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New Years

🥳  Delicious Recipes Worth Celebrating! 

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From sips to sweets and everything in between, this is your one-stop shop for all the New Year’s Eve appetizer and treat recipes you need! Build a deliciously fun "picky table," mix up a few festive drinks, and enjoy some easy games while you count down... 10... 9... 8... party horns and all. 🍾 🎉

 

I've got you covered December 31st to January 1st!

Appetizer Party Food Tips

🎉 Planning the Perfect New Year’s Eve Menu? I’ve Got You Covered!
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Whether you’re hosting the whole countdown crew or just helping put together a fabulous NYE spread, here are some handy tips to make sure your menu is festive, delicious, and just the right amount of extra. ✨
 
🥂 How Much to Make for Your New Year’s Eve Party:
 
🎇 Festive Bites
Plan for each guest to enjoy 4–6 appetizers. Offer a mix of hot and cold, sweet and savory, light and filling options to keep everyone satisfied while mingling.
 
🍽️ Side Kicks
Plan for 3–4 different sides for a smaller group (6 guests or fewer). For every additional 5 guests, add another side. Want inspiration? Check out my Side Dishes Ideas to go with your apps!
 
🍸 Cheers to the New Year (Drinks)
Whether it's bubbly cocktails or festive mocktails, plan for each guest to have 2 drinks in the first hour, and 1 per hour after. A standard serving is 6–8 oz. Keep both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options on hand!
 
🍰 Sweet Endings (Desserts)
Plan to have at least 2 dessert options for every 10 guests. I always recommend one rich chocolate dessert and one fruit-based treat to please all the sweet tooths. Check out my collection of Desserts to Ring in the New Year!
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🥗 Tips for Picking Your Party-Perfect Sides:
Once your apps are locked in, it’s time to plan the sides! Here's how to build a balanced (and crowd-pleasing) variety. This is the perfect spot to bring out salads, and hot sides that go with everything:
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  • Use seasonal ingredients — they’re fresher and budget-friendly.
  • Include at least one vegetable, one starch, and one salad for a well-rounded plate.
  • Choose recipes that can be made or prepped ahead to reduce stress on party day.
  • Mix the classic favorites with something new to surprise and delight your guests.
  • Hosting 6 or fewer? Stick with 3–4 sides. For every additional 5 guests, add one more side dish.
 
With a little planning and the right recipes, your New Year’s Eve menu will be one to remember — just like the night itself. Cheers to delicious food, good company, and the countdown to the new year! 🎆🥂​​

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Party-tizers

Party Poppin' Sides

Horn Blowing Dessert Tips 

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🍾 Sweet Endings & Festive Dessert Tables for New Year’s Eve
 
Planning your New Year’s Eve menu? 🎉 Don’t forget the desserts... they’re the grand finale of the night! Before you dive into planning, be sure to browse through my collection of decadent desserts and cookies perfect for celebrating in style. ✨
 
🍰 Setting Up a Show-Stopping NYE Dessert Table
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Your dessert table should be as stunning to look at as it is to indulge in. Whether you're going big or keeping it simple, here are some easy tips to create a setup that feels festive and fun:
 
🎇 Create a Backdrop
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Use fabric, curtains, twinkle lights, a balloon arch, or even a simple blank wall — anything to help your dessert colors pop in photos and add a little drama to the table!
 
🎂 Add Height and Layers
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Use tiered cake stands, stack books or boxes under tablecloths, or place platters on risers to create dimension. Varying the height makes the display more eye-catching.
 
🌸 Add Decorative Touches
 
Flowers, candles, fairy lights, or a mini New Year’s sign can all add elegance and charm to the table. Even a few gold or silver accents go a long way!
 
💡 Helpful Dessert Table Tips:
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  • Make Ahead When You Can – Many desserts can be made in advance and even frozen. Check each recipe for make-ahead and freezer-friendly notes.
  • Let Guests Help – Desserts are one of the easiest things to delegate when someone asks, “What can I bring?”
  • Mix Homemade + Store-Bought – Don’t stress! If you’re short on time, supplement with bakery cookies, chocolates, or even candy trays. It’s all about presentation.
 
🎉 Easy New Year’s Dessert Ideas:
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  • Chocolate fondue bar – Set out marshmallows, fruit, cookies, and pretzels to dip into a rich chocolate or cream cheese dip.
  • Decorate-your-own cookies – Bake sugar cookies ahead of time and let guests (especially kids!) decorate them with icing and sprinkles.
  • Mini treats for everyone – Package up a few truffles or cookies in cute boxes or bags to place at each guest’s setting — a sweet surprise to take home.
  • Festive drinks – Serve sparkling cider or punch in stemmed glasses to make it feel extra fancy (plastic works great for kids!).
  • Sweet table scatter – Sprinkle M&Ms, chocolate kisses, edible confetti, or gold-wrapped candies around the table for an extra pop of fun.
 
Make your dessert table just as memorable as the countdown itself — whether you go all out or keep it simple, a few thoughtful touches can turn your sweet spread into something truly special.
 
🥂 Here’s to a new year full of flavor, fun, and lots of dessert!​

New Year's Gift Tips

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✨ Sweet Ways to Make New Year’s Eve Extra Special
 
I love making every holiday feel a little magical... especially for my husband. 💛 And one of my favorite ways to do that is by surprising him with a special dessert or sweet treat to celebrate the occasion. If you’re looking to add a little extra sparkle to your New Year’s table, here are some fun and simple ideas:
 
🎉 Dress Up the Dessert Table
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Decor for festive flair! Think:
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  • Gold, silver, or midnight blue plates and napkins
  • Glittery confetti, mini disco balls, or sparkly candles
  • A festive balloon garland or a simple floral centerpiece with metallic accents
 
Even just a few thoughtful touches can make your dessert table feel celebration-ready!
 
🛒 No Time to Bake? No Problem!
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If your schedule’s packed (or baking just isn’t your thing), go for fun store-bought treats that still feel festive:
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  • Frosted sugar cookies from your local bakery
  • Chocolate-dipped pretzels or truffles
  • Mini cupcakes with gold or silver sprinkles
  • A favorite candy bar at each guest’s place setting
 
Presentation is everything... dress them up on a pretty platter or in individual treat boxes!
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🍫 Easy (and Crowd-Pleasing) Dessert Idea: FONDUE!
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Set up a fun fondue station with dips like:
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Then add dippers like strawberries, mini cookies, marshmallows, brownie bites, or pretzels. Everyone loves a good dip-and-snack moment!
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🥂 Add a Special Touch
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  • Serve sparkling cider or punch in stemmed glasses for that NYE feel... use plastic ones for the kids.
  • Sprinkle the table with festive candies like gold-wrapped chocolates or colorful M&Ms.
  • Place a small treat box (truffles, macarons, or cookies!) at each place setting or end of the cocktail table as a sweet takeaway gift.
 
🍪 Fun for the Kids
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Set up a sugar cookie decorating station! Bake the cookies ahead of time, then let the little ones (and adults!) decorate with icing, sprinkles, and edible glitter after dinner.
 
🎁 A Thoughtful Touch
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Want to make your evening feel even more personal? Create a small New Year’s keepsake for each guest — a note of encouragement, a tiny 2026 calendar, or a charm with their name. Place it at their seat for a heartfelt surprise to start the new year right.
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Sometimes, it's the smallest things that make the biggest memories. 💫 Here’s to celebrating love, joy, and a sweet start to the new year with a bang!
✨ Cookies, Crafts & Sweet Gifts to Ring in the New Year!
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Gifting cookies is one of my favorite holiday traditions... there’s just something so heartfelt about sharing homemade treats! Whether you're baking for friends, family, neighbors, or party guests, here are my top tips for packaging cookies and fun gift ideas perfect for New Year’s Eve or any festive occasion:
 
🍪 Easy & Elegant Cookie Packaging Ideas:
 
🎁 Classic Cookie Tins or Boxes
Pick up a holiday tin or box from your local store and line it with tissue paper or a festive New Year’s-themed napkin. Add your cookies, close the lid, and finish with a sparkly ribbon or simple twine.
 
📦 Wrapped in Cellophane
Place cookies on a pretty ceramic plate, cover with a doily or plastic wrap, and build a cute cookie pyramid. Set the plate in the center of a large piece of cellophane, gather the edges, and tie it all together with ribbon, tulle, or gold twine.
 
🫙 Mason Jar Magic
Stack evenly-sized cookies in a wide-mouth mason jar. Cover the lid with fabric or decorative paper, or wrap the jar in a cute kitchen towel. Add ribbon and a custom tag for a cozy, rustic gift.
 
🥫 Upscaled Cookie Canisters
Save those Pringles cans! Clean them out, wrap with New Year’s-themed paper, and stack your cookies inside. Top with the lid and a gift bow... these are perfect for teachers or neighbors!
 
🎀 Tube Treat Bags
Stack cookies in a clear tube-style bag, seal the top, and tie with ribbon and a personalized tag. These are great for individual party favors!
 
👜 Chic Brown Bag Gifts
Place cookies in a simple brown paper lunch bag, fold the top over, and punch two holes. Thread a ribbon, raffia, or tulle through and tie closed. Add a festive sticker or handwritten tag on the front!
 
🎉 More Sweet & Thoughtful New Year’s Gift Ideas:
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💎 Handmade Jewelry
Start the year with a little sparkle! A handmade piece of jewelry makes a meaningful gift for your sweetheart or best friend... check out my collection for ideas!
 
🎀 DIY “Cheers” Wreaths
Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas! Create a beautiful New Year’s wreath using metallic accents, clock cutouts, and mini champagne bottle decorations. A festive gift they can use year after year!
 
🍫 New Year’s Candy Bark
Make a batch of chocolate bark with gold and silver sprinkles, pretzels, and festive candies. Break it into pieces, package in a clear bag or gift box, and tie with ribbon for an easy, elegant edible gift.
 
🍬 Candy Bouquets
Make a fun “bouquet” using large candy boxes as the base and attach mini candy bars or wrapped treats on skewers as the “flowers.” Add a few Hershey Kiss roses or fortune cookie-style tags with New Year’s wishes!
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No matter how you wrap them, homemade cookies and simple gifts always leave a big impression. Add a personal note or tag with a New Year's wish for an extra-special touch. 🥰
 
Here’s to gifting with love, ringing in the new year with sweetness, and starting off a new January 1st with a full heart (and a full cookie jar)! 🥂🍾
🎉 Sparkle into the New Year with Handmade Gifts! ✨
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💍 Shimmering Jewelry – Start the year with sparkle! Handmade-inspired jewelry makes a unique and memorable gift for your sweetheart or bestie. Ring in the New Year with style!
 
🎀 Festive Wreaths – Wreaths aren't just for the holidays! Create a dazzling New Year's wreath to gift or display—an easy DIY that adds cheer and charm all year long.
 
🍬 New Year’s Party Bark – Fill a festive container with delicious candy bark in gold, silver, and midnight colors. Add celebratory candies, wrap in cellophane, and finish with a ribbon and a tag to welcome the new year with sweetness!
 
🌟 Sweet Celebration Bouquets – Create candy bouquets using shimmering wrappers and gold-accented treats! Use candy boxes as a vase and mini bars as the “blooms” – the perfect party favor or gift for your favorite “NYE-friend” turned glam-friend!

Other Great Gift Ideas​​

Party Gift Ideas

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