Anniversary Party Recipes For An Extra-Special Celebration
Share the love with these party recipes.
Love is always worth celebrating, but it's especially important on a wedding anniversary. No matter how many years it's been, a milestone year can transport you back in time. While it's always sentimental to dust off the old wedding album to commemorate the occasion, there's no better excuse for a party in your honor.
It doesn't matter if it's been 10, 25, or 50 years since the Big Day. You've accomplished (read: survived) a lot together. If that's not worth celebrating, what is? Treat friends and family to something tasty while honoring that long-ago walk down the aisle. We've rounded up our best anniversary party food ideas, from heavy hors d'oeuvres and appetizers to decadent desserts and treats. Plus, even a few single-serving cake ideas may give your original wedding cake a run for its money. Trust us. One plateful from a buffet table with these recipes, and you'll be ready to say "I do" all over again.
Molten Red Velvet Cakes
Celebrate your love with a single-serving molten cake that proves that sharing is overrated. Make the chocolate mixture and frosting the day before you plan to enjoy it, as the cake takes less than 20 minutes to bake. Make the Cream Cheese Whipped Cream with powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream.
Buttermilk-Lime Mini Cakes with Vanilla-Mascarpone Buttercream
Reminiscent of a white wedding cake, this miniature cake will satisfy everyone's sugar cravings. After baking, brush the cake with tangy lime syrup for more flavoring. The Vanilla-Mascarpone Buttercream frosting is only four ingredients.
Collard Dip
Surround this homemade dip with other seasonal produce. This dip puts a Southern twist on spinach dip using collard greens instead. Serve with baguette slices or vegetables.
Shrimp with Honey-Garlic Sauce
This warm, butter-roasted recipe blows a cold shrimp cocktail out of the water. Serve shrimp on skewers as an appetizer or over rice. Sugar snap peas or broccoli are perfect complements to this dish.
Warm Cheese-and-Spicy Pecan Dip
Cheese dip takes a trip down South with cream cheese, mayo, and crunchy, cayenne-spiced pecans for a show-stopping finish. Remove the dip from the oven when it bubbles to avoid overcooking. Serve with toasted baguette slices.
Queso-Filled Mini Peppers
Melty queso meets mini sweet peppers in an appetizer that will make you forget the tortilla chips. Depending on your spice level preferences, use pickled jalapeños for a milder spice and traditional jalapeños for an extra kick.
Ultimate Dark Chocolate Brownies
Rich dark chocolate mixed with bourbon and espresso feels like a perfect pairing. Skip the alcohol and make it a kid-friendly treat. Either way, these brownies are decadent, rich, and fudgy.
Mashed Potato Bar
You'll be hard-pressed to find a guest who doesn't love a mashed potato bar. The best part about this is everyone can customize their potatoes. Be sure to add enough variety, so every guest has what they need.
Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise
It's not a Southern celebration without a bite-sized tomato sandwich. Choose the freshest tomatoes for the best sandwiches. Use red and yellow heirloom tomatoes to make a statement with these simple snacks.
White Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
These white-chocolate-covered strawberries are served best with a side of romance. Even on days that aren't Valentine's Day, everyone will love these adorable bite-sized fruit and chocolate treats. Use piping bags to create a unique design.
Chocolate Trifle
The crowd will be smitten with these single-serving layers of pudding, brownies, whipped cream, and crushed candy bars. Wait for the brownies to cool before adding them to the trifle layers. The remaining crushed candy pieces are the perfect garnish.
Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Hummus
This Southern take on classic hummus blends a country-cooking staple with a traditional Middle Eastern recipe. Substituting black-eyed peas for chickpeas creates a new version of your favorite snacking dip. Sprinkle with paprika for a pop of color and flavor.
Bacon Bites
Bacon is the hero in these toasted, bacon-wrapped breadsticks that are just as tasty as they sound. It's perfect for baking for a crowd, as it comes together in 15 minutes and serves over 20 people. That it's only three ingredients is a bonus.
Chocolate Delight
Flavors collide to create a magical treat that will make even the most enthusiastic chocolate lovers say, "Wow." Use instant pudding mix to make this recipe even more straightforward. The most challenging part of this recipe is allowing enough time to cool before digging in.
Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad
This update on the classic Caprese is flavorful and fresh, ideal for big-batch serving. When entertaining, consider adding the mozzarella and tomatoes on skewers for easy distribution. Room temperature is best for serving Caprese.
Baked Brie Bites
They might look a bit fancy, but this five-ingredient appetizer is ready in less than 20 minutes. After baking, sprinkle with salt and serve immediately. These bite-sized snacks are perfect for the holidays.
Cream Cheese Brownies
A swirled top highlights the rich and gooey brownie insides. This dessert will stand out from the rest. The high proportion of chocolate will make every bite dense and soft.
Cocktail Meatballs
Jazz up the appetizer table with an iconic recipe. These meatballs will go fast, so double the recipe if you think you'll need more than four dozen.
No-Bake Peanut Butter-Fudge Ice-Cream Pie
This mile-high peanut butter pie is something to behold. Did we mention there's no baking involved? Make this pie for your next summer gathering.
Herbed Goat Cheese Spread
Once you switch to goat cheese and Gouda, you may never look back. Try this cheese twist for a dressed-up take on the classic spread. Keep these five ingredients on hand so you can make this whenever unexpected guests drop by.
Mini Shrimp Rolls
These fresh seafood rolls are as fun as they look. Everyone will devour these cute little sandwiches made with shrimp, celery, and pickled jalapenos. Assemble right before eating and sprinkle with chives and celery leaves.
Strawberry-Lemonade Cake
Lemony layers tango with a strawberry-lemonade jam filling and strawberry frosting in a cake that will leave the whole crowd in love. Add a little food coloring to the frosting for a delicately pink shading. Prepare this cake two days before your event and store it at room temperature.
Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
The romance of red velvet without the hassle, no one will believe these chewy cookies start with a box of cake mix. A package of red velvet cake, plus four additional ingredients, transforms into red cookies with pops of white. These cookies keep well for a few days because of the high oil content.
Mini Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas
Turn enchiladas into a snack-size party favorite in three easy steps. Tortillas tucked into a lightly greased muffin pan form a self-contained bowl, ideal for filling with this black bean mixture. A drizzling of sour cream and a sprinkling of scallions add the perfect garnish that looks beautiful.
Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad
These cheesy party puffs are good on their own but even better filled with our tangy ham salad. The cheese puffs freeze well, so make a second batch and store them for a later date. Creole and cayenne seasoning give this ham salad a distinct Southern flavoring.
Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham
Keep extra chips stocked when preparing this classic dip. Sweet onions complement the country ham, melding into the incredibly cheesy appetizer. Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses are ideal for this recipe.
Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce
Slow-cooked and satisfying, this saucy recipe was made for a crowd. The extra sauce works well when paired with vegetables or any other meat. In only 35 minutes, you have a meal the entire family will enjoy.
Classic Chess Bars
Tangy bars with a smooth filling are perfect for entertaining. Just like traditional chess pie, vinegar is the secret ingredient. Gently sprinkle with powdered sugar when you are ready to serve.
Mini Confetti Cakes
Delight guests with a stunning cut round cake. They'll never guess it is a slice of simple vanilla sheet cake. Search for edible flowers in specialty grocery stores for a whimsical garnish.
Strawberry-Rhubarb Pretzel Pie
Turn your favorite strawberry-pretzel salad into a delicious pie in this twist on a classic. Use fresh strawberries when possible, but frozen works too. Allow enough preparation time to give the pretzel crust an hour to cool completely before adding the filling.
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside, these crinkle cookies are so tender you might mistake them for an exceptionally chocolatey brownie. Powdered sugar makes the crinkling look, which is as delicious as beautiful. Salt adds a nice balance to this ultra-sweet treat.
Homemade Onion Dip
You'll quit serving onion dip from a packet ever again after making this simple recipe. With eight ingredients, you have a homemade rendition of everyone's favorite party dip. Pair it with chips, vegetables, or both.
Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream
Why choose between carrot cake and coconut cake? This lightly spiced party cake feels festive and fancy, but the sheet cake recipe makes it so simple to frost. Peeled and curled carrots and flaky coconut pieces are the perfect garnishes.
Baked Zucchini Fries
Breaded and baked in all the right ways, these crispy veggies might trick your youngest partygoers into eating something green. Cut and drain the zucchini with care for the best results. Traditional marinara makes an ideal dipping sauce.
Need more help with party planning? Check out these easy party foods to impress at any occasion.
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