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

And that last-minute lunch reservation too.

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bruleed brie crostini with cherry jam
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Give mom what she really wants this Mother's Day: some truly legendary appetizers and bite-sized snacks. Sure, you might be wary to stray too far from your classic bouquet of flowers + brunch reservation combination, but we guarantee that a plateful of any of these apps will have your mom really feeling ALL the love this year. Because when has anyone not felt special after being served bacon-wrapped dates and crab rangoon? Never! Just be sure to pair any of these 40 Mother's Day appetizers with a signature Mother's Day cocktail to really pamper mom properly.

Being a mom is no cake walk, so it only makes sense to lavish her with an appetizer spread that's way better than any overbooked restaurant. One of the easiest (but still super-fancy) appetizers of all? Crostini. There's infinite ways to top them, but we're especially big fans of our recipes for black-eyed pea bruschetta, brûléed brie crostini, or classic tomato bruschetta. Best of all, one bite of our browned butter radish crostini will have your mom think she's been transported to a French bistro.

Once your baked bries and bacon-wrapped scallops ready for serving, you'll need a main event that'll really dazzle mom. Check out all our top Mother's Day dinner recipes, as well as all the best Mother's Day gifts for moms who love food. Starting the celebrations on the earlier side? These Mom-approved breakfast-in-bed recipes are for you.

1

Spinach-Artichoke Buns

spinach artichoke buns
PHOTO: KATE JORDAN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

2

Fried Buffalo Artichoke Hearts

fried buffalo artichoke hearts
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

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3

Brûléed Brie Crostini

bruleed brie crostini with cherry jam
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

4

Crab Rangoon

crab rangoon

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.

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5

Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

philly cheesesteak sliders
PHOTO: KATE JORDAN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

6

Harissa Deviled Eggs

harissa deviled eggs
ANDREW BUI

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.

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7

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip

crockpot buffalo chicken dip
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

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.

8

Bruschetta

bruschetta
Parker Feierbach

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.

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9

Baked Brie In Puff Pastry

baked brie in puff pastry
ANDREW BUI

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.

10

Air Fryer Tempura-Inspired Green Beans

air fryer tempura inspired green beans
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: MICAH MORTON

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.

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11

Tomato Feta Pinwheels

tomato feta pinwheels
PHOTO; ANDREW BUI FOOD STYLIST; TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

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.

12

Parmesan Bread Bites

parmesan bread bites topped with sage and hot honey
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

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.

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13

Air Fryer Tostones with Creamy Mojo Dipping Sauce

air fryer tostones with creamy mojo dipping sauce
JOEL GOLDBERG

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.

14

Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip

baked spinach artichoke dip

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.

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15

Spinach Spanakopita

spanakopita
PARKER FEIERBACH

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.

16

Scallion Pancakes

scallion pancakes
Andrew bui

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.

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17

Cheese Straws

cheese straws
Emily Hlavac Green

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.

18

Roasted Chickpeas

roasted chickpeas delish

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.

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19

Air Fryer Tuscan Stuffed Mushrooms

air fryer tuscan stuffed mushrooms
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: MICAH MORTON

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.

20

Fondue Bites

fondue bites
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

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