17 Christmas appetizers easy

The holidays are about joy, laughter, and delicious food! Whether you’re hosting a Christmas party or a small family dinner, these 17 easy Christmas appetizers will make your gathering stress-free and festive.

Each recipe is quick to prepare, beautifully presented, and bursting with holiday flavor.

1. Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites

A holiday classic — buttery puff pastry filled with gooey brie and tangy cranberry sauce. Quick to bake, elegant to serve!

Ingredients:

• 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed

• 4 oz brie cheese, cut into cubes

• ½ cup cranberry sauce

• Fresh rosemary (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Cut pastry into small squares, place in a mini muffin tin.

3. Add brie and cranberry sauce.

4. Bake for 12–15 minutes until golden.

5. Garnish with rosemary and serve warm.

2. Bacon-Wrapped Smokies

Sweet, salty, and smoky — these addictive bites are always a hit at Christmas parties.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb cocktail sausages

• 10 slices bacon, halved

• ½ cup brown sugar

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Wrap each sausage with bacon and secure with a toothpick.

3. Sprinkle brown sugar on top.

4. Bake for 25 minutes or until crispy.

3. Spinach Dip Bread Bowl

Creamy spinach dip baked inside a crusty bread loaf — warm, cheesy, and crowd-pleasing.

Ingredients:

• 1 round bread loaf

• 10 oz frozen spinach, thawed and drained

• 8 oz cream cheese

• ½ cup sour cream

• ½ cup shredded mozzarella

Instructions:

1. Hollow out the bread loaf.

2. Mix filling ingredients and spoon inside.

3. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20 minutes.

4. Serve with toasted bread cubes.

4. Caprese Christmas Skewers

Bright, fresh, and festive with red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil — the colors of Christmas!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes

• 1 cup mozzarella balls

• Fresh basil leaves

• Balsamic glaze

Instructions:

1. Skewer a tomato, basil leaf, and mozzarella.

2. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.

3. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

5. Garlic Butter Shrimp

Juicy shrimp sautéed in garlic butter and herbs — elegant yet super simple.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined

• 3 tbsp butter

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Melt butter in a pan, add garlic.

2. Add shrimp and cook 2–3 minutes per side.

3. Sprinkle with lemon juice and parsley.

6. Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers

Colorful mini peppers filled with herbed cream cheese — quick, pretty, and delicious.

Ingredients:

• 10 mini bell peppers

• 8 oz cream cheese

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tbsp chives

Instructions:

1. Slice peppers in half and remove seeds.

2. Mix cream cheese with garlic and chives.

3. Fill peppers and chill before serving.

7. Deviled Eggs

A timeless favorite — creamy, tangy deviled eggs with a sprinkle of paprika for holiday color.

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs, boiled

• 3 tbsp mayonnaise

• 1 tsp mustard

• Paprika and chives for garnish

Instructions:

1. Halve eggs and remove yolks.

2. Mix yolks with mayo and mustard.

3. Fill egg whites and garnish with paprika.

8. Cheese and Cracker Wreath

A fun and festive way to serve cheese and crackers in a holiday wreath shape!

Ingredients:

• Assorted cheeses, cubed

• Crackers

• Grapes, olives, and rosemary sprigs

Instructions:

1. Arrange crackers and cheese in a circle on a board.

2. Fill gaps with grapes and rosemary for a wreath look.

9. Mini Meatballs in Cranberry Sauce

Tender meatballs coated in a sweet and tangy cranberry glaze — simple and so flavorful.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb frozen meatballs

• 1 cup cranberry sauce

• ½ cup barbecue sauce

Instructions:

1. Combine sauces in a slow cooker.

2. Add meatballs and stir to coat.

3. Cook on low for 3 hours or until heated through.

10. Puff Pastry Pinwheels

Crispy, flaky pastry swirls filled with pesto or cheese — perfect finger food.

Ingredients:

• 1 puff pastry sheet

• ¼ cup pesto

• ¼ cup shredded cheese

Instructions:

1. Spread pesto and cheese on pastry.

2. Roll and slice into pinwheels.

3. Bake at 375°F for 15 minutes.

11. Baked Brie with Honey and Nuts

Warm brie topped with honey and crunchy nuts — an elegant appetizer ready in minutes.

Ingredients:

• 1 wheel brie

• 2 tbsp honey

• ¼ cup pecans or walnuts

Instructions:

1. Bake brie at 350°F for 10 minutes.

2. Top with honey and nuts.

3. Serve with crackers or fruit.

12. Cucumber Smoked Salmon Bites

Cool and refreshing — cucumber slices topped with cream cheese and smoked salmon.

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, sliced

• 4 oz smoked salmon

• 4 oz cream cheese

• Fresh dill

Instructions:

1. Spread cream cheese on cucumber slices.

2. Add salmon and garnish with dill.

13. Holiday Cheese Ball

A creamy cheese ball covered in nuts and herbs — easy to make ahead and always impressive.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz cream cheese

• 1 cup shredded cheddar

• ¼ cup chopped pecans

• 1 tbsp parsley

Instructions:

1. Mix cheeses and herbs.

2. Shape into a ball and coat with nuts.

3. Chill and serve with crackers.

14. Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil

A light Italian favorite — toasted baguette slices topped with garlicky tomato mix.

Ingredients:

• 1 baguette, sliced

• 2 cups diced tomatoes

• 2 garlic cloves

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• Fresh basil

Instructions:

1. Toast baguette slices.

2. Mix tomatoes, garlic, and oil.

3. Spoon onto toast and top with basil.

15. Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus

Simple yet elegant — crisp asparagus wrapped in savory prosciutto.

Ingredients:

• 20 asparagus spears

• 10 slices prosciutto

• Olive oil

Instructions:

1. Wrap asparagus with prosciutto.

2. Drizzle with oil.

3. Bake at 400°F for 12–15 minutes.

16. Cranberry Goat Cheese Crostini

Sweet cranberry relish meets tangy goat cheese on crispy bread — a perfect festive bite.

Ingredients:

• 1 baguette, sliced

• 4 oz goat cheese

• ½ cup cranberry sauce

Instructions:

1. Toast baguette slices.

2. Spread goat cheese and top with cranberry sauce.

3. Garnish with mint.

17. Mini Chicken Tarts

Creamy, savory chicken filling baked in mini tart shells — comforting and bite-sized.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded

• ½ cup cream cheese

• ¼ cup cheddar cheese

• Mini tart shells

Instructions:

1. Mix filling ingredients.

2. Spoon into tart shells.

3. Bake at 375°F for 10–12 minutes.

These 17 easy Christmas appetizers are simple to prepare but full of festive charm.

From warm dips and crispy pastries to elegant finger foods, each dish brings holiday cheer to your table — without hours in the kitchen.