How to Host a Stress Free New Year’s Eve Party

New Year’s Eve is just around the corner; are you ready to host this year’s party? With the rush of turkey trimming, gift shopping, and a calendar full of parties, the holidays can take a toll. Hosting a New Year’s Eve party is the last thing on your list once Christmas day passes without incident. But there’s no need to worry, we’re here to help! With these simple tips, recipes, and cocktails you’ll be counting down in style and your guests will be begging for an invite next year.     

Pre-party Planning

Planning ahead makes everything easier and helps you feel in control at every stage of the party. No one knows your space better than you do, so keep this in mind when deciding how many people to invite, and make sure to tally in a few more for guests who bring a date or pop in at the last minute. Once you’ve got your list nailed down, live by it.

After you’ve got a grip on the numbers, make a menu that fits your night. Are you planning on cocktails and dessert? Full dinner? How about potluck? Resist the urge to try new dishes, now is the time to trot out recipes you love and feel comfortable making. Write out a full grocery list and make yourself a timeline. Start backwards: if the party starts at 7, food, drinks, and decor should be done by 6. What do you need to make that happen? Include every detail, it’s your private list and you’ll get satisfaction from crossing off every line. A good list is like a novel. It may require multiple drafts. Give yourself three to four weeks to start jotting down ideas. 

Decor

First, settle on a theme or color palette for your décor and pull from what you have already, dishes, glasses and tablecloths. Mix bright and bold colors or combine sparkles with a metallic accent. Even combining coppery tones with a rich turquoise helps to create a shabby chic look.

Mix your vintage dishes with new serving plates – don’t be afraid to mix it up and scour your local thrift store or dollar store for missing piece. 

Next up, a simple and delicious New Year’s Eve party menu…

Keep it Simple with Appetizers

The easiest way to feed a crowd is to have plenty of bite-sized appetizers available to ease the pressure of having to serve a full dinner. Spread the platters around your space to guests can wander as they eat. Be sure to use place cards or tiny chalkboards to label each appetizer for those with food restrictions.  

The following appetizer recipes are easy to make ahead leaving you more time to mingle and enjoy your party. Here are a few of our favorites and click here for a bonus video on easy holiday appetizers: tomato soup bread bowls and roasted figs with honey and cheese! 

Peach Sirachia Wings

Grill, bake, or fry these wings to your heart’s desire and cover with this smoky, sweet glaze. Wings and drummettes are easy to make ahead of time and can be reheated the day of your party. Add fresh cut celery and carrots to the serving platter. Tip: Make one batch spicy and another sweet.

Empanadas

Crusty, empanadas filled with a savory meat mixture are the perfect appetizer for any New Year’s Eve Party. These empanadas can be made ahead of time, frozen, and cooked the day of the party. The great thing about these hand held pies is that they can be made either sweet or savory depending on you, all with the same dough base. Tip: These empanadas come together even quicker with the help of pre-made dough sold in the Latin freezer section of most grocery stores. Prep the day ahead and pop in the oven the day of your party.

Chorizo Topped Potato Skins

Creamy potatoes mixed with butter and cheese and topped with chives and chopped smoked chorizo is a delicious addition to any party table. Make a few different versions (vegetarians need to eat too!) to switch up the flavor profiles. Tip: Go meatless by omitting the chorizo and pile on grilled mushrooms.

Next up, cheers to the new year with these cocktails, mocktails, and champagne… [pagebreak]

Cocktails, Mocktails, and Champagne

Pop that cork! Champagne is a must on New Year’s Eve, but be sure to keep in mind your guests that don’t drink. Stock up on sparkling cider, club soda, pop, or juice and keep drink garnishes simple but festive with slices of lime, lemons or fresh berries. And make sure to have extra ice on hand; there’s nothing worse than a warm cocktail to ruin the evening! For a hands free night, stick to pitcher cocktails where your guests can serve themselves. Or if you’d like to have a bar, ask a friend who’s an amateur mixologist to play bartender. Easy, laid-back, and delicious: just what New Year’s Eve should be.

Lunetta Prosecco Punch

Bubbles are a great way to ring in the holidays, and the strawberries and raspberries in this refreshing Prosecco punch look like sparkling Christmas ornaments.

Riunite Lambrusco Holiday Sangria

This cocktail in a pitcher is a great way to save time. Set up a few pitchers around your space and you won’t have to stand behind the bar. This recipe even tastes better if it’s made in advance and it’s easy to scale up or down, depending on your party size. Mocktail Tip: For non-alcoholic sangria use sparkling water or juice.

For those who are abstaining for the night, try fake cocktails! Mocktails are a great way to include everyone in the festivities with the same glitz and glamour as a cocktail. 

Paraiso Fresco (Fresh Paradise)

Cucumber, mint and fresh lemon juice give this mocktail a refreshing citrus twist. Tip: garnish with fresh cucumber slices or fresh mint leaves.