Inexpensive Ideas for Holiday Party Food

Real Simple Magazine
Getty Images
Getty Images

Don't let sky-high food-and-drink bills crash your party. These affordable strategies let you scrimp without looking like Scrooge.

By Yelena Moroz, Shivani Vora, Kaija Helmetag, and Brad Tuttle

Drinks
Skip: A full bar.

Opt for: A single, memorable cocktail. For example: a winter lemonade. Muddle ¼ cup fresh cranberries in 8 ounces of this traditional summer drink, then top it off with 2 ounces of vodka or whiskey and a splash of seltzer. Presto! An instant merrymaking hit.

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Allison Gootee
Allison Gootee

Skip: Champagne.

Opt for: Cava or Prosecco. These affordable bubblies are available for around $10 a bottle, says Allison Enke, a spokesperson for Whole Foods Market. Find one that was produced within the past two years. For roughly half of what you would pay for a vintage bottle, you'll get just as much fizzy flavor.

See More: 10 Festive Holiday Cocktails




Mikkel Vang
Mikkel Vang

Appetizers
Skip: Fancy flat breads and spreads.

Opt for: Crostini. You'll save a few bucks if you buy a couple of baguettes (typically about $2 each) and make your own dip. A can of cannellini beans goes a long way: Rinse them, then combine with ½ clove garlic (crushed), 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs (such as parsley or tarragon), 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons olive oil; season with salt and pepper and gently mash. Top each baguette slice with a spoonful of the dip. Or let guests dip the slices into a bowl of olive oil spiked with chopped fresh thyme and rosemary.

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Sang An
Sang An

Skip: Aged cheeses, such as Gouda and manchego.

Opt for: Fresh ricotta, mozzarella, or Feta. These cheeses are more perishable, but less time and milk are required to make them, so you'll find quality choices starting as low as $5 a pound or so-nearly $10 less than many aged cheeses, says Ariel Kalishman Walsh, a cheesemonger at Saxelby Cheesemongers, in New York City. Enhance the flavor of ricotta with a drizzle of honey, then serve with crackers. Or make toothpick kebabs with cubes of fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, and fresh sage.

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