Guides · ViralFoods
Party appetizers: what to serve and how much to make
A good appetizer menu mixes cold options (made ahead), hot ones (straight from the oven) and a few sweets. Below: how to plan it, a usual per-guest quantity reference and complete recipes with exact measurements.
Cold appetizers
Canapés, bruschettas assembled at the last minute, skewers, pâtés with toast and sliced terrines. Most of it can be prepared the day before.
Hot appetizers
Puff pastries, mini sandwiches, sausages and oven bites. Bring them out in batches during the party so they are always fresh.
Sweets
Mini desserts in cups, puddings in portions, brownies and cakes cut in squares. Small portions work best when guests are standing.
How much to make per guest
| Guests | Savory pieces | Sweets | Alcohol-free drinks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 240–300 pieces | 80–100 | 12–16 liters |
| 50 | 600–750 | 200–250 | 30–40 liters |
| 100 | 1,200–1,500 | 400–500 | 60–80 liters |
Usual catering reference for a 3–4 hour party where appetizers are the main food (12–15 savory pieces, 4–5 sweets and 600–800 ml of drinks per person). Adjust to your guests.
Recipes with exact measurements
Complete, open recipes from our collections — ingredients, quantities and step by step:
-
Open recipe · Oktoberfest at Home
Drei im Weggla — Three Nuremberg-Style Sausages in a Roll
See recipe →
Collections for the whole menu
- Finger Foods Premium — Finger food recipes, ready whenever you want them: canapés, bruschettas, tartlets, skewers and mini sandwiches.
- Patês & Pastinhas Premium — Pâtés, spreads and creams for boards, canapés and finger foods, with supermarket ingredients and quick prep.
- Terrinas Gourmet — 75 gourmet terrines for starters, appetizers and celebrations, with complete ingredients and preparation instructions.
- Mini Sobremesas Premium — 30 premium mini desserts in individual portions, from cups and mousses to cheesecakes and tartlets, with complete ingredients and preparation instructions.
- Pudins & Manjares Premium — 40 premium puddings and blancmanges + the 75 Gourmet Terrines included: 115 recipes with full ingredients and method.
- Halloween Finger Foods Premium — 47 easy, creative themed recipes, sweet and savory, for adults and kids.
- Natal Gourmet — 60 Christmas recipes featuring panettone, fillings, and festive sweets, with complete ingredients and preparation instructions.
- Oktoberfest at Home — 50 recipes to throw a real German party at home: pretzels, sausages, pork knuckle, dumplings and strudel.
Frequently asked questions
- How many appetizers per person for a party?
- As a usual catering reference, 12–15 savory pieces per person for a 3–4 hour party where appetizers are the main food. If it replaces dinner, plan 20 or more.
- What to serve at a morning, afternoon or evening party?
- Morning: light options, cakes and iced coffees. Afternoon: cold appetizers, mini sandwiches and sweets in portions. Evening: more hot bites and terrines.
- Where can I find appetizer recipes with exact measurements?
- In the Viral Foods collections (viralfoodscollection.com): every recipe has exact measurements, step-by-step method and a photo, in an app. The recipes on this page and the free collections can be read without paying.