40 easy Christmas appetizers, plus how many to make

The short answer: christmas appetizers are the easiest way to feed a crowd during the holidays. This guide has 40, sorted by type, with a chart of how many to make.

• Before a sit-down dinner: 4 to 6 pieces per guest
• Appetizer-only party: 10 to 15 pieces per guest
• Make-ahead timeline for the days before
• Food-safe serving rules for a buffet table
• Next step: Plan it with the Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99).

Christmas appetizers are the easiest way to feed a crowd during the holidays. They work before a big dinner, at an open house, at a cookie swap or for a whole party of grazing. This guide has 40 Christmas appetizers sorted by type, a chart of how many to make, a make-ahead timeline and simple food safety rules for a buffet table.

How many appetizers to make

The right amount depends on whether a meal follows.

A good mix is one or two hot items, two or three cold items, one dip, one board and one sweet. Include at least one vegetarian and one gluten-free choice.

Easy cold Christmas appetizers

1. Caprese skewers. Cherry tomato, mozzarella ball and basil on a toothpick. Red, white and green.
2. Charcuterie board. Two or three cheeses, cured meats, crackers, grapes, nuts and jam.
3. Cheese ball. Cream cheese, cheddar and ranch seasoning rolled in pecans or chopped herbs. Get the amounts in our easy cheese ball recipe.
4. Deviled eggs. Top with paprika and a sprig of dill for a festive look.
5. Shrimp cocktail. Buy cooked, peeled shrimp and serve on ice with cocktail sauce.
6. Cucumber bites. Cucumber rounds with herbed cream cheese and smoked salmon. Want it as a side instead? Try our cucumber salad.
7. Pinwheels. Tortillas spread with cream cheese, spinach and red pepper, rolled and sliced.
8. Christmas tree veggie tray. Broccoli in a tree shape with cherry tomato ornaments and a pepper star.
9. Marinated olives and feta. Olive oil, lemon zest, garlic and rosemary.
10. Antipasto skewers. Salami, tortellini, olive and pepper.

Hot Christmas appetizers

11. Cocktail meatballs. Frozen meatballs in a slow cooker with chili sauce and grape jelly or cranberry sauce. For a sit-down version, try Swedish meatballs in creamy gravy.
12. Pigs in a blanket. Little smokies wrapped in crescent dough.
13. Sausage balls. Sausage, cheddar and baking mix. Freeze ahead and bake from frozen.
14. Stuffed mushrooms. Filled with sausage, cream cheese and parmesan.
15. Spinach artichoke dip. Served hot with bread or chips.
16. Baked brie. Topped with cranberry sauce or jam and wrapped in puff pastry. Our baked brie recipe covers plain and puff pastry versions.
17. Bacon-wrapped dates. Sweet, salty and done in 20 minutes.
18. Mini quiches. Use a muffin tin or buy frozen shells.
19. Sliders. Ham and Swiss sliders on sweet rolls with a butter glaze.
20. Crab cakes. Mini bites with a lemon dipping sauce.

Dips and spreads

21. Buffalo chicken dip.
22. French onion dip with ridged chips.
23. Hummus wreath topped with pomegranate seeds and parsley.
24. Hot crab dip.
25. Seven-layer dip.
26. Whipped feta with honey and pistachios.
27. Cranberry salsa over cream cheese.
28. Pimento cheese with celery and crackers.

Bread, crostini and pastry

29. Crostini bar. Toasted baguette slices with ricotta, tomato, pesto or fig.
30. Puff pastry pinwheels with pesto and parmesan.
31. Pull-apart Christmas tree bread filled with mozzarella.
32. Garlic knots.
33. Spanakopita triangles.
34. Mini Christmas pizzas. English muffins with sauce, cheese and pepperoni stars.

Sweet and snacky

35. Christmas popcorn mix with pretzels and red and green candies.
36. Chocolate-dipped pretzels.
37. Fruit skewers with strawberries, grapes and kiwi.
38. Candied pecans.
39. Dessert board with cookies, fudge and fruit.
40. Mini cheesecake bites. Bake our cheesecake recipe in a lined muffin tin.

If you're also hosting Thanksgiving, our list of Thanksgiving appetizers has more fall-themed ideas.

A make-ahead appetizer timeline

Most Christmas appetizers can be made early, so the party day is easy.

• 2 to 3 weeks before: Plan the menu and guest count. Make and freeze sausage balls, meatballs and puff pastry bites.
• 1 week before: Shop for shelf-stable items, such as crackers, nuts, jam, chips and drinks. Check you have platters, a slow cooker and toothpicks.
• 2 days before: Buy cheese, meat, produce and dairy.
• 1 day before: Make dips, the cheese ball, deviled egg filling, pinwheels and marinated olives. Slice cheese and meat for the board.
• Party morning: Set up the table, label platters and chill drinks.
• 1 hour before: Build the board and fill the eggs. Start the slow cooker.
• During the party: Bake hot items in batches and swap trays.

Keep the appetizer table food-safe

Buffets and grazing tables are where holiday food safety slips. USDA FSIS gives simple rules:

• The 2-hour rule. Don't leave perishable food out longer than 2 hours, or 1 hour if it's above 90°F.
• Keep hot food hot. Hold hot appetizers at 140°F or warmer in chafing dishes, slow cookers or warming trays.
• Keep cold food cold. Keep cold food at 40°F or below by nesting serving dishes in bowls of ice.
• Use small trays. Put out small platters and replace them often, rather than adding fresh food to a dish that has been sitting out.

The FoodSafety.gov four steps of clean, separate, cook and chill apply too. Wash hands before you assemble boards, use separate boards for raw and ready-to-eat food, and chill leftovers right after the party.

Christmas appetizer menus by party type

Before Christmas dinner (10 guests): a small cheese board, shrimp cocktail, caprese skewers and spiced nuts. Keep it light so guests save room for the main meal.

Holiday open house (25 guests): a charcuterie board, cocktail meatballs in a slow cooker, spinach artichoke dip, pinwheels, deviled eggs, a veggie tree and a dessert board.

Cookie swap or kids' party: pigs in a blanket, mini pizzas, fruit skewers, popcorn mix and a hot cocoa bar.

Christmas Eve grazing dinner: baked brie, sliders, stuffed mushrooms, crab cakes, a crostini bar and mini cheesecakes.

Save money on Christmas appetizers

• Pick recipes that share ingredients. Cream cheese, for example, goes in pinwheels, dip and a cheese ball.
• Buy cheese in blocks and slice it yourself.
• Use store-brand crackers, chips and frozen meatballs.
• Fill boards with low-cost items like grapes, pretzels, popcorn and crackers.
• Ask a few guests to bring a dish or drinks.

Our guide to the holiday budget can help you set a party number before you shop.

Allergy-friendly and dietary options

Most holiday parties now include someone who skips gluten, dairy, meat or nuts. A few simple swaps cover nearly everyone.

• Gluten-free: caprese skewers, deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail, stuffed dates, a veggie tree and rice crackers on the board.
• Vegetarian: spinach artichoke dip, baked brie, hummus wreath, mini quiches and stuffed mushrooms made without sausage.
• Dairy-free: marinated olives, antipasto skewers without cheese, guacamole, roasted nuts and fruit skewers.
• Nut-free: skip nuts on the cheese ball and board, and keep candied pecans on a separate plate with a label.

Small tent cards are the easiest fix. Write the name of each dish and a note such as "gluten-free" or "contains nuts." Guests with allergies can then help themselves without asking about every tray.

Presentation tips for a festive table

You don't need fancy platters to make Christmas appetizers look special.

• Group food by color: red tomatoes, white mozzarella and green herbs read as "Christmas" right away.
• Use different heights. Set a few platters on upturned bowls or cake stands.
• Tuck in rosemary sprigs and cranberries for a wreath look.
• Put dips in small bowls on the board instead of in one large bowl.
• Leave room for refills, so trays never look picked over.

Supplies checklist

• Platters, boards and small bowls
• Slow cooker or chafing dish
• Bowls of ice for cold dishes
• Toothpicks, cocktail napkins and small plates
• Serving spoons and cheese knives
• Labels for allergens and vegetarian dishes
• Containers for leftovers

Plan your Christmas party in one place

A party menu, a gift list and a holiday budget all compete for the same December money. Our Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99) has a per-person budget, a purchase log and gift, card, menu and to-do pages. Our [Meal Planner & Grocery List](Year-round classic party bites: hors d'oeuvres.

/products/meal-planner-grocery-list/) ($3.99) turns your appetizer menu into one grocery list. For the whole season, our Holiday Season Bundle ($15.99) includes the Christmas Budget & Gift Planner, Sinking Funds Tracker, Meal Planner & Grocery List, 100 Envelope Savings Challenge, Bill Tracker Printable and Cleaning Schedule. For the main event, see our Christmas dinner menu planner.

To go with the food, our guide to Christmas cocktails covers punches, mocktails, how much to buy and hosting safely. A stovetop or crockpot mulled wine recipe pairs well with the savory tray.

Hosting a bigger get-together? Our Christmas party food list has 50 easy ideas and a chart for how much to make.

Hosting a party that isn't Christmas-themed? Our easy appetizers list has 60 no-cook, make-ahead and slow cooker ideas for any time of year.

Need a hot appetizer that feeds a crowd? Bake a double batch of our meatball recipe in 1-inch size and keep it warm in a slow cooker.

Planning a seafood spread? Our shrimp recipes include party picks like shrimp cocktail, scampi and skewers.