From 4th of July picnics to family reunions, summer is full of special events that deserve equally special food to match. But have you ever walked into a potluck and you’re the only one toting a platter of vegan-friendly food? You know your dish tastes fabulous, and you're fully prepared to run to the nearest microphone to sing the praises of food without animal products (even though, if you're honest with yourself, your voice needs a little fine-tuning). But you worry that once they hear it’s vegan, they won’t go near it with a 10-foot pole and you’ll inevitably (though not reluctantly) end up eating most of the food you brought yourself. If you’re following a vegan diet, it’s helpful to have some enticing recipes on hand that not only accommodate vegan eating but are so mouthwatering and fun that your guests can’t help but race towards your dish for first and second helpings. With your summer shindigs in mind, we’ve curated a list of our favorite vegan party food recipes that are sure to tempt the palettes of every guest. Whether you need some sweet treats or shareable platters, we’ve got you covered!
6 Easy Vegan Party Food Ideas
1. Build-Your-Own Popcorn Bowl Station
Give your guests a chance to showcase their creativity with a DIY popcorn station! That’s right—the fan-favorite food of movie nights everywhere is also vegan. Shock and surprise your guests with that fun fact! To create your DIY station, all you need is a large bowl of freshly-popped, plain popcorn and several fun toppings on the side to choose from. Your guests will love munching on their custom-made bowl of popcorn and seeing what fun toppings others decided to mix in!
Toppings Ideas
- Dried fruit
- Vegan chocolate chips
- Coconut flakes
- Garlic powder
- Nutritional yeast
- Mixed nuts
- Melted vegan butter spread (try WayFare’s vegan butter!)
Vegan Popcorn (Makes 4 Servings)
Ingredients
- 4-8 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup popcorn kernels
- Salt, if desired
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
- Once the oil is heated, add 2-4 individual kernels of popcorn to the pot and cover. Once they pop, the oil is hot enough to add the rest of the popcorn.
- Add the rest of the popcorn kernels to the pot and cover again.
- Shake the pot ever so often to prevent the kernels from burning.
- Once the popping slows down, remove the pot from the heat.
- Add salt if desired and shake to combine.
- Transfer popcorn to a large bowl and serve.
2. Decadent Fudge Brownie Bites
You can’t go wrong with chocolate, especially if it’s in brownie form! Brownie bites are easy to share with a large group by dividing a tray of brownies into 1-inch squares and sticking rainbow-colored toothpicks into the top. We’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth here at WayFare, so we created a one-of-a-kind brownie recipe that’s rich, fudgy, and can be customized for vegan dietary needs. Trust us when we say it’s so good that you’ll want to keep the entire pan for yourself (we’ve done that before!). Try our delicious brownie recipe here.
3. Vegan Cream Cheese-Stuffed Dates
Dates get the best of both worlds. They’re both swanky and a little granola, so they appeal to a wide range of tastes! If you want quick vegan party food that is sophisticated yet approachable, try these two-ingredient vegan cream cheese stuffed dates! This easy finger food can be personalized to be sweet or savory simply by mixing up what kind of vegan cream cheese you fill it with. For savory, try stuffing your dates with our Onion & Chive vegan cream cheese. For sweet, try mixing our Original vegan cream cheese with a little vegan maple syrup before filling your dates. Your guests will rave when they bite into these vegan-friendly treats.
Vegan Cream Cheese-Stuffed Dates (Makes 10 Dates)
Ingredients
- 10 Medjool dates
- 2-3 tbsp WayFare’s vegan cream cheese (either Onion & Chive or Original)
Instructions
- Cut the dates open lengthwise and remove the pits.
- Using a small spoon, fill all the dates with a vegan cream cheese of your choice.
- Refrigerate the dates for an hour before serving.
4. Personal Pudding Parfaits
Who says pudding is just a childhood goodie? Not us! Pudding is for everyone, especially when it’s vegan, too! Vegan pudding parfaits are perfect for guests of all ages and are a great way to feature some of the best seasonal fruits of summer, like strawberries, blackberries, and bananas. Simply alternate layers of seasonal fruit with WayFare’s vegan chocolate pudding or vanilla pudding in small cups for a beautiful, summery treat.
Pro Tip: The 4th of July is the perfect opportunity to layer raspberries, WayFare vanilla pudding, and blueberries for a patriotic twist!
5. Colorful, Seasonal Veggies Platter
Every veggie deserves its day in the sun, so showcase the vegetables of the summer with a seasonal platter! A range of popular vegetables come into season in the summer, meaning they are fresher and, often, tastier than they are in off-seasons. Yum! Below are some of the popular vegetables that come into season in the summer:
- Cucumbers
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Radishes
- Zucchini
Slice up a variety of these vegetables into bite-sized pieces, arrange them on a large platter, and place several bowls of delicious dips in the center for a refreshing, tasty dish to share with your guests. For vegan-friendly dipping options, try our vegan French Onion Dip, vegan Ranch Dip, or vegan Sour Cream! Your guests are sure to return again and again to your platter to fill up on veggies or swipe an extra spoonful (or two) of dip!
6. Vegan Nachos
Tired of seeing the same old platter of plain chips and crusty guacamole at every party? Take your bag of tortilla chips to the next level by whipping up a plate of nachos! Nachos are so easy to make, and they can be customized for vegan dietary needs by using WayFare products. Simply replace your standard nacho cheese with our dairy free Nacho Cheddar with Jalapeños and layer on your favorite vegan-friendly toppings, like our vegan sour cream! Check out our recipe for dairy free nachos and create a dish that’s sure to make your guests’ mouths water and say “olé!”
Prep for Your Next Party with WayFare
Ready to start shopping for your next get-together? Want to make guests excited about your amazing vegan dishes? Find WayFare products in a store near you or shop online today! We offer a range of vegan products that are perfect for every special event. We pride ourselves on creating products that are not only vegan-friendly but are incredibly tasty too! Make your next gathering simple, delicious, and amazing with WayFare Health Foods.