13 Holiday Appetizer Recipes to Wow Your Party Guests

Editor: Hetal Bansal on Oct 17,2025

It is the time of the year when there is joy, laughter, and most importantly, delicious food. Creative and delicious appetizers are one of the surest methods of impressing your guests and getting your festive party off to the right start. Between Christmas and Thanksgiving, it is a good idea to have a selection of bite-sized snacks so that everyone opens their meal with a bang. Here, we are going to provide 13 recipes of appetizers that are easy, entertaining, and guaranteed to make your guests happy during a holiday. Love savory snacks, sweet desserts, or salty dips? We have something to add to any holiday dinner table.

Holiday Appetizer Recipes Everyone Will Love

Holiday appetizers do not constitute mere tiny snacks; they are the opening page of your merry meal. These recipes are simple to prepare, colorful, and tasty.

1. Mini Caprese Skewers

These are fresh and juicy skewers that contain an ultimate combination of flavors that should be at your holiday table.

Ingredients:

  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Fresh mozzarella balls
  • Fresh basil leaves
  • Balsamic glaze
  • Salt and pepper

Recipe:

  1. Wipe a cherry tomato, a mozzarella ball, and a basil leaf on a small skewer.
  2. Continue until you have the needed skewers per your guests.
  3. Dust with balsamic glaze, sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  4. Serve immediately or keep in fridge till party.

2. Bacon-Wrapped Dates

There is a sweet and savory taste in these delicious bites that one just cannot resist.

Ingredients:

  • Pitted dates
  • Bacon strips
  • Toothpicks

Recipe:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Take each of the dates and wrap it in a half slice of bacon and fasten it with a toothpick.
  3. Put in a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  4. Roast between 20 and 25 minutes or till the bacon is crisp.
  5. Allow to cool and serve warm.

3. Stuffed Mini Peppers

These are small peppers that are creamy and flavorful and that make great snacks during the holidays.

Ingredients:

  • Mini bell peppers
  • Cream cheese
  • Chopped chives
  • Salt and pepper

Recipe:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Divide mini peppers in half and take out seeds.
  3. Combine cream cheese, chives, pepper, and salt in a bowl.
  4. Stuff the pepper halves with the cream cheese mixture.
  5. Bake 10-12 minutes or so until a little golden.

4. Spinach and Artichoke Dip Cups

One of the classics taken to the party in cute phyllo cups.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup chopped spinach
  • 1 cup artichoke hearts, chopped
  • ½ cup cream cheese
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • Mini phyllo cups

Recipe:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Mix spinach, artichokes, cream cheese, Parmesan, and sour cream in a bowl.
  3. Spoon mixture into mini phyllo cups.
  4. Bake for 12–15 minutes until bubbly.
  5. Serve warm for a festive touch.

5. Cranberry Brie Bites

Sweet cranberries and creamy Brie make a bite-sized Thanksgiving treat.

Ingredients:

  • Mini puff pastry squares
  • Brie cheese
  • Cranberry sauce
  • Chopped pecans

Recipe:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Place a small piece of Brie on each puff pastry square.
  3. Add a spoonful of cranberry sauce on top.
  4. Sprinkle chopped pecans over each bite.
  5. Bake for 12–15 minutes until pastry is golden.

6. Sweet Potato Rounds with Goat Cheese

These rounds combine creamy goat cheese with the natural sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes.

Ingredients:

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes
  • Olive oil
  • Goat cheese
  • Honey
  • Salt and pepper

Recipe:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Slice sweet potatoes into ½-inch rounds and brush with olive oil.
  3. Bake for 20–25 minutes until tender.
  4. Top each round with goat cheese and drizzle with honey.
  5. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

7. Charcuterie Board with a Holiday Twist

A well-arranged platter filled with meats, cheeses, fruits, and nuts is sure to impress.

Ingredients:

  • Assorted cheeses
  • Cured meats
  • Crackers
  • Grapes and berries
  • Nuts and dried fruits

Recipe:

  1. Arrange cheeses, meats, crackers, and fruits on a large platter.
  2. Place nuts and dried fruits in small bowls or scatter them around.
  3. Add small holiday-themed decorations like rosemary sprigs.
  4. Serve with a selection of wines or sparkling cider.

8. Guacamole with Pomegranate Seeds

A fresh twist on classic guacamole, adding sweetness and color for the holidays.

Ingredients:

  • 3 ripe avocados
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • Salt and pepper
  • ½ cup pomegranate seeds
  • Chopped cilantro

Recipe:

  1. Mash avocados in a bowl and add lime juice, salt, and pepper.
  2. Stir in pomegranate seeds and cilantro.
  3. Serve with tortilla chips or veggie sticks.

9. Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

A simple yet elegant appetizer that combines crisp asparagus with savory prosciutto.

Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch of asparagus
  • Thin slices of prosciutto
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper

Recipe:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Wrap each asparagus spear with a slice of prosciutto.
  3. Place on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
  4. Season with salt and pepper and bake for 10–12 minutes.

10. Deviled Eggs with a Twist

Fresh herbs and paprika are added to classic deviled eggs to give them a festive appearance.

Ingredients:

  • 6 hard-boiled eggs
  • 3 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp mustard
  • Paprika
  • Chives for garnish

Recipe:

  1. Prepare half of the eggs and eliminate yolks.
  2. Blend mayonnaise and mustard with yolks.
  3. Return the spoon mixture to the egg whites.
  4. Add paprika and serve with chopped chives.

11. Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms

These stuffed mushrooms are rich and meaty and guaranteed hits.

Ingredients:

  • 20 button mushrooms
  • ½ lb ground sausage
  • ¼ cup breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese

Recipe:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Stem of mushrooms and place the caps aside.
  3. Sausage is cooked till brown and then combined with breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
  4. Stuff with sausage mixture into the caps.
  5. Bake between 15 and 20 minutes and serve hot.

12. Cheesy Garlic Bread Bites

Bland and buttery, and just the right thing to put on the table.

Ingredients:

  • 1 loaf French bread
  • ½ cup butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella
  • Chopped parsley

Recipe:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Cut French bread into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Combine butter and garlic and brush bread pieces.
  4. and sprinkle with mozzarella and bake 10 minutes.
  5. Parsley as a garnish and hot.

13. Mini Chocolate Peppermint Cups

The chocolate cups that have a crunch of peppermint are impossible to resist during festivals.

Ingredients:

  • Chocolate candy melts
  • Mini cupcake liners
  • Crushed peppermint candies

Recipe:

  1. Heat the chocolate as per the package directions.
  2. Add chocolate into mini cupcakes.
  3. Top with peppermint that is crushed peppermint.
  4. Allow to set in the refrigerator and serve.

Tips for Serving Holiday Appetizers

Delivery of holiday appetizers does not only involve the recipes but also the presentation, timing, and inviting of the guests. The following are some easy ways to take your appetizers to the next stage and make your party a memorable one.

  • Place appetizers on beautiful, colorful plates.
  • Eat in small,, tasty portions.
  • Label food according to its food preferences and diet.
  • Store hot foods in trays or dishes that can withstand the oven.
  • Combine tastes and mouth-feel to be diverse.
  • Plan meals to take the stress out.
  • Garnish festively with herbs or pomegranate seeds.

Conclusion

These 13 appetizer recipes are suitable for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any holiday party. Their menu spans a large variety of flavors and textures, including savory snacks and sweet desserts, simple snacks, and holiday dishes. It does not require many ingredients and steps can be followed easily, so you can make an eye-catching holiday table and impress your guests, making celebrations they will remember.


This content was created by AI