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Fun Friendsgiving Appetizer Ideas
A great appetizer or two will get the party off to a fantastic start as guests arrive. Because who doesn’t love a little snack before the big meal? An easy way to get inspiration for pre-meal Friendsgiving dishes is to put a seasonal twist on your favorite everyday party apps—a few tweaks will have things feeling like fall no matter the weather outside! Think mini crescent dogs paired with cheddar and fresh fall apples, turkey meatballs with a sweet cranberry sauce for dipping or a pumpkin-shaped veggie platter.
If you have time, get creative with your presentation. Don’t have a fall-themed serving platter on hand? Spice up a plain one with seasonal decorations like cinnamon sticks and mini gourds! Bring along the cocktail napkins and toothpicks for simple serving, and you’re all set. Browse all of our quick and easy Thanksgiving appetizers for more tasty Friendsgiving appetizer ideas.
Yummy Friendsgiving Desserts
In need of Friendsgiving dessert ideas that surprise and delight? We’ve got plenty of quick and easy Thanksgiving dessert recipes that always please a crowd, from moist, tender dessert bars to sweet decorated cookies and fresh fruit tarts.
If you want to go the traditional route for dessert, you really can’t go wrong with classic pie recipes—especially a seasonal favorite like creamy pumpkin or sweet, crumbly apple. If you’re really looking to impress your friends, choose a dessert you can decorate to fit the theme. Let your creativity shine with turkey-shaped sugar cookies piped with icing designs and covered in colorful candies—or decorate the top crust of a pie with pie crust cutouts resembling fall leaves, pumpkins, and other Friendsgiving themes!
Best Make-Ahead Recipes for Friendsgiving
This Friendsgiving, reduce the stress and savor every moment spent with your friends by prepping a few dishes ahead of time! Depending on the Friendsgiving dish you make, you can spread out the recipe steps over hours or days to help save time the day of your celebration (and keep your kitchen tidy!).
Check out our favorite make-ahead appetizers for some party-ready apps that’ll keep the hungry crowd satisfied while the turkey cooks. From festive veggie platters to creamy dips, hearty slow-cooker meatballs and party-ready pigs in a blanket, these tasty, shareable bites are easy to prep and assemble ahead of time so you can focus on making memories. When you arrive at your Friendsgiving, just heat ‘em up if necessary so they’re warm and ready to serve!
Friendsgiving Theme Ideas to Get the Party Started
Why not switch things up? Friendsgiving themes can give your get-together a whole new feel every single year. Whether you choose a theme to inspire potluck guests or set a goofy dress code, you’re bound to liven up the party. Here are some Friendsgiving theme ideas to get you started.
Picnic Feast: Make portable Friendsgiving dishes and head outdoors with a picnic blanket to enjoy some beautiful fall colors. Bonus points for staging an impromptu photo shoot to document your yummy meal with friends!
Tropical Friendsgiving: If dreary weather is already getting you down, bring a taste of the tropics to your Friendsgiving with a beach theme. Serve a fruity cocktail or mocktail and invite friends to shed their sweaters and rock their summer best.
Remember When: Seeing old friends while home for Thanksgiving? Serve up childhood favorites and set up a post-meal scavenger hunt to reminisce on your favorite memories together!