Holiday party season is just around the corner, and I’ve rounded up my favorite easy, fast, and/or make-ahead Holiday Cocktail Party Appetizers to make your prep just that much easier! Y’all we are just about to round the corner into the final stretch of the holiday season. Deep yoga breaths, all together now. To be perfectly honest, I love the madness. I can leave that pile of clean laundry in the basket and totally justify my inability to keep the house properly because I’m just too darn busy “making memories”. My increased consumption of bacon and chocolate becomes “festive”, and there are infinite reasons to keep the liquor tray stocked with bourbon. Truly, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Also, parties. As a former event planner, I have a deep affection for parties, even if throwing them together makes me feel like an unhinged wildebeest masquerading in a pair of sparkly flats. That is precisely why I have an arsenal of easy and fast cocktail party appetizers to make holiday party planning just that much more realistic. They are an integral piece of the holy grail of event planning success – easy apps + lots of’ booze + waterproof mascara. This week I’m rounding up over 20 easy, fast, make-ahead cocktail party appetizers. From me and my friends to you – you’re welcome. Cheers!
Cranberry Brie Bruschetta
Some combination of brie and cranberry is the gold standard of holiday fare, and these cranberry brie bites deliver! The cranberry jam and crostini can be made in advance, so you’ll need just 10 minutes on party day to assemble these adorable two-bite delights.
Best Spicy Deviled Eggs
Every holiday party needs a deviled egg, and Cam is drooling over this version. He loves himself a deviled egg or ten at a cocktail party, and the incorporation of Sriracha in this recipe has got him all fired up.
Mini Candied Pecan Cranberry Goat Cheese Balls
Ah, the cheese ball. The ubiquitous holiday party offering, much beloved by young and old. I love a classic cheese ball, but these mini guys? They. Are. Adorable. Ready in just 15 minutes or give yourself the gift of convenience and make them in advance.
Winter Harvest Endive Cups
These guys are easy, fast, fresh and perfectly seasonally hued. They’re ready in just 20 minutes. Plus I can call them a canapé…fancy. Oh la la!
Sweet and Spicy Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese
I was had at four ingredients, with the bonus of bacon being one of them – that’s my kind of cocktail party appetizer prep. Swoon. These take just a scotch longer than 30 minutes, but you can easily do the prep work in advance and then pop those bad boys into the oven just before party time.
Rosemary White Bean Bruschetta
Thank you, vegan friends, for making me scratch my head and come up with this recipe for the best damn bruschetta I’ve ever had. Honestly, who knew beans on toast could be so damn good?
Easy Bacon Wrapped Scallops with Balsamic Mayo Sauce
Yes, more bacon. Because if you can’t overindulge in bacon during the holidays seasons, it’s just not all that merry.
White Bean Green Goddess Dip
No cocktail party spread is complete without a dip (or two…or three!), and I love offering this vibrant, tart and tangy white bean green goddess dip. Naturally vegan and gluten free, it’s a healthy, but creamy and luxurious, dip to round out any holiday menu.
Cheesy Pumpkin Beer Soft Pretzel Twists
Pumpkin. Beer. Pretzels. Shut the front door. These take a little work and advance prep and planning, but in my fairly extensive pretzel making experience (seriously, I love homemade pretzels so hard), I’m fairly confident you can make these ahead and then gently reheat before party time to get the cheese soft and gooey again.
Crab Fries
Yes, crab fries. Cheesy, briny, chivy, delicious crab fries. These would be an excellent choice for a more intimate tapas-type gathering with a small group of friends than a traditional cocktail party. This is mostly because I would legit sit with the plate of fries in front of me and occasionally allocate a fry, perhaps two, to a friend. If you’re not as greedy and horrible as I am, a big ol’ pile of these would be an excellent family style appetizer. Prep that crab in advance and this plate of awesome is ready in less than 30 minutes.
