60 Easy Christmas Appetizers That'll Wow Guests While Tiding Them Over

Popping with red, green, and white, this flavorful pico de gallo–style salsa makes a great holiday appetizer for Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year's Eve parties.

Get the recipe for Holiday Salsa with Festive Tortilla Chips.

Popcorn is such a classic, cozy, cold-weather treat that we absolutely had to try our hand at spiffing it up for the holidays. Here, some drizzled white chocolate, crushed mints, and just a touch of flaky sea salt make it so good we couldn't stop eating it!

Get the recipe for Sweet-and-Savory Peppermint Popcorn.

There's nothing like warm, gooey baked brie and crackers for making Christmas guests feel special—and no one needs to know just how easy it is to throw together.

Get the recipe for Honey-Apple Baked Brie with Fried Sage.

You may want to make extra of these tender roasted pecans if setting out bowls for Christmas guests. They're hard to stop eating!

Get the recipe for Sweet-and-Spicy Roasted Pecans.

Roasted until it's impossibly sweet, acorn squash makes a tasty toast-topper for a party hors d'oeuvre. Paired with blue cheese crumbles and some quick-fried sage leaves, this appetizer is sure to disappear quickly at your holiday gathering!

Get the recipe for Smashed Acorn Squash and Garlicky Walnut Crostini.

This DIY Christmas party spread is perfect for ensuring every guests gets exactly what they want! Serve with a variety of your favorite crackers.

Get the recipe for Pimento Cheese Bar.

Impress your Christmas guests by serving up a homemade batch of this classic snack before the big meal.

Get the recipe for Onion Rings with Sage Aioli.

Sure, you could go the store-bought route. But if you really want to wow your holiday guests this year, opt for these homemade crackers instead. They're loaded with sharp Cheddar and fresh black pepper. Yum!

Get the recipe for Cheddar Holly Crackers.

These easy-peasy-cheesy breadsticks are perfect party food. Loaded with flavor, they're a fun Christmas appetizer that's sure to be gobbled up quickly!

Get the recipe for Gruyère and Sesame Twists.

Wrapped in cones of parchment paper and tied with twine, this crunchable snack is great for when guests are mingling before Christmas dinner.

Get the recipe for Spicy-n-Sweet Snack Mix.

This creamy rich spread is never out of place at a holiday party. Rillettes—an old-fashioned method of preserving meat in fat or cream—turn out to be one of those impossibly tasty cracker toppings. Here, cooked salmon soaks in wine and crème fraîche for a treat that's sure to disappear fast.

Get the recipe for Salmon Rillettes.

These savory pinwheels look gorgeous and are sneakily easy to make, which means they're the perfect Christmas appetizer. Less for you to worry about on the big day, and more time you can spend with your guests enjoying them!

Get the recipe for Ham and Cheese Pinwheels.

A simpler, snackable version of the traditional British Christmas meat pie, these savory-sweet hand pies are irresistibly good. They're also mess-free and are perfect for feeding a crowd.

Get the recipe for Beef and Raisin Empanadas.

Is it even a country party without deviled eggs? Here, the "caviar of the South" is the perfect addition to this classic holiday party appetizer.

Get the recipe for Pimiento Cheese Deviled Eggs.

There are few things we look forward to more than diving into a creamy cheese ball at a Christmas party. This one's topped with toasted pine nuts and layered with fresh parsley, chives, and thyme.

Get the recipe for Herbed Cheese Ball.

Hanukkah and Christmas overlap this year, so if guests of mixed faith are attending your celebration, why not whip up these crispy latkes? In this updated potato pancakes recipe, parsnips add to the depth and flavor of the final result.

Get the recipe for Potato and Parsnip Latkes.

You'll savor every bite of these buttery biscuits, which are basically like finger sandwiches, but better. They're a fun Christmas appetizer that kids will love, too!

Get the recipe for Ham Biscuit Sandwiches with Apricot Mustard.

If you're looking for a healthier or lighter appetizer to serve at Christmas dinner, give these a try! You don't even have to mess with hot oil to whip up these cheese-filled fritters. They're actually baked to crispy perfection in the oven.

Get the recipe for Zucchini-and-Pecorino Fritters.

It doesn't get much easier than these braided breadsticks. You can use either store-bought or homemade pizza dough in this recipe—but your Christmas guests won't know the difference. They'll be too busy enjoying the decadent three-cheese fondue.

Get the recipe for Three-Cheese Fondue with Cable-Knit Breadsticks.

Hearty and satisfying, these cheesy polenta cakes are perfect for a Southern-inspired Christmas appetizer.

Get the recipe for Polenta Cakes with Sautéed Mushrooms.