry to say you'll never go back to your average shrimp cocktail again. It's a bit of work, but it's 100% make-ahead friendly.
Creamy Leeks in Puff Pastry Cups OR Shop your freezer section
We love these homemade appetizers, so they're a great choice if you want to make everything from scratch. But. Psst...do you know what else we love for New Year's Eve? A nice variety of premade two-bite hors d'oeuvres that you can take straight from freezer to baking sheet. Try Trader Joe's mini quiches, spinach pies, and pigs in blankets. Or shop the frozen aisle in your regular grocery store.
Sweet Treats for NYE
Don't forget the sweets! Pair these two make-ahead recipes on a platter, cut into bite-sized squares, and your work here is done.
Our Favorite One-Bowl Brownies Recipe
Fugdy on the inside, crackly on top. No one in their right mind has ever turned down a brownie.
Our Favorite Blondie Recipe
Perfectly paired with brownies, our blondies have a secret ingredient that changes everything.
That's it! Happy new year.
See you on the other side. xx
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