My sister Kathleen recently hosted a surprise housewarming party for her mother-in-law who just bought her first condo! The party was paint themed, and she had a ton of great Housewarming Paint Invitations and Party Favors that worked well with the theme.
Because the house had just been renovated, and her mother-in-law had not moved in yet, it was important to Kathleen that the food be easy to serve as well as delicious! So she made sure that almost everything she served was cold finger food, which cut down on silverware/plate usage and made clean up a snap. Check out the recipes Kathleen used down below, and make sure to check out our other Housewarming Party Ideas for more menu inspiration.
Housewarming Party Cold Finger Foods
- Tortellini Skewers: Kathleen made these super simple tortellini skewers that she found on Food Network. Not only were they a snap to put together, but they were a delicious finger food alternative to fried foods (like pigs in a blanket) that need to be baked.
- Nine Layer Taco Cups: We purchased small clear cups and filled them with layers of refried beans mixed with taco seasoning, chunky salsa, sour cream, guacamole, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, chives, and black olives. We put tortilla chips in a bowl nearby, so guests could load up.
- Spinach Artichoke Dip: The only warm appetizer we served was a spinach artichoke dip with crackers (courtesy of allrecipes.com. One of our guests offered to bring it already made in a crockpot. This easy appetizer was great for cleanup; the person who brought it just unplugged it and took the leftovers home.
- Veggie Ranch Cups: We filled the bottom of clear plastic cups with ranch dressing and tossed in a variety of veggies cut into strips (carrots, celery, red and green peppers, etc). This was a great mess-free alternative to a vegetable tray; people could move around with their indvidual cups, and no one had to worry about spooning dips!
- Ham Party Pinwheels: These easy-to-make party pinwheels from allrecipes.com were a hit among guests. (I modified the recipe by adding ham, too.) They were a no mess appetizer that looked great on the serving dish, but they didn’t stay that way for long. They disappeared by the end of the party!
- Mini Ham and Turkey Sandwiches: My sister ordered a tray of slider-size sandwiches that guests could pick up and munch during the party. They weren’t as unwieldy or messy as full-sized sandwiches, and they hit the spot!
- Angel Food Cake Skewers: Even the sweets for the evening matched our finger food menu! For a bite-size dessert, we skewered angel food cake squares and strawberries, and then drizzled them with dark chocolate.
Housewarming Party Drinks
- Iced Lemonade: We provided cold lemonade in a glass jar with a ladle, so guests could self-serve.
- Spiked Party Punch: After Christmas, Kathleen scored some plastic champagne glasses, which she used for the party’s cocktail. She used this moscato punch recipe from Real House Moms, but used yellow instead of pink lemonade and one bottle of white wine. To finish off this classy drink, she added three raspberries to each glass before pouring.
- Housewarming Paint Swatch Water Bottle Labels: We piled water with personalized labels that matched the yellow paint chip theme and pops in a white tin bucket. This custom touch included messages to the new homeowner and guests on the side of the label.
Enjoy planning the menu for your next housewarming party, and save a few appetizers for the Party Girl, too!
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