35 Retirement Party Recipes for the Perfect Celebration

Recipe: Baked Brie Bites

Baked brie is one of our all-time favorite appetizers, but it can get a bit messy and difficult for a big crowd to serve themselves. Luckily, this mini appetizer is the perfect fix.

Recipe: Rosemary Pork Sliders with Horseradish Aioli

Even if the menu consists of small bites, guests can still leave full and happy with these delicious sliders that can cook in the slow cooker all day before the party.

Recipe: Caesar Salad Bites

Big-batch salads can get frustrating to serve when all the good toppings fall to the bottom of the bowl. Our party-friendly solution? These handy salad bites.

Recipe: Potato Puffs with Toppings

These poppable potatoes look and feel dressy but taste oh-so-comforting.

Recipe: Spinach-Artichoke Dip

We’ve never—ever—been to a party where the spinach-artichoke dip wasn’t finished off. Put in the extra effort (believe us, it’s not much) to make this creamy dip yourself instead of picking up a tub of it at the store—your honoree deserves the real deal!

Recipe: Field Pea and Pasta Salad

Pasta salads are perfect for potlucks and parties because they can be served chilled or at room temperature.

Recipe: Ham-and-Cheese Skewers

With just four ingredients, you’ve got an appetizer that looks pretty and is easy for guests to grab and go.

Recipe: Peach-Ricotta-Prosciutto Toasts

This appetizer manages the perfect mix of fresh, sweet, savory, crunchy, and creamy, but it takes basically no effort.

Recipe: Pickled Shrimp and Vegetables

Pickled shrimp and veggies is the ultimate make-ahead party recipe for a stress-free week. Keep this classic dish cool by nestling your serving dish in a larger bowl with crushed ice.

Recipe: Crispy Pork Meatballs

Classic cocktail meatballs can be messy and setting up the slow cooker at the party might not mesh well with your beautiful decorations. These Asian-inspired meatballs pair dressy presentation with addictive deliciousness.

Recipe: Easy Summer Appetizer Board

Grazing boards are all the rage for gorgeous party setups right now, and we’re totally here for it considering how easy they are. This recipe includes Southern favorites like a new twist on pimiento cheese, Riesling peaches, and pickled okra.

Recipe: Quick Chopped Salad with Buttermilk Dressing

Parties can get weighed down with too many indulgent appetizers, so it’s nice to offer up something fresh. This salad is as easy but much prettier than a bag of salad off the grocery store shelf.

Recipe: Classic Deviled Eggs

Has anyone ever said “no thanks” to a platter of deviled eggs? Include a deviled egg toppings bar for guests to jazz up their plate to their liking.

Recipe: Ham Biscuits

If you’re looking for an easy slam dunk of a party recipe, you can never go wrong with classic ham biscuits. Pair them with homemade spreads like our Creole Mayonnaise, Chive-Radish Compound Butter, Spicy Orange-Peach Butter, or Pecan Cheese Spread for a personal touch.

Recipe: Blue Cheese-and-Pecan Stuffed Cherry Peppers

What makes these one-bite delights the ultimate party appetizer? As one of our Test Kitchen Professionals said, they “look sophisticated without taking a lot of time or effort.”

Recipe: Creamy Crab Dip

This fresh take on the vintage crab dip Mama used to make is full of fresh lump crabmeat and Southern-favorite Old Bay seasoning.

Recipe: Spicy Pepper Jelly Coleslaw

Add some color and crunch to the lineup with a fresh new slaw recipe that everyone will be asking to steal.

Recipe: Shrimp and Bacon Salad Sliders

This update on old-school shrimp salad is filled with chopped crispy bacon and fresh citrus notes for a whole new shrimp salad experience.

Recipe: Spicy Cheddar Appetizer Cookies

Use a star-shaped cookie cutter to add a little fun to classic cheese straws that will disappear well before the party ends.

Recipe: Inside-Out Hot Brown Bites

We reimagined the famous Kentucky Hot Brown sandwich into a party-ready appetizer that’s nestled in Parmesan cheese cups.

Recipe: Marinated Watermelon Tomato Salad

There’s not a prettier way to brighten up a summer party than a fresh salad with watermelon and tomatoes.

Recipe: Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

What better way to tell someone you’re going to miss them than a decadent chocolate cake? We’d definitely feel the love if given a slice of this all-time favorite.

Recipe: Ultimate Dark Chocolate Brownies

This is a grown-up party, so serve a grown-up dessert! This brownie recipe has the nostalgic feel of your classic milk chocolate version, but espresso and bourbon add richness that’s out of this world.

Recipe: Coconut Tres Leches Sheet Cake

This coconut cake recipe was made to serve a crowd and believe us when we say it is the creamiest, dreamiest sheet cake we’ve ever made.

Recipe: Chocolate-Caramel Cookie Cups

This bite-size dessert recipe has a high yield for a big crowd (or so that everyone can have more than one).

Recipe: Banana Pudding Cheesecake

We’re not sure that we need to give you more than the name of this recipe to make you want to bake it, but if you need more motivation, you can make it a day in advance to help you out the day of your event.

Recipe: Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

If your retiree is a sucker for strawberry cake, he or she might consider coming out of retirement for you to make this swoon worthy sheet cake for them again.

Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

The honoree can kiss working life goodbye with this simple, sweet dessert. These cookies are perfect to send home in mini tins or clear plastic bags for cute favors.

Recipe: Classic Southern Pound Cake

If you’re not sure what your guests’ dessert tastes are, you can never go wrong with a delectable Southern pound cake. Include homemade whipped cream and fresh berries on the side for topping.

Recipe: Rose Petal Cupcakes

Assigned to bring dessert but not quite an expert baker? This easy cupcake recipe uses boxed mix, but when topped with Rose-Vanilla Buttercream and beautiful but simple rose petals, everyone will assume you’d get Mary Berry’s praise for this dessert!

Recipe: Lemon-Lime Meringue Pie

Lemon meringue and Key lime pie meet in this airy dessert that will be a hit with citrus-lovers at the party.

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

Instead of ordering a cake, show how much you care by baking a homemade cookie cake. Write out, “We’ll miss you!” or another sweet message for extra brownie—cookie—points.

Recipe: French 75

Refreshing and easy to make, this sparkling cocktail was made for celebrating, and your honoree will love the pretty presentation.

Recipe: Peach Sweet Tea

Your retiree deserves the best at this party, so don’t plop a gallon of store-bought sweet tea down on the table. A little effort goes a long way with this delicious, summery sweet tea recipe.

Recipe: Sparkling Punch

You’ll undoubtedly raise a glass to your retiree at the party, so why not raise a beautiful glass of homemade punch instead of something straight from the bottle?