Easy Holiday Appetizers

We’re not sure when she started it, but as far back as we can remember, Mimi has been hosting her Annual Women’s Christmas Party. We started attending long before we could afford a gift for her White Elephant Gift Exchange (Mimi always got a gift for each of us on our behalf), or had our own kitchens to make a small dish to bring, but we’ve always done our best to take part and still do. Aside from the abundance of laughs and sense of community the night provides, one thing we love is how everyone brings a dish to share. Mimi highly encourages easy holiday appetizers everyone can pick on throughout the night. It also gives everyone an opportunity to participate in bringing the night together. After years of participating in the fun, we have learned to stick with crowd-pleasing favorites and wanted to share our four favorite easy holiday appetizers you can serve up this season.

This post is sponsored by Old Time Pottery, but the content and opinions expressed here are our own.

These easy holiday appetizers are great for small or large get-togethers alike and are as simple as they get when it comes to preparation. So, if you’re attending a holiday party this season and need an idea for what dish to bring, look no further. Fellow party guests love these tasty eats and will be raving about your presentation.

Shannon’s Holiday Pigs in a Blanket

Ingredients:

• (2) 8 oz Cans Refrigerated Crescent Rolls
• (1) Package Lit’l Smokies Smoked Sausage
• Dijon Mustard (optional)
• Grape Tomatoes
• Rosemary

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Unroll cans of crescent rolls and separate into triangles.
3. Cut each triangle lengthwise into three narrow triangles.
4. (Optional) Add a dollop of Dijon mustard toward shortest side of each triangle.
5. Place smoked sausages on dollop of mustard on shortest side of each triangle and roll up towards the point.
6. Arrange crescent wrapped sausages in a Christmas tree or wreath shape on ungreased cookie sheet, point side down. Allow dough of crescent rolls to touch so they bake together.
7. Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown, rotating cookie sheet halfway through baking time.
8. Carefully remove crescent wrapped sausages from cookie sheet while still hot and transfer to decorative platter, trying to keep shape intact. If the shape breaks while transferring, it can easily be placed back together on the platter.
9. Slice tomatoes in half and arrange as ornaments (Christmas tree) or clusters of holly berries (wreath) amongst the crescent wrapped sausages.
10. Garnish with rosemary sporadically throughout Christmas tree or around small clusters of tomatoes on wreath.
11. Serve with small ramekins of dipping sauces – ketchup, mustard, chili sauce, horseradish sauce, etc. – and enjoy!

#HostfulHack: Buy frozen pigs in a blanket and arrange in desired shape on cookie sheet. Bake according to package directions, and then follow steps 9-11 above.

Jenna’s Christmas Cookie Charcuterie

Ingredients:

•  Assorted Christmas Cookies & Candies
• Rosemary

Directions:

1. Buy assorted Christmas cookies and candies consisting of different shapes, colors and textures.
2. Arrange on a decorative platter in overlapping, small clusters.
3. Garnish with rosemary.
4. Enjoy!

#HostfulHack: Look for tins of assorted holiday cookies, usually near the holiday candy aisle. One tin may be all you need!

Nana’s Pecan Stuffed, Bacon Wrapped Dates

Ingredients:

• 1 (8 oz) Box Pitted Dates
• 30 Pecan Halves (optional: walnuts)
• 10-12 Slices of Bacon
• Rosemary

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Stuff each date with a pecan half (or walnut).
3. Cut each slice of bacon into 3 pieces.
4. Wrap 1 piece of sliced bacon around each stuffed date and secure with a toothpick.
5. Bake until bacon is crisp, 12-15 minutes.
6. Drain.
7. Place on decorative dish or platter and add Rosemary as garnish.
8. Serve and enjoy!

#HostfulHack: Look for bacon wrapped dates in the freezer section for a pre-made option, and follow package directions.

Mimi’s Seafood Spread

We saved the best for last because Mimi (by far) has the easiest of easy holiday appetizers. As we were prepping for this post, we knew right away we wanted to share Mimi’s Seafood Spread, because she makes it almost every year for her Christmas party and everyone just loves it. With that, Shannon eagerly texted her for the recipe and within seconds, received the best response she’s ever received. Friends, we laughed so hard when she shared her secret with us. Publix! She buys her seafood spread from Publix and places it in a white dish along with assorted crackers and calls it a day. That’s it. No fancy recipe or secret ingredient. Just a store-bought dip that everyone loves, and she is happy to serve.

Ingredients:

• Publix Seafood Spread
• Cooked Shrimp, chopped (optional)
• Rosemary

Directions:

1. Scoop out Publix Seafood Spread from container into a serving bowl.
2. Chop cooked shrimp and mix into seafood spread.
3. Add rosemary garnish.
4. Serve with crackers.
5. Enjoy!

So, there you have it friends. Our four favorite easy holiday appetizers that guests enjoy. And they give you full permission to not prepare food and cook while you’re hosting a party or planning to attend one. It’s the perfect way to fully enjoy the season, spending less time in the kitchen and more time with loved ones.

Do you have any easy appetizer ideas? If so, we’d love for you to leave them below!

For more easy recipes, be sure to search the blog!