Give Yourself a Post-Holiday Boost by Throwing a Little Winter Dinner Party (2024)

Forgo a baked dessert and serve your dinner party guests piping hot chocolate with an offering of mouthwatering garnishes such as crystalized ginger, crushed Butterfingers, coconut flakes, mini marshmallows, sliced Kit Kats, and caramel syrup. Chocolate-dipped biscuit sticks and peppermint sticks function as stirrers. And for the adults? Decanters of dark rum and vanilla vodka!

Get our 30 Best Hot Chocolate Recipes.

SHOP CRYSTALIZED GINGER

Turn a simple white flower arrangement into a party showstopper with the easy addition of red and white marbles. It's a look that's perfect for a Valentine's Day dinner party. Pink and red taper candles complete the sweet centerpiece.

Get the Look: Place a small glass pillar vessel inside a larger clear glass vase and fill the gap between the two with rows of red and white marbles. Contrast the colorful stack with a flower arrangement of white anemones, garden roses, and evergreen sprigs.

Complement the table by serving a menu of Candy Cane Cake and pink frosting-topped White Hot Chocolate.

SHOP MARBLES

Winner, Winner, Chicken D-I-N-N-E-R! When it's cold outside, host a casual and cozy game night. Having folks over? Create a game party-perfect setting by layering a planked table with a pretty floral runner, plus wood chargers topped with simple white plates. For a fun flourish, use the Scrabble game piece holders as playful name cards.

Hosting your game night online? Check out Jack Box Games. Their super fun quiz-based games can be played by groups over any video chat program.

To make it a distanced dinner party, share the recipes, below, so everyone can make their own.

Get the recipes for Crispy Chicken Thighs with Garlic and Rosemary, Roasted Hasselback Sweet Potatoes, and Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad.

SHOP JACK BOX GAMES

Step aside, snow cream, and forget regular hot chocolate! This rum-based "Driven Snow" cocktail from the bar menu at The Resort at Paws Up will warm you and your dinner party guests from the inside out.

Get the recipe for the Driven Snow Cocktail.

Start the new year off right with a celebratory winter dinner party that promises to bring everyone a year of good fortune. No New Year's Day meal is complete without lucky black-eyed peas, and the star of this winter party menu is its lightened-up, fresh take on Hoppin' John. Traditionally cooked with bacon or ham hock and ladled over rice, this version get its flavor from turkey sausage. To complement the dish, an orange-laced Champagne cocktail brings a riff on the Chinese custom of giving citrus as a sign of prosperity.

Get the recipe for Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Spicy Mustard Dressing, Apricot-Stuffed Pork Loin, Orange-Cherry Champagne Cocktails, and Honey Dinner Rolls.

Watching the big game? Keep satisfied by upgrading your favorite meatballs into filling dinner-worthy sliders. To assemble, simply top toasted dinner rolls with meatballs, provolone cheese, and sliced sweet-hot banana peppers.

Get the recipe for Slow-Cooker Meatballs.

Whether you're hosting an outdoor patio party or a cozy virtual dinner party, you can make it a lot fancier by skipping the e-vite and going postal instead. Set an "ode to winter" mood by sending your party guests handmade mitten-shaped invitations.

To Make the Invitations: Stack two sheets of cardstock. Freehand a simple mitten shape on the top sheet, then cut out both. Use a hole punch and twine to connect the mittens before jotting down party details.

SHOP OUTDOOR PATIO HEATERS

It may be cold and dreary outside, but you can create a bright-and-cheery scene inside with a table set with crisp and classic blue-and-white spongeware. Elevate the humble pottery to dinner party status by pairing it with an arrangement of white flowers and napkins that deliver a pop of sunny color.

SHOP SPONGEWARE

Greet your family dinner party guests with a tray of pretty, sparkling cocktails that feature St-Germain-soaked winter fruit and Prosecco. It's the perfect choice to fête a crew, toast the New Year, or make any night a special occasion.

Get the recipe for Sparkling Winter Sangria.

Who doesn't love mashed potatoes? They're the ultimate wintertime comfort food! Make your next winter dinner party legendary by taking everyone's favorite side dish to the next level with a self-serve offering of savory, flavor-enhancing stir-ins.

Get the recipe Fried Shallots and Crème Fraîche Mashed Potatoes.

For an all-natural winter dinner party setting, layer textured neutrals and star motifs that evoke a Scandinavian spirit. Powdered sugar-dusted snowflake cookies reinforce the snowy theme.

Make these Wooden Bead Stars: Draw a five-point star on paper. Make a loop in one end of a piece of silver craft wire. Thread beads on the wire, bending the wire per star drawing as you go. Feed the loose end of the wire through the loop, crimp, and cut.

Make this Acorn Tree: Paint acorns with white craft paint, leaving the caps natural. Attach a loop of twine with hot glue. Hang from a spray-painted branch that is set inside a large spool of twine.

Get the recipe for Herbed Cheeseball and Pecan Snowflake Cookies.

SHOP WOODEN BEADS

Chunky yarn and textural white flowers and berries make for a pretty winter centerpiece. To make, wrap plain glass vases with strands of chunky yarn, then tuck in wood knitting needles for a fun nod to the craft. For more textured strands, braid lengths of yarn and wrap around vases. Fill the vases with arrangements of ranunculuses, baby's breath, snowberries, and twigs. Complete the cozy setting with vintage spools wrapped with wool yarn.

SHOP YARN

Think outside the box and instead of a tablecloth, layer your dining table with a warmly hued oushak rug. Its colors and patterns add a rich textural base to a winter dinner table setting. Dress it up with metallic accents such as gold-plated flatware and a centerpiece of gold spray-painted pomegranates. For an additional personal touch, make creative name cards by painting flat rocks with a metallic paint, letting dry, and then writing guests' names with a paint pen.

SHOP METALLIC PAINT

Give your winter dinner party guests a sweet send-off with take-home packages of gourmet marshmallows. Mature flavors like coffee and lavender lend these melt-in-your mouth delicacies a sophisticated profile. Show them to their best advantage in a simple glassine bag, tied with a length of dapper ribbon.

Get the recipe for Gourmet Marshmallows.

When it's cold outside, nothing is better than a cozy, hearty meal to create happiness and contentment. Try this yummy menu from Paws Up's executive chef Sunny Jin that boasts an array of elevated comfort food, such as glazed pork chops, an impressive potato gratin, and dishes boasting winter favorites such as squash, Brussels sprouts, and cranberries.

Get the recipes:

Pork Chops with Bourbon-Molasses Glaze

Hasselback Potato Gratin

Roasted Squash with Goat Cheese and Poached Cranberries

Cranberry Tart

Spend the day out sledding the hills, then invite everyone over for a "Snow Day" winter dinner party. These darling edible snowflake-shaped decorations will pull double-duty as they are delicious to eat, but can easily be used to dress up any dessert table, festive cake, or other wintry treats.

Get the recipe for Meringue Snowflakes.

The best winter dinner parties aren't fancy at all. When it's cold outside, keep it casual with simple, comfort food. This no-fuss spread is proof that it only takes a few quick touches like blooms gathered in a vase and napkin ring-wrapped linens to elevate an everyday meal into a company-ready party setting. Keep the menu simple as well with hearty stuffed shells paired with a tasty salad and melt-in-your-mouth garlic bread.

Get the recipe for Pea-and-Mint Stuffed Shells.