15 Make-Ahead Holiday Appetizers (Stress-Free Hosting)

Holiday hosting is so much easier when the appetizers are done ahead. These 15 make-ahead appetizers can be prepped days early — just reheat, slice, or serve on party day.

Below you’ll find 15 reader-favorite recipes, each with a photo, ingredients, and step-by-step instructions. Save your favorites and enjoy!

1. Cranberry Goat Cheese Pinwheels

Flaky pinwheels with tangy cranberry and creamy goat cheese.

Ingredients

• 1 sheet puff pastry
• 1/2 cup cranberry sauce
• 4 oz goat cheese
• 1/4 cup pecans
• 1 egg, beaten

Instructions

1. Spread the cranberry sauce and goat cheese on the pastry.
2. Sprinkle with pecans and roll tightly.
3. Chill 1 hour, then slice.
4. Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes.
5. Serve warm or at room temperature.

2. Holiday Cheese Ball

Festive cheese ball rolled in pecans and cranberries.

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup green onions
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

1. Beat the cream cheese and cheddar.
2. Fold in cranberries and green onions.
3. Shape into a ball and wrap; chill overnight.
4. Roll in chopped pecans before serving.
5. Serve with crackers.

3. Sausage Wonton Cups

Crispy wonton cups filled with savory sausage and cheese.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 1 package wonton wrappers
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup ricotta
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Instructions

1. Press wonton wrappers into a mini muffin tin.
2. Bake at 375°F for 8 minutes.
3. Brown the sausage; mix with cheeses and seasoning.
4. Fill the cups.
5. Bake 10 more minutes.

4. Cranberry Glazed Wings

Sticky-sweet wings with a holiday cranberry glaze.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken wings
• 1/2 cup cranberry sauce
• 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Bake the wings at 425°F for 35 minutes.
2. Simmer the cranberry sauce, BBQ sauce, and soy sauce.
3. Toss the wings in the glaze.
4. Broil 3 minutes.
5. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

5. Fig Ricotta Crostini

Creamy ricotta crostini with fig jam and walnuts.

Ingredients

• 1 baguette, sliced
• 1 cup ricotta
• 1/2 cup fig jam
• 1/4 cup walnuts
• fresh thyme

Instructions

1. Toast the baguette slices.
2. Spread with ricotta.
3. Dollop with fig jam.
4. Top with walnuts and thyme.
5. Serve at room temperature.

6. Classic Shrimp Cocktail

Chilled shrimp with zesty cocktail sauce.

Ingredients

• 1 lb shrimp, peeled
• 1/2 cup cocktail sauce
• 1 lemon, cut in wedges
• fresh dill

Instructions

1. Boil the shrimp 3 minutes until pink.
2. Chill in ice water.
3. Arrange on a platter with cocktail sauce.
4. Add lemon wedges.
5. Garnish with dill.

7. Grape Jelly Meatballs

Sweet-savory slow cooker meatballs everyone devours.

Ingredients

• 1 package frozen meatballs
• 1 cup grape jelly
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire

Instructions

1. Combine the jelly, BBQ sauce, and Worcestershire in the slow cooker.
2. Add the meatballs and stir.
3. Cook on LOW 3 hours.
4. Serve with toothpicks.
5. Keep warm for the party.

8. Baked Brie in Puff Pastry

Gooey brie wrapped in golden puff pastry.

Ingredients

• 8 oz brie wheel
• 1 sheet puff pastry
• 1/4 cup cranberry sauce
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup pecans

Instructions

1. Wrap the brie and cranberry sauce in puff pastry.
2. Brush with beaten egg.
3. Chill 30 minutes.
4. Bake at 400°F for 25 minutes.
5. Top with pecans and serve.

9. Spinach Artichoke Dip

Creamy baked dip that's always the first to disappear.

Ingredients

• 1 can artichoke hearts
• 1 cup spinach
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 cup Parmesan
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients in a baking dish.
2. Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes.
3. Stir and bake 5 more minutes.
4. Serve with tortilla chips.
5. Can be assembled 2 days ahead.

10. Caprese Skewers

Fresh caprese bites drizzled with balsamic.

Ingredients

• 24 cherry tomatoes
• 12 oz fresh mozzarella pearls
• 24 basil leaves
• 1/4 cup balsamic glaze
• bamboo picks

Instructions

1. Thread tomato, basil, and mozzarella on picks.
2. Arrange on a platter.
3. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Chill until serving.

11. Bacon-Wrapped Dates

Sweet dates with goat cheese wrapped in crispy bacon.

Ingredients

• 1 lb bacon
• 24 dates, pitted
• 4 oz goat cheese
• 1/4 cup honey

Instructions

1. Stuff each date with goat cheese.
2. Wrap with half a bacon slice; secure with a pick.
3. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes.
4. Drizzle with honey.
5. Serve warm.

12. Holiday Hummus Platter

Festive hummus topped with pomegranate and pistachios.

Ingredients

• 2 cups hummus
• 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1/4 cup pistachios
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• pita chips

Instructions

1. Spread the hummus on a platter.
2. Top with pomegranate seeds and pistachios.
3. Drizzle with olive oil.
4. Serve with pita chips.
5. Assemble up to a day ahead.

13. Smoked Salmon Bagel Bites

Elegant salmon bites on mini bagels.

Ingredients

• 1 lb smoked salmon
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 package mini bagels
• 1 red onion, sliced
• capers and dill

Instructions

1. Split the mini bagels.
2. Spread with cream cheese.
3. Top with smoked salmon.
4. Add onion, capers, and dill.
5. Chill until serving.

14. Pesto Parmesan Twists

Flaky twisted breadsticks with pesto and Parmesan.

Ingredients

• 1 package puff pastry
• 1/2 cup pesto
• 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 1/2 cup Parmesan
• 1 egg, beaten

Instructions

1. Spread pesto on the pastry.
2. Top with tomatoes and Parmesan.
3. Fold, cut in strips, and twist.
4. Brush with egg.
5. Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes.

15. Spiced Holiday Nuts

Sweet-heat roasted nuts for nibbling.

Ingredients

• 2 cups mixed nuts
• 1 egg white
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cayenne

Instructions

1. Toss the nuts with egg white.
2. Coat with sugar, cinnamon, and cayenne.
3. Roast at 300°F for 25 minutes, stirring once.
4. Cool completely.
5. Store in an airtight container.

Love these 15 make-ahead holiday appetizers? Pin this roundup for later and explore more easy recipes at simplymealful.us.