19 Festive Appetizers to Ring in the New Year

Friends, how has another year nearly passed? I mean, really, how?

If you’re entertaining on New Years and are looking for inspiration, I hope this post might offer some. Here’s a selection of my favorite melty, spready, seedy, dippy, one-bitey nibbles.

Wishing you all a healthy and happy New Year. Thank you all sincerely for reading and commenting and just being here. It truly means the world.

Endive boats with pear, blue cheese, candied pepitas, chives and citrus vinaigrette
Endive boats with pear, blue cheese, candied pepitas, chives and citrus vinaigrette.

Maydan’s Beet-Labneh Dip
Maydan's mouth-watering beet dip lives up to the hype.

Herbed Ricotta with Toasty Bread
Homemade ricotta with herbs, olive oil, and grilled bread

Garlic and Thyme Monkey Bread with Spicy Tomato Sauce
This garlic and thyme monkey bread with spicy tomato sauce would nicely complement any pasta dish (for all of you carb lovers that is) but would also be wildly received at any sort of Super Bowl gathering. // alexandracooks.com

Martha Stewart’s Hot Crab Dip
This hot crab dip is rich and creamy, spiced with Old Bay and Worcestershire, but it also couldn't be more festive or delicious: piping hot, loaded with crab, spiced with just enough cayenne to keep you reaching for more. // alexandracooks.com

Ina Garten’s Baked Fontina
baked fontina with herbs and garlic

Homemade Dukkah
homemade bread with homemade dukkah and good extra virgin California Olive Ranch olive oil

Thyme-Roasted Grapes with Homemade Ricotta and Grilled Bread
roasted grapes with homemade ricotta

Cheese Sticks
Spicy, salty, crispy — these cheese sticks are addictive and they take just minutes to whip up. They look beautiful and couldn't be more party friendly — who doesn't like butter, cheese, salt and a little spice?

Olive tapenade
olive tapenade with capers and parsley

Broiled Lamb Meatballs
Broiled Lamb Meatballs — seasoned with parsley, mint, and red wine-soaked bread, these meatballs are irresistible.

Tiropitas
Tiropitas, cheese-and-egg filled fillo triangles, are always a party favorite. What's more, they're not complicated and can be made ahead and stashed in the freezer — perfect to have on hand for entertaining (including Easter Sunday!)

Little Gems with Green Goddess Dressing
This green goddess dressing defies convention, omitting mayonnaise and sour cream in favor of olive oil and heavy cream (just a little). Many herbs can be used, but I love it when the predominant flavor is tarragon. // alexandracooks.com

Salsa di Parmigiano
salsa di Parmigiano on grilled bread

Real Sour Cream and Onion Dip
So many of the most-adored party dip recipes call for opening a pack of soup mix filled mostly with dehydrated ingredients, two days worth of the recommended salt intake, MSG and a host of nitrates and preservatives. Fortunately, homemade sour cream and onion dip is astonishingly easy to prepare and far more delicious than its dried-soup variation and throwing together this sweet-and-tangy dip couldn't be much more difficult than opening a box of instant soup. // alexandracooks.com

Roasted Garlic
Whole Roasted Garlic

Homemade Three Seed Crackers + Cheese Board
Cheese board with Cypress Grove Cheeses and homemade crackers

Sweet and Salty Candied Pepitas
Sweet and salty, addictive candied pepitas

Marinated Olives
Marinated olives are about as easy as it gets as far as sprucing up the hors d'oeuvres spread goes — a little garlic and orange zest along with a few spices (crushed red pepper flakes and fennel seed) go a long way, and these flavor elements look so pretty in the serving dish as well. // alexandracooks.com