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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    Holiday Appetizer Roundup

    Published: Nov 18, 2022 · Modified: Aug 30, 2023 by Cinde LittleThis post may contain affiliate linksLeave a Comment

    This Holiday Appetizer Roundup is a collection of my favourite appetizers I serve during the holiday season. Some are simply everyday recipes with a festive presentation.

    Contents show
    1 Presentation Ideas for Platters
    2 Food Presentation Ideas for Dips
    3 Appetizers in Shot Glasses
    4 Little Bites
    5 Spanish Tapas: Holiday Appetizers
    6 Tips To Organize Recipes
    7 Holiday Appetizers with Pizzazz
    8 More Recipe Roundups

    Like so many things we do once a year, the challenge is keeping recipes organized so you can find them and remember to make them. Starting a blog certainly helped me with that but I've also got a few tips for you at the end of this post.

    Year after year I add new and old favourites (in every category) and keep growing my collection. If there’s one thing I know for sure I’ll never run out of recipes!

    Presentation Ideas for Platters

    My best tip for serving appetizers is to choose less dishes and focus on a beautiful presentation of the ones you make. That's what I mean when I say "Go Big or Go Home."

    Look through the back of your cupboards for large or unusual platters, pedestal trays and giant martini glasses. Dust them off and create a WOW presentation.

    Smoked Salmon Pate
    I can't count how many times I've shared the recipe for my 4-ingredient Smoked Salmon Pate. Always standing right over top of it on a buffet table.
    Check out this recipe
    A platter of smoked salmon pate with belgain endive leaves poked into the pate in and around it.
    Vegetable and Dip Christmas Tree
    The best Christmas version of vegetables and dip! The tray is spread with dip so it holds the veggies in place and people get some with every bite.
    Check out this recipe
    Vegetable and Dip Christmas tree, a simple Holiday Appetizer

    Stuffing Balls and Sushi Pizza are two more favourites that take a little effort but are worth it every time. Set on the right tray the food can be beautiful itself so doesn't need much of a garnish.

    Cornbread Sausage Stuffing Balls
    These Stuffing Balls can be a novel appetizer or just a fun way to serve more stuffing as part of a turkey dinner. Either way I like them with gravy and cranberry sauce. Who needs turkey with stuffing like this!
    Check out this recipe
    A plate piled with Cornbread Sausage Stuffing Balls
    Healthy Smoked Salmon Sushi Pizza
    This healthy Smoked Salmon Sushi Pizza is an un-fried version of the popular Canadian invention, sushi pizza. Also perfect if you don’t want to hand-rolled sushi. It comes together fairly quickly but cutting the pieces is key to a nice presentation. A sharp knife is key!
    Check out this recipe
    A black tray of smoked salmon sushi pizza cut in squares and sprinkled with snipped chives and sesame seeds.

    Food Presentation Ideas for Dips

    Everyone has a short list of favourite dips but for the holidays you want to dress them up. For an almost instant appetizer layer three store bought dips in a giant martini glass. Some of my favourites are Roasted Red Pepper dip, Spinach Artichoke, Olive Tapenade and of course guacamole.

    They all look fabulous but for the holidays this guacamole is my absolute favourite!

    Pomegranate Pear Guacamole
    Serve this Pomegranate Pear Guacamole in an oversized martini glass, sprinkled with brilliant red pomegranate seeds for any holiday party.
    Check out this recipe
    An oversized martini glass filled with Pomegranate Pear Guacamole topped with sparkling red pomegranate seeds.

    For a smaller crowd fill martini glasses with individual portions of dip, a perfect way to avoid the risk of cross contact. At the last minute put a cracker or nacho on top for an inviting presentation.

    A more rustic presentation use half-cup Mason jars! They're perfect for warm dips and can be microwaved or even warmed in the oven.

    Warm Cranberry Dip
    This warm dip is a simple, seasonal favourite that is greater than the sum of its’ parts. The toasted almonds and green onions are not to be omitted.
    Check out this recipe
    A cracker being dipped into warm Cranberry Dip surrounded by sliced raw veggies.
    Black Bean Dip
    This Black Bean Dip is quick and easy to make, has lots of fibre and is a healthy choice for everyone. It's fun to serve in an orange pepper for Halloween!
    Check out this recipe
    Black Bean Dip served with vegetables
    Grilled Shrimp Martini
    This Grilled Shrimp Martini is a once-a-year recipe in my house. It takes time to grill everything yet I love creating a special occasion to enjoy it.
    Check out this recipe
    Grilled Shrimp Martinis served on a dock.

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    Appetizers in Shot Glasses

    Gluten free eaters always appreciate individual servings so shot glass appetizers are perfect! Any soup can be served in a shot glass turning a regular recipe into an impressive appetizer for a crowd.

    People might bypass a veggie tray but serve veggies and dip in shot glasses and watch everyone dig in.

    Shooters of Butternut Squash Soup with Poblano Chiles make an impressive and fun holiday appetizer.
    Butternut Squash Soup, don't forget the garnish!
    Vegetable Shooters with dip become a holiday appetizer with red and green vegetables
    Vegetable Shooters

    Little Bites

    Even the most simple foods like fried potatoes and mini pancakes can make it to the list of impressive Holiday Appetizers. Make a small version of your favourite fried cakes like latkes, potato cakes, blinis or vegetable fritters and present them with love for a holiday worthy appetizer.

    Three Potato Latkes topped with sour cream and a few snipped chives.
    Potato Latkes
    Turn simple Bubble and Squeak Patties topped with sour cream and chives into a Holiday Appetizer
    Bubble and Squeak Patties
    Mini buckwheat Blinis with smoked salmon, sour cream and dill are nice as a Holiday Appetizer.
    Mini Buckwheat Blinis

    Spanish Tapas: Holiday Appetizers

    Little morsels on a toothpick are perfect for stand up entertaining and that's what many tapas are. These little dishes from Spain can be as simples as olives and pickles or cheese cut with quince jam or paste. Find it with the cheese in the deli section with other jam and chutney in a small tub or jar.

    Warm tapas are winners too and these bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with chorizo sausage can be made well in advance.

    Spanish Banderillas are tapas, the little dishes of Spain, and they're perfect as appetizers.
    Spanish Banderillas
    Manchego Cheese with Quince Paste, a simple no-recipe
    Manchego Cheese with Quince Paste
    Chorizo Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates
    Chorizo Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates

    Tapas range from simple to complex, hot or cold and the array is endless. The more you learn the more you realize you need a vacation to Spain to really know tapas. Here's how I serve these two favourites for the holidays.

    The frittata can be cut into small squares with a toothpick in each square. I serve this on a pedestal tray to make it stand out on a buffet table.

    This simple Rice Salad is one of those recipes that is greater than the sum of it's parts. Serve it in individual spoons for a small group or decorate it red and green for a buffet. The homemade mayo is what makes it!

    Lastly is a meatball recipe I make all fall and winter. Put little toothpicks in them and watch them disappear.

    Potato Chorizo Frittata can be cut in small pieces and served as a holiday appetizer.
    Cut Potato Chorizo Frittata into small squares and serve on a pedestal tray.
    Holiday Tuna Rice Salad
    Holiday Tuna Rice Salad can be served as individual portions on a spoon.
    Meatballs in Almond Sauce served as an appetizer with toothpicks
    Meatballs in Almond Sauce

    Tips To Organize Recipes

    The holidays sneak up on us, right? If that sounds familiar then take one small step to organize some of your favourites. Whether it's a note on your phone, an envelope in a drawer or a list on a board (shout out to all of you who do that on Pinterest) get a short list and keep it.

    For me, an avid collector of recipes, it's always a mix of dressing up some of the recipes I make throughout the year plus making those once-a-year holiday favourites. I've saved them in different ways but these are the two systems that still work for me.

    • I have an envelope filled with recipe cards, the kind we used to exchange with handwritten recipes from friends.
    • My most significant effort is a three-ring binder I put together one year with the majority of my favourite recipes for Thanksgiving and Christmas. There are recipe cards, cut out magazine recipes taped to pages and typed recipes too. It isn't pretty but it's all there.

    I hope I've inspired you to try some new recipes. Remember to save your absolute favourites!

    Holiday Appetizers with Pizzazz

    Don't feel left out thinking everyone else has all the fancy serving dishes. You too can purchase whatever you like and use it for special occasions. That's what makes them special!

    • Shot glasses (liqueur glasses)
    • Giant martini glass

    Follow me on social media to see my Pomegranate Pear Guacamole and more! I can't wait to see what appetizers you're making.

    Originally posted December 2017, updated November 2022.

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