Party Foods to Wow the Tastebuds by Faithgirlz l Best Party Book Ever l Party Recipes l Party Foods l Foods to Make FOr a Party l Party Dishes

Cucumber Cream Cheese Rounds

These delightful savory sandwiches are almost too cute to eat! Almost.

MAKES ABOUT 30 ROUNDS - 1 loaf sliced white bread 2 large English cucumbers 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped, plus more for garnish

1. Use a round cookie cutter to cut out about 30 rounds of white bread, making sure to skip crust. The circumference of your cookie cutter should generally match that of your cucumbers. 2. Thinly slice cucumbers into about ¼” thick rounds. 3. In a small bowl, use a spatula to mix cream cheese with chives. 4. Spread a bread round with a swipe of cream cheese mixture, then top with a cucumber. Top with a tiny dollop of cream cheese and garnish with a sliver of chive. Repeat for all bread rounds.

Salted Caramel Brownies

A swirl of caramel and a sprinkling of sea salt makes these fudgy brownies super gourmet.

MAKES 1 9”X13” PAN OF BROWNIES - 1 cup or 2 sticks butter, plus 1 to 2 tablespoons more for the pan 1 cup flour 2 cups sugar Scant (just barely) ½ teaspoon salt 4 oz. dark baking chocolate (we like Baker’s brand, found in the baking section at the grocery store) 4 eggs 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract ¼ cup caramel sauce (store-bought is OK!) 1½ teaspoons coarse sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Butter a 9” x 13” baking pan. 2. Combine flour, sugar and salt in a small bowl, set aside. 3. Melt chocolate and butter in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. 4. Remove mixture from heat and stir in the sugar. Allow to cool slightly. 5.Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. 6. Incorporate dry ingredients into wet, until just combined. 7. Pour batter into prepared pan. Drizzle caramel sauce over top of batter, then use a butter knife to lightly swirl through batter. 8. Sprinkle sea salt evenly over the surface. 9. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. 10.Let cool in pan before cutting.

Sprinkle Surprise Cake

Imagine the surprise on a birthday girl’s face when you present her with this rainbow sprinkle-covered cake.

MAKES 1 - 2 LAYERED 9” ROUND CAKE - ½ cup butter, softened, plus 1-2 tablespoons more for the pan 1 ½ cups sugar 3 eggs 2 ¼ cups flour Scant (just barely) teaspoon salt 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder 1 ¼ cups 2% milk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract FOR THE FROSTING: 2 cups powdered sugar ½ cup or 1 stick butter, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons 2% milk 16 oz rainbow sprinkles

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF while you butter 2 9”- round cake pans. Sprinkle flour over them, shake to cover evenly and tap out excess. Set aside. 2. Use stand mixer or hand mixer to cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating on medium low speed. 3. Add flour, salt, baking powder and milk and vanilla, beating until fully combined. Turn speed up to medium high and beat for 3 minutes. 4. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 5. While cake bakes, prepare frosting: Beat all ingredients in medium bowl until smooth and no lumps remain. If mixture is too dry or clumpy, add a touch more milk. 6. Let cakes cool for 15 minutes, then flip one pan over onto cutting board and lightly tap bottom of pan with blunt edge of butter knife. Cake should release from pan onto cutting board, but if not, let it cool longer. Repeat for second cake. 7. Place one cake right side up on cake stand or dinner plate. Spread on thin layer of frosting, then place second cake directly on top of first. 8. Cover entire cake surface with frosting. 9. Coat cake entirely in sprinkles, using hands to press them onto the sides of cake if necessary.

Star Shaped Cookie Bars

This recipe is infinitely adaptable. Swap the chocolate chips for mini peanut butter cups, chocolate covered raisins or nuts.

MAKES 12 to 16 STARS, DEPENDING ON SIZE OF CUTTER - 1 cup or 2 sticks melted butter, plus 1-2 tablespoons more for the pan 2 ½ cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 ½ cups packed brown sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Butter a 9” square baking pan. Line pan with parchment, leaving an overhang on two sides, then butter the parchment. 2. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt, whisk and then set aside. 3. In large bowl, whisk together butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla until smooth. Add flour mixture and stir until just combined, being sure not to overmix. Fold in chocolate chips. 4. Spread batter in prepared pan and bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool 15 minutes in the pan, then liftparchment paper edges to raise cookie bars out of pan. 5. Use varying sizes of star-shaped cookie cutters to cut stars out of cookie bars while still warm. Be careful, as metal cutters can transfer heat from cookie and become very hot. Discard scraps and let stars cool completely.