An appetizer and dessert party is fun. An appetizer and dessert competition party? Next level.
Hosting our annual food competition is one of my favorite traditions, and every year I like to mix things up. We rotate themes, and this time we decided to raise the stakes with appetizers and desserts going head to head…on Valentine’s Day!
Let’s just say everyone showed up ready…
The instructions were simple. Each couple brought their best appetizer and best dessert, plus $20 to buy into the competition. The two winners split the pot.
We had 9 couples attend the party, which meant 9 appetizers and 9 desserts on the table. To say we didn’t go hungry would be an understatement.
As everyone arrived, I served a fun pink martini since we happened to host on Valentine’s Day. It felt festive without being over the top, and it was a huge hit. The best part? It’s incredibly easy to batch ahead of time so I didn’t have to play bartender all night.
Love Drop Martini (Pitcher Recipe)
Mix together:
- 1½ cups vodka
- ½ cup guava syrup
- 1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- ½ cup orange liqueur
- ¼ cup water
Stir well and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Give it a good stir before pouring into glasses.
The Appetizer Entries
The appetizer table did not disappoint. Every couple clearly understood the assignment, and the variety made it almost impossible to choose a favorite.
Here was the appetizer lineup:
- Cream Cheese & Wasabi Dip: A little creamy, a little spicy, and definitely memorable. This one had a surprising kick and was the most talked about appetizer.
- Meatballs: Classic and crowd pleasing.
- Sausage Roll-Ups: The easiest to keep grabbing “just one more.”
- Ham & Gruyère Pinwheels: Flaky, cheesy, and a little fancy without trying too hard.
- Boursin Cheese Dip: Creamy, sweet, salty perfection.
- Beef Boursin Crostini: Rich, flavorful, and disappeared fast.
- Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts: A perfect bite of sweet, salty, and crunchy.
- Candied Mozzarella Balls: Unexpected and so good. The sweet and savory combo worked.
- Wagyu Crostini: Luxurious, bold, and absolutely competition worthy.
The Dessert Entries
If the appetizers were strong, the dessert table was unhinged in the best way. Chocolate everywhere, nostalgic throwbacks, a few elevated bakes, and absolutely zero restraint.
Here’s what we were working with:
- Nutella Bundt Cake: Rich, chocolatey, and basically impossible to slice “just a small piece” of.
- Dunkaroo Dip: A full funfetti nostalgia moment.
- Oreo Cookies: Simple and classic. Can’t go wrong with Oreos.
- Cookie Dough Pretzel Bites: Perfectly sweet and easy to keep grabbing.
- Bourbon Chocolate Cake with Coffee Ice Cream: This one came in strong. Deep chocolate flavor, a hint of bourbon, and the coffee ice cream sealed the deal.
- Cheesecake Bars: Creamy, balanced, and gorgeously plated.
- Strawberry Cake: Light, pretty, and a nice break from all the chocolate.
- Cheesecake Brownie Cups: Chocolate meets cheesecake in individual form.
- Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting: A classic combo that never misses.
The Competition
Now for the best part: the judging. We kept the entries anonymous so guests would be honest…but that didn’t really matter because everyone was VERY honest.
Each guest received a cute scorecard I designed in Canva and rated every appetizer and dessert on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best. After tasting everything, they also wrote in their single favorite appetizer and favorite dessert overall.
The combination of scoring every dish and then choosing just one top pick made it surprisingly intense. You could love multiple entries, but in the end, you had to commit.
Once all the ballots were in, McKinsey and I got to work tallying the votes…
The Winners
Now for the results! The margins were tight, and the competition was strong…
Appetizer Winners
- 1st Place: Me!! I WON with my Boursin Dip! I knew my appetizer was contest worthy, but I was still genuinely shocked because there were so many incredible dishes on that table that I was fully prepared to clap for someone else.
- 2nd Place: Julie’s Beef Boursin Crostini, which absolutely deserved it.
- 3rd Place: A tie between Lyndsey’s Candied Mozzarella Balls (recipe inspo) and Megan’s Ham & Gruyère Pinwheels.
Dessert Winners
- 1st Place: McKinsey’s Strawberry Cake! Family recipe below.
- 2nd Place: Tyler’s Bourbon Cake with Coffee Ice Cream (family recipe below) tied with Lyndsey’s Cookie Dough Pretzel Bites.
- 3rd Place: Megan’s Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. Family recipe below.
How to Host an Appetizer and Dessert Competition Party
If you’re thinking about hosting your own appetizer and dessert party, here are a few things that made ours run smoothly and super fun.
1. Put Money and/or Prizes on the Line
A small buy-in changes everything. We did $20 per couple, and the two first-place winners split the pot. I also gave out a few smaller prizes.
2. Keep the Rules Simple
Bring your best appetizer and your best dessert. That’s it. The easier the instructions, the better the turnout.
3. Keep Entries Anonymous
This is key. Anonymous dishes make the judging way more honest and way more fun. It also gives everyone something to speculate about all night.
4. Create a Clear and Simple Scoring System
We had guests rate each dish 1–5 and then choose one overall favorite for appetizers and one for desserts. The mix of scoring plus picking a top favorite made it surprisingly intense.
5. Limit the Number of Entries
Nine couples (18 dishes total) was perfect. Any more and people would’ve needed a nap halfway through.
6. Have a Signature Drink Ready
You don’t want to be stuck behind the bar while judging is happening. Batch something festive ahead of time and let guests serve themselves.
7. Provide Plenty of Serving Supplies
Extra napkins, plates, forks, tasting spoons, and a trash can. Competition nights can create a lot of little dishes, so I like to use these elevated disposable plates.
8. Lean Into the Competition
Don’t pretend it’s casual if it’s not. The competitive energy is half the fun and is what makes it unforgettable.
9. Announce Winners Dramatically
Gather everyone, pause the music, ring a bell, build suspense. This is their moment.
10. Don’t Overthink It
At the end of the day, it’s great food, lots of laughs, and a reason to gather.
