Butternut Squash Tartlets with Caramelized Onions and Ricotta
I cannot get over these tartlets, or if you want to feel fancy, canapés. Oh la la. These mini butternut squash tarts are the perfect vegetarian two-bite holiday party appetizer offering. They look so chic and elegant, but thanks to the magic of puff pastry, they’re a snap to pull together.
Filet Mignon Bites with Creamy Horseradish Sauce
Yes, yes, yes. This, all day. Please and thank you Santa. Again with the bacon, so you know exactly how much self-control I exhibit throughout the month of December. Also that horseradish dip situation is perfection. 30 minutes, and these can win you that coveted hostess with the mostest award you know you’ve been vying for.
Easy Antipasto Skewers
I love these. Easy, elegant, colorful, fast, and fresh. Make ’em in advance, or set aside 20 minutes before party time. Or better yet, have a helper make them for you.
Dark Chocolate-Dipped Figs with Gorgonzola
These are adorable, and I’m 99% sure the flavor explosion that will happen in my mouth will be epic.
Gingerbread Spiced Nuts
Spice up your cocktail party with these gingerbread nuts. I’m sure there’s a dirty joke in there somewhere, and doubly sure one of y’all will make it.
15 Minute Chicken Salad Bites with Cranberries and Walnuts
I’m not normally a chicken salad fan, but but Katie from Healthy Seasonal Recipes has totally won me over with these easy, fast, and so perfectly seasonal bites. Plus she styled them with wine. So much winning. 15 minutes to bliss friends!
Cranberry Brie Bites
More brie and cranberry – YAZ! Erin from Well Plated knocks this universally crowd-pleasing flavor bomb out of the park. They should be called crackberry brie bites, because they are. I recipe tested a make-ahead version of these adorable appetizers, and they were perfect. After assembling the bites through step 4, I popped ’em in the fridge overnight. They came out perfect the next day.
Hot Toddy Caramel Popcorn
The ultimate two-for: boozy bites! It’s like she knows me. Excuse me while I make a batch of this, and then nibble on it all December while my kids sneeze in my face – because alcohol kills germs. Amanda claims this keeps for up to 5 weeks in an airtight container, but in reality, good luck with that.
Balsamic, Maple, and Cranberry Goat Cheese with Cinnamon Toasted Pecans
Honestly, this feels too pretty to eat. But eat it you will. 20 minutes gives you this enviable spread.
Grilled Skirt Steak Skewers with Dipping Sauce Trio
No holiday party is complete without food on a stick, and you’ve got lots of dietary bases covered with these skirt steak skewers with dipping sauce trio. Making the dips and skewer the steak pieces in advance. Once party time hits, the skewers grill up in less than ten minutes, and you can easily distract all the men and kids by sending them out back to “man” the grill (look kids, fire!).
