Bring in the New Year with these showstopping dinner party ideas
Hosting a New Year’s Eve dinner party and stuck on what to serve? From the best finger foods, sweet treats and top recommended drinks from our resident wine expert, we’ve got you covered.
If a restaurant with a view isn’t on the cards for this New Year’s Eve, put your at-home hosting to the test with our complete guide to the perfect dinner party. After all, what better way to send off 2024 (and count down to 2025) than by sharing a delicious meal with family and friends?
You’ll need a handful of crowd-pleasing recipes to get your NYE menu started – from creative appetisers to show stopping desserts and a glass of bubbly or cocktail to cheers at midnight.
Whether you’re throwing a fancy soiree, a casual BBQ or simply just a considerate guest wanting to bring an offering to the NYE gathering – we’ve got you covered.
NYE appetisers to start the party
From cured to cheese twists, our best New Year’s Eve appetisers and finger foods are sure to get the party started.
Gin-cured Gravlax
Gravlax is fresh salmon or ocean trout cured with a combination of salt and sugar, a process that helps preserve the fish and bring out its natural flavours. Though curing might seem daunting, it’s surprisingly simple. Yes, it requires a little planning – you’ll need to start two days ahead – but the effort is minimal, leaving you only to slice and serve on the big day
Get the recipe for Elizabeth Hewson’s gin-cured gravlax.
Prawn and scallop toasts
This is a nod to retro canapes. It is easy to prep in advance and then fry just as your guests settle in with their drink.
Get the recipe for Lennox Hasties’ prawn and scallop toasts.
Fried zucchini flowers with lemon and honey
Lightly fried and drizzled with honey, chilli and lemon, these zucchini flowers make a fresh, quick dish for home cooks who want something special without the added step, or stress, of stuffing.
Get the recipe for Elizabeth Hewson’s fried zucchini flowers.
Beef & sausage skewers
Elizabeth Hewson’s version of skewers involves thinly sliced beef, coated in Parmigiano Reggiano breadcrumbs, rolled up involtini-style, and skewered with bay leaves, sausage chunks, and zucchini ribbons rolled to mimic the beef.
Get the recipe for Elizabeth Hewson’s beef and sausage skewers.
NYE desserts and sweets
Whether you’re hosting or a guest, a sweet treat is a great way to keep guests awake until midnight. Here are some dessert recipe ideas to bring to a NYE gathering – kids and adults, alike, will be sure to enjoy these.
Matt Preston’s pavlova
Pavlova made an instant impression on Matt Preston when he was a kid. “No last meal of mine is ever going to be one dish, but any iteration of my last meal has to have a pavlova in it,” says Preston, “and it needs to be this pavlova.”
Get the recipe for Matt Preston’s pavlova.
Prosecco and ginger beer jelly
This recipe is a prosecco and ginger ale jelly, a wobbly, fun centrepiece dessert filled with seasonal berries.
Get the recipe for Elizabeth Hewson’s prosecco and ginger beer jelly.
Burnt Basque cheesecake by Charlotte Ree
This cheesecake is so good it will make you cry and does not need a single thing added to it. You’ll love it so much you’ll want to bring it to every dinner party.
Get the recipe for Charlotte Rose’s burnt Basque cheesecake.
Honey cake by Lennox Hastie
Patiently roll out the sweet dough into thin, delicate biscuits that are carefully baked before being layered with a generous spread of honey and sour cream.
Get the recipe for Lennox Hastie’s honey cake.
Lemon and lime biscuit tart by Elizabeth Hewson
Makrut lime leaves make this lemon and lime tart even brighter. Making pastry can make some home cooks hesitant, so use a biscuit base, which is a little less intimidating.
Get the recipe for Elizabeth Hewson’s lemon and lime biscuit tart.
Toast worthy drinks perfect for any NYE party
From delicious affordable wine to tried-and-true cocktails everyone will love, these drinks will help you ring in the new year in style.
Cocktail recipes
From a classic martini with a twist to a flavourful punch, impress your friends with these easy to make cocktails.
Get the recipes Bec Vrana Dickinson’s festive cocktails.
Best Australian gin, rum, bourbon, mezcal and more
Spice up the evening with some of Australia’s best gin, rum and whisky from local distillers.
See the full list of best Australian gin, rum and bourbon.
Best white wines under $35
Looking for white wine that’s affordable? Check out our top white whites under $35, including a prize-winning South Australian riesling for just $19.
See the full list of best Australian white wines under $35.
Best Australian red wines under $35
Classic varieties, experimental drops, and a $22 wine that remains our expert wine critic Nick Ryan’s best value pick after more than 30 years.
See the full list of best Australian red wines under $35.
Try out these recipes from our favourite chefs for more dinner party ideas, or, if you’re still feeling festive, check out our top Christmas recipes. For more food ideas, go to theaustralian.com.au/life/food-drink. For weekly recipes, sign up to our weekly food and wine newsletter.
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