The long, cold winter feels like a distant memory now—time to celebrate with a spring cocktail party! We’ve rounded up 10 irresistible, easy recipes for festive appetizers, drinks and desserts that make excellent use of our favorite seasonal ingredients.
Roasted asparagus and grilled cheese sandwiches
Combine creamy Monterey Jack, Parmesan and ricotta cheeses with crispy, fresh asparagus spears to create a party bite that will have guests snagging seconds (and thirds).
Blue crab toast with harissa aioli and grapefruit
Delicate mounds of blue crab get a kick from spicy harissa and tart grapefruit—and chopped chives on top make a flavorful garnish.
Ruby-red grapefruit gives this minty cocktail a bright, citrus taste and an elegant dash of pink.
Transform a bundle of spring’s first asparagus stalks into these corn cakes, seasoned with thyme, dill and lemon juice. Serve the crispy bites with a dollop of crème fraiche or an herbed aioli.
Step aside, pigs in a blanket: These parmesan-artichoke bites are sure to win over your spring party guests. Bonus: They’re super-easy to make. Just find 12 free minutes and a mini muffin tin, and you're good to go.
Aromatic sprigs of lavender add a gorgeous touch to these sweet-tart Meyer lemonade and vodka cocktails.
This carrot-and-zucchini-packed bread—flavored with nutmeg, cinnamon and brown sugar—tastes more cake-like than bread-like thanks to its moist texture and decadent cream-cheese frosting.
Honey-roasted citrus and thyme popsicles
These incredible homemade popsicles pack more flavor than their store-bought counterparts—and they'll impress your guests. Just roast lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit with a touch of salt, honey and thyme, then puree the mix and freeze it to create these refreshing treats.
You know spring is on the way when berries finally turn sweet—not sour or watery, as out-of-season supermarket berries sometimes taste. This creamy, colorful mousse celebrates beautiful, bright-red raspberries by packing in two full pints per batch.
Rhubarb only comes around once a year. Make the best of it with these lovely special-occasion desserts. Just ladle baked rhubarb over piped meringues and top with vanilla-bean whipped cream.