Christmas
Party Eats, Appetizers, Christmas, Holidays, Recipe
100+ Fun and Easy Appetizers for a Christmas Party
Merry Christmas, everyone! It’s that time of year again when everyone is furiously searching for fun and easy appetizers for a Christmas party.
Apparently, the Christmas season is synonymous with food in the shape of trees, stars, snowmen, and other holiday motifs.
I hope this list can help you find the perfect, easy Christmas appetizers that will make your party one that they won’t forget.
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Before we dive deep into these recipes (and come out starving), let’s talk about other Christmas party needs: a great party punch, classic Christmas movies playing in the background, and the Left Right Christmas Story game.
You might be thinking, “We’ve never included any of these in our Christmas parties before, and they’ve been great.”
Here’s the trick, once you start, you can’t stop.
Your guests will arrive and say, “No Christmas punch this year?” or “When are we playing the Left Right game?”
So this is your chance. Decide now.
I’m warning you. Don’t add one of these items unless you are willing to commit to it year after year or suffer the consequences of disappointed guests.
Either way, in order to fuel the merriment your party will need a variety of finger foods and the best appetizers you can make.
Even though this list does include 100 recipes, I recognize that when you are on the hunt for the perfect appetizer, you may need an absurd amount of options.
So, you can also visit my list of 15 Fancy & Easy Party Appetizer Ideas You Only Need 5 Mins to Make and my 19 Christmas Tree Appetizer Recipes post. There is some overlap between this post and those but there’s also a bunch of original recipes.
Many of these festive starters could easily be the main meal at a holiday dinner.
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Christmas Charcuterie Boards
Charcuterie boards are edible artwork. It’s that simple.
With some planning and intentional arrangement of simple ingredients, pantry staples become masterpieces. Don’t let trying to find the perfect combination of foods scare you away from including a charcuterie board in your holiday hors d’oeuvre line-up.
And to help you, I’ve created step-by-step instructions for creating a beautiful charcuterie board so that anyone can become a bona fide food artist.
- CharcuterWREATH
By This Vivacious Life - Christmas Charcuterie Board & Kabobs
By Randa Nutrition - Christmas Tree Charcuterie
By Homemade Heather - Jarcuterie Cups
By Lining in Normal - Artisan Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
By Get on My Plate - Christmas charcuterie board
By Sweet Tea and Sprinkles
Festive Cheese Balls appetizers for a Christmas party
Would it even be the Christmas season without this classic appetizer, the Cheese Ball?
There are so many different ways to combine cheeses and seasonings.
Top it off with some extra cheddar cheese or mozzarella and surround it with crackers, and you’ve got yourself the perfect finger food.
Your Christmas dinner guests will simply not be capable of turning down these cream cheese treats.
- Cute Reindeer Cheese Ball
By Two Kids and a Coupon - Snowman Cheese Ball
By Amanda’s Cookin’ - Hedgehog Cheese Ball
By My Casual Pantry - Pinecone Cheese Ball
By Noshing with the Nolands - Vegan Cheese Balls Wreath
By Cadry’s Kitchen - Mini Cranberry Pecan Cheese Balls
By Aleka’s Get-Together - Four Festive Cheese Balls Assortment
By Delicious Table
- Ornament-shaped Cheese Ball
By Playdates and Parties - Goat Cheese Ball
By The Wooden Skillet - Ornament Pesto Sun-dried Tomato Cheese Balls
By Make With Mara - Healthy Holiday Cheese Ball
By iFoodReal - Reindeer Cheese Ball Appetizer
By Sustain My Cooking Habit - Veggie Straw Christmas Tree
By Exploring Domesticity - Cream Cheese Gift Spread
By All That’s Jas
You’ll also love:
Christmas Appetizers with Puff Pastry
Whether you’re looking for savory recipes, a bite-sized snack, or easy Christmas appetizer ideas, you’re likely to find something in the puff pastry section.
I personally believe some of the best appetizers start with puff pastry because you can fashion such cute Christmas appetizers out of it, and store-bought puff pastry makes these kinds of appetizers so easy to make.
- Cranberry Brie Bites
By Yum in the Kitchen - Christmas Tree Pastry with Pesto
By The Bella Vita - Asparagus Wrapped in Puff Pastry
By Simply Scrumptious - Pull-Apart Sausage Roll Wreath
By Culinary Ginger - Cinnamon Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
By Emily Leary
Christmas Appetizer Ideas with Bread
Appetizers that include bread are great for holiday parties because they can counteract a Christmas cocktail or two, and they satiate without being overly filling.
I suggest not reading these delicious recipes on an empty stomach. It will be impossible to resist. You’ll buy the ingredients for three. You’ll make two and you’ll eat all of one.
And then you’ll feel sick……and ashamed.
- Raspberry and Pistachio Wreath
By Rainbow Nourishments - Cheesy Pull-Apart Wreath
By The Soccer Mom Blog - Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread
By Made in a Pinch - Cheesy Pesto Wreath
By Fab Everyday - Christmas Tree Breadsticks
By Call Me PMC - Cranberry Brie Bread Bowl
By A Paige of Positivity - Warm Caprese Christmas Tree
By Exploring Domesticity
- Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Homemade Bread Rolls
By Sustain my Cooking Habit - Holiday Crostini
By Will Cook for Smiles - Tomato Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze
By Cooking with Mamma C - Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread Wreath
By Tasty Oven - Garlic Knots
By Sally’s Baking Recipes - Ricotta and Roasted Red Pepper Crostini
By Carolyn’s Cooking - Roasted Balsamic Cranberry and Brie Crostini
By NeighborFood - Orange and Cranberry Rolls
By Chocolates & Chai
Small Bites Appetizers for a Christmas Party
This category holds a special place in my heart because of my own bacon-wrapped dates recipe, which I’ve included.
The sweetness of the dates and the saltiness of the bacon is the perfect combination, but it also reminds me of the legend my mom used to tell me.
She said the indentations in the date pit were teeth marks from Baby Jesus. It’s those kinds of stories that make Christmas appetizer recipes part of the family tradition.
- Bacon Wrapped Dates and Prunes
By Press Print Party! - Rudolph Celery
By The Soccer Mom Blog - Mini Pizza Trees
By Create Yum - Christmas Tree Sandwiche
By Appetizer Addiction - Christmas Deviled Eggs
By Mom Foodie - Cranberry Cream Cheese Pinwheels
By Will Cook For Smiles - Turkey Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce
By My Kitchen Love
- Sundried Tomato Pesto Goat Cheese Bites
By Recipe Runner - Maple Glazed Pigs in Blankets
By What the Redhead Said - Festive Bacon Wrapped Scallops
By Enza’s Quail Hollow Kitchen - Cute Christmas Tree Appetizer
By Love From the Oven - Cream Cheese Penguins
By Sula and Spice - Marinated Mozzarella Balls
By Nibble and Dine - Grinch Fruit Kabobs
By Sula and Spice
You’ll also love:
Creative Christmas Veggie Platters and Salads
If you’re looking for healthy Christmas appetizers that take on a cute holiday shape, just make a Christmas tree veggie tray. It requires a little effort, but it might tempt kids to eat more veggies.
It’s also fun to present a salad in a fun way and they can help you feel less guilty about the six pounds of sugary treats you ate.
Second, salads have the ability to highlight seasonal produce which really gives the dish a festive touch.
Third, they are the queen of easy holiday appetizers. No baking or cooking necessary.
- Antipasta Wreath
By Amanda’s Cookin’ - Homemade Bruschetta Christmas Appetizer
By Tasty Oven - Christmas Tree Pinwheel
By Trial and Eater - Christmas Wreath Veggie Tray
By Completely Christmas - Vegetable Wreath
By This Mama Loves - Kale and Brussels Sprouts Wreath Salad (No longer available)
By White Kitchen Red Wine - Best Christmas Salad
By Foxes Love Lemons - Christmas Fruit Salad
By Foxes Love Lemons - Festive Christmas Caprese Salad
By Maple + Mango - Christmas Tree Cheese Platter
By Key to my Lime
Savory Dips for your Christmas Buffet
Savory recipes for dips and Christmas parties are good friends; they go way back.
In fact, didn’t one of the wise men bring Baby Jesus and his parents dip when he was born? Or maybe I’m confusing spinach artichoke dip with frankincense and myrrh… 🤷♀️
As you’ll see in the next category, there is also a plethora of sweet dip recipes to choose from.
However, I believe festive starters need to maintain a balance between sweet and savory recipes. You don’t want too much of either one.
- Red & Green Creamy Cranberry Jalapeño Dip
By Veggie Inspired - Easy Appetizer Hummus Wreath
By Two Healthy Kitchens - Cooked Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
By The Fresh Cooky - Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
By Playdates and Parties - Bacon Scallion Cheese Wreath
By Not Entirely Average - Whipped Goat Cheese with Lime Pomegranate
By Make With Mara
- Christmas Wreath Guacamole Appetizer
By Veggies Save the Day - Baked Brie with Cherry Preserves and Almonds
By Boulder Locavore - Baked Brie En Croute
By Enza’s Quail Hollow Kitchen - Cranberry Salsa
By Cooking with Curls - Spicy Cranberry-Raspberry Baked Brie
By Boulder Locavore
Sweet Dips for the perfect Christmas Buffet
Every delicious appetizer in this category screams Christmas season. While I don’t see sweet dips very often at the parties I’ve attended, after reading these easy recipes, any one of them would be a welcome addition to my table.
These recipes could easily join the easy holiday appetizers category with the help of a food processor.
- Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Dip
By Fantabulosity - Elf Dessert Dip
By Love from the Oven - Snowman Dip
By Sula and Spice - Christmas Cookie Dip
By The Soccer Mom Blog
Yummy Christmas Cookies
I know, now we’ve wandered into the sweet stuff that would not typically be called appetizers.
But you know and I know that cookies are a must-have item for a Christmas buffet.
- Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
By Emma Duckworth Bakes - Cutest Gnome Cookies
By Just is a Four Letter Word - Gingerbread Cookies
By Chocolates & Chai - Cranberry Snowballs
By Bitz & Giggles - Chocolate Peppermint Bliss Balls (No longer available)
By Meg & Matcha - Keto Snowball Cookies
By Whole New Mom - White Chocolate Oreo Snowmen
By In the Kids Kitchen
Fun Christmas Desserts
Your guests are sure to have themselves a merry little Christmas with any one of these Christmas desserts.
There are so many great ideas for sweet Christmas appetizer recipes, you might need to pick a few to try this holiday season.
- Eggnog Cake
By Tasty Oven - Strawberry Santas
By Sweet Tea & Sparkles - Christmas Tree Pretzels
By The Soccer Mom Blog - Sugared Cranberries
By PetersFoodAdventures - Christmas Puppy Chow aka Reindeer Food
By The Soccer Mom Blog - White Chocolate Party Mix
By I Heart Eating - Reindeer Rice Krispy Treats
By The Soccer Mom Blog
- Peppermint Wonton Kisses
By Simple & Seasonal - Peppermint Bark Popcorn
By Strength and Sunshine - Red Velvet Waffle Whoopie Pies
By Your Better Kitchen - Crockpot Christmas Crack
By Kim and Kalee - Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Cups
By Plant Based with Amy - Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board
By Hip Mamas Place - Christmas Pretzels
By Dizzy Busy & Hungry
Did you find what you were looking for? If you make one of these appetizers for a Christmas party, please tell me about it in the comment section! And if you just don’t have time, check out my list of the best 15 fancy and easy appetizers that only take 5 minutes to make.
Looking specifically for dessert options? Check out my 33 Easy Party Desserts – Finger Foods Ideas to Make for a Crowd.
Merry Christmas!
Don’t forget to pin these appetizers for a Christmas party:
Picked for you:
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