Easy Holiday Appetizers That Impress Without Stress
Nothing sets the mood at a holiday gathering like a table full of appetizers. They’re fun to grab, simple to make, and always the first thing to disappear. These easy holiday appetizers use affordable ingredients, come together quickly, and make you look like you put in way more effort than you actually did. My personal favorite is the Beer, Bacon, Cheddar Dip – but I’ll let you be the judge.
1.Crescent Roll Brie Bites
What You’ll Need
- Cutting board
- Sharp Knife
- rolling pin
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
1 Can crescent roll dough
1 small wheel or wedge of brie
Honey or jam (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2. Cut brie into small cubes
3. Roll out crescent dough and cut into small squares 1×1 inch (or 2×2)
4. Place a cube of brie in the center of each square and fold dough around it or you can pinch corners together to make them look like tiny crab Rangoon.
5. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake 10-12 minutes.
6. Serve on a dish with two small bowls, one with honey and the other with jam.
💡Pro Tip: Invest in a pack of disposable serving trays for potlucks – I love this one from Charity Leaf, because they are microwave – and – oven safe. If you bring something that needs reheating, these trays still work perfectly. The best part? the host doesn’t have to return anything. Just toss it when you’re done. Just cover with press & seal before traveling. If you want to offer dips, jams, or sauces, these mini bowls are perfect.
2. Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
What You’ll Need
- Serving Dish
- Serving spoon
Ingredients
1 Block Philadelphia cream cheese
1 Cup cranberry sauce canned or homemade
Crackers for serving
Instructions
1. Place softened cream cheese on a plate or serving dish
2. Warm cranberry sauce for 20-30 seconds in the microwave
3. Pour cranberry sauce over the cream cheese
4 Surround with a variety of crackers and serve
Garlic Parmesan Pinwheels
What You’ll Need
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Silicone basting brush
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
1 Sheet puff pastry
3 tbsp. melted butter
1/4 cup parmesan
2 tsp. dried parsley
1 tbsp. garlic paste
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
2. Roll out puff pastry and brush evenly with melted butter and garlic paste
3. Mix the parsley and parmesan cheese together and sprinkle evenly over pastry
4. Roll pastry evenly into a tight log
5. Slice into 1/2- inch rounds
6. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 12-15 min until golden
📌Save these little gems on Pinterest for your next invite!
Beer, Bacon Cheddar Dip
What You’ll Need
- Large skillet
- Slotted spoon
- Ramekin or coffee mug
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
Ingredients
1/2-pound bacon
2 tbsp. bacon fat
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole milk
1/2 cup beer of choice *I have used Guiness, Sam Adams, and Yuengling. Of those three we liked the Yuengling best.
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. stone ground mustard
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
7 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
1. Cook the bacon:
Chop bacon and pan fry in a 12″ skillet on medium-high until crisp, remove from the pan with a slotted spoon, placing on paper towels to drain.
2. Remove bacon grease:
Carefully pour the hot grease into a ramekin or coffee mug. Gently scrape the skillet with a rubber spatula to remove excess grease, but do not wash.
3. Make the roux:
Measure 2 TBSP of the hot bacon grease back into the pan. Reduce heat to medium-low, add flour and whisk together. Allow to cook for 1-2 minutes until it is light golden brown.
Slowly add in the milk and beer while whisking to avoid clumping, gently scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen all of the extra bits of bacon flavor from the bottom. As the mixture comes to a simmer, it will begin to thicken.
4. Add flavor:
Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. Whisk to combine.
5. Fold in the cheese:
Chop or shred the cheese, then stir into the sauce, allowing the cheese time to melt completely.
6. Add the bacon:
Chop the cooled bacon again to make the chunks even smaller. Reserve a few tablespoons of bacon for garnish, then stir the rest into the beer cheese dip.
Serve With
- A variety of crunchy pretzels
- Soft pretzel bites
Mini Sausage Skewers
What You’ll Need
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Large toothpicks
Ingredients
Smoked sausage, sliced
Cubes of cheese
Toothpicks
Optional add on mini pickles, olives, or cherry tomatoes
Instructions
1. Cut cheese into cube or save some time by purchasing it that way.
2. Slice the sausage into bite-sized rounds
3. Layer your ingredients on your toothpicks, arrange on a plate and serve.
4. Add a small dish of mustard for dipping
Final Thoughts
Holiday appetizers don’t need to be stressful or expensive. The main objective is always…don’t show up empty handed, these quick recipes keep you out of the kitchen and in the moments that matter. Try one or mix a few together – they’re all crowd-pleasers!
To keep your stress-free holiday vibe going check out my Holiday Gifts on a Budget & Hey Ivy Holiday Favorites posts for some thoughtful gift ideas that won’t break the bank.
Happy Holiday’s to you and yours – Hey Ivy🌿
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