Hosting a cocktail party is less stressful than hosting a dinner party, where you have to take care of main course, appetizers and desserts. However for a cocktail party, the proper selection of a menu is crucial as the success of the party largely depends on the food you serve. You need to serve cocktail appetizers that are tasty as well as elegant looking too. To have a hassle free party, proper planning and good presentation of food is essential. Finger food for a cocktail party should be bite sized and easy to pick up. It should not be dripping with gravy or cheese as it makes it difficult for guests to move around and mingle. A good balance of savory and sweet items as well as hot and cold items should be considered. Also make sure that you have adequate amounts of food as there is nothing worse than running out of food during a party. As for the food itself, here are some cocktail party finger food that you can take inspiration from for your next party. Finger Food Ideas for a Cocktail Party The best finger foods for parties are those that are tasty, bite sized and elegant looking. Experiment with the menu a bit and try out something new. Nobody wants to eat the same old deviled eggs or pigs in a blanket. A good idea is to have a theme for the food so that you can serve cuisines like Thai and Italian at the party. Try to have a balance of food items that are elaborate featuring top quality produce with more simple party food. Also don't forget your vegetarian guests and have a selection of some delicious vegetarian finger foods. Preparing some of the components of the cocktail party food ahead of time and then assembling them on the day of the party is a very smart strategy.

• Crab Cakes
• Spicy Baked Chicken Wings
• Spicy Tuna Roll
• Turkey Breast Cutlet
• Spring Rolls
• Cheese Balls
• Yakitori
• Nachos with Herbed Shrimp Dip
• Mini Chicken Lettuce Wraps
• Crab Puffs with Garlic and Chive Dip
• Chicken Satay with Peanut-Chutney Sauce
• Smoked Salmon Potato Cakes
• Endive Spears with Lobster, Avocado, and Grapefruit
• Mini Tomato Tart
• Spicy Sweet Potato Wedges
• Sun-dried tomato and Rosemary Palmiers
• Crab Salad Canapes
• Caramelized Onion Tartlets
• Lemon and Lime Pavlova
• Cheddar Gougères
• Artichoke-Parmesan Crostini
• Beef Tenderloin Mini Sandwiches
• Parmesan Zucchini Sticks with Horseradish Sauce
• Garlic Flatbreads with Baba Ghanoush
• Mini Greek Spinach Pies
• Mini Bacon and Potato Frittatas
• Mini Salami Puff Sandwiches
• Bite-size Salad Niçoise
• Fried Wonton with Sweet Pepper Sauce
• Mini Beef Wellingtons
• Pancetta Crisps With Goat Cheese and Pear
• Bruschetta with Smoked Salmon and Dill
• Nachos with Guacamole
• Batter fried Shrimp
• Empanadas with Peppers and Cheese
• Mini Pizza with Goat Cheese and Heirloom Tomatoes
• Salt and Pepper Prawns
• Zucchini and Haloumi Cheese Fritters
• Lemon fried Chorizo
• Crostini with Green Olive Tapenade
• Barbecued Piri Piri Prawns
• Dolmades with Tzatziki
• Marinated Mushrooms
• Mini Lime Cake
• Mini Strawberry Parfait

These were some cocktail party food ideas. When serving finger food with dips and sauces, make sure that you serve them in attractive bowls and plates. It is also very important to estimate the amount of finger food that you will be needing for the party. Six to eight appetizers per guest is sufficient for a cocktail party. If you find preparing so much variety in cocktail party food taxing, then have a mix of home cooked as well as store-bought appetizers. Store-bought staples like roasted bell peppers, honey roasted almonds, chorizo sausages and salamis can be made into elegant appetizers in a matter of minutes. Serve two to three cocktail drinks and juices to go with the finger food. Lastly, pay attention to your food presentation as smartly presented food really wows the guests.