We love the holidays! They make for such a celebratory time of year and give you lots of reasons to make delicious food and memories with loved ones. One of our favorite ways to entertain for the holidays are happy hour get-togethers because they are fun and easy to throw together for friends and family. Make a festive spread in just a few simple steps with these holiday entertaining tips!
Keep it casual.
Happy hours are meant to be simple and fun, so don’t make things too fancy. This also helps ensure everyone can move around and talk to as many guests as they want. When you make the environment welcoming and relaxed, people will have more fun! This goes for “what to wear” too. Make it an ugly sweater happy hour for a little holiday fun; be sure to mention the dress code on the invitation.
Mix and match.
In the spirit of keeping things casual, don’t feel like you have to go out and buy a bunch of matching holiday plates, cups and napkins. Look in your cabinets and see what you already have. Use the leftovers of various holiday napkins you have on hand. Put out a variety of sizes and styles of plates, so guests can grab what suits their appetite.
Make it merry.
This happy hour should feel like the holidays! Get in the spirit by decorating the tables and rooms you’ll use during the party. Make a holiday music playlist that you can play throughout the happy hour. Choose some foods like our Cheeseball Wreath with Pretzel Dippers that scream the holidays. For a sweet treat, dip Sweet & Salty or Sweet & Spicy Pretzels in chocolate and holiday-colored sanding sugar or sprinkles.
Be inclusive.
Just because it’s happy hour, doesn’t mean you should only serve alcoholic drinks. Be sure to have sodas, sparkling waters, juices and even a signature holiday mocktail on hand. HINT: We love these festive ideas. It’s also important to take into account guests’ dietary needs – is anyone attending lactose intolerant or a plant-based eater? Does anyone have allergies to consider?
Have fun!
Don’t spend the whole holiday get-together in the kitchen. Create a happy hour menu of mostly cold or room temperature foods that you can have ready and set out ahead of time. Opt for one or two warm items that you can easily heat in the oven and place out at the last-minute. Remember, entertaining is about enjoying the people in your life, especially during the holidays!
We hope these tips will help you host a magical and merry holiday happy hour! From our kitchen to yours, happy holidays!
