The beginning of winter brings forth a frosty chill, a symphony of whistling teapots, and an incredibly British reluctance to turn on the central heating. It also brings a slurry of social events, from Thanksgiving and Halloween to Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Coincidentally, such gatherings also serve as the perfect excuse not to turn on the heating this winter, for the house will be warmed by a collection of bodies – chattering, drinking, eating and all-around merriment. If, like us, you’re the type to lend your humble homestead to these continuous gatherings over the holiday period, you’ll likely tire of coming up with uniquely delicious selections of hors d’oeuvres, nibbles and various edible party favours.
As friends and family slink from one party to the next like tinsel being thrown around a Christmas tree, we’re left at home with a sink and a half’s worth of washing up to do, and an intense ringing in our ears. Yet the solution to post-hosting woes seems relatively simple to us. Why not solve two hosting problems in one fell swoop this festive season by ordering a collection of party food platters ahead of time?
Not only will this help to dispel any lack of food inspiration or creativity, but it’ll also help to limit the number of pots, pans, and dishes you’ll be left with once the party is over. If you’re feeling deceptive, you might also tell that judgemental aunt that yes, you did in fact make those delicately wrapped pigs in blankets all by yourself. Perfectly sliced finger sandwiches assembled with bread as soft as clouds? You actually proved the dough all day yesterday to create such fresh and fluffy slices of heaven from scratch.
Whether you choose to be an honest angel who shares their party tricks with attendees or not, we’ve rounded up a selection of the best party platters to order over the holiday period. Keep scrolling to keep your guests well-fed.
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Savoury
Plat Des Fruits De Mer - Cooked Shellfish Platter
Cooked and ready to eat, you’ll stun your party guests with this abundant seafood platter from The Fish Society. It includes one whole lobster which you’ll have to split at home with a heavy knife, mussels, three kinds of prawn, dressed crab, cockle meat and brown shrimp. Fear not, for each element is packed separately so there’ll be zero cross-contamination when it comes to taste. The Fish Society recommends displaying the contents on a bed of ice.
Buy now £89.90, The Fish Society
Tomato & Pine Nut Tarte Tatins
Bite-sized and heavenly, serving classy canapés has never been easier than with the help of Cook. Each crisp puff pastry sphere is topped with homemade tomato and red pepper jam, some juicy semi-fried tomatoes and pine nuts for a bit of added crunch.
Buy now £7.50, Cook
50 Mini Indian Snacks
For those who can’t quite expertly fold their very own samosas or perfectly fry a bhaji, Waitrose has got you covered when it comes to your dinner party plans. This delicious platter comes with 10 onion bhajis, 10 vegetable samosas, 10 vegetable pakoras, 10 chicken samosas and 10 chicken pakoras. It also includes mint raita, as well as a date and tamarind dipping sauce. We expect these will go before the party has even begun.
Buy now £22.00, Waitrose
No.1 Cheese Selection
One of Waitrose’s most trodden aisles in each and every branch is the one that contains the cheese and dairy – and for good reason. This value-for-money platter includes Westcombe Cheddar from Somerset, Le Crêt Gruyère, Le Fleuret, Cropwell Bishop Stilton and Brie de Meaux. A sustainable bamboo cheeseboard is also included in your purchase so you can perfect your charcuterie arrangement skills.
Buy now £30.00, Waitrose
Mini Salmon Tartare – 5 pieces
Delight and impress your party guests with a selection of mini salmon tartare dishes which are made to order from Harrods. Ready-to-eat with a two-day shelf life, on the off chance that you end up with leftovers, you can enjoy one of these delicious canapés for lunch the next day.
Buy now £15.00, Harrods
The Caviar and Crisp Tin Selection
A luxury option for the most special of occasions, treat yourselves and your guests to some Baerii fresh caviar from Fortnum’s alongside some delicious Patatas Fritas, which are packaged in a lovely ceremonial tin, for serving.
Buy now £230.00, F&M
Multi Bagel Box
No brunch party is complete without a selection of delicious bagels, and Gail’s rules the roost in the realm of made-to-order bagel platters. This selection box comes with 10 smoked salmon bagel halves and 10 pastrami bagel halves to feed all your hungry guests.
Buy now £31.00, Gail’s
Best Of The West Cheese & Charcuterie Selection
Though technically marketed as a gift set, why not share in the fruits of your spending alongside your party guests, instead of sending a box of goodies straight to their door? Available in two variations – Christmas and standard edition – this incredible charcuterie selection includes vintage Godminster cheddar and award-winning cheeses from Bath Soft Cheese and White Lake Cheese made in Shepton Mallet. It’s also filled with award-winning bits from Somerset Charcuterie including cider nduja, air-dried free-range duck and so much more.
Buy now £125.00, The Newt in Somerset
Greek Meze Experience
Greek-style sharing plates work as a brilliant starter for bustling parties, and this kit includes a selection of some of the nation’s most beloved dishes and dips: Greek salad with dakos, tyrokafteri (spicy dip), keftedes (meatballs), kefalotyri sagnaki (pan-fried cheese), king prawn sagnaki, as well as some traditional Greek pita for dipping.
Buy now £92.00, CookAway
Sweet
Mini Tartelette Platter - 56 Pieces
Celebrate any festive occasion with a selection of artisanal sweet treats from high-street favourite pâtisserie, Paul. This 56-piece platter consists of seven different types of Paul’s iconic tartelettes, including eight chocolate ganache, eight lemon cream, 24 crème pâtissière topped with either fresh strawberry, fresh raspberry, or fresh blueberries, eight caramel and eight almond frangipanes topped with toasted almonds. These bite-sized desserts won’t leave an awkward crumbly mess, so your guests will certainly flock to them at the end of a meal.
Buy now £59.95, Paul
Mini Mince Pies
There’s no better way to close out a festive dinner party than with a platter filled to the brim with delicious individual mini mince pies. Price is for a box of 12 pies.
Buy now £4.95, Cook
Morrisons Raspberry Mini Sponge Sharing Patter
Save yourself the hassle of asking each of your guests exactly what size slice of cake they’d like and avoid the task of cutting a ‘slither’ for that picky partygoer with a selection of mini dusted Victoria Sponge Cakes from Morrisons. Filled with raspberry jam and fresh cream, these delectable cakes are sure to go down a treat.
Buy now £9.50, Morrisons
Belgian Chocolate Profiterole Stack (30 pieces)
Whether served with a hot chocolate sauce or as they come, profiteroles are a fan-favourite snackable dessert to be enjoyed over the holiday season and beyond. Sainsbury’s is offering a whopping 30 perfectly puffy profiteroles filled with sweetened cream and topped with Belgian chocolate sauce for just £9 this winter.
Buy now £9.00, Sainsbury’s
Mixed Mini Cupcake Box
Egg-free, halal-friendly and all-natural, these mini cupcakes from Cutter and Squidge are sure to elicit squeals of admiration from all of your party guests. Choose between a box of 12 or 24 cupcakes in four different flavours: strawberry and vanilla, pistachio and lemon, chocolate birthday (vegan) and chocolate hazelnut (vegan).
Buy now £17.99, Cutter & Squidge
