Top 10 Unique Snack Recipes for a Gathering with Friends

This article features easy recipes for unique snacks from around the world, ready to diversify your culinary experience and always be on hand.

Why Homemade Snacks Are an Advantage for Your Party

Once you make snacks for your friends, you'll continue to enjoy whipping them up for every gathering, even if takeout prices drop dramatically. 

Homemade snacks improve your party in several ways:

1. Cost-effective. Buying pre-made snacks from a supermarket or ordering takeout can be more expensive than making dishes at home. By purchasing all necessary ingredients, you can prepare a lot more food for less money. You'll have several snack options to choose from. For instance, one pack of cherry tomatoes and a fresh loaf can be used for multiple delicious Italian dishes. 
2. Freshness and Taste. Maybe it's just a perception, but homemade food always tastes better than store-bought. And it's not just because it's made with love. When preparing snacks yourself, you can adjust the taste using spices and additional ingredients. 
3. Unique Recipes. Homemade snacks allow you to get creative. You can surprise guests with something unusual and take a culinary trip without leaving home. 
4. Presentation. At home, you can serve dishes beautifully, impressing guests not only with taste but also with aesthetics, instead of in disposable dishes from takeout containers.

Korean Snacks

Korean snacks are unique due to their harmonious blend of spicy, salty, sour, and sweet flavors, and the use of various textures within a single dish. Their rich and multi-dimensional taste has turned them into a modern phenomenon — everyone today wants to recreate at least one authentic Korean recipe.

Cheese Rice Sticks

Tteokbokki is an original dish of South Korean cuisine featuring chewy rice sticks simmered in a spicy sauce. Our snack is a spin on the traditional recipe that requires a few unique ingredients that can be hard to find outside Korea. 

Main Ingredients

Rice paper

Spicy sauce

Melting cheese

Recipe

Immerse rice paper sheets one by one in water for 30 seconds to make them pliable for forming sticks. Wrap each sheet around a cheese stick in any convenient way and fry in vegetable oil. Once the cheese starts melting, add spicy sauce to taste and a little water to the pan. Let the snack simmer under a lid and start tasting. 

American Recipes

Deliciously indulgent dishes that even a teenager can prepare. Perfect for a fun gathering with friends. 

Jalapeño Poppers

According to one story, this recipe was invented by a Texas restaurateur in the 1970s. Spicy peppers have always been popular in America, but were generally eaten fresh or dried. This new recipe was a sensation, spreading across diner menus in various states and becoming a staple on social media. 

The traditional recipe involves deep-fried peppers. Today's variations range from baked boats to stuffed spaghetti and meats — there's plenty to try at parties with friends.

Main Ingredients

Jalapeño peppers

Cream cheese or mozzarella

Cheddar or another melting cheese

Bread crumbs

Flour

Vegetable oil for frying

Eggs

Seasonings to taste

Original Recipe

Select fresh or pickled peppers and, without cutting them in half, remove the cap and clean out the insides with a blunt knife. Prepare the stuffing by mixing cream cheese and grated cheeses with spices and stuff the peppers. Then, coat the peppers by dipping them in flour, egg mixture, and bread crumbs, and fry in oil for 10–15 minutes. Enjoy with your favorite sauce. 

Ideas from Italy

A few classic Italian snack recipes for friends who will be visiting you. Italian cuisine is famous for the concept of cucina povera, or "poor kitchen," which is based on the ability to turn simple and accessible ingredients into flavorful masterpieces. Use our budget-friendly ideas and experience the tradition of modern Italians' ancestors. 

Bruschetta with Cherry Tomatoes

Bruschetta is a grilled bread snack originating from Ancient Rome. It traditionally comprised just a few components: toasted bread rubbed with garlic, sprinkled with a pinch of salt and drizzled with olive oil. With the evolution of Italian and global culinary art, bruschettas have taken on different appearances — extraordinary, genius, bold, and sometimes even strange. Bruschetta with tomatoes is a great classic choice.

Main Ingredients

Bread

Garlic

Olive oil

Arugula

Lemon

Salt

Recipe

Roast garlic in an oven preheated to 350-400°F for about 30-40 minutes until soft and sweet. You can submerge peeled cloves or a whole bulb in oil — the effect is similar. Spread the roasted garlic on a slice of toasted bread and prepare the topping. Chop cherry tomatoes and mix with arugula, drizzling with lemon juice and olive oil, then add a sprinkle of salt and a dash of balsamic vinegar if desired. Arrange the topping beautifully on the bruschetta. You can top it off with slices of your favorite cheese or finely grated cheese.  

Feta with Roasted Tomatoes

This recipe is a great choice for a celebration or a get-together with friends. It's perfect for those who prefer light snacks and will appeal to hedonists. 

A similar recipe using pasta gained popularity on social media some years ago, but according to this recipe, the feta is baked with the other ingredients as a whole block, not mixed.

Main Ingredients

Feta cheese in brine

Plain Greek yogurt

Olive oil

Lemon juice

Garlic

Cherry tomatoes

Seasonings to taste

Recipe

Arrange the tomatoes on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with seasonings, and toss. Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F for 20–25 minutes, until they become soft and start to burst. Alternatively, you can prepare them on the stovetop. While the tomatoes are roasting, mix the feta, yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, and finely chopped garlic. If desired, blend these ingredients using a food processor or blender to achieve a creamy consistency. Lay the feta on a plate or leave it in the pan for authenticity. Top with roasted tomatoes and garnish with fresh herbs. 

A phenomenally simple version of this dish is baked cherry tomatoes with chilled yogurt by British chef Yotam Ottolenghi. According to his recipe, tomatoes are baked in the oven with oil, spices, and herbs and served hot over chilled Greek yogurt. 

Popular Desserts for a Group

Three delicious desserts that are very simple to prepare. Warning: this section is only for those with a sweet tooth. 

Dubai Chocolate

A combination recently created by Fix brand founder Sarah Hamooda. She has sought to combine all the delights of the Eastern dessert world under a silky milk chocolate bar with an original abstract design. The dessert has charmed countries around the world, and its name appears on menus of popular coffee shops and restaurants.

This recipe lets you try the iconic chocolate bar almost for free compared to its official price in the international market. Exotic ingredients can be ordered from any marketplace.

Main Ingredients

Milk chocolate

Kataifi

Butter

Pistachio paste

Recipe

Melt the milk chocolate in a double boiler. Meanwhile, toast the kataifi in butter until golden brown, then mix it with pistachio paste and tahini if desired. Spread the melted milk chocolate into silicone molds and let it set in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Once the chocolate halves have hardened, layer the prepared filling onto them, and pour the remaining melted chocolate over the top. Allow to set again, and enjoy it slightly thawed for the best flavor.  

Kinder Country

One of the most unique desserts in the Kinder brand line. A bar with classic chocolate but an experimental filling of roasted puffed wheat, barley, rice, spelt, and buckwheat. Reproducing the classic taste at home is much easier than buying the ready-made version, especially when it comes to a gathering with friends. 

Main Ingredients

Puffed wheat or rice

White chocolate

Milk chocolate

Condensed milk

Recipe

Melt the milk chocolate in short bursts of 20-30 seconds in the microwave or in a classic double boiler. Using a special mold to create bar-size pieces, spread the melted chocolate over the bottom and sides, and refrigerate until fully set for 15-20 minutes, as the initial layer is quite thin. Then melt a bar of white chocolate using any preferred method and mix it with the condensed milk and puffed wheat in a separate bowl. Carefully layer the filling in the mold with the milk chocolate and pour the remaining amount on top. Let the dessert set in the refrigerator. 

Bala Baiana

The homeland of these popular candies is Brazil. There, they are known as bala baiana, or "candy from Bahia," or as bala de vidro, meaning "glass candy."

More precisely, these sweets originated in Bahia, a region in northeastern Brazil. Here, where coconut and sugar abound, influenced by indigenous, African, and Portuguese traditions mixed with local habits, this recipe was born. Its hallmark is that if the recipe is followed properly, the inside of the candy is soft and chewy, while the outside remains crisp.

Main Ingredients

A can of condensed milk

Butter

Shredded coconut

Sugar

Water

Lemon juice or apple cider vinegar

Recipe

Melt a piece of butter in a preheated pan. Stir in a can of condensed milk, then add a full packet of shredded coconut. Work the mixture until it is homogeneous and thickens, stirring for several minutes over low heat. Transfer the resulting dough to a container to cool at room temperature, then shape it into several evenly-sized balls and let them set in the freezer for 10 minutes. Begin making the caramel. To do this, combine a cup of sugar, half a cup of water, and a teaspoon of lemon juice in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil, without stirring. Skewer the set coconut balls on skewers or toothpicks and dip them in the resulting caramel. Allow to set and enjoy. 

The Simpler, the Better

Why go through the hassle if, during your school or college years, you and your friends never got into the habit of cooking or ironing tablecloths for each meeting? Here's a top list of dishes you can prepare faster than a movie download. 

Buldak Ramen

A genius product from the South Korean food company Samyang Foods. Its creation dates back to 2010, but the product gained fame in 2014 after a popular blogger invented the Fire Noodle Challenge. He dared friends in the UK to eat noodles as fast as possible without drinking anything. The video sparked a wave of similar videos, leading to a surge in noodle sales worldwide.

The popularity of these noodles and experiments with various recipes have inspired people to create new dishes, adapting Korean flavors to different cuisines. There are so many diverse ideas that you can apply them not only to buldak but also to regular noodles, pasta, and other products, turning them into original and spicy dishes suitable for both parties and everyday life.

Main Ingredients

A package of noodles with spices

Water

Original Recipe

Prepare the noodles according to the package instructions. Boil 600 milliliters of water. Once boiling, add the noodles without seasoning and let them cook for 5 minutes without stirring. Then drain 8 tablespoons of broth and mix the swollen, slightly watery noodles with the dry powder from the first packet and the trademark spicy sauce from the second.

To mitigate excess spiciness, cook buldak using the original recipe, but with milk or cream instead of water. 

Tuna Snack

Tuna is expensive even in canned form, but your friends won’t pass on snacks featuring this fish once they hear about its health benefits:

• Tuna contains a significant amount of vitamin B12, essential for DNA synthesis and the formation of new red blood cells;
• Tuna is high in fatty acids, which help lower cholesterol levels that can clog arteries, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks and other heart diseases;
• The omega-3 complex abundantly present in tuna positively affects eye health;
• Omega-3 fatty acids can slow tumor cell growth and reduce the number of inflammatory processes in the body. This is crucial, as chronic inflammation is linked to the development of various types of cancer;
• Tuna is a lean meat packed with protein and low in calories. This helps maintain a feeling of fullness longer, reducing the likelihood of overeating.

Additionally, tuna is a tasty addition to snacks in Mediterranean, Japanese, or Korean styles. For the recipe, choose a package of this fish in its own juice, rather than oil. 

Main Ingredients

Rice

Mayonnaise

Tuna

Onion

Nori sheets

Recipe

Chop the onion into small cubes and thoroughly mix it with the mashed canned tuna, cucumber, and pepper to taste. To diversify the dish's flavor profile, add sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds, though it tastes delicious with just mayonnaise. Mix well and enjoy, wrapping a small amount of the mixture in pre-cut Japanese nori or Korean gim leaves. 

Walking Taco Salad

Walking Taco Salad is street food often made for picnics, festivals, school events, and friendly gatherings. First mentioned in the early '90s, it has since spread across America. Recently, this lazy American recipe was quite popular on social media. While trends come and go, the taste remains unchanged.

You can prepare the original Mexican-style recipe or base it on your domestic burrito ideologies. 

Main Ingredients

A bag of your favorite chips

Tomatoes

Cheese

Cucumbers

Onion

Ketchup

Sour cream or Greek yogurt

Recipe

Make a lengthwise cut on the side of the chip bag for easy eating with a spoon. Mix the chips with shredded cheese, vegetables, sour cream, and ketchup right in the bag. Gently shake the bag or stir the ingredients with a spoon and start enjoying the dish. 

Making homemade snacks is an opportunity to experiment and add variety to casual get-togethers with friends. Any recipe in this article allows you to get creative, find calm in the enjoyable process of cooking, and impress your loved ones.