Finger foods are the easiest, most festive party foods there are. Not only do they take away the need for everyone to find a place at a table to sit, they also do away with the need to make sure there’s an abundance of utensils available for everyone.
Plus, serving a variety of finger foods eliminates the need to plan ahead for a rigidly timed oven schedule, like when do I take out the casserole so that I can put the roast in the oven at the right time to make sure everything is done at the same time. Finger foods eliminate all of this planning, most take less than 30 minutes to make and many of them can be made in advance. Here are some of our favorites:
21. Christmas Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods
Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods are one of our favorite Christmas Recipes. They’re so easy to make (no oven required) and take only ten minutes using just three ingredients. Simply dip the pretzel rods into the chocolate, add some sprinkles, and allow them to set. Use either milk or white chocolate and decorate with festive red and green sprinkles.
Despite looking like a kids-only treat, adults will go for these too, as there’s nothing like a sweet and salty treat. These are so cute in cellophane party favor bags, making them perfect for Christmas parties, so consider making a double batch.
Christmas Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods
Ingredients
Method
- Line a sheet pan with parchment.
- Melt chocolate in 20 second bursts, stirring between each.
- Pour melted chocolate into a tall glass.
- Dip each pretzel about 3/4 of the way in.
- Let the excess drip off.
- Lay on the parchment.
- Add sprinkles right away before the chocolate sets.
- Let set at room temperature until firm.
20. Grinch Fruit Kabobs
With only four ingredients and no cooking required, the kids can make an entire plate of these adorable Grinch Fruit Kabobs for you. Thread a green grape, banana slice, strawberry, and mini marshmallow onto a toothpick and voila’ you’ve got yourself a Grinch wearing a Santa hat.
Add a burst of fruity freshness to your holiday spread, and your guests will be looking forward to these between bites of cheese and pastry. Make within a couple of hours of serving as the banana will brown after sitting for a while.
Grinch Fruit Kabobs
Ingredients
Method
- Wash and dry the fruit.
- Toss banana rounds in lemon juice.
- Slide a grape onto each toothpick.
- Add a banana round.
- Add a strawberry with the point facing up.
- Finish with a mini marshmallow.
- Arrange on a platter and chill until serving.
19. Gougères, French Cheese Puffs
Gougères are airy, hollow, crispy, savory, cheesy puffs that look much harder to make than they are. Choux pastry sounds difficult, but is actually quite simple to make, all on the stove in one pot.. These will definitely elevate a more casual party with a touch of class, so try them if you’re looking for something elegant. Serve hot out of the oven, so you’ll need to think about oven space/time when deciding whether to include these on your menu.
Get the recipe: https://simmerandsage.com/how-to-make-gougeres-french-cheese-puffs-recipe/
18. Snowman Cheese Ball
Everyone will take pictures of this, but few will brave the cut. This simple cheddar-based cheese ball recipe is divided into two halves, then stacked and decorated with peppercorn eyes, carrot nose, and pretzel stick arms, and coated in shredded mozzarella to resemble snow. Serve alongside crackers and pretzel sticks. Make ahead: Make one day ahead to allow to firm.
Snowman Cheese Ball
Ingredients
Method
- Beat cream cheese, cheddar, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper together.
- Divide into one large and one small ball.
- Wrap and chill 2 hours.
- Roll both balls in shredded mozzarella.
- Stack the small ball on the large one.
- Add the carrot nose and peppercorn eyes and buttons.
- Press pretzel sticks in for arms.
- Serve with crackers.
17. Easy Baked Mac and Cheese Bites
Portioned and baked in muffin cups, these easy baked mac and cheese bites have crispy edges with creamy middles, just like their bigger counterparts. Kids and grown-ups will inhale these at a party. Plus, these bite-size mac and cheese portions heat up really well so nothing goes to waste. Add to an appetizer platter next to some heartier options.
Get the recipe: https://simmerandsage.com/easy-baked-mac-and-cheese-bites-kids-love-them/
16. Mini Quiche Bites
Use one egg mixture to make several types of quiches, then bake them all on one sheet. Try making one with bacon and swiss next to one with spinach and mushrooms. These adorable mini quiches can be served right out of the oven or at room temperature. Use a store-bought refrigerated pie dough, cut into rounds, for an even easier prep. Quiches are another option that are easy to make ahead of time, maybe even the day before, then pop in the oven just long enough to heat them right back up.
Mini Quiche Bites
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 375 F.
- Grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin.
- Cut crust into rounds and press into each cup.
- Divide cheese, bacon, and green onion between the cups.
- Whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper.
- Pour into each cup until 3/4 full.
- Bake 18 to 22 minutes until set.
- Cool 5 minutes, then lift out with a spoon.
15. Shrimp Cocktail Bites
You already love shrimp cocktail, and we’re just taking it to the next level. This appetizer has a phyllo shell base, a layer of seasoned cream cheese and a topping of cocktail sauce and chopped shrimp. No more messy shrimp tails, no more hunting for napkins and no more reaching across a bowl of cocktail sauce to get more. Old Bay seasoning and lemon zest mixed into the cream cheese takes it over the top. You can assemble the shrimp cocktail appetizers a couple of hours before your party and leave them refrigerated until you’re ready to serve them.
Shrimp Cocktail Bites
Ingredients
Method
- Mix cream cheese, mayonnaise, Old Bay, and lemon zest.
- Transfer to a piping bag.
- Pipe about 1 tablespoon into each shell.
- Top with a small spoonful of cocktail sauce.
- Add chopped shrimp.
- Garnish with parsley.
- Chill until serving.
14. Christmas Tree Pizza Pull-Apart Bread
This is going to be your holiday party’s hit. Assemble this super-easy pull-apart bread in about ten minutes with store-bought pizza dough, garlic butter, cheese and pepperoni. It doubles as a holiday centerpiece that everyone will be fighting over. Have your kids help you form the dough into balls and place them in a triangle formation, making sure to leave some space between them so the bread won’t be raw in the middle. Add a trunk and you’re ready to pile on the toppings and pop it into the oven. Serve it up with some warm marinara sauce.
Christmas Tree Pizza Pull-Apart Bread
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 400 F.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment.
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls.
- Arrange in a triangle with a short trunk at the base.
- Mix melted butter with garlic.
- Brush over the dough.
- Scatter mozzarella and pepperoni on top.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes until golden.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve with marinara.
13. Easy Turkey Pinwheels with Cheddar and Ranch
These easy-to-make turkey pinwheels are sure to please adults and picky kids alike. Ranch, cheddar and deli turkey are rolled up, chilled, then sliced into cute pinwheel shapes. You can make them the night before and leave them at room temp for a couple of hours without issue. Just cut into rounds right before serving, which will showcase the pretty pinwheel pattern.
Get the recipe: https://simmerandsage.com/easy-turkey-pinwheels-recipe-with-cheddar-and-ranch/
12. Whipped Feta Crostini with Pomegranate
The pomegranate seeds make these pretty crostini look super-festive, but the flavor is what brings them back year after year. Feta cheese, Greek yogurt and lemon zest get whipped together for a smooth, tangy spread. A drizzle of honey tones down the salty bite of the feta and adds another dimension of flavor. Pistachios add some color and crunch. The whipped feta can be made three days ahead, toast the baguette and assemble the crostini day of to keep the bread crisp for your guests.
Whipped Feta Crostini with Pomegranate
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 375 F.
- Brush baguette slices with olive oil.
- Toast 8 minutes until lightly crisp.
- Blend feta, yogurt, olive oil, and lemon zest until smooth.
- Spread onto each toast.
- Top with pomegranate seeds and pistachios.
- Drizzle with honey.
- Serve right away.
11. Pigs in a Blanket with Cranberry Mustard Dip
Miniature versions of smoked sausage are rolled into crescent roll dough, topped with some pretty and textural poppy seeds and baked for approximately 12 minutes. Add some zip to this common but always successful appetizer with a side of a 1-minute cranberry mustard dip. This makes it more than just another game day party food. Prepare a double or triple batch. Trust me, they will be gone before you know it.
Pigs in a Blanket with Cranberry Mustard Dip
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 375 F.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment.
- Cut dough into 24 thin triangles.
- Roll one triangle around each sausage.
- Brush with beaten egg.
- Sprinkle with poppy seeds.
- Bake 12 to 14 minutes until golden.
- Stir cranberry sauce, both mustards, orange zest, and salt together.
- Serve warm with the dip.
10. Spinach Artichoke Phyllo Cups
Everyone loves spinach artichoke dip, but instead of having people crowded around one bowl, give them an easy-to-eat individual version baked in pre-made phyllo cups. Spoon the dip into the cups and bake until bubbly and golden around the edges. Plus, the mixture can be made up to 3 days ahead, refrigerated and assembled right away.
Spinach Artichoke Phyllo Cups
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 375 F.
- Stir all ingredients except the shells together.
- Arrange shells on a sheet pan.
- Spoon about 1 tablespoon of filling into each.
- Bake 10 to 12 minutes until bubbling.
- Cool 5 minutes before serving.
9. Easy Rumaki (Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts)
Have any of your guests heard of rumaki? If they’re older, chances are they’ll light up when they recognize the name. If not, they’ll be intrigued by something they’ve never heard of. Rumaki is the ultimate cocktail party food, but it’s something we don’t see very often anymore, which, of course, just makes it better..
Marinated water chestnuts are wrapped in bacon, then baked until crispy. The results are crunchy and salty with just a hint of sweetness from the bacon. Rumaki won’t get soggy sitting out on a tray, either.
Get the recipe: https://simmerandsage.com/easy-rumaki-recipe-bacon-wrapped-water-chestnuts/
8. Cream Cheese Sausage Balls
We all know sausage balls, but this recipe elevates them by adding cream cheese, which keeps them from getting dry and crumbly. The cheddar balances out the flavor so they’re not bland. Make a batch ahead of time, freeze them on a cookie sheet, and pop them straight from freezer to oven with additional baking time. Serve with a side of honey mustard or ranch for dipping.
Cream Cheese Sausage Balls
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 350 F.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment.
- Beat sausage and cream cheese until smooth.
- Mix in Bisquick, cheddar, garlic powder, and pepper.
- Roll into 1-inch balls.
- Space them on the pan.
- Bake 18 to 22 minutes until golden.
- Cool 5 minutes before serving.
7. Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese
This one typically disappears from the appetizer platter first. These three-ingredient appetizers are made with Medjool dates stuffed with tangy goat cheese and wrapped in bacon. They’re baked until the cheese is warm and melty and the bacon is perfectly crisp, resulting in the ultimate combination of sweet, salty and creamy bites. And, they’re perfect for holidays, aren’t they?!
Note: We recommend using thin-cut bacon, not thick-cut, on these to ensure that it will get nice and crisp in the oven. Remove from oven and drizzle with honey while still warm.
Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 375 F.
- Line a sheet pan with foil.
- Slit each date open lengthwise.
- Fill with about 1 teaspoon goat cheese.
- Pinch closed and wrap with a half slice of bacon.
- Secure with a toothpick.
- Bake 18 to 20 minutes, turning once.
- Drizzle with honey and serve warm.
6. Caprese Christmas Wreath
Red and green without having to fuss with food coloring? Yes please. This stunningly beautiful Caprese Christmas Wreath can be made with just a few ingredients and requires only about ten minutes of your time. The mozzarella and tomatoes are brushed with seasoned olive oil and threaded onto toothpicks. The toothpicks are arranged into a circle around a small dish filled with balsamic glaze, creating a wreath. Fresh basil leaves are added into the empty spaces to create a lusciously full-looking wreath.
Note: This appetizer stores well for a couple of hours in the fridge making it ideal for assembling ahead of time.
Caprese Christmas Wreath
Ingredients
Method
- Toss tomatoes and mozzarella with oil, seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Thread each skewer: tomato, mozzarella, tomato, mozzarella.
- Set a small bowl of balsamic glaze in the center of a round platter.
- Lay basil leaves in a ring around the bowl.
- Arrange skewers on top of the basil.
- Chill until serving.
5. Easy Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms are a holiday party standard, and these ones are a little different than usual. Instead of sausage and cream cheese, they’re stuffed with a mixture of turkey sausage and Boursin that is still creamy and flavorful but less heavy. Bonus, they’re keto-friendly for the carb-monitors at the party. You can also stuff the mushroom caps in the afternoon, cover, and keep in the refrigerator. Pop them in the oven when your guests arrive.
Get the recipe: https://simmerandsage.com/easy-sausage-stuffed-mushrooms-recipe-keto-friendly/
4. Antipasto Skewers
These require zero cooking. Plus, they’re festive, with all of the right holiday colors like red and green. Thread together cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, a piece of folded salami, an olive, marinated artichoke, and a basil leaf on a short skewer and arrange on a tray. Make these in the morning and keep them in the refrigerator. Take the lid off when your guests arrive and serve. Bonus, these would be easy to make and bring to someone else’s party, as well.
Antipasto Skewers
Ingredients
Method
- Drain the olives, mozzarella, and artichokes well.
- Fold each salami slice into quarters.
- Thread a tomato onto each skewer.
- Add mozzarella, then folded salami.
- Add an olive and an artichoke piece.
- Tuck a basil leaf into the middle.
- Arrange on a platter.
- Drizzle with olive oil before serving.
3. Deviled Egg Christmas Trees
We all know the classic deviled egg, but take them up a notch this year by turning them into edible Christmas trees. Blend some spinach with the egg yolks to make them green without significantly impacting the flavor, pipe into a star shape, adding a little fresh dill for a deeper green color, and place some red bell pepper “ornaments” on top. Assemble these beauties the morning of and keep in the fridge until ready to serve.
Deviled Egg Christmas Trees
Ingredients
Method
- Place eggs in a pot and cover with 1 inch of cold water.
- Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Cover, remove from heat, and let sit 12 minutes.
- Transfer to an ice bath for 5 minutes.
- Peel and halve lengthwise.
- Add spinach, dill, and mayonnaise to a food processor.
- Blend 1 minute until the mixture turns bright green and smooth.
- Add yolks, Dijon, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Blend again until no flecks remain.
- Transfer to a piping bag with a star tip.
- Pipe a tall spiral onto each white, tapering to a point.
- Dot with red bell pepper.
- Chill until serving.
2. Holiday Baked Brie Fig Jam Wreath
There’s nothing like a perfectly baked, melty brie to start off a party. And it’s a breeze to make, too. Wrap some crescent roll dough around some brie cheese and fig jam, bake, and done. The fig jam perfectly complements the salty brie. Let your guests tear apart the melty brie themselves. Bonus: it doubles as a festive centerpiece.
Get the recipe: https://simmerandsage.com/holiday-baked-brie-fig-jam-wreath-with-crescent-rolls/
1. Cranberry Brie Bites
Another melty cheese dish, this recipe is incredibly easy to make, but looks like you’ve slaved over them for hours. Pop squares of puff pastry into mini muffin tins, add cubes of brie and a dollop of cranberry sauce, bake, done. The puff pastry gets nice and crispy, while the brie gets nice and melty. Chopped pecans and cranberry sauce are the perfect addition to these little morsels, and the tartness of the cranberry perfectly compliments the rich, creamy brie.
Cranberry Brie Bites
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 375 F.
- Grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin.
- Roll pastry and cut into 24 squares.
- Press one square into each cup.
- Add a brie cube to each.
- Top with 1 teaspoon cranberry sauce.
- Sprinkle with pecans.
- Bake 18 to 20 minutes until golden.
- Cool 5 minutes, then garnish with rosemary.
Closing
The goal is to make it easy and follow a ratio. Make two hot-from-the-oven items and four-to-five cold items that can be made and assembled ahead of time. Throw in something sweet the kids will devour. That’s it. Remember, the goal of finger food is to get you out of the kitchen when the party begins.
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