Celebrate with 50 Holiday Party Recipes
Sparkling Cranberry Brie Bites [1]
This festive holiday appetizer couldn't be simpler. Find easy-to-slice logs of Brie at large supermarkets. The common brand President is available at Super Target.
Mediterranean Eight-Layered Dip [5]
The day before you serve this layered dip, prepare the tomato mixture, hummus and tapenade. Cover and refrigerate separately until you're ready to layer and serve the dip. To save time, use purchased hummus.
Wild Mushroom Hotdish [9]
Spoon these indulgently saucy mushrooms (inspired by classic Midwest casseroles) over baguette slices or crostini. The recipe comes from the Chowgirls Killer Catering [10] cookbook. To serve the dish skillet-style, start the recipe off in a 10-inch oven-going skillet.
Parmesan-Crusted Goat Cheese with Basil Oil [14]
This beautiful and unusual recipe makes one small cheese ball, but easily doubles or triples to make multiple for a party. The recipe comes from Indiana-based Annie Marshall of the blog Everyday Annie.
Jerry Thomas’ Champagne Punch [18]
At her bar Myrtle's Punch House in Cincinnati, Molly Wellman serves a mix of new and historical punches. Dating to the 1800s, this recipe is easy, breezy, pink and fruity—and still completely sophisticated.
Butternut Squash and Sausage Skewers [22]
This crowd-pleasing sweet-and-salty appetizer comes from the Chowgirls Killer Catering [10] cookbook. For ease or just a different flavor, you can skip roasting fresh Italian sausage and swap in a smoky precooked sausage.
Cucumber Bites with Herbed Cheese and Salmon Mousse [26]
The recipe makes half the bites with pink salmon mousse filling and half with white herbed cheese. If you like, streamline by choosing just one filling and doubling its ingredients. This recipe comes from Annie Marshall of the Indianapolis-based blog Everyday Annie.
Tangy Sour Cream and Onion Dip [30]
Onion dip is a classic for a reason—and this 100 percent homemade version is one of the best we've tasted. It's fab with potato chips, of course, but we also love it with crisp Romaine or Little Gem lettuce leaves for a lighter twist.
Roasted Fall Vegetables with Saffron Aioli [34]
Featuring whatever’s in season, this gorgeous platter is Chowgirls Killer Catering's most popular menu item, an unexpected and delicious alternative to raw veggie trays. The recipe comes from the Minneapolis company's cookbook, Chowgirls Killer Party Food [10].
Pear-Shape Sake Cheese Ball [38]
Cream cheese, Camembert and cheddar bring big cheese flavor to this appetizer with a hint of sake, the Japanese rice wine. Let the cheese and butter come to room temperature for easy mixing.
Turkey Pesto Sliders [42]
These six-ingredient party sandwiches are simple and delicious. The recipe comes from Annie Marshall of the Indianapolis-based blog Everyday Annie.
Turkey Pesto Sliders [43]
Iron Range Pasties [46]
These mini meat- and vegetable-filled turnovers are equally good warm from the oven or at room temperature. The recipe comes from the Chowgirls Killer Catering [10] cookbook.
Iron Range Pasties [47]
Sausage-and-Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms [50]
Unlike most stuffed mushroom recipes, these savory sausage-filled gems don't contain cheese, so they're a great choice for people avoiding dairy. The recipe comes from Annie Marshall of the Indianapolis-based blog Everyday Annie.
Creamy Crab Rangoon Dip with Wonton Chips [54]
The chips are easy and definitely add to the dip's appeal, but rice crackers, sugar snap peas, celery sticks and baby bok choy leaves all make good Asian-inspired dippers.
Wasabi Almonds and Popcorn [58]
If you'd like to cut additional fat from this zesty snack mix, use five sprays of butter-flavor nonstick spray instead of butter. Be sure to add the spray right before eating to prevent the popcorn from getting soggy.
Ham Sliders [62]
This crowd-pleasing party recipe comes from the Midwest Living® Culinary and Craft School at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. They are sweet, salty and highly addictive! Plus, you can assemble the sandwiches a day early for easy party prep.
Ham Sliders [63]
Eggnog Créme Brulee [66]
This nutmeg-spiced spin on the French classic is luscious and so festive and Christmassy. The recipe comes from Chowgirls Killer Catering in Minneapolis.
Eggnog Créme Brulee [67]
Chilled Borscht [70]
Russian beet soup doesn’t sound sexy, but this silky, lemon-herby version from Minneapolis' Chowgirls Killer Catering is shockingly good. (You can serve it any season, but the red hue is especially festive for Christmas!)
Chilled Borscht [71]
Caramel-Hazelnut Café Mocha [74]
Melted Nutella. Need we say more? Our updated version of hot chocolate is made in a slow cooker, just for kicks, and after cooking, can be kept on the warm setting for one hour.
Fiesta Dip [78]
For an appetizer in minutes, Wendy Porterfield of the Washington House Inn in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, bakes her cheesy dip for 10 minutes, stirs, then spoons it into pre-baked phyllo shells. Then, she bakes the shells 5 to 10 minutes more. "The phyllo cup version makes a great appetizer for a more formal party, where the dip version is great for a crowd," she says.
Fiesta Dip [79]
Baby Citrus Cheesecakes [82]
These cupcake-size treats are a fantastically simple alternative to a full-size cheesecake. You could also garnish them with fresh raspberries or blueberries.
Mexican Seven-Layer Dip [86]
Combine pantry-ready ingredients such as canned bean dip and taco sauce for this easy dip. Serve with tortilla chips.
French Onion Sliders [90]
These totally indulgent sliders pack all the flavor of French onion soup into a tidy little sandwich. The recipe comes from Annie Marshall of the Indianapolis-based blog Everyday Annie.
French Onion Sliders [91]
Ricotta and Parmesan Spread [94]
Fresh herbs season this ridiculously simple spread from BelGioioso Cheese in Wisconsin. It keeps well in the fridge and is delicious with cherry tomatoes or other vegetable dippers, as well as crackers or baguette slices.
Nutella Cherry Hazelnut Fudge [98]
Chocolate-hazelnut spread (Nutella) gives this fudge a smooth texture and luscious nutty flavor. The recipe comes from Annie Marshall of the Indianapolis-based blog Everyday Annie.
Cheese Straws [102]
Paprika-spiced sharp-cheddar crackers look like a bundle of kindling gathered on an appetizer board or standing in a jar. Smoked paprika is becoming more popular but can still be a little hard to find. Look for it at specialty or spice stores or online.
Cheese Straws [103]
Cranberry-Sauced Meatballs Appetizer [106]
Shape and bake the chicken meatballs ahead of time, then pop them in your slow cooker with cranberry and barbecue sauces.
Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip [110]
Blend chopped fresh spinach with cream cheese, sour cream, canned artichoke hearts and three kinds of cheeses for this hot-and-hearty dip. Serve with toasted pita chips, thinly sliced French bread or crackers.
Mulled Cranberry Punch [114]
This blend of cranberry juice, juice concentrate, spices, orange juice and water simmers in your slow cooker.
Mulled Cranberry Punch [115]
Eggnog Cheesecake Bars [118]
A spiced graham cracker crust and bourbon-infused egg nog filling give these simple bars a delicious holiday twist. The recipe comes from Annie Marshall of the Indianapolis-based blog Everyday Annie.
Eggnog Cheesecake Bars [119]
Raspberry Truffles [122]
These five-ingredient truffles come together in a snap. Blending jam into the chocolate makes for a subtle fruit flavor perfectly balancing the rich, smooth chocolate. The recipe comes from Annie Marshall of the Indianapolis-based blog Everyday Annie.
Raspberry Truffles [123]
Bacon-Stuffed Mushrooms [126]
This five-ingredient recipe comes from the bacon pros at Nueske’s meats in Wisconsin.
Bacon-Stuffed Mushrooms [127]
Cheesy Tomato Snack Mix [130]
We packed this snack mix with extra protein and nutrients by adding soy nuts. You can find plain or flavored roasted soy nuts at large supermarkets or health-food stores.
Cheesy Tomato Snack Mix [131]
Darling Clementine Mocktail [134]
No offense to the classic mimosa, but not everyone wants to booze with their brunch. Enter the Darling Clementine, a tart, fizzy, deliciously pink, nonalcoholic alternative to classic morning cocktails.
Smoked Whitefish Spread [138]
Horseradish adds zing, celery adds crunch and pickles add tang to this addictive cream cheese spread. We prefer to serve it with unsalted crackers or flatbread. Look for smoked whitefish at specialty groceries, or substitute another hot-smoked fish (such as salmon).
Smoked Whitefish Spread [139]
Roasted Vegetable Hummus Dip [142]
Roasting the eggplant, zucchini, sweet pepper, onion and garlic intensifies the flavors of this dip. Try with toasted pita wedges.
Cranberry Margarita [146]
Stir up a pitcher of these rosy margaritas for your next holiday bash. The Simple Syrup recipe makes enough syrup for 30 margaritas but is easily halved or quartered.
Cranberry Margarita [147]
Bacon-Cheddar Cheese Balls [150]
Freshly shredded cheese works better than packaged shredded cheese in a cheese ball. Prepare the cheese mixture the night before so flavors have a chance to blend. Shape and roll in the crumbled bacon or pistachio nuts a few hours before serving.
Thyme-Roasted Grapes [154]
Somewhere on the road from fresh fruit to chutney, you’ll find these rubylike beauties, slicked in olive oil and oven-warmed to concentrate their sweetness. They’re a perfect match for cheese or cured meats.
Thyme-Roasted Grapes [155]
Appetizing array [158]
For a successful cheese board, mix a hard cheese such as Gruyère, a soft one like Camembert and a blue such as Gorgonzola. Add crackers or bread, fruit such as grapes and apple slices, and preserves.
Thai Chicken Wings with Peanut Sauce [161]
Don’t let the short ingredient list fool you: these chicken wings have huge flavor. That’s because they’re slow-cooked in a zingy garlic-and-ginger peanut sauce, with a pop of lime for good measure.
Feta Custard in Phyllo Cups [165]
A creamy blend of feta cheese, cream cheese, lemon juice, and spices fills store-bought or homemade pastry cups.
Spicy Mustard Stir-Fry Bites for a Crowd [169]
Start this appetizer by stir-frying packaged strips of chicken, pork or beef, then let the strips slow cook in a mix of spicy mustard and fajita seasoning. Fill warmed tortillas, slice and serve!
Bacon and Cheese-Stuffed Dates [173]
A rich blend of cream cheese, blue cheese, bacon and green onion fills bite-size date halves. Stuffed dates can be prepared up to a day ahead of time and baked just before serving.
Rosemary-Grapefruit Gin Cocktail [177]
Pretty in pink, yes, but this sweet drink has bite, too, thanks to grapefruit’s subtle bitterness and the woodsy notes of gin and rosemary. This recipe makes enough rosemary-infused syrup for several cocktails.
Devilishly Good Deviled Eggs [181]
A hint of curry and some chutney elevate these deviled eggs to spectacular. Spoon the filling into a sandwich-size clear plastic bag and snip a corner for easy piping.
Heavenly Morel Tarts [185]
Sykora Bakery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, gave us this morel-mushroom appetizer recipe. These appetizer pastries taste best served fresh from the oven.
Heavenly Morel Tarts [186]
Kale Caesar Salad with Lemon-Rosemary Chicken [189]
This spin on a classic Caesar salad trades kale and almonds for lettuce and croutons. The recipe comes from the Chowgirls Killer Party Food [10] cookbook.
Poinsettia Mimosa [193]
This bubbly refresher is our version of a popular yuletide sipper at Marshall Field's Oak Grill in Minneapolis.
Poinsettia Mimosa [194]