Need some Christmas appetizers for your next holiday party? Find our best ideas below! They include easy, crowd-pleasing dips, finger foods, and more.
These Christmas appetizers will be a hit at any holiday party this season! I’ve made them for countless family gatherings, cozy cocktail hours, and get-togethers with friends over the years. Fun, flavorful, and festive, they’re crowd-pleasers every time.
These Christmas appetizers include tasty finger foods, delicious dips, platters, and more. Many can be made ahead, and others are quick to throw together at the last minute. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or looking for the perfect bite to bring, you’ll find easy appetizer ideas to try.
Our Top 5 Christmas Appetizers
Stuffed Mushrooms
My husband Jack can’t get enough of these stuffed mushrooms, so they’re the Christmas appetizers I make most often. They always disappear quick—the crispy, savory breadcrumb filling is absolutely delicious!
Whipped Feta Dip
This creamy, tangy dip keeps well in the fridge for several days, so it’s a great holiday appetizer to make ahead. Garnish it with parsley and Aleppo pepper, or top it with a drizzle of honey and bursty pomegranate seeds.
Puff Pastry Brie Bites
These little brie bites are the cutest Christmas appetizers! They look fancy, but they’re simple to make in a mini muffin tin. Melty brie, sweet fig jam, and earthy rosemary fill the buttery puff pastry.
Deviled Eggs
How do you turn classic deviled eggs into a festive appetizer? Garnish them with fresh dill and smoked paprika for red and green holiday flair!
How to Make a Cheese Board
I almost never host a holiday party without setting out a cheese board. It’s easy to put together, it looks gorgeous, and it offers nice variety for people with different preferences. Everyone will find something to munch on!
More Easy Appetizers for Christmas
Baked Brie
This baked brie takes literally 10 minutes to make (and is best served warm), so it’s the ultimate last-minute holiday appetizer. Serve with crostini for scooping up the gooey cheese.
Focaccia Bread
I can’t tell you how many times Jack has made this recipe for holiday gatherings. Light, airy, and flavorful, it’s super impressive…but secretly easy to make.
Roasted Pecans
You can make these toasty, crunchy pecans two ways: Roast them with rosemary and sea salt for a savory snack, or toss them with cinnamon sugar for a sweet one!
Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
This plant-based spin on the classic party dip is just as delicious as the original! It has a rich, tangy cashew base that even non-vegans will love.
Marinated Mozzarella Balls
These marinated mozzarella balls taste like something from a fancy Italian deli, but they’re actually easy to make at home! They have the best flavor after an overnight chill in the fridge, so they’re a great holiday appetizer to make ahead.
Marinated Gigante Beans
These marinated beans will be the sleeper hit of your holiday appetizer spread. Sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, and herbs fill them with rich, savory flavor. Delicious on crackers or crostini!
Antipasto Platter
A step up from a simple cheese board, this Italian-inspired appetizer platter will wow your holiday guests. Perfect with wine, a negroni, or an Aperol spritz to drink!
Homemade Hummus
This homemade hummus is creamier and brighter than store-bought. Still, it’s easy to make with 7 simple ingredients! Serve with pita or veggies for a fresh holiday appetizer.
Sweet Potato Appetizer Bites
Serving gluten-free guests? Make these festive sweet potato rounds instead of regular crostini! I top them with crisp radish slices and a lemony avocado tartare.
Eggplant Caponata
If I see caponata on a Christmas appetizer spread, I’m making a beeline for the snack table. Silky, sweet, and sour, this eggplant stew is an elegant (and delicious) topper for crostini.
Caprese Skewers
These bite-size skewers are one of my favorite summer appetizers, but their red, white, and green color palette makes them perfect for holiday parties too.
Whipped Ricotta
This luxe dip is both one of the easiest Christmas appetizers AND one of the best to make ahead. Prep it up to 4 days before your gathering and store it in the fridge. Just top with olive oil, lemon zest, honey, and fresh thyme before serving!
Olive Tapenade
If you love bold, briny flavors, this quick olive tapenade is the holiday appetizer for you! A mouthwatering blend of olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and capers, it’s great with crackers, baguette, or as part of a cheese board.
Sweet Potato Pomegranate Crostini
These festive crostini have been one of my go-to holiday appetizers for years! I often slather them with ricotta before adding the fresh fixings, but I also love a dairy-free version made with a lemony sunflower spread instead of cheese.
Garlic Knots
Make these garlic knots for a Christmas soirée, and everyone will ask for the recipe! They have a soft, pillowy texture and rich, garlicky flavor.
French Onion Dip
When I was growing up, store-bought French onion dip was my favorite Christmas appetizer. I still love it these days, but I make it myself instead of buying it at the store. This version is totally dairy-free—a thick cashew cream replaces the traditional dairy!
Homemade Labneh
You won’t find a classic cheese ball on my Christmas appetizer table, but labneh, a soft Middle Eastern cheese made from strained yogurt, regularly makes an appearance. Creamy, rich, and tangy, it’s fabulous with plenty of olive oil, fresh herbs, and lemon zest on top.
Ultimate Crudité Platter
Add some freshness to your holiday appetizer spread with a simple crudité platter! I love this one with crisp veggies, soft baguette, and a zesty white bean dip.
Muhammara
This roasted red pepper dip is a show-stopping appetizer for Christmas! It has a bold sweet and sour flavor and vibrant red color. Top with fresh mint or parsley for festive flecks of green!
Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Dip
Who can resist a cheesy baked party dip when it’s hot from the oven? This one has a secret veggie ingredient—blended cauliflower creates its creamy base!
More Christmas Recipes
Looking for more festive recipes for the holiday season? Check out these round ups next:
Best Christmas Appetizers: Brie Bites
Serves 24
These brie bites are one of our favorite holiday appetizers!
- Cooking spray, for the pan
- 6 ounces brie cheese
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed in the refrigerator overnight
- All-purpose flour, for rolling
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary, plus more rosemary leaves for garnish
- ⅓ cup fig spread or cranberry sauce*
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped toasted pecans
Prevent your screen from going dark
Preheat the oven to 375°F and oil or spray a 24-cup mini muffin tin.
Cut the brie into 24 small pieces. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Spread the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Dust the top with flour and roll out into a large 11×13-inch rectangle. Cut the pastry into 24 small rectangles or squares by cutting it crosswise into 6 equal pastry strips, then cutting it lengthwise into 4 (a pizza cutter works well for this).
Gently separate the small puff pastry rectangles and press each one into a well in the mini muffin tin, gently pressing the sides together if necessary to form a small pastry cup. Make sure that the pastry is flush against the bottom of the muffin cup.
Sprinkle the rosemary at the bottom of the pastry cups, then fill each with a piece of the brie. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the pastry is golden brown and crisp.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 2 minutes, then top with the fig spread, adding about ½ teaspoon to each brie bite. Sprinkle with the pecans and garnish with rosemary leaves.
Transfer to a serving plate and serve.
*This recipe works best with a slightly runny fig spread such as DeLallo. If yours is very thick, warm it in the microwave to loosen the consistency before adding it to the brie bites.