Do you love party appetizers? HELLO, NO NEED TO ANSWER BECAUSE “PARTY APPS” IS A PERFECTLY GLORIOUS FOOD GROUP.
And when you need something light, fresh, and easy, what do you do? You take advantage of your summer produce, that’s what!
These recipes are ridiculously good. Crunchy, fresh, and packed with flavor. They are a must for any get-together.
1. Frosted Grapes
Frosted grapes! Have I just been living under a sad, appetizer-less rock? I can’t believe it took me this long to discover this ridiculously good treat.
You just give fresh grapes a bath in melted sugar, and then you sprinkle them with even more sugar. Once they’re dry, they are ready to go. This app is so simple, but it is a total deliciousness bomb.
I just love the little bit of crunch and extra sweetness from that sugar coating. YUM.
2. Mini-Fruit Tacos
Okay, YUMMMM. Little flour tortillas get a sparkly coating of sugar and cinnamon, then they’re filled with a honey cinnamon cream cheese, and topped off with a mix of fresh fruits.
I mean, these are the sweet and creamy tacos that I never knew I needed in my life. Fruit in tacos? It’s pure genius. The flavors and textures just SING together, right?
Once you try these, you’ll find yourself making them over and over. They are that good.
3. Watermelon Caprese Skewers
You know a Caprese salad—that colorful Italian classic with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, all dressed up in a balsamic vinaigrette. But in this fruity version, we’re swapping in watermelon and adding prosciutto, and I have to say, it’s a thing of beauty.
We’re drizzling the whole thing with a sweet and tart balsamic glaze, and these skewers are just so delightful. The combo of sweet fruit, creamy mozzarella, salty prosciutto, and earthy basil is such a treat! A total flavor and texture wonderland.
4. Mexican Fruit Salad
Fruit salad is already a win—it’s a colorful go-to for an appetizer, side, or dessert. So simple, right? Just a bunch of your favorite fruits mixed together.
But for this recipe, we’re giving it a Mexican twist with a honey-lime and chili dressing. Ugh, I love it. Fruits are so wonderfully sweet, and they can totally handle a little bit of heat.
That dressing doesn’t just add spice; it makes the fruit flavors pop even more. Big, big, BIG happy flavor.
5. Greek Yogurt Fruit Bites
One look at these and you just know they’re perfect for your next get-together. Those red, blue, and white hues are so patriotic and pretty! And let me tell you, these Greek yogurt fruit bites are just as delicious as they look.
We’re talking phyllo crust filled with a Greek yogurt whipped cream and topped with fresh fruit. The idea is simple, but the colors, flavors, and textures are totally next-level.
6. Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
Let’s kick things off with these super innovative cheesecake bites. How gorgeous are these fruity little treats? Each luscious strawberry gets piped full of a sweet and fluffy cream cheese filling and then topped with a dried blueberry.
It’s such a fun take on the classic strawberry cheesecake. Instead of being a topping, the strawberry becomes the little boat that holds all that cheesecake goodness.
And that red, white, and blue color combo makes it a must-have for any 4th of July party.
7. Fruit and Cheese Kabobs
Is there anything that screams summer more than colorful fruits and cheese threaded onto skewers? Kabobs, kebabs, however you spell them—they are just delightful.
For this recipe, you’ll be using strawberries and tri-colored grapes with baby Swiss and white cheddar cheeses. The red, purple, green, and cream colors together look so exceptional.
And the flavor combo of sweet, juicy, rich, and creamy? It’s just so on point.
8. Honey Ricotta Peach Crostini With Crispy Pancetta
Just the name of this recipe is like music to my ears. Thinking about biting into one of these delicious little morsels makes me so happy. You need to try this one, I promise.
Even if you don’t have a party planned, just make them for yourself. You will not regret it! Crispy toasted crostini are topped with honey, ricotta, peaches, and pancetta. Do I even need to say more?
9. Fish and Fruit Waffle Canapes
Okay, here’s how this goes down. Mini-waffles get dipped into a milk and egg mixture and then pan-toasted until they’re crisp. It’s like a waffle and French toast had a baby.
Then, those waffles are skewered with lettuce, a small piece of fish, a cube of apple, and a slice of strawberry. I know the combination sounds a little out there, but trust me when I say it’s a winner.
10. Roasted Pears With Figs and Brie
Sweet pear halves are slathered with a fruity fig spread, topped with brie cheese, and then baked until they’re perfect.
These starters are amazing just as they are, but if you want to be extra, try topping them with candied pecans or chewy dried cranberries. That textural contrast is just pure magic.
11. Key Lime Pie Cheesecake Dip
Have you ever thought about turning cheesecake into a dip? If not, you are in for such a treat. Just imagine dipping your favorite fruit into a rich, sweet, and tart key lime cheesecake. Amazing, right?
It’s a totally new way to enjoy a classic dessert. And besides fruit, this dip is perfect with graham crackers, cookies, and pretzels. Total weeknight magic!
12. Mini-Fruit Pizzas
With sugar cookies as the crust, cream cheese frosting as the sauce, and fresh fruits for the toppings, these mini fruit pizzas are just incredible. And oh my gosh, just look at how beautiful they are!
They’re kind of like fruit tarts, but you get a cookie instead of a shell. If you ask me, I think this version is so much better. A total deliciousness bomb!
13. Cherry Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Let’s add some Asian flair to your summer party with these cherry chicken lettuce wraps. We’re talking lettuce leaves filled with a mix of cubed chicken, carrots, cherries, almonds, and green onions, all tossed in a sweet teriyaki sauce.
Colorful, sweet, savory, and crunchy are just a few of the amazing things you can expect from these wraps. We usually see cherries as a sweet garnish for desserts, but they are so, so good in savory dishes, too.
14. 2-Ingredient Fruit Dip
So this isn’t exactly a fruit recipe on its own, but this dip will make your fruit snacking so much more exciting. It’s a simple blend of creamy cream cheese and fluffy marshmallow fluff, and this dip is delightful to the max.
It’s not too sweet or bland—it just hits right. Besides fruits, this dip is also fantastic with pretzels and crackers. I wouldn’t even be mad about using it as a sandwich filling. Just sayin’.
15. Mini-Patriotic Fruit Skewers
Here’s another red, white, and blue starter that’s perfect for your 4th of July party. These mini-kebabs are THE BOMB. They might be small, but they have major flavor.
Watermelon, pears, and blueberries all on one skewer—talk about delicious. Sweet, crunchy, and juicy, these three are a perfect team. You can use other fruits too, if you want.
Just try to stick with the color theme if you’re serving them on Independence Day.
16. Fruit Appetizers on a Toothpick
A medley of fruits and berries are skewered on toothpicks and then dunked into the most delectable dip. You guys, these fruit appetizers are so good, they will be gone in minutes.
The best part is that you can use any fruit you can dream up. Kiwis, bananas, pineapple, berries—you name it! It’s a choose-your-own-adventure! And you can pair them up however you want.
But what takes these colorful bites to the next level is the dip. It’s a mix of sour cream, whipped cream, brown sugar, and orange juice that is so wonderfully sweet, creamy, and fluffy.
17. Strawberry Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
If you love all things strawberry, this dip is going to get you hooked. It’s a mix of strawberry cream cheese and marshmallow Fluff, making it incredibly rich, creamy, and fluffy!
The strawberry flavor is just perfect, too. Whether you eat it with fruits, berries, cookies, crackers, or just straight from the bowl with a spoon, this dip is a total winner. It will not let you down.
18. Mini-Fruit Tart Canapes
These bite-sized tarts are made with crispy ready-made shells, a ridiculously rich creme patisserie filling, and topped with sweet and refreshing fruits.
I know what you’re thinking—creme patisserie? What is that? I was intimidated by the name, too. But don’t you worry. It’s just a fancier way of saying custard. If I can pull it off, so can you!
19. Goat Cheese, Honey, & Fruit Crostini
Crunchy, bite-sized slices of bread are topped with a goat cheese and honey spread, fresh fruit, and then drizzled with even more honey. Now that is what I call an appetizer.
One bite gives you such a beautiful harmony of flavors and textures. Sweet, tart, creamy, soft, crunchy—I just can’t get enough!
You can use just one type of fruit or mix it up for a pretty color contrast. This recipe is amazing with berries, mangoes, and peaches. A++.
20. Fruit Salsa With Cinnamon Chips
While classic salsa is always great, this one is also a total showstopper. In this fruity version, kiwi, strawberries, apples, pineapple, and tangerines all team up to create one epic salsa.
From the color to the flavor to the texture, this salsa is a ten out of ten. Whether you use it as a dip for chips or a topping for nachos and grilled meats, you can’t go wrong.
But personally? The cinnamon chips are its perfect match.
