36 Impressive Valentine’s Day Appetizers for Date Night

Vol-au-Vent

Hot Creole Shrimp Dip

Hot seafood dips are a welcome treat during the coldest month of the year, and they’re fancy enough to serve on special occasions like Valentine’s Day. We particularly love this Creole spiced shrimp dip with its zesty seasoning and bright pimiento chunks. It tastes great with a hearty loaf of French bread or assorted crackers.

Strawberry Ricotta Bruschetta

Your sweetheart deserves the best, and these are the sweetest bruschetta bites. Golden baguette slices are topped with a creamy strawberry spread and more fresh berries for a treat that’s as tasty as it is pretty.

Mini Cheese Balls

Mini cheese balls are the single-serve answer when you want to nibble on something savory but don’t want to fill up on appetizers. The best part? They’re super versatile, so you can roll the cheese balls in different toppings (like sesame seeds or chopped fresh rosemary) and create a variety of flavors.

Smoked Salmon Bites with Shallot Sauce

If your partner loves smoked salmon bagels for breakfast, they’ll fall for these smoked salmon puff pastry bites. Set atop a flaky pastry puff, these Scandinavian-inspired squares are brimming with fresh flavors and a zippy aioli.

So Very Berry Brie

Instead of a fruit and cheese platter, why not elevate Valentine’s Day with baked brie dressed in a berry compote? The combination of cooked fruit with rich, gooey cheese is too decadent to pass up.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sriracha Aioli

We have no issue with a Valentine’s Day spread comprised entirely of cheese and chocolate. However, if you feel the need to incorporate veggies, these roasted Brussels sprouts are a worthy contender for the smorgasbord. A spicy, citrusy aioli is the perfect accompaniment.

Honey Champagne Fondue

Nothing says Valentine’s Day quite like Champagne, so double down on the bubbles with this Champagne-spiked cheese fondue. Ground mustard and white pepper give the melty pot a kick while the honey balances the bold flavors.

Skewered Ravioli with Creamy Tomato Dipping Sauce

Although pasta doesn’t usually fall in the finger foods category, these skewered ravioli fit the bill. Brushed with pesto and rolled in cheesy breadcrumbs, they’re irresistible when dipped in a creamy tomato sauce. We make our recipe with refrigerated ravioli, but frozen ravioli work just as well.

Shrimp and Cucumber Canapes

If you’d rather save room for Valentine’s Day desserts by keeping your appetizers on the lighter side, may we suggest these shrimp and cucumber bites? Each shrimp is placed upright on a cucumber slice for a visual wow factor, while hot pepper sauce gives these cool canapes a kick.

Baby Swiss Appetizer Cheesecake

Start the night on a semi-sweet note with a slice of Swiss cheesecake. For a bolder, cheesier flavor, try using aged Swiss or Gruyere.

Crudite Dip

There’s nothing better—or easier—than a cool, creamy dip and an assortment of crisp vegetables. This recipe creates a simple and speedy appetizer for small and large groups alike.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus with Raspberry Sauce

A two-ingredient raspberry sauce is the true star of this recipe. Made with seedless jam and a bit of vinegar, it comes together in the microwave in only 20 seconds. Then, all you need to do is wrap your asparagus spears with thinly sliced prosciutto and grill ’em up!

Cream Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms

If you love cream cheese stuffed appetizers, here’s another idea to add to your menu. You can use any type of mushroom with a sizable well for stuffing (think portobellos, creminis or white mushrooms). The key to success in this recipe is using fresh herbs like parsley, rosemary or thyme and pairing them with umami-boosting ingredients, such as Worcestershire sauce and ground nutmeg.

Gruyere and Crab Palmiers

Sophisticated seafood appetizers are the name of the game when it comes to Valentine’s Day snacks, and these cheesy crab palmiers are at the top of our must-make list. Flaky puff pastry, sharp Gruyere and delicate crabmeat—who could resist?

Bacon-Wrapped Avocado Wedges

If you believe that bacon makes everything better, we concur—especially when the bacon-wrapped recipe involves cool avocado wedges wrapped in hot, salty bacon! When dunked into a side of spicy Sriracha mayo, there’s no better bite.

Three-Cheese Fondue

Can’t swing a trip to Switzerland at the moment? Treat your Valentine to the next best thing: an Alpine-inspired fondue party. A melty blend of Emmenthaler, Gruyere and Jarlsberg cheeses is spiked with white wine, cherry brandy and a smattering of warming spices. Serve it with cubes of bread and tiny pickles for dipping.

Florentine Ciabatta

We used a medley of sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and chopped spinach to create these Italian-style toasts. Of course, feel free to customize them depending on what you have on hand. You can always add sauteed sausage or cubed chicken if you want to boost the protein.

Olive Oil Dip

We’ve cracked the code to the best dipping oil, thanks to a mix of dried rosemary, basil and oregano and a smattering of crushed red pepper flakes and minced garlic. The dried herbs will keep in the pantry for about a year, so you can whip up this herby condiment anytime.

Pomegranate Pistachio Crostini

Trying to stay on theme, color-wise? Red pomegranate arils are delightfully juicy and taste fantastic with the honey cream cheese that’s slathered on the crisp, toasted bread. This appetizer gets a surprisingly delicious twist with grated dark chocolate and chopped pistachios. It’s a 10/10 combo all around.

Cranberry and Bacon Swiss Cheese Dip

Sour cream and onion fans will love digging into this dip, which is loaded with chive and onion cream cheese, sauteed onions and crispy bacon bits. Sliced almonds add a bit of toothsome texture while garlic pepper and stone-ground mustard kick up the flavor.

Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Ranch lovers won’t be able to resist these crunchy, poppable cherry tomatoes. They’re stuffed with a dill-flecked, cheesy spread reminiscent of the beloved dressing. This easy recipe is vegetarian, but you could always add lump crabmeat, flaked smoked salmon or chopped cooked bacon to the filling to put your own spin on it.

Caramel Havarti

For a unique twist on caramel apples, bake a block of Havarti cheese until the edges are slightly melty. Then, drizzle it with caramel sauce and top your masterpiece with toasted pecans. You’ll want to slather this sinfully sweet cheese on everything from fresh apple slices to buttery crackers.

Cheese Puffs

These cheese puffs are so tasty you’ll be hard-pressed to stop at just one! To take them one step further, serve with a DIY toppings bar with fancy accouterments like bourbon bacon jam or caviar.

Swiss Cherry Bruschetta

Toasted baguette rounds are the vessel for a mountain of cheesy cherries and caramelized onions. They soak up all the juices and lend a hearty crunch to this easy bruschetta appetizer.

Lobster Tartlets

If you’re going for bites that are more substantial than light, try these tasty lobster tartlets. Succulent lobster meat, sweet red peppers and a blend of cheeses create a quick filling that can be spooned into the tart shells. Then, they’re baked until warmed through, about 15 minutes.

Jalapeno Poppers

These bite-sized poppers are quick and easy to assemble, making them a delicious complement to your other party food favorites. The sky’s the limit as far as what dips to pair them with, but sour cream, onion dip and ranch dressing are all good options.

Brie Cherry Pastry Cups

Baked Brie is a classic appetizer any time of year, but these adorable pastry cups also include tart cherries, which seem especially fitting for Valentine’s Day. Sprinkled with nuts and chives, these bite-sized snacks pack a big punch flavor-wise.

Feta Cheese-Stuffed Tomatoes

This appetizer offers a little something red in the form of stuffed cherry tomatoes. Pro tip: To save time, prep the tomatoes and filling the night before Valentine’s Day. Then, fill the tomatoes right before your significant other arrives.

Zippy Shrimp Skewers

A simple marinade of hot pepper sauce, chili powder, paprika, brown sugar and cider vinegar infuses the shrimp with an incredible spicy-sweet flavor. We grill the shrimp to give them a smoky edge, but you can easily air-fry or sear them on the stovetop with equally successful results.

Caprese Skewers

Caprese skewers are always a crowd-pleaser, whether your crowd is a party of 2 or 20. These bright bites come together in 10 minutes and look festive on a platter. Plus, they’re gluten-free and vegetarian to boot.

Garlic Cheese Ball

True love knows no bounds—even when it comes to cheese. This nutty spread is delicious with vegetables or crackers, making it perfect for a Valentine’s appetizer lineup (especially if you and your Valentine are both into garlic).

Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp

Bacon-wrapped shrimp is a fun twist on the surf-and-turf concept, but with much less prep and cooking time involved. Garlic powder, paprika, lemon juice and sugar create an incredible marinade that brings out the shrimp’s natural sweetness.

Crab Appetizers

Made with just a few simple components, crabmeat, phyllo tart shells and cream cheese, these appetizers are easy to assemble and packed full of flavor. They taste especially good with a dollop of chili sauce on top.

Antipasto Skewers

Turn cheese and cured meats into an elegant bite by threading them onto skewers! Perfect for parties, this recipe combines a variety of classic Italian ingredients, such as cheese tortellini, olives and marinated vegetables.

Smoked Deviled Eggs

Just when you think you’ve seen it all deviled eggs-wise, another riff comes along that completely outperforms the competition. This barbecue version gets its umami, fire-kissed notes from smoking hard-boiled eggs over hickory wood chips on the grill.

Valentine’s Day Appetizers FAQ

What are the most elegant and impressive Valentine’s appetizers?

Creating elegant and impressive Valentine’s Day appetizers is all about combining sophistication, creativity and flavors to set a romantic mood. Think rich fondues, indulgent dip recipes and elegant seafood bites. Of course, you can never go wrong with heart-shaped foods, which always look as good as they taste.

What Valentine’s Day appetizers can I make ahead of time?

Make-ahead Valentine’s Day appetizers include Caprese salad skewers, stuffed mushrooms, deviled eggs and smoked salmon bites. Other great choices are prosciutto-wrapped asparagus or a marinated antipasto platter. They can be prepared a few hours or even a day in advance and stashed in the fridge overnight, so you can enjoy a relaxed celebration.

How do I pair appetizers together to serve for a Valentine’s Day party?

When pairing appetizers together for a Valentine’s Day party, look for recipes that work together to create balanced flavors (savory, sweet, salty and acidic) and textures (crunchy, creamy and smooth). I also like to consider the proteins I use, like seafood or poultry, to ensure the spread isn’t too filling, and I always make a vegetarian option. Finally, focus on visual appeal. Look for appetizers with romantic color palettes like red, pink and white.