As the holiday season approaches, and the Christmas party preparations kick into high gear, many are on the lookout for delightful holiday themed food decoration ideas to jazz up their festivities. If you’re looking for some tasty finger food ideas to serve at your upcoming Christmas party (or appetizers to take to a potluck party), we’ve got you covered. These six easy make-ahead recipes are sure to be a hit with your friends, coleagues and family.
Cold finger food ideas for a Christmas party
Cheese balls like Tree Ornaments
Crab stick, egg, and cheese appetizer, shaped like Christmas tree ornaments, is sure to elevate the spirits of your guests at the buffet table. Whip up this festive snack in just about half an hour! If garlic isn’t your thing, feel free to skip it!
Ingredients for 5 cheese balls:
- Crab sticks (or crab meat) – 7 oz (200 g)
- Hard cheese – 3.5 oz (100 g)
- 2 Eggs
- Mayonnaise – 5 tablespoons
- Garlic – 2 cloves (optional, skip if you’re not feeling garlicky)
- 3 Olives, pitted
- Green onions – 1-2 stalks
- Salt – to taste
Are you cooking for a crowd? Here’s the adjusted recipe that should provide enough quantities for 15 servings.
Crab sticks (or crab meat) – 21 oz (600g)
Hard cheese – 10.5 oz (300g)
10 Eggs
Mayonnaise – 25 tablespoons
Garlic – 10 cloves (optional)
15 – 20 Olives, pitted
Green onions – 5-10 stalks (adjust to taste)
Salt – to taste
Let’s get the party started:
1. Prepare the ingredients: hard cheese, slightly frozen crab sticks, hard-boiled eggs, and mayo. We’ll also need pit-free olives and a couple of green onion stalks for the decoration.
2. Grate the crab sticks in a suitable bowl. Save some of the crab mixture for coating the balls.
3. To the shredded crab sticks, add the grated cheese.
4. Peel and grate the eggs.
5. If you’re in the mood for it, peel the garlic and press it (or finely chop it). Otherwise, feel free to skip it.
6. Add mayonnaise to the ingredients in the bowl. Mix it up well. Season with salt if needed.
7. Shape the mixture into small balls.
8. Roll the balls in the reserved shredded crab sticks.
9. Arrange them on a flat dish.
10. Cut the olives in half crosswise. Slice the green onion into thin strips (these will be the ropes for the balls).
11. Thread a piece of green onion through the hole in the olive half. Place the olive on top of a ball.
Voila! Your Christmas themed appetizer of crab sticks and cheese “Tree Ornaments” is ready to dazzle!
Santa Deviled Eggs
Of course, the main character of Christmas is Santa Claus. It is his image that is used to decorate this appetizer. Egg whites are stuffed with a cheese-yolk mixture with garlic, and for decoration, sweet pepper, olives, and mayonnaise are used. These deviled eggs decorated for christmas can be prepared together with children.
Ingredients (for 8 servings):
- Eggs – 4 pieces
- Hard cheese – 2.12 ounces (60g)
- Mayonnaise – 2 tablespoons
- Garlic – 2 cloves
- Fresh parsley – 0.35 ounces (10g)
- Red bell pepper – 1 piece
- Pitted olives – 2 pieces
- Salt – to taste
- Ground black pepper – to taste
*Adjusted ingredients for 15 people:
Eggs – 7 pieces
Hard cheese – 3.5 ounces (100g)
Mayonnaise – 3 tablespoons
Garlic – 3 cloves
Fresh parsley – 0.7 ounces (20g)
Red bell pepper – 2 pieces
Pitted olives – 3 pieces
Salt – to taste
Ground black pepper – to taste
1. Prepare all the necessary ingredients. Hard-boil the eggs (for 8-10 minutes) and cool them in cold water.
2. Peel the eggs and cut them in half. Separate the yolks without damaging the whites. Mash the egg yolks in a bowl using a fork.
3. Grate the cheese, equivalent to 2.12 ounces, on a medium grater and add it to the bowl with the yolks. Peel and grate the garlic finely.
4. Add garlic and mayonnaise to the yolks and cheese.
5. Finely chop the parsley, equivalent to 0.35 ounces, and add it to the other stuffing ingredients. Mix well and add salt if necessary.
6. Fill the egg whites with the prepared mixture. Cut caps, noses, and strips for the mouth from the red bell pepper to decorate the eggs. Make eyes from olive pieces. Place mayonnaise in a piping bag and create a beard, hat, eyebrows, and mustache.
Charcuterie Christmas Tree
Next on the list is a Charcuterie Christmas Tree adorned with cherry tomatoes, turkey ham, olives, cheese, and little mushroom toppers? This one’s super simple but looks amazing when served up on the table. The charcuter-tree – a Christmas tree-shaped charcuterie tower – is the latest trend on the internet and is bound to spark joy and surprise among your family and friends. Here’s how to whip up your own “Charcuterie Christmas Tree”:
Ingredients for a small “Charcuterie Christmas Tree” (4-6 people):
- Cherry tomatoes – 5.3 oz (150g)
- Turkey ham – 4.2 oz (120g)
- Green olives – 1/2 jar
- Hard cheese – 2.5-2.8 oz (70-80g)
- Marinated mushrooms – 1/2 jar
- Rosemary – 5 sprigs
To adjust the ingredients for a group of 10 people, you can increase the quantities proportionally. Here’s a suggestion:
Cherry tomatoes: 10.6 oz (300g)
Turkey ham: 8.4 oz (240g)
Green olives: 1 jar
Hard cheese: 5-5.6 oz (140-160g)
Marinated mushrooms: 1 jar
Rosemary: 10 sprigs
Crafting the Charcuterie Christmas Tree:
- Take a sheet of cardboard (A4 size) and shape it into a cone.
- Pierce the cone with toothpicks and string cherry tomatoes on them in a random, whimsical order.
- Cut the turkey ham into strips.
- Fashion a little ham bow from each strip, secure it with a toothpick, and top it off with an olive.
- Thread these ham and olive combos onto the cone.
- Dice the cheese into cubes.
- Attach the cheese cubes to the cone using toothpicks.
- Now, sprinkle in some marinated mushrooms.
- To add a finishing touch, garnish your Charcuterie Christmas Tree with sprigs of rosemary for that extra festive flair!
Ta-da! Your “Charcuterie Christmas Tree” is ready to steal the show at your Christmas party. Get ready for a round of applause and delighted munching!
When it comes to crafting a Charcuterie Christmas Tree, the base is a crucial element. Now, the cardboard cone used here is rather small – perfect for an intimate gathering or children’s party. However, if you’re planning for a larger group, you might want to consider a bigger base to accommodate the grandeur of the occasion.
Look what Anna from Craftycookingbyanna.com came up with: Styrofoam from the craft store as a base was not the ideal choice for her when it comes to food, since you can accidentally pull out a bit of styrofoam with the toothpick. Therefore, she aimed for an ALL-EDIBLE tree! To achieve this, she opted for a more practical solution during a grocery store adventure – a combination of cabbage and a long cucumber. Sure, it might look a bit unconventional when bare, but it gets the job done. The base involves slicing the cabbage in half, carving a hole with a carving knife to securely fit the cucumber, and making adjustments as needed.
Christmas party snack ideas that can be served warm or cold
Potato Puree Christmas Trees
You can present ordinary boiled potatoes in a creative and festive manner. Potato Christmas trees – that’s what a simple and delicious finger food looks like when you add fresh dill, shape it with a icing syringe (we used this one for decorating cupcakes as well) into a Christmas tree, and bake it in the oven. The star of the potato tree is a piece of sweet bell pepper.
Ingredients for approx. 4 people / 12 trees:
- Potatoes – 17.6 oz (500 g)
- Milk (warm) – 0.5 cup (120 ml)
- Sweet pepper – 4.2 oz (120 g) (0.5 pieces)
- Butter – 1.4 oz (20 g)
- Fresh dill – 3-4 sprigs + for serving
- Salt – half teaspoon
To adjust the ingredients for 10 people, you can use the following quantities:
Potatoes: 35.2 oz (1 kg)
Milk (warm): 1.25 cups (300 ml)
Sweet pepper: 8.4 oz (240 g) (1 piece)
Butter: 2.8 oz (80 g)
Fresh dill: 30-40 sprigs
Salt: Adjust according to taste, but you can scale up from the original half teaspoon.
1. Prepare all the ingredients. You can replace milk with potato broth or cream (the milk should be warm at the time of use).
2. Peel and cut the potatoes into large pieces.
3. Place the potatoes in a saucepan or pot with cold water and bring it to a boil. Cook for 15-20 minutes over medium heat until done.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit / 180 degrees Celsius.
5. Drain the water completely from the boiled potatoes. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher; avoid using a blender as it makes the potatoes sticky.
6. Pour 2-3 tablespoons of milk into the blender bowl and add dill sprigs.
7. Blend the dill with milk for 1-2 minutes to finely chop the dill. This is done to create the green color of the potato Christmas trees.
8. Pour the dill-infused milk into the mashed potatoes, add salt and butter, and mash the potatoes again. Gradually add the warm remaining milk and mix with the puree.
9. The finished potato mixture should be uniform but thick, holding a shape on a spoon without dripping.
10. Transfer the potato puree to a icing syringe or a piping bag with a shaped nozzle (you can use a regular ziplock bag with a cut corner).
11. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Extrude the puree into small elongated cone shapes with pointed tops.
12. Bake the potato Christmas trees in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) for 10-15 minutes. They will settle slightly but maintain their shape and develop a slight crust.
13. While the trees are baking, cut star shapes from the sweet pepper with a knife. It’s best to attach them to the top of the “green tree” with toothpicks (cut each toothpick in half).
14. Attach the star to the half-toothpick, inserting the other end into the top of the potato Christmas tree.
The potato puree Christmas trees are ready. Transfer the finished potato trees to a flat plate, decorate with fresh dill, and serve. This unusual snack will be a hit with kids. Not only does it look original and beautiful on the table, but it’s also incredibly delicious! For a children’s party you can check out these Christmas themed sandwiches as well.
Puff Pastry Christmas Wreath
We can’t forget about Puff Pastry either! Next, we present a recipe for a delicious and cute Christmas snack. It’s easy to prepare, especially if you pre-cook the meat and rice – then it’s also quick. However, be warned, it disappears from the table just as quickly.
Ingredients for “Christmas Wreath” (6-8 people):
- Puff pastry (yeast-free) – 8.8 oz (250 g)
- Rice (cooked, long-grain) – 3 tbsp
- Meat (boiled, I used chicken fillet) – 3.5 oz (100 g)
- Ketchup (tomato sauce) – 2 tbsp
- Hard cheese – 0.7 oz (20 g)
- Dill – 1/2 bunch
- Egg yolk – 1
- Poppy seeds – 1 tsp
- Sweet paprika – 1 tsp
Here’s an adjusted quantity for 15 people:
Puff pastry (yeast-free) – 21 oz (600 g)
Rice (cooked, long-grain) – 7.5 tbsp
Meat (boiled, chicken fillet or your choice) – 10.5 oz (300 g)
Ketchup (tomato sauce) – 5.25 tbsp
Hard cheese – 4.2 oz (120 g)
Dill – 1.5 bunches
Egg yolk – 1
Poppy seeds – 2.5 tsp
Sweet paprika – 2.5 tsp
This should be suitable for a group of 15 people. Enjoy your Christmas Wreath Pie with a larger crowd!
1. Cook the rice. You need 3 tbsp of already cooked rice. I used long-grain Orient rice because it retains its shape during cooking and doesn’t stick together.
2. Roll out the pastry; I got 2 rectangles of 22×16 cm. Cut into rectangles about 7.5×5.5 cm. You’ll get 18 rectangles; set one aside.
3. Spread the rest with tomato sauce (ketchup), place rice on 2/3 of each piece, and sprinkle with finely grated cheese.
4. Place a piece of meat on the short side of each rectangle, sprinkle with dill, and roll it into a roll.
5. Place the rolls seam side down in a circle on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You can pre-outline a plate with a bright pencil on the back of this paper and use it as a guide when arranging.
6. Brush with egg yolk, sprinkle with poppy seeds. From the remaining rectangle, form a bow, brush with yolk, sprinkle with paprika, and lightly press it to the dough. Transfer the bow to our wreath.
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 390 degrees Fahrenheit / 200 degrees Celsius for about 20 minutes.
8. When serving, garnish with dill.
This delightful creation isn’t just a crowd-pleaser; it’s also a practical make-ahead option for your Christmas party. Prepare it in advance and simply warm it up before serving. The flaky pastry, savory fillings, and festive presentation make it a perfect centerpiece for your holiday gatherings.
Puff Pastry Christmas Trees
And lastly don’t miss out on Puff Pastry “Christmas Trees” filled with ham & cream cheese! For the Christmas party, even the most ordinary dishes are desired to be prepared in a special and imaginative way. Layered pastries with cream cheese and ham, shaped like Christmas trees, will look incredibly original. These pastries will undoubtedly adorn your festive buffet table, and, moreover, they turn out to be very delicious.
Ingredients for approx 9 trees:
- Puff pastry (yeast-free) – 17.6 oz (500 g)
- Cream cheese – 2.1 oz (60 g)
- Dry-cured pork loin (or ham, sausage) – 3.5 oz (100 g)
- Green olives – 9-10 pieces
- Flour – 1-2 tbsp (for rolling out the dough)
- Egg (optional) – 1 (for brushing the layers)
And here’s an adjusted version of the ingredients for 15 people:
Puff pastry (yeast-free) – 26.4 oz (750 g)
Cream cheese – 3.15 oz (90 g)
Dry-cured pork loin (or ham, sausage) – 5.25 oz (150 g)
Green olives – 14-15 pieces
Flour – 2-3 tbsp (for rolling out the dough)
Egg (optional) – 1 (for brushing the layers)
Prepare the ingredients for making the pastries. Thaw the puff pastry in advance. If the sausage (ham) is not sliced, it needs to be cut into very thin slices. You’ll also need wooden skewers.
1. Place the puff pastry on parchment paper dusted with flour and roll it out into a rectangle about 3mm thick. Cut the rectangle into 2 equal parts.
2. Spread a layer of cream cheese evenly on one part of the dough.
3. Place thinly sliced pork loin (ham, sausage) on the cream cheese.
4. Cover with the second layer of dough and press slightly. With a sharp knife, cut the dough with the filling into strips about 1.5-2 cm wide.
5. Preheat the oven to 390 degrees Fahrenheit / 200 degrees Celsius.
6. Form Christmas trees from the strips of dough. Place a strip of dough with the filling (cut side up). Arrange the dough like a “shawl,” starting from the top edge (the top of the Christmas tree), making each subsequent fold slightly longer than the previous one.
7. Insert a wooden skewer through the Christmas tree so that it comes out of the dough by 2 cm from the top.
8. Create Christmas trees from all the strips of dough in this way. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the Christmas trees on it. I made 9 in total. You can brush each pastry with beaten egg on top.
Bake the Christmas trees in a preheated oven at 390 degrees Fahrenheit / 200 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes. Transfer the finished pastries to a rack. Place an olive on the top of each Christmas tree. The pastries turn out to be very tasty, crispy on the outside, and with a delicate filling inside.
Enjoy your flavorful Christmas tree-shaped hors d’oeuvres!
So there you have it: 6 easy make-ahead recipes sure please any crowd this holiday season whether large gathering intimate family dinner alike; happy cooking friends enjoy every bite!!
