Maybe "party favors" isn't quite the right word - that brings to mind cellophane bags of plastic kazoos and bubble wands! What we're thinking of is an adult version: more like party "keepsakes," maybe or a treat for the road. Do you give guests something special at the end of the evening?
We've felt very inspired lately by the Sunday Suppers series, the Brooklyn-based cooking class/dinner party. At the end of their sessions, each guest is presented with a very simple and lovely gift - something for them to take home, savor, and remember the evening. Recently, they did packets of granola with jars of fromage blanc, pictured above. They've also handed out pots of homemade preserves and boxes of chestnuts that guests could roast at home.
Dinner party favors would have to be something that could be made well in advance. The night of the party itself, we want to focus on the food we're cooking! Granola that can be eaten the next morning is a great idea. A few cookies wrapped in nice paper and ribbon would also be simple and easy, as would packets of loose-leaf tea that guests could drink once they get home.
What ideas do you have for simple, make-ahead party favors?
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at the holidays when i throw a holiday party or dinner, everyone gets a homemade edible present to take home. in the past i've made teacakes, hot chocolate on a stick w/homemade marshmallows, roasted flavored nuts, flavored oil, jam, and sesame brittle. it's always well appreciated!
I've never been to a party (other than a wedding) where anything was given to the guests to take home. Is this common? I've actually very scared of dinner parties, both hosting and attending, because of all the etiquette-related expectations.
Those little jars with lids are lovely! Any idea where I might be able to find them?
Michelle of Montreal - dont be scared to host a dinner party ... there are no rules! just invite people who you enjoy the company of, and get cooking. when you attend a party - either bring a bottle of wine (with a tag that says - Enjoy later!), or simple gift (some nice olive oil, fancy salt, breadsticks etc). that's it!
I'm with rebecca_f! A dinner party doesn't have to be fancy - it can be take-out food, pizza or something as simple as soup and salad. The point is to open up your home to your friends and have a good time. :)
As for party favors, I tend to do them for our annual Valentine's dinner party and if I have the time, for our holiday parties. Sometimes it's food (peanut brittle, homemade marshmallows, caramels) and sometimes its something crafty. For our (belated) Valentine's dinner party this weekend, I'm making mirror-glass votive holders wrapped up with some red candles.
I have never done the favor thing. The most that might happen is shoving leftover desert onto my guests so I don't eat it all :) I love the idea of favors, I just spend so much time on the meal and atmosphere I don't think I could fit in anymore prep.
Nope, no favors. Too fussy. I don't put gifts at Christmas in the "party favor" category. We do favors for my preschool daughter's birthday party, and that's it. Hosting is intimidating enough without the Martha touches!
I enjoy doing favors...for our family dinner party to celebrate my toddler's birthday, we had sort of a spaghetti western vibe going on, so I wrapped bandanas around small jars of locally made honey with a note: thanks for making our celebration sweet. Guests took these home.
For my book group party tonight, I've made bookmarks out of pretty paper and a quote from our book. These have been laminated and adorned with a ribbon at the end.
The homemade granola is a great idea, as are the preserves.
Michelle: dinner parties don't have to be formal, over the top ordeals. Invite your best pals over to help you make (and eat) your best dish. With some great music, a simple dessert (hot fudge sundaes? treat from local bakery?), people will have a great time whether you set the table or mill around the house. Assign a guest to bring a side dish, another to bring a beverage. Done.
I like to give out "party favors" that can be eaten before or after everyone leaves, since invariably dinner parties end with long coffee/tea-fueled conversations and occasionally even board or video games. (We have fun friends.)
For the last party, I whipped out my frozen logs of orange-cranberry shortbread cookie dough and let them thaw on the counter until after dinner. By mashing the logs together in fours and shaping them, I ended up with 4" squares of thin, buttery cookie. My intent was to send the guests home with parchment packets of shortbread...
But we ended up playing an extra game of Catan while we ate the cookies down to the last crumb-- we used them to shovel honeyed whipped cream directly into our mouths between vicious, wee-hours bids for victory.
Maybe they'll take them home next time... XD
I envy anyone that has the time to make extra presents on top of throwing dinner parties in the first place. I did recently read about some dinner party where the hostess gave out goody bags like at the Oscars- there was something about it that really turned me off. Like, isn't it enough that we get to spend time together? Do we really need more stuff? YMMV, and I appreciate the generous impulse behind this I think, I just think it is misguided.
At thanksgiving I gave membrillo that I made in madelaine molds. I have also given fresh goat cheese, jams, spice blends...leftovers...
I've been know to make people take home leftovers when the amount of food gets out of hand. Does that count?
I always make 2x the dessert i'm serving and send that home with people so they can indulge either, on the subway or in a midnight fridge raid once they get there. all my friends LOVE IT and I feel good about "recycling" all my chinese food takeout containers that I will never use.