By Ariana Losch |
If your family is anything like mine, you know a festive, delicious, downright showstopping spread of the best Christmas appetizers can be just as important as the actual meal itself. Dinner is gone in 15 minutes; Christmas appetizers feed the crowd for hours. And it’s important to keep the crowd fed, before someone gets too bored and starts talking about their new favorite podcast (that’s a slippery slope). Keep the snacks flowing, and you’ll keep the peace (and the holiday cheer) alive.
Oh, and don’t worry: We also know that the best Christmas appetizers are easy Christmas appetizers. They don’t take a lot of time to prepare and they distract your guests so you can keep working on the main course. Here are some of the best appetizers for Christmas at the grocery store—no recipes needed.
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- Stonewall Kitchen Fig & Ginger Jam
Grab your favorite fancy crackers, peppered salami, one or two (or three) festive cheese logs, and this elegant fig and ginger jam by Stonewall Kitchen, because we’re assembling a charcuterie board in 15 minutes or less. And we’re doing it with Michael Bublé singing about chestnuts in the background.
Read our full ranking of the best charcuterie jams
- Président Soft-Ripened Brie Wheel
It’s Christmas. A mere wedge of brie simply won’t do. Go big, or send everybody home. Simply take this giant Président Brie Wheel out of the fridge, lay a cluster of grapes on the side, and voila. Talk about easy Christmas appetizers! That said, if you do have some spare time, bake this with some cranberry marmalade, nuts, and a drizzle of honey until oozing. Just an idea!! Not a requirement!
Read our full ranking of the best brie
- Marketside Spinach & Artichoke Dip
I’m sorry to say this, but you can’t have a spread of the best Christmas appetizers without a dip so good, it gives your family and friends yet another existential crisis to ponder this holiday season. This spinach and artichoke dip from Walmart (yes, Walmart!) features whole chunks of artichokes, an extra creamy texture from the cream cheese, three different cheeses (mozzarella, parmesan, and asiago), and a rustic, earthy flavor that makes it taste homemade. And hey, we won’t tell if you don’t. Also, in case spinach and artichoke dip isn’t the right choice for your Christmas party appetizers, don’t worry: We’ve got dips for days. Check them out!
Read our full ranking of the best spinach dip
- Trader Joe’s Cheesy Herby Biscuits
I’m not telling you to skip dinner rolls in favor of these new biscuits from TJ’s. Dinner rolls are necessary—for the main course. Consider these pre-dinner dinner rolls. They have a buttermilk twang, a soft, flaky biscuit texture, pockets of melted cheese, and the perfect amount of herbs in the seasoning. The whole Sporked team stopped working to munch on these out of the oven, and since the best Christmas appetizers should bring people together and give them something to talk about, we know they’d make a great addition to your spread!
Read our ranking of the best store bought biscuits
- Cuisine Adventures Puff Pastry Bites
No holiday party is complete without at least one kind of mini puff pastry on the snack table. Costco helps you satisfy that mandate by giving you four different flavors… in a huge variety pack. They come with Roasted Red Pepper & Cheddar, Spinach & Parmesan, Caramelized Onion & Ricotta, and Artichoke, Monterey Jack & Jalapeno. With a puff to please every person, it’s like these were made with the best easy Christmas appetizers and holiday party spreads in mind.
Read our ranking of the best frozen mini appetizers
- Vermont Creamery Goat Cheese
Vermont Creamery makes the GOAT of all goat cheese, and goat cheese is the GOAT of all holiday cheeses. This stuff is so versatile, fragrant, and flavorful. You can set it out with sliced green apple and crostini, whip up some goat cheese bruschetta, and even save what’s leftover for a showstopping dinner salad.
Read our full ranking of the best goat cheese
- IKEA Heart Waffles
How can waffles be one of the best Christmas appetizers, you ask? It’s simple: IKEA waffles lean into a savory flavor, pair beautifully with cream cheese and smoked salmon, take three minutes to bake from frozen, and even come in very cute, very festive heart shapes. They’re a unique savory option, but who says the best appetizer for Christmas can’t be sweet? Top with a dollop of whipped cream, strawberries with melted chocolate, a smear of strawberry jam, and you can’t go wrong.
- Kirkland Signature Shrimp Cocktail
A shrimp cocktail for Christmas appetizers might sound a little strange to some. Maybe it’s the Florida in me, but this is a staple in my house for all holiday gatherings—and it’s a complete and total crowd pleaser. People go nuts for a halfway decent shrimp cocktail—and this shrimp cocktail from Kirkland is the very best we tried. You get over a pound of plump, fresh shrimp (never frozen or thawed), a side of cocktail sauce, and a few slices of lemon in case you forget to buy some. You have to arrange it in a circle yourself, but hey, that’s why Michael Bublé is still on in the background.
Read our full ranking of the best shrimp cocktail
- Lindt Holiday Snickerdoodle White Chocolate Truffles
It’s easy to forget about the sweets, but the best Christmas party appetizers should keep some holiday chocolates and Christmas candy on display. (Peppermint bark can be more than a stocking stuffer!) Lindt’s Snickerdoodle White Chocolate Truffles have a smooth, buttery texture, rich white chocolate flavor, and cozy cinnamon-sugar vibes of a classic snickerdoodle cookie. These truffles melt in your mouth like Christmas magic and make a great addition to a sweet holiday snack platter.
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About the Author
Ariana Losch
Ariana Losch is a Sporked contributor, webcomic writer, java junkie, and bad TV enthusiast. She only ever feels at peace laying out on a beach like a kebab, roasting in the sun; sadly, she can never move back to Florida, her home state, because there simply isn’t enough good Mediterranean food. You can find her overstaying her welcome at just about every LA coffee shop, working on a screenplay and avoiding all eye contact. (She is embarrassed to be there, please leave her alone.)
