10 Easy Friendsgiving Food Ideas Everyone Will Love
Whether you’re a total newbie to hosting Friendsgiving or need some yummy food inspo that’ll leave your pals speechless and their bellies full, chances are you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed. With so many options, where does one even start?
Have no fear, friends; the BOOP Bakery is here! In this post, we’re BOOPing our way through 10 sure-to-please Friendsgiving dishes.
What Is Friendsgiving?
In the last couple of decades, Friendsgiving — a fun alternative for breaking bread and giving thanks — has become increasingly popular, and it’s easy to see why. After all, they say you’re born into your family, but you pick your friends. So, why not pick who you share your holiday meal with?
Officially added to the dictionary in January 2020, Friendsgiving is a mashup of “friends” and “thanksgiving” and refers to a holiday that’s not restricted by rules and a conventional Turkey Day dinner. In other words, there isn’t a strict set of guidelines— just as long as you and your dining comrades have a good time.
So, does this mean you can serve Chinese takeout instead of a turkey roast and mashed potatoes? You betcha. Even if you wanted to plate up nothing but BOOP cookies — you could, and it’d be totally awesome (just saying).
You see, with Friendsgiving, you have the opportunity to create your own traditions with your group of friends. And the best part? You can do it all while chowing down on some good food!
How Did Friendsgiving Start?
Details surrounding Friendsgiving’s origin story are a bit fuzzy, with almost 2 million theories via a quick query on the all-knowing Google.
Researchers believe the tradition may have made its debut in 2007 but aren’t totally sure on the “how” or the “why.” Some folks credit a few “Friends” and their iconic couch, while others think a Baileys Irish Cream ad in 2011 is to blame.
Truth be told, the world may never know where Friendsgiving got its start, but at the end of the day, we’re just glad it did!
When and How Is Friendsgiving Celebrated?
There’s no official date for Friendsgiving, but many people choose to celebrate it the Wednesday before or after legit Turkey Day. Others will just co-opt the true Thanksgiving and dub it Friendsgiving— especially if they’re celebrating the holiday with friends.
Remember, Friendsgiving is all about playing fast and loose with the rules. So don’t stress about the specifics. Pick a day around Thanksgiving when all your besties can get together and plan a feast!
More often than not, the spread looks a lot like your classic Thanksgiving day table with a few creative add-ons. Since the shin-dig tends to be a bit more casual than a fancy schmancy Sunday dinner with the fam, hosts may ask guests to participate in the meal by bringing their favorite potluck dishes.
A potluck lets everyone share their own favorite recipes with friends, and it can be a fun opportunity to bring unconventional bites into the mix. You might find a table topped with turkey, stuffing, and all the fixins’, or boxes of various takeout dishes. When it comes to the menu at Friendsgiving, your options are truly endless.
Simple Food Ideas for a Deliciously Awesome Friendsgiving
Let’s uncover some drool-worthy food ideas that are not only incredibly tasty but super easy to make, too! Although there are many, here are our top 10 faves:
1. Pumpkin-Shaped Dinner Rolls
Ready to take the classic dinner roll up a notch? Pumpkin-shaped dinner rolls will be the star of your Friendsgiving.
Buy some pre-made dough and form it into small balls. Using a butter knife, slice the edges of each ball so that there are eight segments — at this point, you’ll start to see the pumpkins take shape!
Slice some pecans and place one slice at the top of each roll like a pumpkin stem. Bake your rolls according to the directions, and enjoy!
2. Crescent Roll Cornucopia Crudités
If this one sounds a little ambitious — we hear you. But we promise it’s easier than it sounds.
Simply grab some pre-made crescent roll dough and a few ice cream cones. Wrap your ice cream cones in foil, then begin wrapping the dough around each cone to form your cornucopia shapes. Bake them in the oven according to the instructions for your dough.
Fill your croissant cornucopias with cherry tomatoes, chopped carrot sticks, and celery sticks, and pair with a cup of dressing for the perfect Friendsgiving crudités!
Pro Tip: This idea works great if your Friendsgiving party includes just a handful of people — but if your Friendsgiving is a bigger bash, you can try wrapping your dough altogether around a large cone shape made entirely of tin foil. This will create an end result big enough to feed a larger group!
3. Sweet Potato Pumpkin Puffs
Sometimes it’s the simplest recipes that make the absolute best dishes. Exhibit A: mash up some sweet potatoes, place them in a piping bag, and pipe them into little pumpkin shapes on a baking sheet. Place them in the oven until just golden brown on the edges — and that’s it! It’s that simple, and you’re sure to impress your friends with your Thanksgiving cheer.
4. Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
When it comes to Friendsgiving food ideas for those of us who want to steer clear of the kitchen (or any kind of culinary challenge, that is), there’s arguably nothing better than a charcuterie board. This classy appetizer is the perfect centerpiece for any holiday party and is sure to be a major hit.
Not sure how to build a mouth-watering charcuterie board to commemorate Friendsgiving? Consider these ingredients:
- Soft and hard cheeses
- Olives
- Pickles
- Fruit spread
- Crackers
- Garnish
Arrange all of your charcuterie fixings in the shape of a turkey — if you’re opting for meat and cheese on your board, choose round deli slices to form the feathers, use nuts and olives to add details like the eyes, and artfully place extras like pickles and crackers to form the perfect Thanksgiving board.
Pair your Friendsgiving charcuterie board with some BOOP cookies, and you’ll have yourself a party!
5. BOOP Cookies
When it comes to the holidays, there’s no shortage of sweet treats. From cakes and pies to brownies and fudge, the options are truly limitless. That said, while there’s no denying our love for each and every one of these yummy delights, we can’t help but gravitate toward cookies.
Like a siren calling sweetly to a lost sailor in the night, cookies can lure us in — especially when they come from BOOP Bakery!
Made with love and baked to perfection, each bite of a BOOP Cookie is like a warm embrace that feels like happiness and tastes like yum. Plus, with no refined sugar, fillers, or icky GMOs, you can finally have your cookie and eat it, too. Cookie lovers, rejoice!
Make this Friendsgiving BOOPable with lots of laughs — and a whole lot of BOOPS. After all, no moment is too small for a BOOP! Give a BOOP, get a BOOP. Rinse and repeat.
6. BOOP Cookie Shots
Looking for a way to take things up a notch? BOOP cookies are so deliciously soft and chewy that you can mold them around shot glasses to create the perfect way to join BOOP and booze (or your drink of choice) this Friendsgiving. Cookie shot, anyone?
The beverage of choice is up to you — but if you ask us, Bailey’s, chocolate liqueur, coconut rum, or peppermint vodka are all pretty tasty options. And if you’re going for a non-alcoholic cookie shot, some hot chocolate, oat milk, or chocolate milk is the perfect fit.
7. Cranberry Apple Crumble
Tart cranberries and sweet apples? Yeah, sign us up! Whether you’re a pro in the kitchen or completely new to the oven, this heavenly dessert is super simple to make and perfect for Friendsgiving or any night you want a delicious treat!
Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees and greasing a baking dish with nonstick spray. In a bowl, combine a few cups of chopped apples (peeled), fresh cranberries, some sugar, a little flour, and a dash of cinnamon and salt. Pour the mixture into the baking dish.
Then, grab a clean bowl and mix together about a cup of oats, flour, brown sugar, salt, and butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over the apple mixture and bake for 45-50 minutes. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and top with crumbled-up bits of a BOOP Cookie.
Some say heaven is a place on earth, but with this dish, you might find it in your mouth!
8. Cranberry Sangria
Cranberry sauce is always a hit or miss — there’s no in-between, and either you love it or hate it. But toss it in some sangria mix, and it’s a whole different ball game! A perfect addition to any Turkey Day meal, this recipe is full of fresh fall flavors and will leave your friends begging for more.
Pour a bottle of red, fruity wine (think Zinfandel or Moscato) into a 2-quart pitcher. Add a little simple syrup, some orange juice, cranberry juice, and Triple Sec. Toss in about two cups of fresh cranberries and two medium-sized oranges, and top the pitcher off with club soda. Stir to mix the juices and let the flavors infuse for roughly 30 minutes or so before serving.
9. Pumpkin Pie Dip
Everyone makes pumpkin pie. Be different this year and whip up a super simple heavenly pumpkin pie dip! All you need to do is cream together a can of pumpkin puree, Cool Whip, instant vanilla pudding mix, and a dash of pumpkin pie spice. Cover and chill in the fridge and serve with Nilla wafers, graham crackers, or BOOP Cookies.
10. Mulled Apple Cider
Finish off the night with a delicious mulled apple cider. This citrus-infused apple cider warms the soul with cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and ground nutmeg.
In a large saucepan, combine about eight cups of unpasteurized apple cider, four cinnamon sticks, 10 whole cloves, and a sprinkle of ground nutmeg, and simmer the mixture for 20 minutes. Strain the liquid through a fine sieve into a heat-proof pitcher and serve warm with a BOOP cookie.
What Else Can I Do To Survive Thanksgiving?
We know, we know. There are plenty of ways to make Friendsgiving fun… but what about Thanksgiving itself, with the tense dinner conversations, relatives you haven’t seen since last year, and inevitable questions about what you’re doing with your life?
Well, you’re in luck — we have some ideas to help you make your next Thanksgiving BOOPtastic.
Make Your Own Thanksgiving BINGO Boards
Who doesn’t love BINGO? Break the Thanksgiving awkwardness this year by addressing the elephant in the room. DIY some Thanksgiving BINGO boards ahead of time for the whole family, featuring squares like “Someone cries,” “Someone asks to open another bottle of wine,” or “Someone mentions politics.” Take your family’s biggest holiday flaws, and turn them into something fun!
Host a Thanksgiving Cocktail (or Mocktail) Competition
If you and your loved ones are all about the booze on Thanksgiving, why not turn it into a friendly (or not-so-friendly) cocktail competition? Have each relative try their hand at a Turkey Day cocktail of their own and present it to the rest of the party for judgment.
The same concept applies if you’d rather reach for a mocktail! No harm, no foul.
Play With Your Food (Yes, Really)
Who says adults can’t play with their food?
Bring out your stash of BOOPs and play with your food — we mean it. BOOP cookies are soft and chewy, which means they can also be shaped into anything you want. If family isn’t enough to break the ice, maybe football is. Make your BOOPs into footballs, band together and shape your own BOOP cornucopia, or make a BOOP pie crust and fill it with whipped cream.
You can even form your BOOPs into small “turkey legs” and use a pretzel stick in each one as the “bone.” The possibilities are endless — and this idea is sure to please at the kids’ table, too!
Eat Food, Be Merry, & Make It a BOOP
And there you have it, our crafted list of 10 easy-peasy Friendsgiving food ideas that all your friends are sure to love. Whether you’ve hosted Friendsgiving in the past or this is your first rodeo, the inspo listed above will definitely make the shin-dig an unforgettable and delicious one — especially if BOOP Cookies are involved!
After all, no moment is too small for a BOOP. From modern twists to classic dishes, there’s something for everyone. So eat food, be merry, give thanks, and have a BOOP (or two). Trust us; you’ll be glad you did!
From our framily of cookie lovers to yours, happy Friendsgiving!
Sources:
What is Friendsgiving? | Origin of Friendsgiving | Merriam-Webster