Fun finger foods and tasty one biters are what is on offer with this round-up of New Year’s Eve Buffet Appetizer Ideas. Warm and room temperature options along with cocktails, for a fun and easy entertaining evening of celebration.

Shrimp and puff pastry, whipped ricotta with tomatoes and cocktails

Cook and no cook appetizers

Some have a little cooking involved, some no cooking at all. Mix-it-up, have fun without too much work like Apricot and Cheddar Crostini and Rosemary Sun-Dried Tomato Olives.

A fun and festive centerpiece is a stunning sausage rolls wreath that has only 2 ingredients, Pull Apart Sausage Roll Wreath.

A puff pastry sausage roll wreath on a round board with 1 missing with fresh cranberries and a cranberry apple sauce in the background
Kalamata olives with green olives served with charcuterie

Nuts are always a great idea and you can add your own spices to any of your favorite nuts like Mexican Chile Lime Peanuts or Autumn Spiced Nuts (not spicy).

Peanuts coated with seasonings
Mixed, spiced nuts spilling out of a mini bucket

I have some delicious cocktails on offer, my newest being Smoked Christmas Manhattan, a Christmas Cosmopolitan is a lovely festive red and Pear Ginger Champagne Cocktail is a great way to toast the New Year.

A ruby red drink garnished with fresh rosemary and pomegranate seeds
Herb and garlic marinated mushrooms in a sealable jar

A bruschetta bar is a fun theme idea. I have options from Tomato and Crispy Prosciutto Bruschetta, Sautéed Mushroom and Rosemary Bruschetta to Warm Tuscan Bean Crostini with Crispy Kale.

Crispy slices of bread topped with chopped tomato, basil and crispy prosciutto
Sautéed mushrooms and rosemary with ricotta cheese on crusty bread
4 Warm Tuscan bean crostini lined up on a board

A cheese option is always a must and have Baked Brie with Strawberries and Rosemary, Baked Brie with Pistachios, Pomegranate and Rosemary, Baked Ham and Brie in Puff Pastry.

A wheel of brie with melted cheese oozing out topped with strawberries
Puff pastry wrapped brie topped with nuts and pomegranate seeds served with crackers
A wheel of Baked Brie and Black Forest ham in puff pastry is fresh out of the oven and the warm melted brie is running all over a charcuterie board

Buying already cooked shrimp and pre-made puff pastry shells are a huge help for an elegant appetizer like Shrimp & Avocado Puff Pastry Shells. They also come in handy for a no cook Vietnamese Summer Shrimp Vegetable Rolls.

A pretty puff pastry shell filled with avocado and shrimp
A roll cut in half showing the noodles, lettuce, carrots and shrimp inside.

New Year’s Eve Cocktail Ideas

Champagne is a must for New Year’s Eve and a Pear Ginger Champagne Cocktail and White Peach Bellini are perfect choices.

Pear Ginger Champagne Cocktail in a stemmed glass garnished with a pear slice
A side view of a tall glass filled with white peach Bellini

Dessert Ideas

A simple dessert that you can made in batches are Irish Coffee Milkshake Shooters are a fun spiked treat. Also taking help from pre-made phyllo dessert cups, Chocolate Mousse Cream Cheese Phyllo Dessert Cups can be made ahead.

A closeup of a shot glass with Irish coffee milkshake topped with whipped cream
A closeup of a Chocolate mousse and vanilla phyllo dessert cups