New Year's Eve Tips

New Year’s Eve is right around the corner! There’s nothing better than celebrating the beginning of another year with your family and friends! However, there are some questions you may ask yourself before hosting a holiday party. What type of appetizers and desserts are you going to serve? What type of cocktails (or mocktails) are you going to concoct? Will there be games for guests to play? Planning a party can be overwhelming, but luckily for you, we’re here to help with our New Year’s Eve tips!

Delicious Appetizers

First, we recommend ditching the traditional sit-down dinner for an inexpensive, low-stress spread of hearty appetizers your guests will enjoy! Below, we shared two easy-to-make recipes.

New Year's Eve Ideas: Tuxedo Cheese Crackers
Tuxedo Cheese and Crackers

Check out this simple, but stylish, recipe for your lineup of appetizers!

Ingredients
Instructions
  • First, cut the Fair Oaks Farms cheese of your choice into triangles.
  • Using a drinking straw, cut little olive “buttons.”
  • Next, cut each olive into quarters and flatten. Cut out little triangles for the bow ties with scissors.
  • Then, place the bow ties and buttons on the cheese triangles. Serve on crackers.
Recipe Notes

 

New Year's Eve Ideas: Crispy Loaded Hasselback Potato Bites
Crispy Loaded Hasselback Potato Bites

Following the cheesy-themed appetizers, check out this recipe favored by finger food addicts!

Ingredients
  • Olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Light sour cream
  • Green onions, sliced
  • 1 lb. bag small potatoes
  • 1 package Farmstead Bacon
  • Fair Oaks Farms Cheese of your choice, sliced
Instructions
  • First, preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.

  • Using a knife, make several cuts through each potato. Avoid cutting the potato all the way through.

  • Next, place potatoes on the baking sheet. Rub with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt.

  • Bake for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.

  • Then, place Fair Oaks Farms Cheese squares in between the cuts on each potato.

  • Return the baking sheet to oven for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

  • Let potatoes cool for 10 minutes. Top with sour cream, chopped Farmstead Bacon, and green onions. Serve.

Recipe Notes

 

Cocktails & Mocktails

Second, we suggest that your guests ring in the New Year with these festive cocktails! If you’re entertaining a variety of ages, we included two adult and kid-friendly drink recipes.

New Year's Eve Ideas: Unicorn Floats
Unicorn Floats

This drink has the perfect amount of color and spritz to add to your holiday party!

Ingredients
  • 4 scoops rainbow-colored sorbet
  • Sparkling wine of choice (club soda for underage guests)
Instructions
  • Place 4 scoops of sorbet in a glass.
  • Pour sparkling wine or club soda over sorbet. Serve.
Recipe Notes

 

New Year's Eve Ideas: Moscow MulesMoscow Mules

Bust out the copper mugs for this classic drink!

Ingredients
  • Ice cubes
  • 1/2 fluid oz. lime juice
  • 1/2 cup ginger beer
  • 1 1/2 fluid oz. vodka (club soda for underage guests)
  • 1 lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
  • First, pour vodka (or club soda) and lime juice in a mug.
  • Then, add ice cubes and ginger beer. Stir.
  • Drop a lime wedge into the mug for garnish.
Recipe Notes

Sweet Desserts

Now that you have the appetizers and cocktails (or mocktails) handled, it’s time to satisfy your guests’ sweet tooth with these two recipes!

New Year's Eve Ideas: Chocolate Fondue
Chocolate Dessert Fondue

Honestly, who doesn’t love a chocolate fountain? We know we do, and your guests will love it too!

Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups water
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 cup baking cocoa
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 5 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • Strawberries, banana chunks, apple slices, or angel food cake cubes
Instructions
  • Using a small saucepan, bring the sugar, water, and corn syrup to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes. Stir frequently.
  • In a small bowl, combine the cocoa, whipping cream, and half of the syrup mixture until smooth. Add to the saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
  • Stir in chopped semisweet chocolate until melted.
  • Serve warm with fruit or cake for dipping.
Recipe Notes

 

New Year's Eve Tips: Champagne Cupcakes
Champagne Cupcakes

Check out this recipe for an all-in-one Champagne flavored dessert!

Ingredients
  • Cooking spray
  • 1 package white cake mix
  • 1 1/4 cups Champagne or sparkling wine (room temperature)
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • Additional 1/4 cup Champagne or sparkling wine (room temperature)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Spray 24 muffin cups with cooking spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl, mix the white cake mix and 1 1/4 cup Champagne. Stir in vegetable oil and eggs. Beat batter for 2 minutes.
  • Pour batter into the prepared muffin cakes. Fill 3/4 full.
  • Bake cupcakes in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Insert a toothpick to test.
  • Cool cupcakes in pan for 10 minutes. Remove. Let the cupcakes finish cooling for an additional 30 minutes.
  • In another bowl, mix butter, 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, 1/4 cup Champagne, and vanilla extract. Stir in remaining confectioners’ sugar until frosting is smooth and creamy. Spread on cooled cupcakes. Serve.
Recipe Notes

Fun & Games

Before the countdown begins, have your guests engage in fun New Year’s Eve games for all ages!

New Year’s Eve Scavenger Hunt

Hide the following items around your house for guests to find:

  • A Happy New Year napkin or balloon
  • A New Year’s party hat
  • Streamers or other party decoration
  • Noisemaker
  • Plastic champagne glass
  • A calendar for the next year

Whoever finishes the scavenger hunt first, wins!

Jewelry Jam

At the local dollar store, purchase costume jewelry (ex. necklaces or bracelets). As guests arrive, give each one a necklace or bracelet. The goal of this game is to collect as many necklaces or bracelets as possible. To take a necklace or bracelet, you must make a guest say one of the following words:

  • Countdown
  • Drink
  • Midnight
  • New Year
  • Resolution

This game lasts the entire duration of the party, with whoever collects the most necklaces or bracelets crowned as the winner.

For more family-friendly New Year’s Eve games, click here: Fun & Games.

New Year's Eve Tips: Family

Just like that, you have successfully thrown a party that your guests won’t forget! Be sure to share our New Year’s Eve tips with family and friends. Happy New Year!