‘Tis the season for lots of parties! Whether it’s a neighborhood get-together, a church gathering, a class party, or a family celebration, there’s plenty of opportunities to prepare and bring food. And while sometimes all we have time for is a box of grocery store baked goods, when you do have the time there are some really cute appetizers and potluck dishes that would be such a fun addition to your spread of food and will definitely add some Christmas cheer!

• The picture at the beginning of the article shows some cute little cucumber Christmas trees that can easily be made with the help of some cocktail skewers! I’ve seen a variety of things used for the base, including cherry tomato halves, carrot slices, cucumber slices, chunks of cheese, etc. The star on top could be cut from cheese or carrots. I like how cute these are AND that they are a cute, fun way to get some veggies on the table!


• Pigs in a blanket- but make it a wreath! Most people like pigs in a blanket, and an easy way to present this classic dish is to arrange the rolls in a big round circle so that you’ve created a “wreath”. Use some cut up red bell pepper as garnish to create the “bow”. Simple but impactful!


• You can also create a wreath using little kabobs! Place an assortment of whatever you want- fruits, meats and cheeses, cherry tomatoes, olives- or a combination of these! And again, place them in a big circle. You can use rosemary or other fresh herbs as a bed for your wreath to add some greenery and make it feel more authentically like a wreath.


• Sticking with the wreath idea- how about roll-ups? I love turkey tortilla roll-ups, and again- just put it in a circle and garnish with a red pepper bow and you’re set! You could totally make a wreath out of just about anything!



• These banana Santas are so sweet! These would be particularly delightful at a children’s party. My littles would go crazy for these- I just might have to make these this year!


• A Christmas tree charcuterie board is super simple to put together! Just put your foods in layers, gradually getting smaller ‘til you reach the top! The star could be a piece of fruit or cheese cut in a star shape, and you could use this concept for any assortment of goodies you want to place on your board! Use cherry tomatoes or red grapes as a garnish for ornaments!


• How about a cheeseball snowman? Rather than serving it as one big ball, simply have a larger bottom with a slightly smaller ball on top. Use pretzels for twig arms (or asparagus!), olive pieces for eyes and buttons, a mini or shredded carrot for the nose, and peppers for the scarf!


• Bright red and green deviled eggs are an easy way to take something from basic to festive! Simply take your boiled eggs, peel them, cut them in half, and remove the yolks. Then place them in a little cup of food dye mixed with hot water and a little bit of vinegar (like when dying Easter Eggs). Let your eggs soak for a few minutes and then pull them out and pat dry with a napkin and you’ll have some brightly colored egg bases for your deviled eggs!

This beautiful tree is actually pretty easy to make! Take posterboard and make a large cone. Dip your strawberries in chocolate and place them on the board while the chocolate is wet. Work your way up to the top and finish the look with fresh mint and powdered sugar when the chocolate is completely dry. Simple and yet so beautiful!

Have fun at all your holiday parties!

    Camille Hoffmann
    Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
    Email the author! camille@dvo.com