The Best Small Appliances for Holiday Hosting

Anyone throwing a party wants to knock it out of the park with exceptional food and drinks, but hosting a social event is no small task, especially around the holidays. However, if you've got the proper equipment, you'll be able to bring your entertaining to the next level with minimal effort. Here's the rundown of three small appliances to have on hand that can help you make any party a total success!

Food Processor

Add the words “made from scratch” to the name of any party snack, and everyone's instantly impressed. The best part? When you've got the right tools, lots of dips and spreads are easier to make from scratch than they may seem. A food processor is an excellent device to have in your arsenal for creating party goodies with the kind of rich flavor that can only come from homemade. Party favorites like hummus, pesto, whipped ricotta, salsa, and beyond can be made in a matter of minutes. Blend it up, scoop it into a bowl, place it on a platter with some pita chips or baguette slices, and you're set.

Ice Maker

We all know that ice is a valuable party commodity. Buying bags and dumping them into a cooler is one way to keep your party supplied with ice. Another way is having an ice maker of your very own! If, understandably, you're not looking to add a major project like installing an undercounter ice maker right before your event, there are plenty of options for countertop ice makers that do the job nicely. People tend to be particular about ice shapes, and having an ice maker that offers options like nugget ice or crushed ice will brighten up your event more than you'd probably expect. If you frequently entertain, a countertop ice maker is absolutely worth the investment.

Drip Coffee Maker

Will your party involve serving coffee? We're gonna give it to you straight: Shutter your French press in the cabinet, put your Keurig on temporary leave, and give your espresso machine the night off. Single-serve coffee might be ideal for one or two people, but when you're serving a full house of guests, making one cup at a time is just not going to cut it. You're going to need a full carafe's worth of coffee to keep everyone happily caffeinated, so be sure to have a drip coffee machine on hand. It's not only better for your guests - it's making things much easier on yourself.

Simplifying your party tasks and making your event one for the books aren't mutually exclusive. With a little help from some small appliances, you'll make every party a hit!