• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Chop Happy

simple recipes for happy, busy people

Follow me on Facebook! Follow me on Twitter! Follow me on Pinterest! Follow me on Instagram! Follow me on YouTube!
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

How To Throw a Fabulous Make Ahead Party (appetizers to cocktails)

Sharing is caring!

102 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
Share50
Tweet
Pin102
152 Shares

When throwing a party, you should be able to have fun too! So everything here is make ahead and can prepared 3 days in advance. I set up 3 stations: 1. Cocktail Station 2. Appetizer Station and 3. Dessert. Also, put them at different areas of the room so people mingle. Hope this makes party planning fun!

How To Throw a Fabulous Make Ahead Party (appetizers to cocktails). This is your guide to easy, fun, cocktail party. You can do everything 3 days in advance and enjoy your own party. Celebrate life and cheers to stress free fun! www.ChopHappy.com #partyideas #stressfreeparties
Ebates Coupons and Cash Back

Cocktail Time:


(pick one of the 3 options for your party)

  • Lay out a section with a signature cocktail, beer, and wine. Put a fun sign explaining what is in your signature cocktail and call it a fun name (Santa Juice, Gratitude Cheers, Birthday Bubbly ect.).
  • Most important, make a recipe that can be done in bulk. Have a second pre-made jug (same cocktail) in the fridge (ready to replace).
  • Cheers to all your friends and family that make your life bright, happy, and filled with lots to celebrate!

 

1. Strawberry Mojitos For A Crowd

I love cocktails – especially when I’m hanging with friends on my NYC rooftop. What I don’t want to do is miss all the fun gossip because I am pouring new drinks all the time. This strawberry mojito recipe rocks because it combines my love of a tropical fruity drink and is a bunch of cocktails in one. GET THE RECIPE

Strawberry Mojitos for a Crowd

2. NYC Ice Tea Cocktail For A Crowd

I love cocktails – especially when I’m hanging with friends on my NYC rooftop. What I don’t want to do is miss all the fun gossip because I am pouring new drinks all the time. This strawberry mojito recipe rocks because it combines my love of a tropical fruity drink and is a bunch of cocktails in one. GET THE RECIPE

NYC Iced Tea Cocktail Recipe. This is an easy cocktail for a crowd. Make this a day in advance. When guest come add ice and cheers to gratitude. www.Chophappy.com #cocktail #drinks #cocktailforacrowd

3. Last Minute Strawberry Sangria

This is my, “oh no we have a last minute guest” or “I need an easy 2 minute cocktail to make 1x for a bunch of people.” I love sangria and if you are following me in Instagram it’s my most posted drink. I like to keep all my recipes simple and this is all about dump pour and drink. GET THE RECIPE

Last Minute Strawberry Sangria

Appetizer Station:

(pick 3 options for your party plus a cheese boards and bowl of chips)

  • Prepare all the appetizers couple days in advance (stop before the cooking part). Place on sheet trays and cook 1 hour before the party.
  • Make sure there is variety for gluten free and vegetarian friends. I use this gluten free dough sometimes. Label it too so they feel like you went out of your way to make sure they had something to eat.
  • Like my culinary hero says make some appetizers and the rest should be store bought. Fun colorful beet chips, peanut butter filled pretzels, and flavor assorted nuts!

 

1. Jalapeno Popper Pinwheels 

These party food appetizers have been a life saver when there is a lot to do before guests come over. I literally make them a couple of days in advance, put them on a sheet tray, and freeze them until the day of the party. Then I take out them out, thaw them in the fridge for 40 minutes and then bake.  GET THE RECIPE

Jalapeno Popper Pinwheel (Happy Make Ahead Fun) Recipe - that is a perfect party appetizer. There is sharp cheese, spicy jalapeño, and creamy cream cheese to form a comfort food happy bite. Happy Cooking. www.ChopHappy.com

2. Potato Chip Nachos

“Potato chip nachos” makes me smile from ear to ear. This is a ridiculously easy recipe combining saltiness, crunchiness, and gooey cheesiness. Each bite creates a yummy salty crunch of the heated potato chip, creamy citrus kiss from the avocado (one of my favorite things), and a familiar comfort food smile from the melted cheese.  GET THE RECIPE

Potato Chip Nacho Recipe - is so fun everyone will smile when it hits the dinner table. Potato chips, seasoning, cheese, and bagged chips makes this easy. www.ChopHappy.com

3. Everything Bagel Pigs and Blanket

Pigs in a blanket have always been one of my favorite foods, and these “everything bagel” pigs in a blanket are my new obsession. They are incredibly easy to make and are a tornado of crispy, salty, garlicky, cream cheese lava flavor. I definitely cannot eat just one.  GET THE RECIPE

Everything Bagel Pigs in a Blanket Recipe - is crunchy, cheesy, garlicky and salty flavor yum game day appetizers. Grab crescent dough, everything bagel seasoning, and hot dogs for a super easy recipe. www.ChopHappy.com

4. Honey Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots

Wrap me in bacon and call it a happy day lol! Sweet sticky glaze, on salty crispy bacon, hugging fluffy starchy tater tots is my moment of bliss!  These usually don’t make it to the table. I end up burning my fingers eating them hot off the sheet tray they are do intoxicating.  GET THE RECIPE

Honey Glazed Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots Recipe - is so comfort food decadent! This is so easy and it is baked. It is oven baked, we use frozen tater tots, and wrap it all in a yummy piece of #bacon. Hope you enjoy this quick #appetizer. www.ChopHappy.com

5. Honey Smoked Salmon Crostini

Perfect make ahead appetizer that is crunchy creamy and sweet. Make trays of these and store in fridge until the day of the party.  GET THE RECIPE

Honey Drizzled Smoked Salmon Crostini

Dessert Destiny!

  • Ask all your guest to bring bite size desserts. This way everyone feels like they got to contribute and it solves that what should I bring problem.
  • Make sure they know it is ok to bring store bought desserts.
  • Make one dessert your self too just in case.

1. S’Mores Cookie Dough

Perfect make ahead appetizer that is crunchy creamy and sweet. Make trays of these and store in fridge until the day of the party.  GET THE RECIPE

S'mores Edible Cookie Dough. Easy, no-bake, and gluten free. ChopHappy.com

 

 

 

Ebates Coupons and Cash Back

BONUS RECIPE: Candy Cane Cookie Dough

Candy Cane Cookie Dough Recipe - that is a no bake, make ahead, easy dessert. This is perfect for cookie exchange or just as a fun dessert at your holiday party. www.ChopHappy.com #cookiedough #ChristmasRecipe

Ebates Coupons and Cash Back
May every recipe be magical and have so much fun. Any  recipes you dont see here or comfort food questions comment below. I am sooo grateful to cook with you! Happy Cooking and any game day questions comment below! Happy eating and make all your recipe dreams come true!

I am so Grateful for you and thankful to get to cook with you! Any questions about this recipe or any others feel free to comment below. May every day be happy comfort food day!

With a grateful heart – Jay

My Favorite way to add a little more gratitude to my life: 

"Ebates

(Visited 3,793 times, 1 visits today)
Share50
Tweet
Pin102
152 Shares
Subscribe for tasty, free recipes!
Share50
Tweet
Pin102
152 Shares

Reader Interactions

Make Your Mark Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Food Advertisements by logo
Meet Jay
My dream has always been to cook, dance, uplift, and inspire people to cook and have fun. more

Join Jay

Popular Posts

  • How To Make The Viral Egg Tortilla Wrap Recipe
  • 5 Ingredient Chorizo Carbonara Pasta
  • Best Baked Meatballs Ever
  • Slow Cooker Cheesy Meatballs
Food Advertisements by logo

Footer

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Work with Me
  • Privacy Policy
Follow me on Facebook! Follow me on Twitter! Follow me on Pinterest! Follow me on Instagram! Follow me on YouTube!

Copyright © 2025·Developed by Once Coupled

102 shares