Christmas party food: easy 'bring a plate' ideas

The "bring a plate" soiree is up there with the greatest of Aussie summer traditions, but how do you ensure your contribution is a festive hit?

Today Show caught up with 9Honey's resident kitchen whizz, Jane de Graaff, to get some tips on how to nail the "bring a plate" brief. Here's what she said.

Check what the host needs

We all love a festive dessert, but the last thing any party needs is three identical Woolies Chrissy puddings.

"My first thing, always, is ask the host what they need. Because you don't want to end up with all desserts, or all ham," Jane tells Today.

Opt for foods that travel well

Melt-y desserts and elaborately constructed centrepieces are probably not the best idea — unless you enjoy stress and disappointment.

"You want things that are easy to pack in boxes and easy to unpack at the other end, and that won't get destroyed on the way there."

Prepare food that's easy to eat

Bring snacks and dishes that're already individually portioned for the win — the guests will love it, plus it'll save on cutting/serving duties for the host.

"Cut it up, make it small — keep it bitesized so that people can easily grab it."

Jane's tip? "Anything that can be made into cake, can probably also be made into a slice."

Watch the full Today segment for more clever, low-fuss festive plate inspiration. To catch up on the latest episodes, visit9now.com.au/today.