What are the Best Cold Appetizers to Serve This Summer?

Colorful foods are very much in vogue this year making cold appetizers the ideal way to serve up some delicious food while still sticking to the trend. Cold appetizers are among the best things about summer parties and here are a few reasons why:

And most importantly, cold appetizers taste absolutely delicious!

While everyone appreciates a well-arranged cheese and cold cuts platter, there is so much more you can do with cold appetizers. It’s really important that your cold appetizers look and taste delicious and also pair well with your main course.

So here are our top tips that will make selecting and serving the best cold appetizers for your party really easy.

Tip 1

If the main course you’re serving is rich and heavy, make sure that the appetizers you serve are light and refreshing and vice versa.

Tip 2

Make sure your appetizers have a variety of textures. For example, the crunch of a cracker goes really well with a creamy topping.

Tip 3

If you’re having a big party, keep a cooler or two handles so you have room for all the food.

Tip 4

Use large deep trays or tubs filled with ice on your buffet table to keep trays of food cool.

Tip 5

Fill your serving trays at the last minute so your food stays fresh and cool.

Our Picks for the Best Cold Appetizers for Your Party this Summer

1. Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Swans

Talk about a grown up and chic version of animal crackers! These elegant Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Swans consist of smooth roasted red pepper hummus filled with Kalamata olive and sweet peppadew and savory feta cheese served in a delicious flatbread folded to look like a swan. All you need to do is defrost them in the refrigerator 90 minutes before serving!

2. Pickled Shrimp and Cucumber Spears

This recipe simply requires you to marinade cooked shrimp and cucumbers in brine made from garlic, bay leaves, lemon zest and chilies overnight. You simply have to arrange them on a serving platter before serving. Delicious!

3. Smoked Salmon Roses

These delicious flower-themed salmon appetizers are made up of rounds of dark sweet rye as a base topped with rosettes of open fire oak smoked salmon on a dill cream cheese mousse. They really taste as scrumptious as they look!

4. Creamy Brie Canapés

Remember what we said about having a crunchy base when you have softer, richer toppings? These Creamy Brie Canapés embody just those principles with a sophisticated filling of creamy whipped brie with toasted almonds and fruit chutney in a light tart shell.

5. Fennel, Apple and Avocado Crudo

This refreshing crudo consists of avocados, fennel and apple in a light grapefruit vinaigrette made with grapefruit zest and juice mixed with olive oil and dill. Top it off with some pink peppercorn-caper salt. Your guests will be pleased!

6. Cold Canapés Assortment

Offer your guests some variety with our assortment of Cold Canapés. From roast beef roulade with whipped horseradish mousse on a petit toast square, to salami cornets with herb cheese and an artichoke heart wedge, there are plenty of options to please even the most discerning of guests.

7. Grilled Vegetable Spinach on Flatbread

Your vegetarian guests will be thrilled you thought of them with this delicious appetizer. This vibrant vegetarian appetizer consists of fire roasted vegetables, fresh asparagus, spinach pesto topped with a rosette of goat cheese.

8. Marinated Mushrooms

These Marinated Mushrooms can be made a couple of days ahead to allow the luscious flavors to simply seep in. Make a marinade of lemon juice, white wine vinegar and oregano and whisk in some extra virgin olive oil along with some salt and pepper. Marinate cremini mushrooms in this mixture and refrigerate in an airtight container. Serve with olives alongside your cheese platter. Yum!

9. Creamy Deviled Eggs

Give your party a picnicky feel with creamy deviled eggs. Scoop out the yolks of hardboiled egg halves (halve them lengthwise) and fill the centers with a mixture mayonnaise, mustard, white wine vinegar, shallots, hot sauce and mashed in egg yolks. Serve cold.

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10. Tropical Cheesecake Assortment

Indulge your guests’ sweet tooth with this Tropical Cheesecake Assortment full of flavor including blueberry, strawberry and key lime. All you have to do is follow the defrosting instructions before serving.