65 Christmas Snacks to Kick Off Your Holiday Celebrations
Updated: Nov. 21, 2023
This Christmas, trade in the usual sliced cheese and salami for prosciutto phyllo roll-ups, fried ravioli and Santa Claus deviled eggs.
‘Tis the season for delicious snacks, and your guests are going to be looking for bites that are sweet, savory, gooey, salty, crunchy or all of the above.
Whether you choose beautiful treats to pair with showstopping Christmas dinners or go the time-saving route with semi-homemade recipes, we have everything you need to make your Christmas festivities merry and bright. We’re highlighting our very favorite Christmas snacks for holiday movie nights, white elephant gift exchanges and even office potlucks.
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Festive Guacamole Appetizers
Merry Christmas, Tex-Mex style! Alternate sliced rainbow peppers for a colorful snack that works just as well on a movie snack plate as it does on an elegant party platter.
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3-in-1 Cheese Ball
Your guests will rave about these fun cheese balls that taste just as good as they look. Serve with water crackers and raw veggies.
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Asparagus Pastry Puffs
Stuff store-bought puff pastry with asparagus, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, mustard and lemon juice for an elevated baked treat your guests will swear you bought at a local bakery. It’s one of the more time-intensive recipes on this list, but it’s well worth it.
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Reindeer Snack Mix
Leave this crunchy mix for Rudolph and company to munch on at Christmas Eve. Something tells us the entire bowl will disappear by morning.
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Cherry Cheese Logs
It’s just not the holidays without a cheese log, and this sweet and spiced version is ready in just 15 minutes. Serve it on the table you’d like the guests to gather at.
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Santa Deviled Eggs
These adorable snacks will be the talk of the party. If you’ve never used a piping bag before, there’s a bit of a learning curve, so make a few extra eggs to practice with…and treat yourself to the practice ones, of course.
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Seafood Cakes with Herb Sauce
These seafood showstoppers are about to become a holiday tradition. They’re fried and baked, so you’ll spend a decent amount of time in the kitchen, but the final result speaks for itself.
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Cranberry Endive Appetizers
They’re light and fresh, with only 40 calories and 3 grams of fat per serving. You can buy apple jelly at the grocery store or farmers market—it’ll lend so much sweetness to the dish.
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Baked Figs
Instantly elevate your holiday gathering with this simple but gorgeous party snack. Most of the cooking time is hands-off, so you’ll have more time to socialize. Find more sweet and savory fig recipes right this way.
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Pesto Twists
Sure, you could swing by the bakery for breadsticks. Or you could whip up your own, using store-bought puff pastry, a jar of pesto, a jar of marinara sauce and some shredded Parmesan cheese.
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Fried Cheese Ravioli
You’ll need a large skillet or deep fryer to make the dish as directed, but you can also try it in the air fryer or oven. Just bake at 350°F on a greased baking sheet for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the ravioli are golden brown.
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Chicken Salad in Baskets
Our favorite sandwich filling gets a holly jolly makeover with chopped pecans, diced apple and bacon. Believe it or not, the crust is a slice of bread cut with a cookie cutter and pressed into a mini muffin cup.
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Prosciutto Phyllo Roll-Ups
While it might be tempting to serve these cute roll-ups with store-bought sauce, take the extra time to make artichoke sauce from scratch. Blend sour cream, lemon juice and marinated artichoke hearts for a sauce you’ll want to slather on everything.
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Creamy Cranberry Dip
Crunchy, sweet and tangy, this cheery dip hits all the best flavor profiles. And as it’s bound to be one of the most popular snacks at the party, the recipe makes enough to serve a big crowd.
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Terrific Tomato Tart
Pesto, feta, tomatoes and basil are arranged on top of sheets of phyllo dough. It’s fantastic for a party, but you could also eat it for dinner any night of the week.
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Cinnamon Praline Nuts
It’s easy to make these nuts in advance, then store them in an airtight container on the counter until you’re ready to serve them. But if you bake them right before company arrives, your entire house will smell like Christmas.
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Sesame Cheese Crackers
Sure, you could buy crackers at the grocery store. But if you love to pull out all the stops, you’ll only need about 40 minutes to make your own from scratch. You overachiever, you!
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Toffee-Coated Peanuts
Here’s a thoughtful touch: Make an extra batch of this cozy spiced nut mix and pour it into individual bags for your guests to take home. It’s fantastic with granola or on cereal the next morning.
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Pressure-Cooker Cherry Bourbon Ham Balls
This recipe calls for soft bread crumbs. To make them, tear the bread into pieces and place the pieces in the blender. Cover and pulse until crumbs form. You’ll need about two slices of bread to make one cup of bread crumbs.
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Curried Cranberry Snack Mix
Dried cranberries are a tasty addition to this holiday snack mix, which also includes Corn Chex, Rice Chex, french-fried onions, mini pretzels and honey-roasted peanuts. Sweet-and-savory spices add a burst of flavor that makes it way more exciting than the store-bought stuff.
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Bruschetta with Prosciutto
Dry-cured ham is a welcome addition to this classic Italian-inspired appetizer. Spoon the tomato topping over the baguette slices right before you’re ready to serve so the bread doesn’t get soggy.
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Antipasto Platter
If you have picky eaters, an antipasto platter is a must. With provolone cheese, olives, pepperoni, chickpeas and tons of fresh veggies, there’s something for everyone.
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Parmesan-Coated Brie
The only thing better than gooey baked Brie is…Brie crusted with crispy, salty Parmesan. This double-cheese extravaganza is perfectly decadent for the holidays and can be served directly in a small skillet.
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Crumb-Topped Clams
If you’re up for a challenge this Christmas, try shucking and baking your own clams. After scrubbing the shell to remove sand and grit, soak the clams in cold salt water for about an hour, and they’ll begin to open on their own.
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Potatoes Lyonnaise
While you can use any type of potato for this French-inspired dish, the starchier the potato, the better. We suggest Yukon Gold or russet potatoes, as red potatoes tend to be a bit too waxy.
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Favorite Marinated Mushrooms
We’ve never met a mushroom we didn’t like, but this tangy, saucy version has become a new favorite. Best of all, they’ll last in the fridge for about 10 days when they’re stored in an airtight container, so you can serve them at multiple gatherings.
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Nuts and Bolts
If you have gluten-free guests, swap the Cheerios and Shredded Wheat for rice Chex. If you prefer a bit of extra sweetness, use Honey Nut Cheerios instead of regular.
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Seafood-Stuffed Mushrooms
We recommend using white button mushrooms or baby portobello mushrooms for this recipe. Instead of submerging them in water, rub gently with a damp paper towel or use a mushroom brush. Check out our handy guide to mushrooms to make sure you choose the best ones.
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Easy Egg Rolls
Store-bought egg roll wrappers and coleslaw mix make this typically time-consuming recipe lightning fast. Wrap and fry the egg rolls ahead of time, then refrigerate them in a single layer on a tray lined with paper towels. Reheat them for 10 minutes on each side on low heat.
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Frosty Peppermint Popcorn
This irresistible treat will disappear in minutes, so surprise your guests by giving them a small bag to take home. Experiment with milk chocolate candy coating and different sprinkle shapes.
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Pimiento Cheese Ball
You’ll need to refrigerate the cheese ball for several hours before serving, so it’s best to make this recipe the night before (or earlier). Be sure to store the cheese ball in an airtight container to keep it from drying out.
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Asparagus Wraps
It’s easy enough for a weeknight, but fancy enough for company. The combination of feta, prosciutto and asparagus makes this appetizer unforgettable.
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Cheesy Meatballs
Save precious oven space with this hearty and flavorful slow-cooker recipe. These juicy meatballs are just as tasty when eaten with a toothpick as they are when served with crusty homemade bread to mop up the sauce.
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Baba Ganoush
This Middle Eastern eggplant dip is delightfully sweet and smoky, thanks to tender, oven-roasted eggplant. Serve it alongside homemade hummus for ultimate “wow” factor.
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Honey-Kissed Savory Shortbread Crackers
If you’re having a few get-togethers in one week, invest some time into making several batches of your own shortbread crackers. The time commitment is nearly an hour, but the raves from your guests will be well worth it.
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Cranberry-Fig Goat Cheese Crostini
Move over, bruschetta. This holiday-themed appetizer is equal parts sweet and tangy, thanks to dried cranberries, dried figs, balsamic vinegar, honey, Greek olives and goat cheese.
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Marinated Sausage Kabobs
Make Christmas kabobs a new holiday tradition. Best of all, you can swap in any type of hard cheese or cured meat your heart desires.
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Savory Stuffed Cherry Peppers
These healthy-ish stuffed peppers are packed with flavor, so your guests won’t feel bad about polishing off the whole platter. Best of all, you can make them ahead and freeze until you’re ready to thaw for serving.
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Slow-Cooked Crab Dip
It’s unlikely there will be leftovers, so you might want to make a second batch. Aside from being delicious with crackers, this dip is heavenly as a baked potato topping.
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Butternut Thyme Tartlets
Butternut squash is the quintessential winter veggie. But because this recipe calls for frozen instead of fresh, there’s no time-consuming chopping necessary.
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Smoked Salmon Bites with Shallot Sauce
Slightly sweet shallots instantly elevate any recipe. No, these bites aren’t the work of a professional caterer. If you can master a five-ingredient homemade sauce, the entire recipe comes together in about 30 minutes.
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Mushroom Pastry Pinwheels
Red wine, garlic and herb cream cheese, and dried thyme make this easy appetizer absolutely ideal for Christmas. And because it uses store-bought puff pastry, assembly is a breeze.
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Brie Cherry Pastry Cups
File this one under “fancy, easy and yummy.” With only five ingredients, the bright combination of Brie cheese, cherry preserves and chopped nuts really shines.
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Candy Snack Mix
It’s just not the holidays unless you’re snuggled up on the couch watching Christmas movies and munching on this decadent snack mix. Try swapping the peanut butter for your favorite nut butter if you prefer.
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Holiday Salsa
Depending on what type of pepper you use, this salsa can really pack a punch. Be sure to use gloves and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth while handling the pepper.
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Cinnamon Toasted Almonds
They’re not just for the state fair anymore. Make crunchy, cinnamon-and-sugar coated almonds at home with just seven ingredients and 35 minutes.
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Bacon Cheese Wreath
This stunning snack plate doubles as a dazzling centerpiece. No one will know that it only took 10 minutes to whip up.
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Garlic-Herb Mini Quiches
We’d eat eggs for breakfast, lunch and dinner if we could, so these cute mini quiches are right up our alley. One reader suggests adding a sprinkle of feta cheese for added zing.
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Crab Crescents
Fresh crab meat makes this three-ingredient recipe extra fancy, while store-bought crescent rolls make it quick and easy to pull off. Serve with arugula salad on the side.
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Candied Pecans
A touch of vanilla extract makes these candied nuts absolutely irresistible. But be warned, you won’t be able to stop at just one handful. Or two.
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Chicken Crescent Wreath
Like most good Christmas snacks, this pastry wreath is comfort food. But it also packs in a surprising amount of veggies, including fresh broccoli, sweet red pepper and water chestnuts.
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Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread
Excuse us while we slather this addictive spread on absolutely everything this December. It’s fruity, it’s tangy, it’s creamy—and it’s about to disappear.
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Pomegranate Pistachio Crostini
Pomegranate is in season from September through the end of the year. It’s the perfect time to incorporate the juicy little seeds (or arils) into all sorts of recipes.
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Spicy Almonds
Elegant and understated, flavored nuts will instantly elevate any charcuterie board or cheese plate. Store in an airtight container to keep them fresh until you’re ready to serve them.
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Bacon-Wrapped Smokies
Calling all super-organized hosts: This low-maintenance appetizer can be made and frozen up to three months in advance. Freeze them on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag for long-term storage. Thaw them in the fridge before reheating.
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Brie Puff Pastry
Sure, you could put out a plate of sliced cheese and crackers…or you could impress your guests with this Brie delight, complete with apricot jam, slivered almonds and blue cheese.
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Holiday Appetizer Meatballs
Your guests won’t stop guessing how you made the flavorful sauce. It’s magic…also known as ketchup, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce.
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Warm Spiced Nuts
We love this brilliant hosting hack: Transform boring, unflavored nuts into a homemade treat using butter and spices. In just half an hour, your whole house will smell divine.
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Striped Chocolate Popcorn
Presenting the ultimate midnight snack. This sweet-and-salty popcorn contains whole pretzels for added texture and crunch. The recipe makes 17 cups, so there’s plenty to share.
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Cheddar-Pecan Crisps
You’ve tried slice-and-bake cookies, but slice-and-bake crackers take it to the next level. They’re a fabulous savory complement to all of the sweets on your spread.
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Baked Crab Dip
Canned or imitation crab works in a pinch, but you can also elevate the recipe with fresh crab meat. Stir in a can of diced green chiles to add some heat.
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Gingerbread Caramel Crunch
We love Christmas cookies, but sometimes we’re in the mood for something a little more crunchy and salty. Enter, gingerbread caramel crunch popcorn, which will satisfy every craving.
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Spicy Peanuts
Store these spiced nuts in an airtight container, and they will last at room temperature for up to a week. If you need to keep them for longer, put them in a sealed freezer container and they’ll last for up to three months.
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Apricot-Glazed Bacon Spirals
We love a good shortcut, and store-bought crescent rolls and ready-to-serve bacon do a lot of the heavy lifting here. Just unroll the dough, add bacon, roll up jelly-roll style, then spoon on the apricot preserves before baking.
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Sweet & Salty Snowmen
If your get-together includes kids, these adorable pretzel rods will be the hit of the party. Provide decorations like mini chocolate chips, sprinkles, decorating gel and fruit roll-ups and let the fun begin.
Originally Published: December 21, 2021
