60th Birthday Party Appetizer Ideas

Skewering food makes it possible for guests to mingle while eating.

In addition to the 60th birthday party theme, tease guests about the food to come by serving tasty appetizers. Consider the dietary needs of the birthday person, as you don't want to offer sugar filled treats to a diabetic, spicy foods to a person with stomach problems or shellfish to those with allergies. Take a look at popular foods from when the birthday person was a child when planning your party menu.

Fruit

Offer your guests fresh fruit to munch on while waiting for the main course at the 60th birthday party. Fill small cups with fruit and a blue cheese dip or jab cubes of cheddar cheese and apples with toothpicks. Carve a watermelon into the shape of a basket and fill with melon balls or create a watermelon birthday cake topped with birthday candles shaped like a "6" and "0." Place fresh pineapple or peaches on wooden skewers and grill.

Vegetable

Offer guests a multitude of vegetable options ranging from crudites to fried onions and green beans. When possible, arrange vegetable appetizers into the shape of the number 60 to acknowledge the birthday celebration. Make artichoke, spinach and hummus dips which can be eaten with tortilla chips or fresh vegetables. Stuff mushrooms with a crab filling or fry blue cheese stuffed olives when you want fancier options. Stack slices of fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatoes on small plates and dress with balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Fill cucumber wheels with chicken salad. Dress baked potato slices with taco meat, shredded cheese, sour cream and black olives to add an Americanized ethnic flair to the menu.

Meat

Make small portions to encourage guests to save room for the main dishes. Consider cracking coconuts open and filling the halves with coconut coated fried shrimp. Bake beef samosas for those who enjoy spicy food and beef Wellington for those longing for less heat. Grill seasoned chicken wrapped around lemon grass and teriyaki flavored strips of beef.

Dairy

Whet birthday party guests' appetites by starting their meals with cream based soups that used to be staples like cream of asparagus soup, or update the soup options by offering baked potato soup and broccoli and cheese soup. Serve individual sized pieces of Brie and jam which have been wrapped in phyllo-dough and baked. Warm cream cheese which has been topped with pepper jelly and serve with crackers. Attendants may remember their parents offering tuna stuffed eggs at cocktail parties. In recognition to the 60-year-old's past, offer trays of deviled eggs prepared in a variety of ways and with ingredients such as crab, crunchy vegetables, dill, mushrooms and olives.

References

• Disney Family: Watermelon Birthday Cake Recipe
• Tablespoon: Rock UR Party: Retro Cheese Appetizers
• Do it for Less! Parties; Denise Vivaldo
• The Deviled Egg Gourmet: How to Make Deviled Eggs
• The Food TImeline: FAQs: Popular 20th Century American Foods -- 1960s
• The Food TImeline: FAQs: Popular 20th Century American Foods -- 1950s