We’re well into the holiday season, so I wanted to share some inspiration for easy Christmas snacks and holiday appetizers to make and enjoy leading up to the big day!
From charcuterie boards to sweet potato bites and flavorful dips, these recipes are sure to help you and your loved ones celebrate the holiday festivities deliciously.
This post will focus on holiday-friendly appetizers and snacks, so if you need some ideas for your holiday breakfast, check out the post with my fave Christmas brunch recipes. For some tasty & healthy side dish inspiration, check out this list of our favorite Thanksgiving side dishes which translates well to Christmas dinner, too!
Holiday Appetizers & Snack Ideas
No matter if you’re planning a big holiday extravaganza or keeping the celebrations small this year, any of these easy Christmas snacks and appetizers will be a big hit!
There’s a wide range of options to choose from, including both sweet and savory ideas. Most of these are lighter than typical heavy holiday food, but they’re just as delicious and flavorful!
Let’s do this. First up:
Baked Portobello Mushrooms with Feta
These portobello mushrooms are piled high with deliciousness (like spinach, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, and cheese) and baked to golden perfection!
Swap out the full-size portobello mushrooms for baby bellas for the perfect bite-sized appetizer.
Simple Small Charcuterie Appetizer Board
I LOVE charcuterie boards – anyone else?
It’s such an easy way to step up your appetizer game with a fancy-looking (but surprisingly easy to put together) charcuterie board! Make it holiday-inspired with fresh herbs, nuts, apple slices, dried fruit, and fig or citrus jam.
Charcuterie boards are perfect as a snack or appetizer, because they offer a wide array of flavors to suit any palate. Serve with seedy crackers or crostini!
Check out the blog post for a step-by-step method to creating a beautiful and balanced charcuterie board your guests will love.
Cranberry Peanut Butter Bliss Balls
Creamy peanut butter pairs with oats and dried cranberries for a tasty, lightly sweet snack! These peanut butter bliss balls are sweetened with honey and so easy to make.
Prep a batch ahead of time, then serve them as a snack or appetizer to keep your guests energized!
Avocado White Bean Hummus
Dips are always a great choice for an appetizer spread, and this white bean hummus is a perfect choice! It’s extra creamy (thanks to the avocados) and full of bright flavor.
Serve with crackers and crunchy veggies like carrot sticks or bell pepper slices.
Cranberry Orange Bread
This healthier cranberry orange bread is packed with bright winter flavors, and makes a tasty Christmas snack or breakfast.
It’s delicious paired with coffee, or smeared with Greek yogurt or nut butter.
Gingerbread Pots de Creme
If you’re looking for a sweeter holiday snack or dessert to serve, these gingerbread pots de creme are delicious and festive.
Think creamy custard infused with gingerbread spices, and served in cute little pots or small glasses.
Mediterranean Sweet Potato Bites with Hummus
These baked sweet potato bites are similar to crostini, but are naturally gluten-free and one of my favorite ways to add something a little unique to your appetizers spread. They make a tasty base for a hummus, tomatoes, basil, and feta topping!
It’s an easy appetizer to make, and a perfect finger food for holiday festivities.
Savory Pumpkin Dip
This creamy and savory hummus is made with canned pumpkin puree and white beans – super nutritious and flavorful all at once.
All you need to do is toss everything into a food processor and whirl until smooth. Serve with tortilla chips and crunchy veggies!
Honey Sriracha Turkey Meatballs (Crockpot)
These crockpot turkey meatballs are coated in an Asian-inspired sticky honey sriracha sauce that’s both sweet and savory. They’re a bit lighter than many classic meatball appetizers, but just as flavorful.
Serve these with toothpicks and they’ll disappear quickly!
Goat Cheese Crostini with Ham & Pear
Golden toasted crostini is topped with a creamy combination of goat cheese and cream cheese, plus salty ham, sweet and juicy pear slices, and peppery arugula.
This fancy and festive finger food is perfect for any holiday party and easier to make than you’d think, too!
Pickled Watermelon Rind
These pickled watermelon rinds are a crunchy, tangy snack that’s perfect for munching on their own or adding to a charcuterie board spread!
This recipe features two flavor options: spicy jalapeno or masala-spiced. They also make great edible holiday gifts!
Gingerbread Pecan Butter
Speaking of edible holiday gifts – homemade pecan butter is surprisingly easy to make in a food processor, and this gingerbread-spiced flavor is perfect for the holidays!
Spread it on crostini or serve it with a charcuterie board, and place the extras in cute jars and let your guests take them home as a holiday gift!
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I hope this list gives you some inspiration for easy Christmas snacks and appetizers you can enjoy and/or serve this holiday season. Happy holidays to you and yours!
