10 Foods and Drinks That Will Make Your Christmas Party Sparkle

Thanksgiving is over, do you know what that means? It’s the time! It is finally the holly jolly season. The time of year when joy is plentiful and the food is delicious, who doesn’t love a good Christmas party appetizer.

Christmas is also the time of year for parties! As an introvert, I have never been a fan of parties. They are overwhelming and exhausting. However there is one exception to this rule, and that is Christmas parties. 

*But before we start the post, I (Loren) wanted to welcome Jackie from Jackieem blog for coming and guest posting on Plaid and Sugar! You can read more about her, at the end of the post. But let’s go back to the appetizer post!

Getting to dress in ugly Christmas sweaters or flashy party dresses, jazzy Christmas music playing in the background, and most importantly, the food. 

There is nothing better than party foods. Walking up to that table, full of anything you can imagine. Sweet Christmas cookies and cheeses in all different shapes and sizes. It is magical. 

But there are always appetizers and dishes that get left behind. Foods that no one wants to eat, or that are too messy to eat. Those are the dishes that will stay in the fridge for weeks after the party, waiting to be eaten as leftovers. 

Nobody likes wasted food. So why not avoid that by serving appetizers that will truly make your Christmas party sparkle. Serve the festive appetizers everyone will be talking about. Not like it’s a contest or anything… (yes it is!)

All of the food and drink ideas on this list are completely non-alcoholic and vegetarian. And with simple substitutions, they can be made gluten-free as well! 

Now let’s get started with the list!

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Christmas Party Appetizer Ideas

1. Holiday Macarons

Christmas cookies are usually number one on idea lists for Christmas parties, and for good reason. They are cute, festive, and they are steeped in tradition. The only problem is, they aren’t all that exciting.

Everyone has Christmas cookies at their holiday parties, it’s a given. So, to really spice things up, bring out the holiday-themed macarons! These light, airy cookies are delicious, delicate, and delightful. Pipe an adorable snowflake or winter-themed design on top to really make the cookie pop on the food table. 

You can make these even more festive by creating holiday flavors. My mouth is watering thinking about eating some candy cane flavored macarons, or some cranberry and chocolate macarons. 

Macarons are really difficult to make, so I definitely won’t judge if you decide to just go to your local bakery and pick them up! I have ruined my fair share of macarons in my time baking holiday-themed foods. 

2. Hot Cocoa Cupcakes

Cupcakes are a good and safe party food year-round. They are easy to make and most people enjoy them. 

But, if you are looking for something a little more special and festive, try making some hot cocoa-flavored cupcakes. There are about one million recipes online, and each one is as good as the last. 

Hot cocoa cupcakes are like chocolate cupcakes but way better. The chocolate flavor is richer and the cuteness factor is increased exponentially. Top them with some marshmallow buttercream frosting, and dip them in chocolate and you have yourself the perfect Christmas party food! 

3. Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie boards are in! They have quickly become one of the most popular appetizers at parties and get-togethers. They are good for sharing, flexible, and attractive. What else can you ask for from an appetizer? 

But instead of serving some boring, basic charcuterie boards, why not add a little festive spice to the mix by shaping your charcuterie board into the shape of a Christmas tree? Or any other holiday design! Grab some rounds of brie in three different sizes to create a cheese snowman! 

4. Grinch Mocktail

As someone who doesn’t drink, I have always felt so left out during holiday parties, when everyone was drinking their Christmas-themed cocktails and all I had was water or maybe some soda. 

So, I am always an advocate for including some mocktail options in your Christmas party menu. There are so many fun drinks you can create with juices, sparkling water, and fruits. The possibilities are endless! 

One of my favorite holiday mocktails is the grinch mocktail. I make mine with one part pineapple juice, one part “Green Berry Rush” Hawaiian Punch, a squeeze of lime, and a splash of seltzer water. Top it with something red like a cranberry or a raspberry to add some color and you have the perfect Grinch-themed mocktail! 

And the beauty of mocktails? Everyone can enjoy them! No one is excluded.  Plus if you want grinch cookies you can check out these pistachio pudding cookies. Just add little red hearts.

5. Homemade Apple Cider

One thing that will never fail to make me think of Christmas is fresh, warm apple cider. And it is so easy to make. Throw some sliced apples, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, clove, nutmeg, and any other spices you want into a crockpot or stockpot along with some water or apple juice. 

The best part about apple cider is that it doubles as a home fragrance. A pot of apple cider kept on a low heat to keep warm will fill the entire room with the cozy warm scent of apples, cinnamon, and clove. 

6. Hot Cocoa Bar

Hot cocoa is a staple of the holidays. Enjoying a warm cup of luxurious chocolate is the pinnacle of Christmas. So, a hot cocoa bar at your next Christmas party is sure to be memorable. 

Lay everything you need out on a table and let your guests create their best and most delicious creations. Homemade hot cocoa simmering in a crockpot, mini marshmallows, candy canes, gingerbread sugar topping, caramel drizzle, cinnamon, and whatever else you can think of. 

Bonus: Add a Christmas-themed photo booth right next to the hot cocoa bar so your guests can take silly and holiday-themed photos with their chocolatey creations! 

7. Cream Cheese Coconut Snowball Cookies

With creamy cheese dough and a coconut coating, cream cheese snowball cookies are a fantastic addition to any holiday party. Once they are made, and cooled, pile them high on a serving plate to make it look like a pile of snowballs! 

This delicious cookie takes your classic Russian tea cake recipe and adds cream cheese to it for a more creamy taste and texture. Covering it in toasted coconut adds just the right amount of crunch to create a delicious snowball-themed cookie. 

8. Holiday Caprese Salad Bites

When coming up with holiday-inspired foods for your Christmas party, what better way than to draw from the colors of the season, red and green! A Caprese salad already has those colors, so it makes the perfect Christmas party appetizer! 

To make the classic Caprese salad more party-friendly, make it bite-size. Top a delicious cracker with a slice of tomato, a slice of mozzarella cheese, and a basil leaf to create the perfect bite-size holiday snack. Of course, you can’t forget the balsamic vinaigrette and olive oil drizzled over the top. These delicious snacks will be gone in no time. 

9. Melted Christmas Tree Dip with Christmas Tree Chips

Don’t worry, no Christmas trees were harmed in the making of this delicious appetizer. Who doesn’t love guacamole? It is a classic party snack, and it is always a fan favorite. And if you look at it long enough, it starts to look like a melted Christmas tree. 

Grab a tree-shaped serving bowl (many retailers carry these during the winter season), and fill it with your favorite guacamole recipe.  Top with cherry tomatoes to look like ornaments and a cheese star! 

If you want to get extra fancy, make your own tortilla chips in Christmas shapes. Using a Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter, or any other holiday shape, cut tortillas into adorable shapes. Then, simply bake them or fry them to make the perfect dipping tool for your melted Christmas tree dip! 

10. Candy Cane Fruit on a Stick

Most parties have fruit. That platter that sits at the back of the party that no one eats. But why not make that fruit fun by adding some Christmas magic to it? 

Simply grab your skewer stick and start alternating between red fruit, like strawberries and cherries, and light-colored fruit, like banana or peeled apples. Soon you will have a candy cane stick made of yummy fruit. You can even add some green, like kiwi or green grapes if you want! 

Feeling extra fancy? Drizzle some melted white chocolate over your fruit sticks for an added touch of flavor and festivity! 

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The best thing about creating festive and Christmas-themed party foods is you can be as creative as you want. Most of the common snack foods, like dips, fruits, and cheeses, can be prepared to look straight out of a Hallmark Christmas Movie with little extra effort. 

This was such a fun list to create, I am hungry just thinking about these delicious appetizers. You can’t tell me that eating foods in a fun, festive shapes don’t immediately make them taste better. Why do you think dinosaur chicken nuggets are so popular? 

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A little bit about me

Hello! My name is Jackie, and I am the writer behind the blog, Jackie Em. I started my lifestyle blog in the summer of 2020, and I have loved every minute in the blogging community.

My blog is dedicated to all the introverts and homebodies out there. It is a safe space where everyone can be themselves! I talk about anything that I find joy in, including house plants, food, TV, films, books, and more! 

My Links

Blog: www.jackieem.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jackieemblog

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jackieem.blog

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/jackieemblog

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It was great to have you here Jackie, and I hope to see you on the blog again!

What is your favorite go-to holiday appetizers?

Til next time