Star Studded Nosh with Friends

Create this winning appetizer and dessert party with friends, remarkable films and fabulous foods. Celebrate the awards with a sparkly dress-up gathering you and your friends will look forward to re-creating for years to come! Count the ways stars shine at this party!

“When planning a party, I love to serve 1 or 2 hearty appetizers, plus a few smaller, bite-sized eats. That way, I ensure my guests don’t go hungry.”

Kristen, Food Editor - Betty Crocker Kitchens

The Menu
Party Guide
Plan Ahead

Starry Decor

Our star-studded appetizer nosh benefits from twinkly lights and glittering stars on invitations, driveway or walkway luminarias, and table decorations —see An Elegant Affair for New Year’s Eve for all you need to know. We color this party white, silver and gold!

Plan and Work Ahead

Share the cooking. Invite guests online and offer links to the recipes each guest will prepare.
Or, gather friends for coffee or lunch. Divide the recipes, drinks and other needed food items.
Each guest brings one of the appetizer—or dessert—ideas so size of gathering will determine how many recipes you really need to make a light meal. Find additional ideas for a larger gathering in the Mix & Match Appetizer Guide.
Get younger brothers or high-school neighbors to serve as waiters to pass the drinks and appetizers. Movie tickets or the latest DVD should be pay enough for their help.
Have your guests dress like the stars—in their glitzy, glamorous best. Or have them dress like a character in one of the nominated films.
Roll out the red carpet. Designate a photographer. Interview guests as they come in. (Now you’ve a good reason to gather again to watch the party video or share the digital photos on a computer screen during the party.)

Best-Dressed Party Fun

Download printable ballots and pass them out as guests arrive. Set up a low-stakes pool or offer goody bags for the winners—DVDs, gift certificates for movie rentals or theater tickets, soundtrack CDs or movie munchies, including bags of Chex® Party Mix, of course.
Name that recipe! Re-name recipes, using this year’s nominated movies as themes to personalize the names. Make stand-up name cards and give a prize for the best new name.
Set up more than one TV. Rent one of last year’s—or this year’s—best pictures. Run it in a separate room when guests need a break. Or tune into red carpet coverage on various channels.
During commercials, pass out names of nominated movies and play charades. Or look up movie trivia questions (like famous lines from famous movies) from many online sources.

Up to 1 Month Before

Make cupcakes for “You’re a Star” Cupcakes; freeze unfrosted.

The Day Before

Prepare Spiced Nuts ‘n Chex® Mix; store in airtight container.
Hard cook eggs for Pesto Eggs with Shrimp; refrigerate. (Recipe can be made up to 24 hours ahead.)

The Morning Of

Chilling sparkling wines.
Make stars for “You’re a Star” Cupcakes; frost and decorate thawed cupcakes.
Bake Double-Chocolate Caramel-Coffee Cups; store covered in refrigerator.

About 3 Hours Before

Make Smoked Salmon Pinwheels; refrigerate as directed in recipe or see recipe’s Do-Ahead Tip.
Prepare Slow Cooker Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs (if used); hold on low heat setting.
Prepare Party Potatoes; refrigerate.

About 2 Hours Before

Mix cranberry juice and lemonade for Cranberry Limeade; refrigerate (Or see recipe’s Do-Ahead Tip.)
Make Chocolate-Dipped Confections; refrigerate uncovered until chocolate is firm.

About 1 Hour Before