Whether you're planning an intimate dinner party, a game night with friends, or a festive holiday gathering, having the right tools on hand can make entertaining at home seamless and stress-free. From elegant serving pieces to small appliances that do the heavy lifting, here’s a list of essential entertaining items every host should have in their arsenal with links to purchase on Amazon.
Crock pot cooking offers effortless meal prep by letting you toss in ingredients, set the timer, and let slow, gentle heat do all the work while you go about your day. With minimal hands-on effort, it transforms simple ingredients into rich, flavorful dishes perfect for busy schedules.
Food Processor: make quick work out of chopping, shredding, and pureeing everything from raw vegetables to creating smooth dips and pestos.
Immersion Blender: for pureeing soups and sauces right in their cooking vessel for less mess and cleanup.
Cuisinart Coffee Maker: brew a full pot for gatherings, or single serve for a quick cup on the go. Having one machine that does double-duty saves on valuable counter space!
Whipped Cream Dispenser: this essential tool allows you to make fresh whipped cream, and can even be used to whip up a quick and easy chocolate mousse!
KitchenAid Stand Mixer: a tried and true classic that can tackle anything from bread dough to blending up mashed potatoes. This kitchen powerhouse is available in a rainbow of colors to match your particular taste.
Fondue Set: make your next gathering an interactive one with classic cheese fondue, or put a communal spin on dessert with chocolate fondue served with sliced fruit and cubed pound cake.
Wüstof Knife Set: High-quality kitchen knives are a worthwhile investment—they make prep work easier, safer, and more precise, while lasting for years with proper care.
Dish cloths: think beyond drying dishes, and use these colorful cloths as dinner napkins or bread basket liners. With an array of colors to choose from, you can find an option to suit any holiday or special occasion.
Versatile, all-purpose water and wine glasses.
Elevated dinner plates that make the food the star of the show.
Multi-purpose jars that can be used for everything from shaking up salad dressings to votive candle holders.
3-Tiered Serving Stand: this classic piece adds height, elegance, and efficiency to your table—perfect for displaying treats beautifully while saving space when entertaining at home.
A 3-tiered rectangular serving tray brings both style and versatility to your table—its shape is perfect for showcasing everything from savory bites to sweet desserts, all while maximizing space with elegant height.
"What a cookbook should be: packed with sumptuous recipes, detailed instructions, and precise line drawings. Some of the instructions look daunting, but as Child herself says in the introduction, 'If you can read, you can cook.'" —Entertainment Weekly
Discover why spreading the dough and then sprinkling the berries leads to better Blueberry Scones, why cubed versus shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese makes all the difference in our irresistible Cheese Bread, how we found three ways to squeeze more lemon flavor into our Lemon Bundt Cake, and how to keep the best Buttermilk Waffles your family will ever taste warm and crispy.
Originally published in 1896 as The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book by Fannie Merritt Farmer, it became the cookbook that taught generations of Americans how to cook. Completely updating it for the first time since 1979, with this edition, Marion Cunningham made Fannie Farmer once again a household word for a new generation of cooks.
Ina has packed Barefoot Contessa Parties! with plans for pulling off parties like a pro, stories about her own parties, and tips on assembling food (rather than cooking everything) and organizing like a caterer.
Mary Berry’s Baking Bible has been thrilling home bakers with delectable, no-fuss, trustworthy recipes for more than a decade. Now the queen of British baking brings her straightforward advice and expertise to this fully revised edition of classic bakes.