‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house; not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there ~ Clement Park Moore
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The tree is trimmed, the shopping is done, gifts are wrapped — but the Christmas parties are just beginning. Whether you’re hosting at home or bringing a dish to a friend’s gathering, these festive appetizers are easy to make and always well received. I’ve prepared each recipe at holiday parties, and they never fail to delight.
🌲 Pine cone cheese balls with bacon and toasted almonds
Lightly toast sliced almonds. In a bowl, combine 8 ounces cream cheese, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 4 cooked and crumbled bacon slices, 1/2 teaspoon dill, 1 tablespoon chopped scallions, salt and pepper to taste. Shape the mixture into a pine-cone form and press toasted almonds into the surface to create the “scales.” Garnish with small rosemary sprigs and serve with crackers.
🌿 Puff pastry with brie, cranberry sauce, and thyme
Preheat oven to 425°F. Cut puff pastry into 1–2 inch squares. Place a slice of brie on each square and bake 10–12 minutes, until the pastry has puffed and lightly browned. Top with a small spoonful of cranberry sauce and a leaf of thyme. Serve warm.
🍐 Pear crostini with honey, ricotta cheese, and walnuts
Preheat oven to 325°F. Slice a baguette thinly and arrange the rounds on a baking sheet. Top each with a dollop of ricotta, a thin slice of pear, a walnut piece, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Drizzle with honey and bake for about 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
🐧 Olive penguins
Carefully slice a pitted olive in half lengthwise without cutting through completely, then fill the opening with a dab of cream cheese for the body. Cut thin carrot slices and notch them into a V shape for feet. On a toothpick, skewer carrot feet, the cream-cheese-filled olive, and another olive half for the head; add a tiny carrot triangle for a beak and a thin prosciutto strip as a scarf.
🥑 Guacamole christmas trees
Prepare a guacamole you love. Cut pita into small triangles and toast lightly. Place a spoonful of guacamole on each triangle and top with chopped tomatoes and red bell pepper pieces as “ornaments.” Finish by inserting a small pretzel stick at the base to mimic a tree trunk.
🎅 Strawberry Santas
Hull strawberries and remove leaves. Cut off the bottom quarter of each berry to form a small “hat.” Whip 1 cup heavy cream with 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla until stiff peaks form. Turn the strawberry base upside down, pipe cream onto it, place the hat on top, and add a tiny cream dot to finish. Use chocolate sprinkles or finely chopped chocolate for eyes.
☃️ Snowman cupcakes
Bake and frost cupcakes as you normally would. Pour coarse sugar into a shallow dish and gently dip the frosted top into the sugar to give a snowy texture. Use a thin orange candy or butterscotch piece for the nose and mini chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth.
🎄 Brownie christmas trees
Bake a batch of brownies and let them cool. Cut into small triangles. Pipe green icing in diagonal swirls to create the branches and decorate with mini candies as ornaments. Add a small candy cane or pretzel piece as the trunk.
🦌 Reindeer cookies
Prepare peanut butter cookie dough and roll into balls, then press each into a slightly triangular shape before baking. While still warm, press two dark brown M&Ms for eyes, one red M&M for the nose, and use chocolate-covered pretzels for antlers.
Before you throw that party, check out my tips and tricks for a smooth, festive event. Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅
Love holiday food and crafts? Explore other recipes and projects on the site for more inspiration.
Did you make these Christmas party appetizers? Let us know in the comments below!
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