40 Mother's Day Appetizers That Are Way Better Than Flowers

Here we took iconic spinach and artichoke dip and turned it into a bun perfect for any party spread. Think cinnamon rolls, but instead of sweet, it’s savory, or ham & cheese pinwheels, but with your favorite dip inside instead of deli meat and cheese. Doesn’t get much better (or more indulgent!) than that. Take our word for it and consider doubling this recipe.

Get the Spinach-Artichoke Buns recipe.

We bet you've heard of Buffalo wings made from cauliflower or tempeh, but what about artichokes? They're surprisingly satisfying.

Get the Fried Buffalo Artichoke Hearts recipe.

Mini brie toasts are a super-easy appetizer, and caramelizing the tops is a great party trick. The crunchy sugar topping gives way to an oozy slice of brie and sweet jam. Assemble the toasts and wait to brûlée the top for when you’re ready to serve them; that way, the brie is warm and melty, and you get to show off a bit.

Get the Brûléed Brie Crostini recipe.

Crab rangoon is a bit of a sleeper hit in the world of Chinese-American appetizers. They're basically little pockets of cheesy crab dip wrapped up in a crispy wonton shell. These taste great when dipped into a sweet and tangy duck sauce, but if you can’t find it in your grocery store, or don’t have any spare packets laying around, we provided a quick recipe that's just as good!

Get the Crab Rangoon recipe.

These sliders are like your favorite iconic Philly cheesesteak, made miniature so you can share (or eat more than one!).

Get the Philly Cheesesteak Sliders recipe.

Classic deviled eggs get a smoky kick from harissa (Tunisian chili pepper paste) in this simple but flavorful deviled eggs recipe. Topped with crispy fried shallots and fresh cilantro, it may stray pretty far from the original, but it’s just as delicious.

Get the Harissa Deviled Eggs recipe.

Is it even really a celebration without Buffalo chicken dip? We think not. If you're looking for the most hands-off version of this classic recipe, turn to your trusty slow cooker.

Get the Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.

Nothing screams spring and summer quite like bruschetta. We know it may sound skippable, but rubbing the toasted bread with garlic will help impart TONS of flavor into your tiny toasts, so we highly recommend it. Top them with simply marinated tomatoes for the ultimate easy app.

Get the Bruschetta recipe.

Baked brie is a classic app that pleases everyone: It's versatile, delicious, easy to make, and requires a pretty short cook time. We filled ours with raspberry jam, but whatever your favorite is will work (you could even go with some pumpkin butter 😍). Drizzle it with some honey, and you have a warm, cheesy app that feels extra-fancy in no time at all.

Get the Baked Brie In Puff Pastry recipe.

Here, we set out to make crispy delicious green beans, minus the deep frying. Our solve? Panko bread crumbs and your air fryer, which give the benefit of tempura's delicious crunch, without the need for a pot of hot, spattering oil or a classic tempura batter (since wet batters don't do well in the air fryer).

Get the Air Fryer Tempura-Inspired Green Beans recipe.

These little puff pastry pinwheels are the perfect last-minute appetizer—they bake in just 20 minutes and you might already have the ingredients at home. Feel free to get creative with the fillings too. We went with briny feta and tomatoes, but we bet crumbly goat cheese or ricotta and roasted red peppers would be great too.

Get the Tomato Feta Pinwheels recipe.

If you're a fan of garlic knots, this recipe is basically the bite-sized app version, covered in gooey cheese, garlic butter, and fresh herbs. Sage and thyme are used here to add seasonal flavor, but feel free to add any herbs you prefer. The best part? They only take a little over half an hour to come together, meaning they're the perfect appetizer to bring to any get-together (even last-minute ones!).

Get the Parmesan Bread Bites recipe.

Classic tostones are a delicious savory plantain snack made with unripe green plantains. (Maduros, on the other hand, are made with ripe sweet plantains.) Though they’re typically twice fried, these air fryer tostones are as crispy as the classic version with a fraction of the fat—and there's no scary pot full of hot oil!

Get the Air Fryer Tostones with Creamy Mojo Dipping Sauce recipe.

While beer cheese, Buffalo chicken, and queso will always have special places in our hearts, we keep coming back to good ol' spinach & artichoke dip. Full of creamy, cheesy goodness, it really is the dip to end all dips.

Get the Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe.

So much flaky crispy goodness. The elegant shape might look intimidating, but these cute two-biter spanakopita pockets are actually so easy to fold! Take a long strip of phyllo and just imagine you're folding a paper football or a flag. See? Easy!

Get the Spinach Spanakopita recipe.

Scallion pancakes might be one of our favorite appetizers ever. Crispy, flaky, and with the *slightest* bit of chew, it's easy to polish off a whole plate in minutes.

Get the Scallion Pancakes recipe.

Crunchy, flaky, and cheesy. What's not to love? These are studded with cheddar, green onions, and sesame seeds for the most flavor-packed cheese straws we've ever had. Using store-bought puff pastry makes them extremely easy to pull together for game day too.

Get the Cheese Straws recipe.

Chickpeas are good for so much more than just creamy homemade hummus. (Though that's definitely a good use of them!) They also make for a particularly good, fiber-ful salty snack and are infinitely adaptable based on what you've got in your spice cabinet.

Get the Roasted Chickpeas recipe.

These poppable snacks harness umami to the power of three. Savory mushrooms, sweet and tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and nutty Parmesan combine for irresistible bites you’ll be craving long after they’re gone (so make extra!).

Get the Air Fryer Tuscan Stuffed Mushrooms recipe.

If you thought fondue belonged in the 1970s, think again! We’ve hauled this retro party classic into the 21st century by turning it into cheesy bite-sized snacks, perfect for popping this Mother's Day.

Get the Fondue Bites recipe.