27 Christmas Appetizers Ideas

These delicious Christmas appetizers will be the perfect way to to kick off your Christmas dinner.

There are so many amazing recipes to choose from.

Before you get to the main course of your Christmas dinner, you can make everyone happy by serving up some of these fun Christmas appetizers.

From simple to elegant, there are so many great choices to pick from.

1. Mini Cheese Balls

These mini cheese balls are a great make ahead appetizer. You can make the cheese balls and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to serve them.

Roll the cheese balls in a variety of coatings, such as: chopped nuts, pomegranate seeds, or cranberries.

2. Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce

This baked brie is a classic for a reason. It’s incredibly easy to make and the combination of flaky puff pastry, creamy brie, and sweet cranberry sauce is irresistible.

3. Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Bacon wrapped water chestnuts are a little sweet, a little salty, and a lot of delicious. This easy appetizer is perfect for the holidays because it’s a little different than your average cheese ball or chip dip.

They’re easy to make, too! Just marinate water chestnuts in soy sauce, wrap them in bacon, then coat them in brown sugar. Bake until crispy and serve with toothpicks.

4. Baked Goat Cheese Roasted Cranberry

Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.

5. Cranberry Brie Pull Apart Bread

This Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread is the perfect holiday appetizer. It’s a fun twist on a classic baked brie.

It’s made with a round loaf of sourdough bread, and you cut a grid pattern into the bread, being careful not to cut all the way through. Then, you stuff the bread with brie cheese and fresh cranberry sauce.

It’s baked until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and then you pull the bread apart and dig in. It’s just like a baked brie, but it’s easier to make and perfect for sharing.

6. Spicy Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs

These meatballs are sweet, tangy, and have just a little bit of heat. They’re perfect for a fun, festive appetizer. You can make these meatballs in the oven or in the slow cooker, depending on your preference.

7. Garlic Herb Roasted Shrimp with Homemade Cocktail Sauce

You can make the cocktail sauce and roast the shrimp ahead of time, then serve them chilled or at room temperature.

Get the recipe from The Suburban Soapbox.

8. Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log

This festive cheese log is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. A mix of smooth cream cheese, tangy goat cheese, and salty blue cheese creates a complex flavor that pairs perfectly with the sweet cranberries and salty pistachios.

Serve the cheese log with a variety of crackers or sliced baguette.

9. Cranberry Brie Bites

Bite-sized, flaky and filled with creamy Brie and tart cranberry sauce, these mini tarts are the perfect way to start your Christmas feast.

Get the recipe from Delish.

10. Puff Pastry Baked Brie with Thyme Honey

Baked brie is always a good idea, but this one is extra special with a topping of thyme-infused honey and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.

The star of this simple appetizer is a wheel of brie cheese. It’s then wrapped in a sheet of puff pastry and brushed with egg wash to get that beautiful golden color. After it bakes, top with the honey mixture and serve with crackers or apple slices.

11. Cranberry Feta Pinwheels

These pinwheels are a great way to use up any leftover cranberry sauce you have from Thanksgiving. You can also use homemade or store-bought cranberry sauce in this recipe. The sweet and tangy cranberry sauce pairs so well with the creamy and tangy feta cheese. These pinwheels are a great make-ahead appetizer, too! Just roll them up, wrap them in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

12. Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs

The best part about these meatballs is that you can make them ahead of time and keep them warm in your slow cooker until your guests arrive.

Get the recipe from Delish.

13. Cranberry Salsa

This isn’t just any cranberry salsa. This is the cranberry salsa. We’re not sure what it is about this recipe that makes it so good—maybe it’s the fact that it’s so easy to make, or maybe it’s the fact that it only takes 10 minutes to whip up.

Either way, we know one thing for sure: this recipe is a must-have for your next holiday party.

14. Cranberry Pecan Mini Goat Cheese Balls

The perfect festive bite for your holiday party! These mini goat cheese balls are coated with cranberries, pecans, and a drizzle of honey. They’re easy to make and can be prepped ahead of time.

Serve with crackers, crostini, or apple slices.

15. Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese

We love a sweet and savory appetizer and these bacon wrapped dates are just that. The dates, stuffed with goat cheese, are wrapped in bacon and cooked in the oven until crispy.

We love to drizzle these with honey and a sprinkle of sea salt.

16. Caprese Christmas Wreath

We can’t stop staring at this appetizer! Fresh mozzarella and cherry tomatoes are skewered on toothpicks and arranged in a circle to make a festive wreath. Then, it’s topped with fresh basil, balsamic glaze, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.

Get the recipe from The Cookie Rookie.

17. Cranberry Brie and Prosciutto Crostini

This is a great way to use up any leftover cranberry sauce you might have after the big meal. You can also use a whole wheel of brie and top it with the cranberry sauce and prosciutto then bake it in the oven.

Get the recipe from The Seasoned Mom.

18. Cranberry Balsamic Meatballs

Three types of meat make up these meatballs, giving them a tender texture and a rich flavor. Pair them with a sweet and tangy cranberry balsamic sauce for a fun twist on a classic app.

Get the recipe from Running to the Kitchen.

19. Christmas Tree Spinach Dip Breadsticks

Get in the holiday spirit with these spinach dip breadsticks. The Christmas tree shape is so cute and perfect for a holiday party.

Get the recipe from It’s a Veg World After All.

20. Cranberry Brie Mini Tarts

We love a good cheese board, and this easy appetizer is like a mini version of one! The tart cranberry sauce pairs so well with the creamy brie and flaky puff pastry.

Get the recipe from Foxes Love Lemons.

21. Cranberry Brie Stuffed Puff Pastry

A wheel of brie cheese is topped with cranberry sauce, wrapped in puff pastry and baked until golden. It’s a great way to use up leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving, but you can also use store-bought sauce if you don’t have any on hand.

Get the recipe from The Cookie Rookie.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoy these Christmas appetizers. They are all so delicious and perfect for any holiday party. If you have any recipes that you would like to share, please let us know. We would love to hear from you.