75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (2024)

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (1)

Planning your Christmas dinner menu can easily fall to the bottom of your to-do list as you rush around trying to get all your holiday shopping done before December 24. To make planning your Christmas party a little easier, we've rounded up our favorite easy appetizer and Christmas treat recipes — most of which you can easily prep ahead of time!

While Christmas appetizers may not be the main event of the evening, we guarantee your guests will be excited to get their hands on these pastries, toasts, and dips. Don't be afraid to recycle your favorite Thanksgiving appetizers, but we suggest including some festive seasonal favorites, too. Here you'll find classic Christmas foods, like cranberry crescent bites and white wine mussels, as well as gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options for every dietary preference. We've also included kid-friendly Christmas snacks and lots of healthy finger food options, too.

In short, these easy and elegant Christmas appetizer ideas will satisfy any crowd — so much so that you may have to remind your guests to save room for the Christmas ham!

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1

Beet Crostini

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (2)

These beet crostinis are a tasty plant-forward appetizer option. Plus, the deep red of the beets is pretty Christmas-y, no?

Get the Beet Crostini recipe.

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2

Mushroom and Herb Stromboli

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (3)

This appetizer is the ultimate comfort food, and an option that works for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. It would also be a great thing to heat up and eat with leftovers on the day after Christmas.

Get the Mushroom and Herb Stromboli recipe.

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3

Zesty Mini Crab Cakes

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (4)

These mini crab cakes are the perfect savory bite, complete with the tiniest spicy kick. Plus, who says seafood doesn't have a place at Christmas dinner?

Get the Zesty Mini Crab Cakes recipe.

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4

Cranberry Goat Cheese Crescent Bites

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (5)

Holiday party season means you have to eat pastry puffs filled with cheese. We don't make the rules!

Get the Cranberry Goat Cheese Crescent Bites recipe.

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6

Hot Double-Onion Dip

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (7)

For a more casual, comfort food appetizer, consider this hot double-onion dip. Just make sure you have mints near by for anyone who might need them.

Get the Hot Double-Onion Dip recipe.

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7

Tortilla Wreath with Brie

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (8)

Wow your guests with this delicious holiday app featuring baked Brie topped with a spicy salsa made of cranberries, Granny Smith apple jalapeño, and fresh cilantro.

Get the Tortilla Wreath with Brie recipe.

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8

Tangy Cranberry Meatballs

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (10)

Use your extra cranberry sauce to make these delicious tangy meatballs. You don't even have to tell anyone that the meatballs themselves are store-bought.

Get the Tangy Cranberry Meatballs recipe.

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9

Garlic Miso Rolls

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (11)

Pull apart these decadent rolls that'll have your mouth watering.

Get the Garlic Miso Rolls recipe.

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10

Avocado Toast with Pomegranate Salsa

The addition of fresh pomegranate seeds makes this classic toast concoction a little more bright and cheery.

Get the Avocado Toast with Pomegranate Salsa recipe.

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11

Ricotta Dumplings

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (13)

While there is certainly a lot of dairy in this recipe, there is no meat and you could definitely use a gluten-free flour to make it GF, too.

Get the Ricotta Dumplings recipe.

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12

Honey-Glazed Carrots

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (14)

Spicy and sweet play on each other in this veggie-focused plate that has ginger and honey.

Get the Honey-Glazed Carrots recipe.

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13

Hasselback Butternut Squash with Browned Butter

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (15)

Anything made with browned butter is a winter month must-have. Plus, sage and garlic give the squash added warmth.

Get the Hasselback Butternut Squash with Browned Butter recipe.

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14

Sweet Parker House Rolls

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (16)

Why not bring out the dinner rolls a little sooner this year? There's never an incorrect time for more bread. Plus, you can spread some of those spreads and dips on them.

Get the Sweet Parker House Rolls recipe.

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15

Ginger Dumpling Soup

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (17)

Anyone who ventures out to play in the snow until dinner is ready will appreciate finding this warm bowl to hold them over.

Get the Ginger Dumpling Soup recipe.

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16

Crispy Roasted Broccolini

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (18)

This time-saving appetizer (or side dish for that matter) makes the most of red chiles, panko, and lemon zest.

Get the Crispy Roasted Broccolini recipe.

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17

Lentil Hummus

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (19)

Hummus is a must at any gathering, so whip up this recipe that's seasoned with lemon juice, cumin, and thyme.

Get the Lentil Hummus recipe.

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18

Ham and Spinach Pizza

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (20)

You've probably served ham once or twice (or maybe more) at Christmas dinners. This kid-friendly appetizer puts the holiday protein on pizza for a satisfying snack. Just make sure to cut small slices so people don't fill up before dinner (but who could blame them).

Get the Ham and Spinach Pizza recipe.

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19

Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (21)

This plant-based app dresses up brussels sprouts with honey, red chile, and sherry vinegar.

Get the Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts recipe.

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20

Holiday Cheese Board

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (22)

Designing an impressive charcuterie board is a tall order any day of the week, but if your in-laws are in town, it can be helpful to follow some tips and tricks to wow the crowd.

Get the Holiday Cheese Board recipe.

75 Elegant Christmas Appetizer Recipes That'll Wow Party Guests (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between appetizers and hors d'oeuvres? ›

Time Eaten: Hors d'oeuvres are typically served before the meal even begins, while appetizers tend to indicate the beginning of the meal. An hors d'oeuvre isn't considered to be part of the meal, but appetizers are usually chosen specifically to complement the following courses.

How many appetizers for 10 guests? ›

A good rule of thumb when working with your caterer on just how many hors d'oeuvres to choose is as follows: for 10 – 12 guests a minimum of 5 selections, 25 guests a minimum of 9 selections and for 50 guests, a minimum of 13 selections.

How to calculate appetizers for a party? ›

You want to have enough variety so that everyone can eat something before dinner is served.
  1. 10 guests or less: serve 3 different appetizers.
  2. 10 - 20 guests: serve 5 different appetizers.
  3. 20 - 40 guests: serve 7 different appetizers.
  4. 40 guests or more: serve 9 different appetizers.

How much finger food for 100 guests? ›

Appetizers

If you're offering catered appetizers, plan for about six portions per guest. For a party of 100 guests, this adds up to roughly 600 appetizer portions.

What is a one bite appetizer called? ›

myz. ɡœl]) is a single, bite-sized hors d'œuvre. Amuse-bouches are different from appetizers in that they are not ordered from a menu by patrons but are served free and according to the chef's selection alone. These are served both to prepare the guest for the meal and to offer a glimpse of the chef's style.

What are the 7 classifications of appetizers? ›

What Are the Different Types of Appetizers?
  • co*cktails. co*cktails are some of the most popular appetizers. ...
  • Hors D'oeuvres. Hors d'oeuvres are immediately different co*cktails in that they can be served hot or cold, and come highly seasoned rather than with co*cktail sauce. ...
  • Canape. ...
  • Relishes & Crudite. ...
  • Salad. ...
  • Soup. ...
  • Chips & Dips.
Aug 1, 2022

What is in an amuse-bouche? ›

Amuse-bouche in restaurants can range from anything like traditional broths or mouses to creative dishes featuring foraged items, olive ice creams, and other unique and interesting ingredients.

How many appetizers for 75 people? ›

If you're hosting a party of 50, then you can offer 6 to 9 different items. Parties with over 60-75 guests can easily have 9 or more items without over doing it.

How many appetizers do you need for a Christmas party? ›

How Many Appetizers to Make. On average, each guest will have about six appetizers, although this number may double if it's a co*cktail-style event. You want enough to keep your guests satisfied, but not so many that their appetites will be ruined. (Here are some quick crowd-pleasing apps in 15 minutes or less.)

What are considered heavy appetizers? ›

Heavy hors d'oeuvres can include a variety of different foods, such as mini quiches, meatballs, stuffed mushrooms, and shrimp co*cktail. These dishes are designed to be filling enough to serve as a meal, but small enough to be eaten while standing or mingling.

How much food for 70 people? ›

Each adult will consume 1 pound of food total; children, about 1/2 pound. The more options you have, the less you need of each; decrease the main course portion sizes by 1 to 2 ounces if served on a buffet. Guests will always eat — and drink — more at night than during the day.

What is the standard rule of serving appetizers? ›

Prepare enough for your guests.

The standard rule is to serve four to six pieces for each person. Note, however, that if you are planning an evening event that does not provide a main course and only has an appetizer, you should prepare 10 to 15 pieces per person.

How many dozen appetizers for 50 people? ›

Here's a quick guide to how many appetizers you should serve at your party: 10-12 guests = 5 appetizer selections. 25 guests = 9 appetizer selections. 50 guests = 13 appetizer selections.

What are the 5 guidelines in the selection of appetizers? ›

  • Vary the number of selections based on the number of guests.
  • Pick from multiple appetizer families.
  • Complement the main course.
  • Consider the aesthetics.
  • Include at least one convenience item.
Feb 6, 2021

What are good appetizers to buy for a party? ›

11 Store-Bought Appetizers Our Editors Turn To For Easy...
  • Taylor Farms Sweet Kale Chopped Salad Kit.
  • Publix Deli Chicken Breast Dip, Buffalo Style.
  • Trader Joe's Pastry Bites Feta Cheese & Caramelized Onions.
  • The Fresh Market Take & Bake Brie.
  • Publix Deli Artichoke & Spinach Dip.
Feb 19, 2023

What are the tips for choosing and presenting appetizers? ›

Small bites: Try to keep appetizers bite-sized, as they look nicer on plates and spreads. The smaller the starters, the more room you will have to play with the decor and focus on dressing up the rolls or plates.

What are the 7 types of appetizers? ›

Classification of Appetizers
  • co*cktails.
  • Hors d' oeuvres.
  • Canape.
  • Relishes/Crudite.
  • Salads.
  • Soup & Consommé
  • Chips & DIps.
Jul 14, 2023

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