When it comes to Christmas, there’s always a long checklist to tick off. Put up your holiday decorations, prepare perfect gifts for your nearest and dearest, schedule a family photo shoot, and sure enough, plan a crowd-pleasing menu if you’re throwing a Christmas party at your place. Whether you’re hosting a large feast or just a small get-together, tasty finger food and delicious appetizers are what really get your guests into the festive spirit until you’re ready to serve the main dish. With our list, you will make menu planning much easier and hassle-free. Explore these simple yet mouthwatering food ideas to feed (and please) a crowd and be ready to kick off your celebration meal with a creative flair.
Antipasto is a traditional Italian snack (the word “antipasto” literally means “before meals”). It may be hot or cold and it may contain cold cuts, seafood, cheeses, and vegetables.
Light and crispy golden fried calamari, also known as calamari fritti, is a classic Italian antipasto, which is extremely straightforward to cook and a true delight for any foodie. Popular worldwide in any cuisine, calamari is a small squid rich in protein, selenium, vitamin B12, and even cancer-preventive antioxidants. Traditionally, fresh rings of squid are lightly battered and pan-fried in vegetable oil, then served hot with lemon wedges or creamy chipotle sauce (a Mexican cream-based sauce with mildly spicy chipotle peppers). Not only does it take about 15 minutes to create this flavorful snack, it needs even less to gobble it all up.
Try your hand at making homemade calamari fritti or order a restaurant version – either way your guests’ stomachs will be happily content. At Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House in Vancouver, Canada, fried calamari are served in newspaper for that extra old-timey feel, as a nod to the British tradition.
It's delicious and satisfying meat cutlets, where the main secret of their preparation is well-ground minced meat. The shape, size, products used and the method of heat treatment can be different. For example, they are prepared from different types of meat, all sorts of vegetables, cereals, with herbs, spices, etc. Some housewives cook them deep-fried, others fry in a pan, some stew, and some bake in the oven, on the grill or in coals.
Another scrummy appetizer that disappears quickly from any party table. Sweet and tangy, cocktail meatballs are originally simmered with two simple but crucial ingredients – grape jelly and chili sauce. If you’ve never tasted this classic recipe before, which was quite popular back in the 1960s and 1970s in the USA, the combination of ingredients and flavors might seem unusual, but believe us, the final result is truly delicious.
The whole cooking process usually takes about 20 minutes and calls for seasoned ground beef or turkey. In fact, you can opt for frozen meatballs, but once you feel the difference, you’ll never come back to this idea. Well, to make homemade meatballs, combine ground beef with onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, and eggs. Season the mixture with salt and pepper, roll 1-inch balls, and bake in the hot oven. For the sauce, mix together spicy chili and grape jelly, stir over medium-low heat until the preserve melts. Toss the meatballs with the sauce and serve with toothpicks for easy nibbling.
In case you’re short of time, decide on Filomena food delivery, whose ready-to-heat meatballs are always in high demand.
Prawns are delicious, whether stir fried, tossed through pasta, cooked in spicy curry, or placed in salads. Prawns can be served on their own, as a side dish, an appetizer or a snack.
Perfect for a busy night, this quick-to-cook flavorful seafood dish can be on your festive table in just 15 minutes. All you need is to marinate shrimps in garlic, lemon juice, and herb dressing, thread them onto bamboo sticks or metal skewers, and sear to crunchy perfection. The appetizer can be either pan fried or broiled in the oven, but the taste gets especially explosive and vibrant, when shrimp kabobs are made on the grill. Super-speedy finger food, ideal both for a formal entree or fancy cocktail party.
If you’re one of those who crave haute cuisine this Christmas, do try palatable red shrimps for a starter at La Terrazza in Rome. The restaurant is a proud holder of a MICHELIN Star, which is elegantly reflected in the art-inspired presentation of the dish.
It is a popular seafood meal with a buttery savory flavor. Crabs may be boiled, grilled, deep-fried, stewed, or steamed. There is a wide range of dishes with crabs.
A perfect little mouthful, deviled eggs are loaded with tender chunks of crab meat and generously seasoned with paprika and parsley. Cooking these delicious snacks takes no more than 15 minutes, while, at any get-together, they're definitely gone in no time. Traditionally, hard boiled eggs are cut in halves and stuffed with a yolk mixture. The latter ingredient commonly includes mashed egg yolks mixed with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard (a classic French condiment), and moderately spicy cayenne pepper. Although the filling can be varied according to your preferences, smooth crab meat is essential for a savory flavor and silky texture. So, if you’re hosting a Christmas party, make sure to store the prepared appetizer in the fridge for no more than 24 hours.
In case you’re planning a festive dinner out, the El Nacional restaurant in Barcelona is an excellent venue to try delectable eggs stuffed with red king crab.
Lobsters are ten-legged marine crustaceans with long bodies with muscular tails. Since its white, firm meat is sweet and succulent, lobster is considered a delicacy all over the globe.
Derived from the famous New Orleans crayfish bread, this quality seafood including sweet lobster meat and cheesy cream sauce turns a toast into something exquisite and cocktail party-worthy. With the mellow combination of flavors, the original Louisiana recipe features French bread stuffed or layered with crayfish tails, topped with delicious melted cheese, then baked until crunchy and irresistible. This finger food on our list is ready to be served as a slice of toast with crayfish stirred in mayonnaise, lemon, and Creole mustard (a spicy whole grain mustard mostly popular in New Orleans). Depending on your guests’ palate, the appetizer can be customized with various versatile ingredients like avocado and drained tomatoes.
If you’re celebrating this Christmas in Scandinavia yet fancy authentic dishes of other cuisines, we recommend you stay at the Grand Hotel in the heart of Oslo, famous for its great surroundings and innovative restaurants.
Sandwiches usually consist of vegetables, cheese, eggs or meat put between thin slices of white bread. Sandwiches can be consumed at lunch and dinner, eaten on the go, or served with soup or salad.
There’s no doubt that sandwiches are the best culinary creation of all time. As a universal staple, this kind of food is supremely convenient and scrumptious, making up a huge portion of the world’s daily meals. A canvas for all sorts of flavors between a couple of slices of bread, there’s an endless array of fillings both to satisfy any lunchtime cravings or enjoy as an appetizer at a Christmas party. Living in the golden age of vegetarian options, take your pick from a number of meatless recipes like a juicy California veggie sandwich with lettuce and fresh goat cheese, or an open Mediterranean sarnie with salty halloumi (a traditional Cypriot cheese) and tangy capers. If most of your guests are meat eaters, go for crunchy Caesar sandwiches with grilled mustardy chicken or a traditional Christmas version with ham and cheese.
Just like in the UK, sandwiches are local favorites in Ireland. So, at the Temple Bar Pub in Dublin, you will find this versatile meal in any form.
Scallops are often referred to as gourmet seafood. While having very tender meat, they are considered to be rather sweet in taste. Scallops can be eaten raw or cooked.
This signature dish of Venetian cuisine features one of the best known, appreciated, and loved types of shellfish, especially popular along the North Adriatic coast. Served as a striking appetizer or as a refined second course, scallops are straightforwardly simple and quick to cook, which makes them one of the must-have options of any Christmas menu. Scattered with toasted breadcrumbs and served with lemon in their shells, this seafood feels extremely luxurious and festive. Just wash scallops under cold running water, snip off the corals (the red part), cook the seasoned white part with garlic and parsley on high heat for about 5 minutes, then spoon the scallops in their shells, and serve with lemon wedges and toasted breadcrumbs. The fantastic canape is ready to awe your guests.
For a more exquisite gastronomic experience, do visit the elegant dining venue in London, Clos Maggiore, that serves delectable French and Mediterranean cuisines and offers a stunning scene for your Christmas feast.
Among top must-try cocktails for Christmas, there are almost all kinds of beverages and drinks, including punch, eggnog, martini, sangria, and many more for any taste and preference. Perfect for calorie-conscious and teetotal lifestyle, ginger lemonade is a refreshing and tangy drink pairing traditionally served at any Christmas get-together. Made with under five ingredients in 15 minutes, the lemonade has a delicious and unique flavor, primarily thanks to the culinary match made in heaven – ginger and lemon. To prepare this tangy drink, you will need to combine ginger with sugar and water, then bring the mixture to a boil over a medium-high heat. Once the sugar dissolves, add some freshly-squeezed lemon juice to the ginger syrup and top it off with some more water. Serve the lemonade over ice with lemon slices.
In Greece, especially during warm and dry summers, ginger lemonade is an excellent cooling companion and ultimate thirst quencher. At the Noel holiday bar in Athens, you’ll be impressed both with its wonderful festive atmosphere and extensive cocktail and beverage list.
They are meringue-based cookie sandwiches. Macarons are made with almond flour and food colouring and filled with jam or buttercream. There are two ways how to cook meringue - French and Italian methods.
Any holiday feast isn't complete without a scrumptious dessert. Gourmet Christmas macarons beautifully decorated with trendy ornaments and catchy colors are the most impressive holiday cookies to serve this Christmas. These famous French delights come in all shapes and sizes, with a yummy choice of fillings, be it the classic chocolate and peppermint or unusual lavender flavor. Among the main ingredients for this meringue-based cookie sandwich are egg whites, almond flour, and sugar. Fillings are mainly made from double cream and unsalted butter. For the meringue top, combine the icing sugar with ground almonds, then add some egg whites to the mixture. In a separate bowl, whisk the other half of the egg whites with granulated sugar and coloring (optional), then gradually add the almond mixture. Using a piping bag, transfer the macaron batter onto parchment paper and bake for about 15 minutes. Once well-risen and not sticky, set aside the meringue and let it cool completely. Then add a dollop of buttercream to your liking to one macaron shell and top it with another one to form a sweet sandwich. Bon appétit!
To taste this authentic French dessert, visit the wonderful confectionery house in Paris, Angelina, which was founded in 1903 and nowadays boasts a huge collection of gourmet desserts and exquisite macarons represented in a rainbow of colours and riot of flavours.
These rolls are always associated with home and family evenings. Cinnamon rolls are soft and lush, they are sold in any store and can be ordered at any restaurant.
A celebratory treat for the whole family, cinnamon rolls are another great make-ahead recipe to pamper your sweet tooth this festive season. Absolutely delicious, soft and fluffy, topped with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting, cinnamon rolls are surprisingly easy to cook and perfect for any yeast beginner. For the roll dough, whisk together 5 cups of all-purpose flour, sugar, yeast, salt, one large egg, and melted unsalted butter. Once the mass has puffed up a little, pat it into a rough rectangle shape, roll it into 10×15 inch thin, and generously sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Form it into a log and cut into even pieces. Bake the rolls for 25-30 minutes until they are light golden brown and top with cream cheese icing.
Originally developed in Finland, such cinnamon rolls can be found in any coffee shop of the country. So, if you’re planning to celebrate this Christmas in Helsinki, drop in Cafe Regatta to enjoy fantastic Korvapuustit (Finnish cinnamon rolls).
It's the middle of December, Christmas is only one week away, and it’s high time you created a full-on festive menu for your ideal party. In case you're out of ideas and don't know how to gastronomically surprise your loved ones, you’re welcome to use the ideas from our list and explore our recipe section for more culinary inventions.
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