140 party recipes

Hot, cheesy chicken dip loaded with sauteed peppers, celery, and jalapeno, bound creamy with cream cheese, sour cream, and cheddar. A quick, crowd-pleasing party dip for chips and crackers.

A fun yeast bread shaped like a crab, complete with legs, claws, raisin eyes, and lemon peel antennae. A showstopping centerpiece for seafood boils or beach-themed parties.

Elegant crawfish mousse with cream cheese, sour cream, brandy, and Tabasco set in a decorative mold. A make-ahead Cajun party appetizer that unmolds into a stunning centerpiece.

Chocolate mocha mousse: a French-style chocolate mousse with strong coffee, butter, egg yolks, and clouds of whipped cream and stiff egg white. The classic dinner-party finale, made the proper way.

Ice cream cone cupcakes: chocolate cake batter baked right inside flat-bottom ice cream cones, then swirled with sweet almond buttercream and showered in sprinkles. The kid party showstopper.

Chilled green bean salad shaped into a nest, filled with butter-sauteed bay scallops in a creamy lemon-sour cream dressing. A stunning platter for dinner parties and brunches.

Layered Tex-Mex dip with bean dip, guacamole, taco-seasoned sour cream, tomatoes, olives, and sharp cheddar. A no-cook party platter that feeds a crowd in 15 minutes.

Texas-shaped peanut butter star cookies with peanut halves at the points and melted chocolate writing on top. A Country Living roll-out cookie for Lone Star themed parties.

Saucy franks in cranberry chili sauce made in the microwave with just three ingredients. A sweet-tangy hot dog appetizer ready in 15 minutes for parties and game days.

Glazed raspberry fudge cake is a flourless-style chocolate cake brushed with raspberry preserves, then coated in a glossy rum-chocolate glaze. Dense, moist, and finished with fresh raspberries for the ultimate dinner-party showstopper.

Slow-cooker sweet and sour cocktail franks simmered in chili sauce, currant jelly, mustard, and pineapple chunks. Retro mid-century party appetizer that holds warm in the crock for serving.

Zesty black bean and olive dip layered over cream cheese with chopped hard-boiled eggs, lime juice, cumin, and crushed red pepper. A no-cook party appetizer that serves 12.

Hot wassail punch with apple cider, apricot nectar, dark rum, brown sugar, and clove-studded oranges simmered low with cinnamon sticks. A big-batch holiday warmer for a party crowd.

Festive cupcakes decorated as a colorful caterpillar for kids' parties. Fluffy vanilla or chocolate cakes topped with tinted frosting, shredded coconut, and candy details arranged in a whimsical crawling pattern.

Strawberry-shaped cookies made from a stovetop date and Rice Krispies mixture, rolled in red sugar with green icing stems. A fun no-bake candy-cookie for kids and parties.

Sweet cheese ring appetizer made with sharp cheddar, mayonnaise, and pecans shaped into a ring with strawberry jam in the center. A no-cook Southern party spread ready in 5 minutes.