Your Guests Will Love These Holiday Party Appetizers

Made sweet or savoury, palmiers are an easy hor d’oeuvre that is always impressive. Frozen puff pastry is your best friend come holiday season and is a no-brainer when it comes to easy appetizers.

Deli meat is transformed into a delectable appetizer in this four ingredient recipe that’s so easy, the kids can make it. In fact, when guests arrive early, have them help you assemble this last-minute appetizer that looks so pretty when arranged on a party platter.

This retro appetizer gets a fresh twist when you shape them into bite-sized portions. Roll these paprika-spiced cheese balls in crushed nuts, fresh herbs, seeds or go all out and cover them in bacon bits. Prep the day before your small gathering for simple setup and serving. For more options, try one of these fantastic make-ahead holiday appetizers.

If you can’t wait for the main event, bring your favourite pie to the party with these seasonal appetizers. All your favourite flavours and spices are here for a delectable meat-pie filling, only fried to perfection for a crunchy, savoury bite that’s worthy of celebrating.

Leave it to the Barefoot Contessa to make a cheese ball into an upscale appetizer. This coeur à la crème from Ina Garten is full of dill, chives and scallions and would be delicious as a complement to a smoked salmon platter.

Zippy lemon-infused pesto can be made a day ahead, so you can assemble your hor d’oeuvres with ease just before guests arrive. Crusty toasted baguette pairs perfectly with herb-filled pesto and thin slices of salty pancetta.

You can’t go wrong with the unbeatable combo of pepperoni and cheese. Store-bought pizza dough is rolled with shredded mozzarella, garlic, parsley, Parmesan and of course, pepperoni, for flavour-filled bites. On their own, they’re an appetizing treat, but paired with a quick, homemade marinara sauce and you’ve got a winning appetizer everyone will enjoy.

If the holidays aren’t the time for indulgence, when is? Chicken liver, brandy, truffle butter and duck fat are just some of the luscious ingredients you’ll need for this delicious make-ahead appetizer. Make a double batch for Christmas Eve snacking and save the second for New Year’s Eve.

Trust us, the combination may not be your typical crostini topping, but when roasted with fragrant thyme, shallots and sherry vinegar, the result is mouthwatering. Spoon onto toasted baguette and do like Giada and top with fresh shaved Parmesan.

Not looking for a full-meal meat pie commitment? These cute mini meat pies are a small taste of Acadian tradition found throughout the Maritimes, especially New Brunswick. Summer savoury and ground ginger pack these tiny pies with a powerhouse punch of flavour.

These meatballs get a nutritional boost with the addition of quinoa. The tart and tangy cranberry sauce served on top makes the entire dish sparkle.

Instead of the usual cranberry brie in puff pastry, enclose the stars of the show in a flaky, spiced empanada dough. Sweetened with a touch of honey, these tart, creamy and impossibly flaky empanadas will become a new-classic holiday staple.

Using this recipe for Puff Pastry Dough, choose between three delicious flavours including sesame cheese, pesto and tapenage — or you can just make all of them!

Bacon, cheese, potatoes – what more do you need for a winner appetizer? How about a touch of beer added into sharp cheddar cheese sauce? Yes, please!

The secret behind this salty, sweet snack mix? Parmesan cheese! The salty, umami-filled ingredient gives a boost of satisfying flavour to the combination of spicy wasabi peas, peanuts, pretzels and ramen noodles. Check your pantry, you probably have most of these ingredients already!

These tasty little bites start out as an easy turkey meatloaf, which is then chilled, cut up into cubes and skewered with grape, celery and apple.

These bite-sized beauties stuffed with sweet Italian sausage and soft mascarpone cheese are sure to impress.

Cheese, bacon and sour cream-covered potato bites will impress your guests and tide them over until the main event.

This shrimp cocktail appetizer is a classic. Serve the succulent shrimp alongside lemon wedges and ramekins of remoulade, cocktail sauce and avocado crema.

Ever have the hankering to make macaroni and cheese a portable, handheld snack? If so, these mac and cheese balls will be your summer grab and go. Try a homemade ketchup chip seasoning to round out the flavours.

Serve the sweet and sticky sauce on the side so kids can dunk their broccoli and beef skewers to their heart’s content. Make these gluten-free by opting for tamari instead of soy sauce.

Stock up on puff pastry this holiday season as there’s infinite ways it can be turned into last-minute appetizers like these double cheese-filled twists. Crispy, light and still full of flavour, watch out, these snacks are sure to disappear fast.

Get out of here, chicken nuggets! These crispy little eggplant bites are your new favourite appetizer that’s ready to be dipped in thick marinara sauce.

Whether served as an appetizer or as a main, spanakopita is always a good choice. Anna gives these savoury pastries a special twist — finely grated lemon zest is incorporated into the spinach-feta filling.