141 party recipes

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.

Broiled salmon glazed with balsamic vinegar, Dijon, and brown sugar, served with a homemade curried eggplant chutney simmered with mustard seeds and red bell pepper. Dinner-party elegant, weeknight doable.

A novelty cake shaped like a giant hamburger! Golden pound cake topped with toasted sesame seeds, penuche frosting, cocoa "meat," and strawberry preserve "ketchup." A total showstopper for kids' parties.

Whole wheat cookies shaped like cat poop, rolled in Grape-Nuts, and served in a litter box. Two dough options: chocolate or gingerbread. The ultimate gross-out Halloween party hit!

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.

Stilton mille-feuille layers crisp puff pastry rounds with whipped blue cheese mousse, port-soaked golden raisins, and warm walnuts. An elegant dinner-party first course or cheese-course dessert.

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.

An easy lamb canape: crisp celery-seed toast strips spread with a quick cooked-lamb-and-mayonnaise mixture and topped with pimiento. A smart, retro party bite for using up leftover roast lamb.

Lacy, crisp pecan cookies made with just 5 ingredients: egg white, brown sugar, flour, salt, and chopped pecans. A dainty, old-fashioned tea party cookie that bakes in 10 minutes flat.

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.

Retro shrimp mold made with tomato soup, cream cheese, and gelatin for a spreadable party appetizer. Canned shrimp, diced vegetables, and tangy mayo create a 1960s throwback that's surprisingly good on crackers.

Giant chocolate chip cookie baked in a pizza pan, smothered in melted chocolate and peanut butter, then piled high with fresh fruit and chopped candy bars. The ultimate dessert pizza for parties.

Four pepper salsa with red, yellow, and green bell peppers plus green chiles, pulsed in a food processor with plum tomatoes, mustard seeds, and fresh cilantro. A colorful, make-ahead party salsa.

Pistachio chicken stuffs pounded chicken breasts with pistachios, mushrooms, and ham, then bakes them under an apricot-chutney glaze. An elegant dinner-party main with sweet, savory, and nutty in every bite.

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.

Fungus among us salad tosses crisp iceberg, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, and red onion with chilled creamed spinach as a green, gloopy 'fungus' dressing. A Halloween party gross-out salad kids love.