For some reason, food is so much more appealing when it’s on a stick. (Just me? Bueller?) I mean, candy kabobs were pretty much the most mind-blowing treat you could get as a kid, and I’d argue that veggies, meat, cheese, and pretty much everything else I can think of are 10x better when they’re skewered.
Long story short, 2022 is the year of the finger food. I mean, parties are back, baby! (Please, COVID variants, don’t make me eat my words.) And lucky for you, we’ve compiled a bunch of two-bite beauts that are beyond easy to assemble, allowing you to officially claim your title as Host of the Friend Group. Because we know you deserve that, okay? You don’t need to be humble around us.
Ready to get sticking and poking? Scroll down for six of our favorite toothpick-appetizer recipes, each of which corresponds to one of the tasty treats in the photo below. Choose your weapon, then chow.
1. Sweet Peach
Grill a few fresh slices of Georgia’s finest, then stack them with creamy burrata cheese, a ripe cherry tomato, and a single basil leaf to help bring this salty-sweet caprese full circle.
2. Breakfast Bite
Think of this treat as the best mini breakfast sandwich of your life minus the bagel. All you need is a bit of smoked salmon, cucumber, tomato, cream cheese, and a teensy little caper.
3. Cake Pop
Prep the ripest fruit you can find—strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries are welcome here—and spear with a frozen chunk of cheesecake (psst, store-bought is fine).
4. Choco Churro
Scour the frozen-food section until you procure a pack of churros. Pop ’em in the oven, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, and drizzle your new fave with chocolate sauce.
5. Saucy Snack
Alternate mini meatballs, mozzarella, and basil leaves, then top with a plop of marinara for a mini meal that tastes just as good as your go-to Italian takeout order.
6. Sweet and Salty
Oh, this? The one that’s cut out for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Pair cantaloupe or honeydew with prosciutto, cheddar, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Photographs by Cody Guilfoyle.