How to Stylishly Serve Your Favorite Appetizers

You’ve created delicious appetizers for your event; now what? Setting up your small bites may not feel like the most important part of a gathering, but it can convey your thoughtfulness and attention to detail while taking your reputation as a host to the next level. 

To serve appetizers in style start by compiling a repertoire of high-quality and easy-to-use serveware so that you can have the perfect pieces on hand for a fabulous appetizer spread. A stylish appetizer arrangement can draw guests in and make them feel excited to indulge.  Unique appetizer serveware is designed for accessibility and functionality, creating sparkling connections and conversation. 

 

Considerations for Serving Appetizers

Whether you’re bringing a dish to a party or creating an appetizer display for your next gathering, the right serveware can enhance both presentation and functionality. Not all serveware is suited for every type of appetizer, so it's important to choose pieces that complement the dish. Opt for trays and serving dishes that showcase your appetizers effectively, ensuring they’re both easy to enjoy and visually impressive.

Why Curate Your Appetizer Serveware?

Curating your appetizer serveware is about more than just function — it’s about setting the stage for your gathering and making every moment feel {just a bit} more intentional. Thoughtfully chosen serveware pieces elevate the presentation of even the simplest bites, so having these designs on hand allows you to make every meal and moment a little more special. 

Having a solid collection of different serveware designs can boost your repertoire as a host and give you a sense of confidence when serving, as every bit of your presentation will look thoughtful. It also allows you to set the tone for your gathering and reflect your own personal style. Whether you host a large party with a countless number of dishes, bowls, and trays, or a more intimate gathering with a select few, your choices automatically bring beauty and personality to your table, creating a polished look that screams “you.” 

 

Serveware for Large Appetizers

We create serveware options that are perfect for displaying large appetizers because we know a thing or two about hosting big gatherings. 

We offer everyday and seasonal-themed platters, bowls, trays, bakeware, plates, and more for all occasions in these shapes: 

• Round
• Rectangle
• Square
• Oval 
• Seasonal shapes

 

 

The Magic of Serving Boards

Our wooden serving boards are designed to complement our dinnerware, linens, and mugs, bringing style and beauty to your gatherings. Perfect for any occasion, these boards elevate both the look and feel of your space and are perfect for serving an assortment of small bites, charcuterie spreads, and appetizers. We love to brighten up a table with a stylish serving board featuring an array of crackers or fruit on it for easy grab-and-go snacking.

Why Use Appetizer Serving Trays?

Appetizer serving trays are convenient displays that you can carry and move around with ease. Making for effortless passing and sharing, these handled trays add a dynamic and versatile touch to your serveware collection. Try adding some elegance to your spread with our Ecru Quatrefoil Handled Tray, a lovely neutral-colored design that is perfect for displaying appetizers or carrying drinks.   

Our Favorite Serving Platters

Typically a little deeper than appetizer serving trays, appetizer platters are extremely versatile and perfect for any sort of food display. We love to create serving platters that add some dimension and fun to your table spread. Some of our favorite serving platter styles for appetizers are:

• Signature White Oval Platter – Large yet elegant, this white serving platter adds a touch of effortless beauty to your appetizer spread or home décor. 
• Iris Blue Drop Large Handled Oval Platter – An energetic and vibrant statement, this large platter adds a pop of blue to your table, acting as a base for delicious recipes and a stylish display. 
• Oyster Half Dozen Platter – Unique and eye-catching, this platter is inspired by the sea and interconnects six smaller dishes, so you can serve oysters or different dips or nuts {you could even put deviled eggs in the oyster divots}. 
• Orange Platter – This orange-shaped serving dish will bring smiles to your guests’ faces as they pick appetizers off its brightly colored surface, revealing more of the detailed orange design with each bite. 
• Fundamental Wood Ruffle Platter – Made from hand-carved acacia wood, this round platter is perfect for appetizers and desserts and even as stunning home décor when not in use. 

Outstanding Bakeware Options

All our cookware and bakeware designs were created with an oven-to-table functionality in mind, meaning that it is easy to cook, bake, and show off your appetizer recipes in a convenient style. Simply put our bakeware on a trivet fresh out of the oven and let dips and hot dishes be served in style before a meal.   

Our casserole dishes are also extremely multifunctional, as they can fit casseroles and other large appetizers with ease. You can also swap your casserole dish for a loaf pan and try making some delicious pull-apart bread in it – perfect for any appetizer table. With bakeware available in our signature color collections, mixing, matching, and growing your bakeware collection has never been easier.

The Versatility of Cake Stands

While cake is in the name, cake stands are more multifunctional than you might think. They are a useful and unique way to display appetizers so that whatever rests on them is given a special spot of honor {and is protected}. They also elevate your presentation, making more room on the table and adding depth to your display.

While we love to use cake stands for appetizers, here are some of our other favorite ways to utilize a cake stand in your home:

• Charcuterie board – Using your cake stand as a charcuterie board is easy yet effective- simply layer on meats and cheeses and place the display in an area where all of your guests can see it.   
• Stacked desserts – While cake stands are typically used for a single cake, stacking other desserts like brownies and lemon bars can create a fun and visually appealing sweet assortment.
• Snow globe – This piece of holiday décor is sure to wow; simply put in any miniature trees, people, and houses under the domed lid of the cake stand and let the magic shine. 
• Trinket organization – Cake stands are a beautiful way to display trinkets, décor, and organize any jewelry or perfumes.
• Plant stand – Use greenery in your space without getting dirt on the table by creating a terrarium on a plant stand. 

 

Serveware for Smaller Appetizers 

Sometimes, it can be difficult to find ways to display small bites and appetizer accompaniments. However, if you know what serveware pieces are available, displaying smaller appetizers can become so much easier. By having a place for all of your little snacks, your display will look thoughtful and put together. 

Using Appetizer Bowls

Our appetizer bowls are small dishes that pack a lot of punch. Each appetizer bowl that we offer features a beautiful, unique design that matches its collection perfectly but can also mix and match with other Coton Colors styles. We like to use appetizer bowls to hold small servings of foods that go with larger appetizer menu options. 

These bowls are more compact than regular serving bowls, making them ideal for individual servings or for offering a variety of items in small quantities, such as toppings for chicken enchiladas or a chili bar or dipping sauces and spreads. 

How to Use Salad Plates for Appetizers

Salad plates are a versatile and elegant serving option for any gathering. Placing a stack of small appetizer plates next to the appetizer spread is a great way to invite guests to load up a plate and snack as they mingle. You can also use salad plates to hold small appetizers {like cheese cubes or crackers} that you might not want to hold in bowls or that don’t need a big platter. 

Utensils for Serving Appetizers

The right utensils can make all the difference when serving appetizers, as they seamlessly blend function with style. Whether it’s cheese knives for a charcuterie board or small spoons for dips and spreads, thoughtfully chosen utensils enhance the presentation and accessibility of your spread. 

 

 

Our Fundamentals Collection features our widest variety of appetizer utensils, but we also offer spreaders in many other collections. These utensils are all versatile pieces designed to complement any serveware, so that you can mix and match to get a unique and tailored look. Selecting the right utensils can elevate your appetizer display, making it as effortless as it is inviting.

Our Favorite Appetizer Forks

With stylish appetizer forks in hand, it’s easy to skewer appetizers for mess-free tastes. Perfectly sized to be able to pick up small bites, meats, and cheeses, these little forks are great for any gathering where you will be having an appetizer spread. We love using our Brass Fundamental Wood Appetizer Fork, as the warmth of the wood and the pop of brassy color on the handle are able to blend in seamlessly with any theme. 

 

Fundamental Pine Wood Appetizer Fork	Fundamental Red Wood Appetizer Fork	Fundamental Wood Appetizer Fork

Appetizer Spoons for Easy Scooping

No bowls of dips or small chopped toppings are complete without appetizer spoons to accompany them. Appetizer spoons make it easy for your guests to help themselves without any extra fuss. Try adding a pop of blue to your table with our Fundamental Navy Wood Appetizer Spoon. 

 

Fundamental Navy Wood Appetizer Spoon	Brass Fundamental Wood Appetizer Spoon

The Beauty of Appetizer Spreaders

Spreaders are essential to any charcuterie board, dips {like our favorite hot lemon artichoke dip}, or spreads. Accompany a soft brie cheese with a fun Red Bengal Striped Appetizer Spreader, perfect for the holiday season or the Fourth of July. 

 

Fundamental Ecru Wood Appetizer Spreader	Signature White Knob Spreader	Coquette Fundamental Wood Appetizer Spreader

Table Accessories for Your Appetizer Spread 

Aside from serveware to place your appetizers on and utensils to eat them with, functional table accessories can only improve your appetizer spread or table. Combining purpose and style, these fun table accessories show how much thought you put into your gathering and appetizer selection. 

Functional Toothpick Holders

Toothpicks are great tools to accompany an appetizer, so why not give them a special home to reside in? Our toothpick holders are all neutrally colored and hand-painted, so they can blend nicely with any tablescape or buffet. 

Citrus Orange Toothpick Holder	Rabbit Toothpick Holder	Citrus Lemon Toothpick Holder

Our Favorite Salt and Pepper Shakers 

Unique salt and pepper shakers are a great way to take something {seemingly} boring and add style and personality to it. We love these salt and pepper shaker options for sprucing up your table:

• Signature White Ruffle Salt and Pepper Shaker Set – This white hand-painted set goes with any tablescape and brings a welcome element of elegance to the table. 
• Iris Blue Pip Pedestal Salt and Pepper Shaker Set – Featuring a pop of light blue, these beautiful shakers come in a classic shape and will liven up any appetizer spread. 

Signature White Ruffle Salt and Pepper Shaker Set	Iris Blue Pip Pedestal Salt and Pepper Shaker Set

 

Fun Butter Dishes 

If you have good bread as an appetizer for the main meal, you also need good butter. What better way to celebrate the delectable, creamy spread than by putting it in a cool ceramic dish to pass around for all to use and see? We like to use our Signature White Ruffle Butter Dish on our table for a classic look that keeps our butter cool yet spreadable. 

Signature White Ruffle Domed Butter Dish	Deco Round Butter Dish

Holly Ruffle Domed Butter Dish	Deco Gold Scallop Knob Butter Dish

Use Cocktail Napkins for Appetizers

While not quite a table accessory, cocktail napkins might be more crucial to an appetizer spread than you think. Cocktail napkins are great for wiping hands and keeping furniture surfaces clean, and they also can function as a mini plate for small cheeses or other bites. There are so many different cocktail napkin designs out there, so you are sure to find the perfect ones that match your theme. 

 

 

Crafting a collection of appetizer serveware is about more than serving food — it’s about setting the stage for truly memorable gatherings with your loved ones. With the right pieces, you can transform everyday bites into thoughtfully crafted displays that impress your guests and elevate any occasion. From pairing flavors and textures to designing a pretty spread, our versatile pieces make it easy to host with confidence and style.