Winter Holiday Appetizer Ideas

December 16, 2024

Aimee

A festive round-up of homemade appetizers, perfect for your next holiday party. Includes both vegetarian and meat recipes, and keeps things fairly simple.

Winter holiday appetizers ideas look different for everyone. These savoury bites are personal, nostalgic and regional!

For example, I lean away from cheese balls (don’t like to watch the smush unfold), while others lean in, waaaay in. The Brits adore their pigs in a blanket; while here in Nova Scotia, it’s not a party until raw oysters are shucked and slurped.

In this modern day, my advice is: don’t be too trendy, know your guests and their tastes, provide a lovely selection that caters to special diets.

As always, have fun, and don’t sweat the small stuff. With hospitality, the act of gathering is far more meaningful than anything on the table.

Winter Holiday Appetizer Formula

Use my formula to build a menu for your cocktail party. All the recipes are shared in the post below. Aim for one or two item per category, then round out with Christmas cookies!

Remember: keep it simple. Don’t sweat it over over the stove deep frying sausage-stuffed olives or spend too much time assembling tiny bites.

Jarred Snacks: olives, pickles, marinated artichokes, the best honey for the cheese board. Homemade cranberry pear conserve with a nice soft chevre and crackers. Pickled beets. Stuffed olives.
Dips and Spreads: warm or cold.

A Cheese and/or Charcuterie Board. This do-ahead dish is set out first, and gives you a chance to assemble the rest of the finger food. Homemade crackers a bonus
Fruit and veggie plate – keep it seasonal: carrots, kholrabi, pears, etc.
2 Meat appetizers –
1 Seafood appetizer –
1 Cheese showstopper: ig< baked brie or filo-wrapped feta
Round everything out with grissini, or focaccia, crackers and/or chips.

Regarding allergies: if a guest has a severe allergy, I suggest you ask them to contribute their own appetizer, clearly labeled.

Vegetarian & Vegan Appetizers

Let’s get into the recipes!

Classic Gruyère Gougères – my all time favourite festive bite. I serve these on New Year’s Eve with deeply chilled Prosecco. Dress them up by adding one of the following: Boursin cheese, crab dip, smoked salmon or cold roast beef & Dijon.

Cheese Plate – This one is easy to keep vegetarian; just keep adding gorgeous fruits and cheese variety. Pickles and olives balance out the rich cheese, and homemade Fruit & Nut Crisps are everyone’s favourite holiday cracker!

Winter Crudite with Chili and Lime – Here is all the inspiration you need for that essential fruit & veg platter! Fresh and vibrant; simple and flavourful: this recipe is my simple strategy for dressing up a plate of fruits and vegetables for elegant snacking.

Herby Ranch Dip – If you know your guests will be looking for dip, whip up a batch of this zesty ranch a few days before the party. Serve it with veggies, of course, but it’s delicious with everything from cold, poached shrimp to hard boiled eggs.

Cranberry Baked Brie – Everyone loves a warm cheese dish, goey and rich. This one is as simple as it gets, featuring tangy cranberry sauce and toasted walnuts.

Mediterranean Stuffed Mushrooms – Another simple appetizer that packs a punch! These mushroom caps are stuffed with a simple slice of artichoke heart, topped with feta and drizzled with a olive-oil and herb mixture.

Roasted Beet and Walnut Dip – Did someone say vibrant? Beets truly shine in this luxurious and festive dip. It’s a quick, do-ahead appetizer that everyone loves.

Crispy Baked Feta with Honey – Not quite finger food, but delicious all the same. Bake, glaze, then cut the feta into squares and serve with pita chips for scooping.

Garlic Bread Wreath with Baked Brie | Simple Bites

Garlic Bread Wreath with Baked Brie – Warm rolls, goey cheese, zesty garlic – this is how you kick off a party!

Zucchini Pizzettes (mini pizza) – These one bite mini pizza disappear quickly and are loved by all. Puff pastry makes the crust and the rest comes together quickly. Change up the flavours for winter by topping them with braised leeks or butternut squash.

Meat & Seafood Appetizers

These protein-based party snacks are where the majority of the grocery budget will go. This is why it’s best to prepare a recipe you are familiar with and are confident you can execute. Appetizers like mini meatballs and bacon-wrapped fruits are a great place to start!

Greek-Inspired Lamb Meatballs – pair with my Creamy Kefir Green Goddess, Herby Chimichuri, hummus or Tzatziki.

Mini Tourtiere Hand Pies – Everyone loves a flaky meat hand pie and these are extraordinary. Make in advance and bake from frozen.

Raw Oysters with Fresh Cranberry Mignonette – A fresh and seasonal appetizer; these oysters are incredibly festive and simple to prepare.

Jarcuterie – It’s all the fun of a grazing board, but presented in a single (portable!) serving.

Cold poached shrimp with Green Goddess or cocktail sauce. No recipe, just cooked shrimp on ice with a delicious dipping sauce!

Smoked Salmon canapé: I stole this one from our Christmas Tea Party. Three ingredients – Boursin cheese, smoked salmon and a pickle – served on a slice of baguette.

Bacon Wrapped Everything:

Are Devils on Horseback perhaps the best cocktail appetizer of all time? Anything wrapped in bacon gets a pass, in my books.

The Brits wrap cocktail sausages in bacon. Our parents wrapped dates and other dried fruit. Maritimers love bacon-wrapped scallops and shrimp. Take it further with bacon-wrapped Brussels sprouts – delicious!

Here are a few suggested variations:

FRUITY: think sweet – Dried apricots, figs, Medjool dates, prunes. Even slices of pear or apple are tasty.
CHEESY: Stuff the dates with blue cheese, chevre, or a sharp cheddar. Feta can be too salty with the bacon, so stick with a sharp, creamy cheese that will provide contrast to the sweet date and salty bacon.
CRUNCHY: I like to stuff the fruits with a whole nut. Salted almonds are a great pairing.
HERBY: A sage leave wrapped with the bacon is always lovely. Or sprinkle everything with thyme before baking.
STICKY: I find a honey or maple glaze to be too sweet on its own with the already sweet date. Instead, try cutting the syrup/honey with a tablespoon any of the following: Balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, sherry vinegar, honey Dijon mustard or soy sauce.

Bake at 400 for about 25-30 minutes until the bacon is crispy. That’s it! If you want an official recipe, here’s one from Kitchn.