Quick & Easy Finger Food for Parties
Need ideas for quick and easy finger food for parties? Thinking of planning a small get-together for the family?
Here are a few finger food/appetizer recipes that you can whip up really quickly
1. Genoa Salami Puff Pastry Appetizer
This savory puff pastry appetizer is one that you can whip up really quickly. All you need is some puff pastry which you can buy or make at home, shredded cheese, Genoa salami and some egg wash.
The Puff Pastry Base
The base of this appetizer is nice and crisp on the outside, while the texture is really soft, buttery and tender on the inside. The puff pastry base acts as an almost neutral palette that helps the flavours of the toppings to shine through.
The Genoa Salami
Genoa Salami is a red-wine-and-garlic flavored salami that is typically made from pork. This is one of my favorite pizza toppings because of its texture and taste. It has an acidic, almost sharp flavor that blends well with the other toppings in this quick appetizer recipe.
The Shredded Cheese
I used shredded mozzarella cheese in this recipe because of its subtle flavor and elastic texture. This cheese helps to hold all the other ingredients together, while not overpowering the other flavors. This is one of my favorite soft cheeses next to bocconcini cheese.
The Onions
I used red onions in the recipe. Feel free to change up the kind of onion used if you prefer. The red onions add a slightly spicy peppery and sweet flavor to the puff pastry bites. An added bonus is the red/purple color that they add to these appetizers. This is one ingredient I wouldn’t skip
The Genoa Salami Puff Pastry Appetizer is definitely on my list of easy finger food for parties or get-togethers.
2. (Keto) Nigerian Puff Puff
This appetizer (or dessert) is a play of off the original Nigerian Puff Puff, which is typically made of wheat flour and deep-fried. This appetizer is geared towards those who need a low-carb finger food for parties option. This may be the recipe for you if you are planning to host a party with guests who have low-carb diet restrictions.
The key ingredients needed for this appetizer (or dessert) are almond flour, monk fruit sweetener, psyllium husk powder, nutmeg, egg whites, butter, baking powder, yeast, salt, and water.
Almond Flour
Almond flour acts as a healthy low-carb alternative to all purpose wheat flour. Typically, almond flour can be substituted 1:1 with wheat flour. However, you may need to make slight adjustments to the other ingredients for the recipe to work just right, I have tested this recipe several times – and it is just right!
Monk Fruit Sweetener
Monk Fruit Sweetener is a great substitute for refined sugar. It is a zero calorie natural sweetener with no known side effects like other artificial sweeteners, and also does not impact blood sugar levels. Monk fruit extract is stable and so is perfect for baking. I have used it in this recipe to add just enough sweetness to the puff-puffs.
Curious about monk fruit sweetener? Check out this article on Healthline for more information about this natural sweetener.
Psyllium Husk Powder
This is one of my favorite “healthy” ingredients. It provides additional fiber to this recipe while giving it the puff puffs their distinctive chewy texture. The soluble fiber in psyllium husks can help reduce cholesterol, while also easing constipation. Check out the benefits of Psyllium husk in this Medical News Today article.
Who said finger food for parties can’t be healthy? Power foods here we come!!
Nutmeg
Truth be told, the reason I added nutmeg was for its warm nutty flavor. Nutmeg is a key spice in the traditional Nigerian puff puff recipe and I couldn’t possibly leave it out. However, we cannot forget that nutmeg is also a nutritional powerhouse in its own rights. It is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.
Check out this article from Healthline for more health benefits of nutmeg.
ALL IN ALL, these low carb puff puffs are chuck full of so many healthy ingredients, you can totally enjoy them guilt-free!! Healthier finger food for parties ! Here we come !!!
3. Sweet Dough Balls / Castagnole
These Italian treats are very popular during the carnival season. Especially in the 6 weeks leading up to lent. Castagnole (aka little chestnuts) is typically fried, but there’s also a less popular baked version for those who are trying to eat a little healthier. They can be eaten as-is, dusted with powdered sugar or rolled in granulated sugar. They are so addictive, I dare you to have only one!
They would certainly be an amazing finger food for parties! Easy to pop in your mouth! YUM!
All you need to make these treat is flour, baking powder, ricotta cheese, eggs, granulated sugar, lemon extract, and the zest of one lemon. You could certainly replace the lemon extract and lemon zest with another citrus. You should definitely try this recipe!
4. Bruschetta
Bruschetta!
Oh Bruschetta!
These appetizers certainly have a special place in my heart!. There are so many ways to make and enjoy these canapes. They can be served with a savory topping or with a sweet topping like my cranberry blueberry sauce. If you are looking for very versatile finger food for parties, this is it!
The recipe I am sharing is actually a 3 in 1 recipe. They all have a small piece of toasted bread as the base, but slightly different toppings.
Topping 1 – Cherry tomatoes/basalmic vinegar/basil/salt
Topping 2 – Toasted brie cheese/Cherry tomatoes/basalmic vinegar/basil/salt/bacon bits
Topping 3 – Toasted brie cheese/Blueberry Cranberry sauce
Fell free to mix and match the toppings. These appetizers would certainly make perfect little finger food for parties.
