47 Recipes for a Baby’s Baptism Party

Coconut Dream Cupcakes

My daughter, Elizabeth, came up with this incredible recipe. The cream cheese in the middle is a fun surprise when someone takes their first bite. —Julie Flournoy, Laurelville, OH

Cucumber Canapes

I always get requests for the recipe for these canapes whenever I serve them. They're delicate finger sandwiches with a creamy herb spread and festive red and green garnishes. —Nadine Whittaker, South Plymouth, Massachusetts

Beer-Braised Pulled Ham

To jazz up ham, I slow-cooked it with a beer sauce. Buns loaded with ham, pickles and mustard are irresistible. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts

Lemon Blueberry Drop Scones

I enjoy serving these fruity scones for baby and bridal showers. They’re a bit lower in fat than most other scones, so you can indulge with little guilt. —Jacqueline Hendershot, Orange, California. If you like this, check out our favorite drop scones recipe by Queen Elizabeth.

Zucchini Panzanella Salad

I learned how to make panzanella from my friend's grandmother. Once I discovered how to make the perfect vinaigrette, it became a dish I crave during the summer. It's also a great way to use day-old bread and your garden's bounty of zucchini. —Felicity Wolf, Kansas City, Missouri

Mimosa Butter Cookies

You can add many different flavors to butter cookies to make them your own. Try an alternate type of citrus zest, or add an alternate liquid to change things up. —Sara Lark, Raton, New Mexico

Mini Rosemary-Roast Beef Sandwiches

Roast beef sandwiches never last long at a party, especially if you dollop them with mayo, mustard, horseradish and pickled giardiniera relish. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin

27 Recipes for Anyone Who Loves Pesto

Whether you bought a jar of prepared pesto or have some fresh herbs laying around, enjoy our favorite recipes using pesto. We found delicious ways to include it in appetizers, dinners and even pizza!

Minty Watermelon-Cucumber Salad

Capturing the fantastic flavors of summer, this refreshing, beautiful watermelon-cucumber salad will be the talk of any picnic or potluck. —Roblynn Hunnisett, Guelph, Ontario

Chocolate Macaroon Cupcakes

A delightful coconut and ricotta cheese filling is hidden inside these chocolate cupcakes. —Dolores Skrout, Summerhill, Pennsylvania

Ham 'n' Cheese Biscuit Stacks

These finger sandwiches are filling enough to satisfy hearty appetites. I've served the fun little stacks at every event, including holiday gatherings, showers and tailgate parties. —Kelly Williams, Forked River, New Jersey

Fruit Skewers

Fruit skewers made with fresh fruit, cheese and a cinnamon yogurt dip will become a regular snack for every potluck, barbecue and game-day party.

Fontina Asparagus Tart

This lemony tart is loaded with fontina cheese and fresh asparagus. It's a snap to make but looks really impressive. Be advised your guests will be vying for the last piece. —Heidi Meek, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Buttery Ganache Cookie Cups

Our family wanted to share our love of ganache-filled cupcakes, so we made them into cookies. Even better: we bake the cookies in muffin cups, fill with ganache, and get the best of both worlds! —Adela Srinivasan, Parker, Colorado

Sicilian Potato Salad

Fresh basil is the star of this mayo-free, Italian-inspired take on potato salad. —Sue Falk, Warren, Michigan

Onion Brie Appetizers

Guests will think you spent hours preparing these cute appetizers, but they're really easy to assemble, using purchased puff pastry. And the tasty combination of Brie, caramelized onions and caraway is terrific. -Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio

Pulled Brisket Sandwiches

Don’t let the number of ingredients in this brisket sandwich recipe scare you; you probably have most of them in your pantry already. The sauce is what makes this dish so special. It’s hard not to like ketchup, brown sugar and a little butter drizzled over tender beef brisket. —Jane Guilbeau, New Orleans, Louisiana

Raspberry Crumble Coffee Cake

Don't be "intimidated" by the recipe directions for this coffee cake—it really isn't difficult to make. Try it sometime as a nice brunch item. Don't limit it to that, though...it's also a delicious dessert.—Shirley Boyken, Mesa, Arizona

Mini Grilled Cheese

If you're looking for a fantastic make-ahead snack, try these miniature grilled cheese sandwiches. They're nice to have in the freezer for lunch with soup or a salad. My family loves to nibble on them anytime. —Anita Curtis, Camarillo, California

Ham Balls with Brown Sugar Glaze

These smoky-sweet meatballs are a Pennsylvania Dutch specialty. I like setting them out when folks come to visit. —Janet Zeger, Middletown, Pennsylvania

Cherry Cheese Cupcakes

These pretty cream cheese cups that look like cupcakes are always my home-baked contribution to our church's Christmas party. The holidays inspired the cheery garnish of cherries, and I often add mint leaves for even more seasonal color. —Leanne Beagley, Rochester, New York

Ramen Coleslaw

This super-easy, veggie-packed ramen coleslaw is a special side dish for barbecues, potlucks or any quick meal.

Citrus Mini Cakes

These moist, bite-size muffins from Linda Terrell of Palatka, Florida are melt-in-your-mouth good. "With their appealing look, they really dress up a party table," she notes. The recipe makes a big batch, so there's plenty to please a crowd.

Roasted Red Pepper Triangles

I sandwich full-flavored meats, cheeses and veggies between layers of flaky crescent dough for this sensational treat. We like to have marinara sauce on hand for dipping. —Amy Bell, Arlington, Tennessee

Cucumber-Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Besides being tasty, these little tomato poppers are extra awesome because you can make them ahead of time. At parties, I often triple the recipe because they disappear fast. —Christi Martin, Elko, Nevada

Garbanzo-Stuffed Mini Peppers

Mini peppers are so colorful and are the perfect size for a two-bite appetizer. They have all the crunch of pita chips but without the extra calories. —Christine Hanover, Lewiston, California

Broccoli-Cheddar Tassies

Our family adores broccoli casserole. I wanted to try it as an appetizer, so I used a pecan tassie recipe for the crust. The result? We’re talking scrumptious. —Gail Gaiser, Ewing, New Jersey

Sugar Cookies

This sugar cookie dates back to a Swedish woman born in 1877! Her daughter, Esther Davis, shared the recipe with me and she came up with all the exact measurements, since the original cookies were mixed by feel and taste. These are my favorite cookies and I hope they’ll become yours as well. —Helen Wallis, Vancouver, Washington

Marinated Olive & Cheese Ring

We love to make meals into celebrations, and antipasto always kicks off the party for Italian dinners. This one is almost too pretty to eat, especially when sprinkled with pimientos, fresh basil and parsley. —Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania

Rhubarb Scones

My grandfather grows rhubarb and gives us a generous supply. The tartness is similar to a cranberry—perfect for tossing into a scone. —Danielle Lee, Sewickley, Pennsylvania

Artichoke Phyllo Cups

I wanted to create a bite-sized version of rich, creamy artichoke dip. These adorable phyllo cup appetizers were a total success! —Neel Patel, Champaign, Illinois

Chicken Salad Party Sandwiches

My famous chicken salad arrives at the party chilled in a plastic container. When it’s time to set out the food, I stir in the pecans and assemble the sandwiches. They’re a hit at buffet-style potlucks. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

Bacon Deviled Eggs

These bacon deviled eggs are the perfect potluck or barbecue party snack when you need an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer for your party.

Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake

Although my coffee cake makes a large pan, it never lasts very long! It’s great for a Sunday brunch after church and nice to bring to family reunions, too. —Dorothy Morehouse, Massena, New York

Kalamata Cheesecake Appetizer

It's believed the Greeks served cheesecake at the first Olympics, so why not rewrite history with a Greek cheesecake appetizer? Ingredients in this version "tame" the kalamata olives, so even if you shy away from kalamatas, you'll be glad you tried this one. For a milder flavor, use the more common black or green olives. —Theresa Kreyche, Tustin, California

Nutella-Stuffed Strawberries

Gourmet strawberries are pricey to order but easy to make. We serve strawberries with hazelnut spread as a crowd-pleasing appetizer or dessert. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

Apricot Turkey Pinwheels

I created these unique pinwheels for a football game snack using ingredients I had on hand. They were a huge hit! I appreciate how quick and easy they are to prepare. —Melanie Foster, Blaine, Minnesota

Buttery Spritz Cookies

This tender spritz cookie recipe is quite eye-catching on my Christmas cookie tray. The dough is easy to work with, so it’s fun to make these spritz cookies into a variety of festive shapes. This is hands-down the best spritz cookie recipe ever. —Beverly Launius, Sandwich, Illinois

Almond-Bacon Cheese Crostini

For a change from the usual toasted tomato appetizer, try this baked crostini recipe. If you like, slice the baguette at an angle instead of making a straight cut. —Leondre Hermann, Stuart, Florida

Caprese Skewers

Light, satisfying and healthful in one impossibly easy-to-make dish? Yes, please! Enjoy these Caprese skewers as an app, side dish—truly perfect paired with grilled meat or poultry—or a convenient snack. Every bite is a little taste of summer.

Winning Apricot Bars

This recipe is down-home baking at its best, and it really represents all regions of the country. It's won blue ribbons at county fairs and cookie contests in several states! Easy to make, it's perfect for potluck suppers, bake sales, lunchboxes or just plain snacking.—Jill Moritz, Irvine, California

Greek Sandwich Bites

Here’s an appetizer that tastes just like traditional spanakopita, but it’s much less work to make. —Lynn Scully, Rancho Santa Fe, California

Blueberry Kuchen

Our blueberry kuchen recipe will let your sweet summer berries shine!