Skip to content

Top Navigation

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Recipes & Cooking
  • Drinks
  • Travel
  • Holidays & Events
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Food & Wine Books this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Food & Wine

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Explore

    Explore

    • F&W Cooks

      F&W Cooks

      Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. Read More
    • Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

      Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

      Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. Read More
    • 50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

      50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

      We’ve assembled a list of 50 of the world’s most reliable, inexpensive wines – bottles that offer amazing quality for their price year in and year out. Read More
  • Recipes & Cooking

    Recipes & Cooking

    See All Recipes & Cooking
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Comfort Food Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Pasta & Noodle Recipes
    • Chefs
    • Meat & Poultry Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Fruit Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Special Diets
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Steal This Trick
  • Drinks

    Drinks

    See All Drinks
    • Wine
    • Cocktails & Spirits
    • Coffee Drinks & Recipes
    • Juices
    • Beer & Brews
    • Champagne & Sparkling Wine
    • Tea Recipes & Ideas
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    • Wine Regions
    • Restaurants
  • Holidays & Events

    Holidays & Events

    See All Holidays & Events
    • Valentine's Day
    • Halloween
    • Passover
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • Gifts
    • Super Bowl
    • Easter
    • Thanksgiving
    • New Year's Eve
    • Holiday Entertaining
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Food & Wine Books this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

LIVE
  1. HomeChevron Right
  2. Appetizer RecipesChevron Right
  3. Finger FoodsChevron Right
  4. Finger Food Recipes

Finger Food Recipes

By Food & Wine
Updated February 15, 2017
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Raw Oysters with Cava Mignonette
Credit: © John Kernick
Finger foods aren’t just appetizers, they’re appetizers you can eat while standing up, chatting, and—most importantly—holding a glass of wine. It’s a small but important difference at a cocktail party, which you can appreciate if you’ve ever had to awkwardly shove an entire slider into your mouth while trying not to spill your drink.Because finger foods are served at parties, they should be festive and fun. A classic is pizzette; these bite-sized pizzas can be topped with traditional Italian combinations like fresh mozzarella and prosciutto, but they’re also a blank canvas for new flavors. Take our Lamb Pizzette. Inspired by Arabic lamejun, each thin round of dough is topped with a flavorful mix of ground lamb with cumin, mint, and pine nuts. Our collection of finger foods also includes riffs on old favorites. In our updated take on pigs in a blanket, we swap spicy Andouille sausage for hot dogs, and our crispy fried Hush Puppies are served with an Indian-spiced tomato jam. One country that’s mastered the tasty two-bite is Spain. Our favorite tapas to make at home include traditional Potato Croquettes; a cheese-studded dough is dipped in eggs and a thin crust of bread crumbs, then fried until crisp. For an addictively savory-sweet bite made from just three ingredients, try our pan-fried Chorizo-Filled Dates Wrapped in Bacon. If you’re hosting a more formal occasional, follow chef José Andrés’s recipe for crispy cauliflower fritters served with yogurt and caviar. Running out of time before your party? You can always fall back on the most basic finger foods, a bowl of roasted nuts or marinated olives. Chef Chris Yeo takes it to the next level by soaking peanuts in lime juice before frying them and tossing them with tart shredded lime leaves. Another quick fix for a crunchy, salty snack? Our Popcorn with Sesame-Glazed Pistachios. Click through the slideshow to see more of our favorite finger foods. Just don’t forget to buy the napkins.—Carrie Mullins
Start Slideshow

1 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Pigs in a Blanket with Black Pepper Pastry

Pigs in a Blanket with Black Pepper Pastry
Credit: © Abby Hocking
Go to Recipe

Jen Pelka of San Francisco's The Riddler loves serving Champagne with playful bite-size foods like pigs in a blanket. To take them up a notch, she brushes the puff pastry with a tasty mix of honey, mustard and fresh black pepper before rolling up with the hot dogs and baking.

1 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Mini Spinach-and-Herb Pies

Mini Spinach-and-Herb Pies
Credit: © Gustav Wiking
Go to Recipe

These terrific little pastries, stuffed with spinach and two cheeses, are made throughout the town of Chania in Crete. Every cook has a version (some use onions; some don't). Chef Evelina Makrinaki adds a splash of brandy to the dough, making it a little fluffy.

2 of 17

3 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Lamb Pizzettes

Lamb Pizzettes
Credit: © Kana Okada
Go to Recipe

This recipe is based on the Arabic lamejun, a thin piece of dough topped with minced meat, then baked. Here Grace Parisi flavors ground lamb with cumin, mint and pine nuts.

  • More Lamb Recipes

3 of 17

Advertisement

4 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Hush Puppies with Green Zebra Tomato Jam

Kentucky Derby Appetizer Ideas
Credit: PHOTO © ANNA WILLIAMS
Go to Recipe

At Trummer's on Main in Clifton, Virginia, Clayton Miller makes a highly seasoned, Indian-inflected tomato jam with ginger, cinnamon, cumin and cayenne. It's a terrific accompaniment to his hush puppies—cheekily nicknamed "shut-your-piehole puppies" by the cooks in his kitchen.

  • More Southern Comfort Foods

4 of 17

5 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Chorizo-Filled Dates Wrapped in Bacon

Chorizo-Filled Dates Wrapped in Bacon
Go to Recipe

This timeless tapa from Spanish cookbook author Penelope Casas has everything going for it—it's sweet, smoky and savory, all in one bite.

  • Fast Game Day Snacks

5 of 17

6 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Smoky Deviled Eggs

Ashley Christensen: Smoky Deviled Eggs  
Go to Recipe

Smoky Spanish pimentón makes these eggs distinctive. It is available at specialty food stores.

  • Tapas Recipes

6 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Hogs in a Blanket

Hogs in a Blanket
Credit: © Chris Court
Go to Recipe

This fun, high-brow take on pigs in a blanket swaps spicy andouille sausage for the hot dogs, with sweet mustard chutney as a condiment.

  • Innovative Game Day Snacks

7 of 17

8 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Garlic Bread "Fries" with Marinara "Ketchup"

Garlic Bread "Fries" with Marinara "Ketchup"
Go to Recipe

In this imaginative party snack, addictive garlicky bread sticks and marinara sauce resemble french fries and ketchup.

  • Tasty Snack Recipes

8 of 17

9 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Potato-and-Mozzarella Croquettes

Potato-and-Mozzarella Croquettes
Credit: FREDRIKA STJÄRNE
Go to Recipe

These light and cheesy fried potato croquettes are breaded twice: They’re dredged in bread crumbs, dipped in beaten eggs seasoned with mustard and garlic, then dredged in bread crumbs once more. The payoff is a supercrisp, flavorful crust for the filling of soft mashed potato and melted cheese.

  • More Fried Food Recipes

9 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Cauliflower Fritters

José Andrés (minibar by José Andrés, Washington, DC)
Go to Recipe

To create these wonderful tapas, José Andrés makes a batter with crunchy nubs of chopped cauliflower florets, fries spoonfuls in a skillet and then tops the fritters with yogurt sauce and a dollop of caviar.

  • Party Dip Recipes

10 of 17

11 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Salty Black-and-White Sesame Cocktail Cookies

201111-r-black-white-sesame-cocktail-cookies.jpg
Credit: PHOTO © QUENTIN BACON
Go to Recipe

"In these cookies, you start with a sweet dough and the sesame seeds push it over on the sweet-savory continuum," says Dorie Greenspan. Blending ground almonds with the flour emphasizes the nutty sesame flavor.

  • Cookie Recipes

11 of 17

12 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

White-Bean and Prosciutto Bruschetta

White-Bean and Prosciutto Bruschetta
Go to Recipe

Strips of prosciutto top each toast and are topped in turn with a mound of creamy white beans and sprinkling of crisp red onion. If you like, serve these with the Bruschetta Duet to make a tantalizing trio.

  • Appetizer Recipes

12 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Popcorn with Sesame-Glazed Pistachios

Popcorn with Sesame-Glazed Pistachios
Credit: © John Kernick
Go to Recipe

Mixing popcorn with glazed pistachios creates a sweet-salty snack that's fantastic with cocktails.

  • More Bar Snack Recipes

13 of 17

14 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Fried Peanuts with Asian Flavors

Fried Peanuts with Asian Flavors
Credit: © Lucy Schaeffer
Go to Recipe

To make these addictive peanuts extra-tangy, Chris Yeo soaks them in lime juice before frying them and tossing them with tart shredded lime leaves. He served them at the Atlanta party because Georgia is the peanut capital of the country.

  • More Tasty Snacks

14 of 17

15 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Marinated Olives with Orange

Marinated Olives with Orange
Credit: © John Kernick
Go to Recipe

Olives marinated in citrus juice, garlic and spicy crushed red pepper become a sensational cocktail-party snack.

  • More Bar Snack Recipes

15 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Herbed Chickpea Bruschetta

Herbed Chickpea Bruschetta
Go to Recipe

The key to these delicious bruschetta from chef Nancy Silverton is lots of olive oil. After she bakes the chickpeas with a variety of flavorings—including onions, pancetta and carrots—she purees them with a good amount of oil, spreads the puree on toasts and drizzles with a little more oil.

  • Bruschetta Recipes

16 of 17

17 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Raw Oysters with Cava Mignonette

Raw Oysters with Cava Mignonette
Credit: © John Kernick
Go to Recipe

The secret to Boston chef Matt Jennings’s four-ingredient mignonette is cava, the Spanish sparkling wine.

  • Holiday Hor d'Oeuvres recipes

17 of 17

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Food & Wine

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 17 Pigs in a Blanket with Black Pepper Pastry
    2 of 17 Mini Spinach-and-Herb Pies
    3 of 17 Lamb Pizzettes
    4 of 17 Hush Puppies with Green Zebra Tomato Jam
    5 of 17 Chorizo-Filled Dates Wrapped in Bacon
    6 of 17 Smoky Deviled Eggs
    7 of 17 Hogs in a Blanket
    8 of 17 Garlic Bread "Fries" with Marinara "Ketchup"
    9 of 17 Potato-and-Mozzarella Croquettes
    10 of 17 Cauliflower Fritters
    11 of 17 Salty Black-and-White Sesame Cocktail Cookies
    12 of 17 White-Bean and Prosciutto Bruschetta
    13 of 17 Popcorn with Sesame-Glazed Pistachios
    14 of 17 Fried Peanuts with Asian Flavors
    15 of 17 Marinated Olives with Orange
    16 of 17 Herbed Chickpea Bruschetta
    17 of 17 Raw Oysters with Cava Mignonette

    Share options

    Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

    Login

    Food & Wine

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Food & Wine
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • Content Licensing

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Other Meredith Sites

    Other Meredith Sites

    • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
    • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
    • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
    • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
    • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
    • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
    • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
    • Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
    • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
    • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
    • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
    • More this link opens in a new tab
    • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
    • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
    • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
    • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
    • Parents this link opens in a new tab
    • People this link opens in a new tab
    • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
    • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
    • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
    • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
    • Shape this link opens in a new tab
    • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
    • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
    • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
    • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
    MeredithFood & Wine is part of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.foodandwine.com

    View image

    Finger Food Recipes
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.