28 Festive Christmas Appetizers to Kickstart Your Holiday Feast

The Pomegranate Goat Cheese Crostini is a visually stunning and easy-to-prepare appetizer. Ideal for holiday gatherings, it features crostini made from crusty French bread drizzled with olive oil and baked until golden. Each slice is topped with a creamy blend of honey goat cheese and cream cheese, then garnished with vibrant pomegranate seeds and a hint of fresh mint. This dish combines crunchy textures with the creamy tang of goat cheese, punctuated by the sweet burst of pomegranate and fresh mint, making it an elegant and flavorful choice for any festive occasion.

The Cranberry Brie Bites are a delightful holiday appetizer that's both easy to make and delicious. They consist of small squares of crescent dough, each filled with a piece of creamy brie cheese and topped with a mix of cranberry sauce and orange marmalade. The bites are baked until the dough is golden and the cheese melts, creating a perfect balance of sweet, tart, and savory flavors. They're finished with a sprinkle of chopped nuts and a sprig of rosemary, adding a festive touch.

The Christmas Deviled Eggs are a festive and flavorful appetizer perfect for holiday parties. These deviled eggs feature a creamy filling made from egg yolks, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, white wine vinegar, and a touch of salt. They are beautifully garnished with red pomegranate arils and green parsley, creating a charming holly decoration on top. This appetizer is not only visually appealing but also offers a rich, savory taste with a hint of sweetness from the pomegranate.

The Cranberry Salsa over Cream Cheese is a vibrant and flavorful appetizer, perfect for the holiday season. This unique salsa is made with fresh cranberries, green onions, jalapeños, cilantro, ginger, lemon juice, and sugar. It's served over a block of cream cheese, offering a delightful contrast of tart and creamy flavors. This dish is ideally paired with crackers or chips, making it a refreshing and unexpected twist on traditional party salsas.

The Smoked Salmon on Crostini is an exquisite and simple-to-prepare appetizer. It features thinly sliced baguette brushed with olive oil and broiled, topped with a flavorful herb cream cheese spread. The spread is a blend of cream cheese, fresh dill, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. On top of this creamy base, layers of smoked salmon, arugula, cucumber slices, capers, and green onions are added, culminating in a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. This dish is perfect for any festive gathering, offering a sophisticated yet easy option for hosts.

The Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is a delightful and visually appealing holiday appetizer. It is made using refrigerated pizza dough, shaped into a Christmas tree, and filled with mozzarella cheese sticks. Once baked, the bread is brushed with a mixture of melted butter, garlic, and herbs, then sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. It's served with marinara or pesto for dipping, making it a warm, pull-apart treat that is both cheesy and flavorful. This appetizer is easy to make and sure to be a hit at holiday gatherings.

This appetizer is a festive and savory dish, perfect for holiday celebrations. It's made by blending cream cheese, shredded cheese, and crispy bacon bits, along with green onions and various seasonings. The mixture is shaped into individual cheese balls, arranged to form a wreath, and garnished with herbs for a decorative touch. It's a popular choice for its rich flavors and eye-catching presentation.

The Sausage Balls recipe is a savory and delightful appetizer, perfect for holiday gatherings. This recipe upgrades the traditional three-ingredient version by incorporating ground breakfast sausage, Bisquick mix, and pepper jack cheese, along with onion powder, minced garlic, and melted butter. These ingredients combine to form approximately 32 bite-sized balls that are baked until golden brown. The result is a delicious appetizer that is both easy to make and enjoy, offering a pleasing blend of flavors.

The Parmesan Brussels Sprouts recipe is a delightful and straightforward dish, perfect for the holiday season. It involves halving Brussels sprouts and coating them with olive oil, garlic and herb seasoning, and salt. These are then baked on a sheet pan with melted butter and a generous layer of Parmesan cheese, creating a crispy, cheesy crust. The result is a delicious, nutritious side dish with a perfect balance of flavors and textures.

The Baked Parmesan Cheddar Cheese Crisps are a simple yet delicious appetizer. They're made by mixing shredded Parmesan and cheddar cheeses with Italian seasoning and baking them until crisp. These crisps are a great low-carb snack option, perfect for satisfying salty cravings. Their ease of preparation and versatility make them ideal for adding a cheesy crunch to salads or serving as a standalone snack for cheese lovers.

The Baked Tahong with Sweet Chili-Mayo Topping is an enticing seafood appetizer. This dish consists of half-shell mussels topped with a creamy mixture of mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, sweet chili sauce, green onions, and lime juice. Baked until golden and bubbly, these mussels offer a perfect blend of creamy, cheesy, and slightly spicy flavors, making them a highly addictive and appealing choice for parties and gatherings.

The Bacon Wrapped Apricots recipe from Art From My Table offers a delicious combination of sweet and savory flavors. This appetizer involves wrapping dried apricots with bacon, along with a sage leaf for an aromatic touch. After baking until the bacon crisps, the bites are brushed with maple syrup, adding a delightful sweetness. This simple yet elegant dish, requiring only four ingredients, is a perfect addition to holiday gatherings, impressing guests with its unique flavor profile.

The Cheese Ball Bites recipe from Princess Pinky Girl offers a delightful, bite-sized twist on the classic cheese ball. These mini appetizers are made by blending cream cheese with white sharp cheddar, butter, horseradish sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. After chilling, the mixture is formed into small balls and rolled in various toppings such as chopped green onions, dried cranberries, nuts, and bacon. Each bite is garnished with a pretzel stick, making them perfect finger food for holiday parties.

The Stuffed Mushrooms recipe from Will Cook for Smiles is a classic and delicious appetizer. It features medium-sized baby bella or portobello mushrooms stuffed with a mixture of cream cheese, herbs, onions, and Parmesan cheese. These ingredients are sautéed and mixed, then used to fill the mushroom caps. The mushrooms are baked until tender and golden brown, creating a savory and elegant dish perfect for holiday gatherings and parties.

The Caramelized Onion Dip is a rich and flavorful appetizer. It's made by slowly caramelizing onions in a mixture of butter and olive oil, then blending them into a creamy base of mayonnaise, cream cheese, and sour cream. Seasoned with garlic powder or cayenne pepper and Worcestershire sauce, this dip is savory with a hint of sweetness. Fresh chives add an extra layer of flavor. It's perfect served with potato chips, crackers, or veggie sticks.

The Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe from Love and Lemons offers a healthy twist on the classic appetizer. It uses a puree of boiled cauliflower and Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese or mayonnaise, creating a creamy base. Fresh spinach, artichoke hearts, garlic, scallions, Dijon mustard, and white cheddar cheese add depth and flavor. This dip is baked until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly, making it a nutritious and delicious choice for holiday gatherings.

The Cocktail Meatballs recipe from Cafe Delites is an appetizing and easy-to-make dish. It features juicy, tender homemade meatballs cooked in a sweet and sour sauce with a subtle hint of heat. The sauce is a simple mix of cranberry jelly, chili sauce, brown sugar, and vinegar. These meatballs can be made ahead of time and are ideal for parties, as they can be kept warm in a slow cooker for guests to enjoy throughout the event.

Candied Pecans are a sweet and crunchy snack perfect for the holiday season. They typically involve coating pecan halves in a mixture of sugar, cinnamon, and a hint of salt, then baking them until caramelized and fragrant. These treats are ideal for snacking, gifting, or as a topping for salads and desserts.

Toasted Ravioli is typically a delicious and crispy appetizer where ravioli is breaded, fried or baked until golden brown, and served with marinara sauce for dipping. It's a popular dish for its combination of a crunchy exterior and a flavorful, cheesy filling.

Spinach and Goat Cheese Tartlets are a sophisticated appetizer made with a flaky pastry shell filled with a creamy mixture of spinach, goat cheese, and seasonings. They are often baked until the pastry is golden and the filling is warm, offering a delightful combination of textures and flavors.

Mini Cheese Ball Bites from Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons are a delightful festive appetizer. These bites feature goat cheese formed into small discs, rolled in a mix of candied pecans, dried cranberries, parsley, and cinnamon for a sweet and savory taste. Each cheese ball is garnished with a pretzel stick, offering an easy and elegant way to serve. This appetizer is not only delicious but also adds a decorative touch to holiday tables.

The Sweet Potato Bites with Marshmallows and Pecans recipe from Completely Delicious is a delightful appetizer that combines the flavors of a classic sweet potato casserole into a single-serving form. Thick rounds of sweet potatoes are roasted in butter, then tossed with maple syrup and topped with halved marshmallows and pecan halves. Broiled briefly to toast the marshmallows, these bites are a sweet and savory treat, perfect for holiday gatherings.

Pesto Parmesan Cheese Straws from Two Peas & Their Pod are a simple yet elegant appetizer made with just four ingredients. These straws consist of puff pastry filled with basil pesto and Parmesan cheese, twisted into straws, and baked until golden brown. The result is a flaky, cheesy, and flavorful snack that's perfect for parties or as an accompaniment to soups and salads. This easy-to-make recipe offers a delightful combination of pesto and Parmesan flavors in a crispy pastry form.

The Caprese Salad Bites recipe from Appetizer Addiction is a simple yet elegant appetizer. It consists of cherry tomatoes, mini mozzarella balls, and fresh basil leaves, assembled on skewers. Each bite is seasoned with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. These refreshing and healthy bites are served in mini glasses, making them a visually appealing addition to any festive occasion. The recipe promises ease and quick preparation, ideal for last-minute gatherings.

The Chicken Pinwheel Crescent Wreath from The Novice Chef is an eye-catching and delicious appetizer. This wreath is made with crescent roll dough filled with a blend of seasoned cream cheese, cooked chicken, and fresh spinach. After rolling, the dough is cut into pinwheels and arranged in a wreath shape, then baked until golden. The finished wreath is garnished with rosemary and red bell pepper, creating a festive and savory dish perfect for holiday celebrations.

A Sicilian eggplant dish consisting of eggplant, tomatoes, and celery seasoned with vinegar and sugar. It's often cooked to a stew-like consistency, with capers, olives, and onions for added flavor. This savory-sweet appetizer is usually served at room temperature, making it a great make-ahead option for holiday gatherings.

The Pigs in Blankets recipe from The Dinner Bite offers a delightful British twist on the classic appetizer. It involves wrapping cocktail sausages in smoked streaky bacon, then baking them to perfection. These are then brushed with a honey and mustard sauce for added sweetness and a hint of heat. This easy-to-make appetizer is perfect for festive occasions, combining savory flavors with a touch of sweetness.

The Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts recipe from Northern Yum combines crunchy water chestnuts and smoky bacon, basted in a sweet and savory sauce. They are baked until the bacon is crispy and the sauce caramelizes, creating a delightful texture contrast. This appetizer is versatile, easy to prepare, and perfect for various gatherings, promising to be a hit due to its delicious flavor balance.