5 Lighter Finger Foods for Your Holiday Soiree — Fall Fest

Save room for dinner (and dessert) by serving these light and tasty finger foods at your holiday party.
By: Emily Lee

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Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero 
Prop Stylist: Pamela Duncan Silver ,Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero 
Prop Stylist: Pamela Duncan Silver

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Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero Prop Stylist: Pamela Duncan Silver ,Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero Prop Stylist: Pamela Duncan Silver

Photo by: Anna Williams

Anna Williams

It’s that time of year when our opportunities to O.D. on cheese and crackers are heavily abundant. We love a baked Brie just as much as the next person, but if you’re hosting a holiday get-together, the cocktail hour should consist of light, refreshing bites that anticipate the meal ahead without completely spoiling it. If there’s a creamy, bubbling-hot dip on the table, it should come as no surprise when your meticulously arranged crudite platter goes untouched and, worst of all, your guests are too stuffed to enjoy the main event.

Small bites that are not only light but also quick and easy to make are best for everyone in attendance — especially the host — so choose recipes that require no more than 20 minutes of prep work (the less time, the better). Here are five finger foods you can count on to hit the mark at your upcoming soiree.

Eggplant Ricotta Bites (pictured at top)

Think of these lightly breaded eggplant bites as a slimmed-down, miniaturized version of eggplant Parmesan. Sauteing the eggplant gives it a desirable crunch, without the excess oil you get with deep-frying. When it comes time to plate, channel the classic presentation by topping the eggplant rounds with fresh ricotta, diced tomatoes and shredded basil.

Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero 
Prop Stylist: Pamela Duncan Silver ,Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero 
Prop Stylist: Pamela Duncan Silver

FoodNetwork_06_041.tif

Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero Prop Stylist: Pamela Duncan Silver ,Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero Prop Stylist: Pamela Duncan Silver

Photo by: Anna Williams

Anna Williams

Feta cheese turns this otherwise ordinary guacamole into a festive tangle of flavors: savory, spicy and sharp, all at once. Serve the fresh green dip alongside the tomato and ricotta-topped eggplant bites and you'll have a festive, edible display of red and green.

Plump shrimp with a crisp breading — what could be better when mingling over hors d’oeuvres? Order them off the appetizer menu at your favorite restaurant, however, and you could be downing upward of 500 calories before you even glance at the entrees. These homemade coconut shrimp tossed in panko breadcrumbs are baked — not fried — for a crunchy bite with just 167 calories per serving.

Food Network Kitchen
Mushroom Wellington with Creamy Carrot Sauce
Healthy Eats
Food Network, Food Network Kitchen
Mushroom Wellington with Creamy Carrot Sauce
Healthy Eats
Food Network

Food Network Kitchen Mushroom Wellington with Creamy Carrot Sauce Healthy Eats Food Network, Food Network Kitchen Mushroom Wellington with Creamy Carrot Sauce Healthy Eats Food Network

Photo by: Stephen Johnson ©Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Stephen Johnson, Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

The chefs at Food Network Kitchen took their inspiration from the most-important part of traditional beef Wellington: the duxelles, a paste of finely chopped mushrooms, shallots and herbs cooked in butter, minus the beef. Serve this impressive main course with the bright carrot sauce, which gets its creaminess from just a touch of cream cheese.

Food Network Kitchen
Vegan Potato Pepper and Olive Phyllo Cups
Healthy Eats
Food Network

Food Network Kitchen Vegan Potato Pepper and Olive Phyllo Cups Healthy Eats Food Network

Photo by: Stephen Johnson ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Stephen Johnson, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

If you're hosting vegans, they'll be extremely grateful if you include these meat- and dairy-free phyllo cups on your menu. Each cup is filled with mashed potatoes blended with olive oil and nutritional yeast, which helps create a creamy, "cheesy" base. Make the filling the day before your get-together, then fill, heat and serve when ready.

For more festive small bites, check out these recipes from our friends:

The Lemon Bowl: 5-Ingredient Pizza Skewers

Red or Green: Chipotle Ranch Dip

Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Baked Falafel and Hummus

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