topic Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP in Recipes

EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

qvc chick — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 18:46:46 GMT

Help! I am having a Christmas party next week and I need some easy festive appetizers.

I usually do a Charcuterie board and also Bruchetta. But I think eveyone is getting bored.

Need something easy but looks festive!! PLEASE no seafood.

Thanks!

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

Calibeach — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:04:34 GMT

I've pinned this recipe. Looks so festive and it's easy to create

Grinch Charcuterie Board

Ingredients

Cheddar cheese
Sliced green olives with pimientos
Green grapes
Fresh rosemary sprigs
Sweet red pepper
Fresh mozzarella cheese pearls
Sliced pepperoni
Summer sausage

Directions

Cut cheddar cheese into two eye shaped pieces. Place onto large serving platter or cutting board.

Place a slice of green olive with pimento over cheddar.

Arrange green grapes into a Grinch face shape around eyes.

Place two large sprigs of rosemary for eyebrows, and thin slices of red pepper for the mouth.

Use a rounded piece of red pepper for the nose.

Arrange mozzarella pearls over top of grapes for Santa hat band.

Layer pepperoni over mozzarella pearls to create a hat shape.

Fill remainder of platter with sausage or salami, as desired.

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

lgfan — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:05:57 GMT

You can make mini sandwiches and use cookie cutters to make them look festive.

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

Calibeach — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:08:39 GMT

Bacon Cheese Wreath

Ingredients

2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup sliced green onions, optional
10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
Optional: Italian parsley sprigs and diced pimientos
Assorted crackers

Directions

In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese and, if desired, onions. Stir in bacon. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

Invert a small bowl in the center of a serving platter. Drop cream cheese mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls around edge of bowl. Remove bowl. Smooth cream cheese mixture, forming a wreath. Garnish with parsley and pimientos if desired. Serve with crackers.

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

on the bay — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 23:45:30 GMT

@qvc chick

"Grilled" kale chips are really good.

kale -oil, sea salt

bake at 300 degrees for about 20 minutes or whenever slightly browned and crispy.

note:

make sure kale is completely dry before baking.

just sprinkle with the oil (extra virgin olive oil is good!), don't drench the kale.

display them in a Christmas tree shape or in a Christmasy plate.

My mother always made these and so does one of my daughters. Even people who are not fond of vegetables seem to love these

Also baked brie is so good. Served with crackers or toasted bread or pita. You can decorate the plate with sprigs of green and red- tomatoes or berries- something like that. You could make the brie a snowman too!

Sweet and sour meatballs.

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

Calibeach — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:27:58 GMT

I also pinned this recipe. Looks so pretty! You can just serve it with a bowl of ranch dip/dressing if you don't want to make the cream cheese dip.

Snow Pea Holiday Wreath

Ingredients

1/2 pound fresh snow peas, strings removed
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
2 cups grape tomatoes

Directions

In a large saucepan, bring 6 cups water to a boil. Add snow peas; cook, uncovered, just until crisp-tender and bright green, 1-2 minutes. Drain and immediately drop into ice water. Drain and pat dry.

In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, garlic powder and seasoned salt. Place bowl in the center of a serving platter. Arrange snow peas and tomatoes around the bowl.

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

Q-Checker — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 23:52:31 GMT

(1)The very, very easiest:

Top a large block of cream cheese with (festive looking) layer of red or green pepper jelly with crackers on the side.

(2) Easy, very well-liked cheese ball:

1# mild cheddar cheese, shredded (can buy already shredded to save time)

1 medium onion, chopped (can buy already chopped to save time)

1 cup pecans,chopped (can buy already chopped to save time)

1 cup mayonnaise

Sliced black olives or pimiento strips (optional decorative topping)

Mix all together and mound into ball on serving plate. Crackers on the side.

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

AuntG — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:48:49 GMT

@Q-Checker I bought red pepper jelly specifically for that purpose last year, and never go around to making it! Will get to it this holiday.

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

ThinkingOutLoud — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 04:54:33 GMT

Although they're cute, things like wreaths and themed char. boards lose the look pretty quickly so do a relish tray with items that are red, green or white:

- grapes

- apple slices

- peppers

- cherry tomatoes

- broccoli

- celery

- cucumbers

- green olives

- pickles

- radishes

- cauliflower

- ranch dip

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

msgb — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:59:30 GMT

If you can google or search for Little smokies Christmas Wreath this is an easy and cute appetizer. I have tried to print but am unable. There are a number of versions. But I do a quick and easy version. Essentially three-four ingredients and then mustard for dipping if wanted.

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

Calibeach — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:05:29 GMT

@msgb wrote:
If you can google or search for Little smokies Christmas Wreath this is an easy and cute appetizer. I have tried to print but am unable. There are a number of versions. But I do a quick and easy version. Essentially three-four ingredients and then mustard for dipping if wanted.

@msgb Like this?

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

Calibeach — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:11:36 GMT

@msgb this recipe shows instructions for baking it as a wreath! I wonder if you can use the crescent rolls instead of the pizza dough?

Ingredients

1 tube refrigerated pizza dough {I used thin crust}
14 ounces cocktail sausages
2 tbsp butter {melted}
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup BBQ sauce {or dip of choice}

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare springform pan, by placing an oven proof bowl in the middle of the pan and generously spraying the pan and outside of the bowl with nonstick spray.
On a lightly floured surface and unroll tube pizza of dough. Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut into 35-38 rectangles {depending on how many sausages are in your 14 ounce package}. Combine melted butter and garlic powder, spread generously onto each rectangle using a pastry brush {or spoon}.
Wrap each cocktail sausage into a piece of dough. Once all of the sausages have been wrapped, begin to place them vertically into the prepared pan. You want them to be snug but not super tight.
Bake for 35-40 minutes. Remove from the oven, allow to cool for about 5 minutes. Remove the outside ring of the springform pan, fill the bowl with your dip of choice.
Serve your pigs in a blanket wreath and enjoy!

Notes

Don't skip spraying the bowl and springform pan with nonstick spray.
Use thin pizza crust dough. Thinner crust wraps around the sausage easily.
Count the amount of little smokies sausages in your package before cutting the pizza dough. This will allow you to get an accurate number for how many rectangles you need to cut. Packages of cocktail sausages come with between 35-38 sausages.
Use a pizza cutter to cut the pizza dough into rectangles. It makes this step go very quickly.
Don't skip the garlic butter. This adds another element of flavor to the appetizer.
If you feel like the outside or tops of the dish are getting too dark but not quite cooked through, I suggest covering the top with foil for the remaining cooking time

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

patbz — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:44:29 GMT

My go to appetizer ( and always a crowd pleaser) is 1 part mustard and 1 part grape jelly. Heat in a crock pot along with meatballs. Can serve like this, using toothpicks or use over pasta as a main course.

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

bargainsgirl — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:49:42 GMT

@Calibeach wrote:
Bacon Cheese Wreath

Ingredients
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup sliced green onions, optional
10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
Optional: Italian parsley sprigs and diced pimientos
Assorted crackers

Directions
In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese and, if desired, onions. Stir in bacon. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

Invert a small bowl in the center of a serving platter. Drop cream cheese mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls around edge of bowl. Remove bowl. Smooth cream cheese mixture, forming a wreath. Garnish with parsley and pimientos if desired. Serve with crackers.

This looks really good!

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

PA Mom-mom — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:55:36 GMT

I'm with @Calibeach on the meatball app. We like the chili sauce and grape jelly recipe. Use a slow cooker (don't forget the liner), and it's warm all night. I like to use those little "silver" forks on the side instead of toothpicks. Just put it on low in the morning, and it's ready for your party.

3-5 lbs. small frozen meatballs

32 oz. jar grape jelly

2-12 oz. jars chili sauce (I use Heinz)

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 21:05:19 GMT

When I saw the title of your thread, I just HAD to include this surprising fact ..........

Julia Child Served This Surprising No-Cook Appetizer Before Thanksgiving Each Year

One of her favorite snacks, Goldfish crackers, was served at the post-symposium reception, the Radcliffe Institute revealed.

Apparently, Child set out Goldfish as a Thanksgiving appetizer each year during her cocktail hour.

Sure, you could spend $50-plus to assemble a showy cheese board to snack on before Thanksgiving dinner. But if you're looking for a store-bought shortcut to save you some time in the kitchen, feel free to follow in Child's footsteps.

The flavor of Cheddar and crackers in one affordable, five-second "recipe" (open bag, pour into bowl)? That sounds like a winning starter to us!

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

jackthebear — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 21:44:25 GMT

take a look at eating on a dime dot com

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

Mom2Dogs — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 23:35:54 GMT

At our house we like meatballs, prepared in the crock pot. Crackers and a couple of different spreads and veggies and dip.

And of course dessert. My grand kids love the Paula Dean banana pudding dish...it is really good.

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

Mz iMac — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 23:39:25 GMT

@qvc chick If your grocery store has its own kitchen (Shoprite), they can custom make an APPETIZER platter for you for under $15.

Re: EASY CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS? HELP

rockygems123 — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:29:52 GMT

@qvc chick

Baked brie topped with either savory or sweet. Had one recently topped with apricot jam, thought I wouldn't like the sweet, it was delicious. Melty gooey cheese and stays hot for a while.

Bacon wrapped almonds or water chestnuts stuffed dates baked in the oven.