Holiday Appetizers Made Easy

Featured recipes:

Swiss Cheese, Spinach and Bacon Appetizer Tarts
Miniature Monte Cristos
Ham Pockets
Grilled Shrimp Bruschetta
Savory Nut Mix
Seasoned Snack Mix
Vegetable-Potato Latkes
Baked Artichoke Squares
Crispy Crab Cakes with Mango Salsa
Olive Bites

Don't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen, but want to impress your party guests with divine appetizers? Let Crisco® help! Try these mouthwatering hors d'oeuvre ideas for holiday celebrations your guests won't soon forget.

For an easy, yet sophisticated starter that outpaces traditional chips and dip, bake some Swiss Cheese, Spinach and Bacon Appetizer Tarts. You can minimize preparation time by making the crust's dough beforehand. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, and when you're ready, just roll out and use.

Here's another cheesy appetizer to try: Miniature Monte Cristos. You can also make these ahead of time: Simply prepare and fry as directed, allow them to cool, cover, and refrigerate. Right before your guests arrive, spread the Miniature Monte Cristos in a single layer on a baking sheet and reheat in a 425°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

If you want a little more meat to your meal, try Ham Pockets. This recipe combines smooth cream cheese with sweet relish, mustard, and ham to make a delightfully different appetizer dish. And the recipe provides for 40 pockets, so you'll have plenty to appease your hungry guests.

Another great holiday hors d'oeuvre is Grilled Shrimp Bruschetta. This lovely appetizer is a delicious and attractive addition to any party. Grilled shrimp, vine-ripened tomatoes, and crusty Italian bread all come together to make a delightfully different dish.

Remember to plan for about three to five appetizers per person, and if you need some other timesaving kitchen tips, try these ideas:

  • Make appetizers that don't require extra plates and silverware.
  • Line hors d'oeuvre bowls and trays with colored plastic wrap for a more festive look and easier cleanup.
  • Invest in good, nonstick cookware—you'll thank yourself later!
  • Prepare as much ahead of time as you can.
  • Remember to use Crisco Cooking Spray on your bakeware to help save time during cleanup.

A few appetizers that can be made in advance and appeal to most guests will help your holiday entertaining go smoothly. Turn some ordinary cashews and pecans into a flavorful, all-day treat with our Snacking-Good Nuts, and liven up some everyday peanuts, pretzels, and cereal with our Seasoned Snack Mix recipe.

These creations can be completed the day before your event and don't require refrigeration or reheating. Just put them into festive holiday dishes and set them out, and you'll be able to attend to your guests and the rest of your appetizers or meal preparation. Plus, the kids can also help make these snacks, which is a great chance for children to feel included in the preparations for the party, enjoy some hot chocolate, and make some holiday memories.

Different Tastes

The holidays are a perfect time to try something new. Try colorful Vegetable-Potato Latkes and Baked Artichoke Squares. These wonderful recipes complement the other dishes perfectly, and they can become the preferred appetizers for your vegetarian friends or guests with diet restrictions.

Make Ahead

Try our tasty trio of make-ahead hors d'oeuvres, too. All of these dishes can be stashed in the freezer until they're needed. Our Crispy Crab Cakes with Mango Salsa can be made completely ahead—just drain on paper towels, cool completely and then wrap each crab cake individually in plastic wrap and freeze. Reheat the frozen cakes in a 350° F oven for about 15 minutes or until heated through. Make a batch of our zesty Olive Bites and stash them, unbaked, in the freezer for a ready-in-minutes treat your guests will love (add a couple minutes to the bake time for frozen Olive Bites).

Entertaining Tips

You don't have to make all of these recipes to have a successful event. If you wish, choose just a few that appeal to you, but a variety of appetizers is nice. You can also make a number of appetizers and serve that as your main food attraction. Guests will be able to nibble and chat through the party.

Keep the holiday congestion on the roads, not in your house. Place all of the appetizers next to each other—away from the drinks. Put festive holiday plates, napkins, and toothpicks/utensils on the appetizer table to encourage smooth flow of traffic.

Prior to your event, gather the serving trays you'll be using. To ensure you have enough room for all the dishes, place the empty trays where you plan to put them on the day of your event. Be sure guests can easily reach them—and you can easily replenish them.

For a visually appealing presentation, create different height levels on the appetizer table. Use virtually anything solid, sturdy, and weighted (books, boxes, etc.). Wrap these items in cloth or wrapping paper, and perhaps add a bow to look like a present. Choose one high level and several low ones to hold flowers, plants, and other decorations to accentuate your food.

Incorporate traditional colors into the table, or use blue, silver, and white to capture a winter scene.