65 Christmas Snacks That Even the Busiest Hosts Can Pull Off

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, no cook, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4 to 6

Ah, cheese boards: They're classy, endlessly riffable and don't require a moment of cooking. Most importantly, they feed a crowd with photogenic flair. "If you can’t find fresh figs, try dried or use another seasonal fruit," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen advises. "I chose sour cherry preserves, but apricot or fig would be just as lovely."

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, make ahead
• Serves: 12

This savory snack mix is designed to be irresistible. Melted butter helps the seasoning cling to the pretzels, Chex and Cheez-Its. But the key to that mouth-puckering flavor lies with vinegar. "While a tablespoon of the regular distilled stuff will do the trick, you can also go all out and buy vinegar powder online," Gillen explains. "It's not strictly necessary, but it certainly adds a punch."

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Sweet and salty is a no-brainer. But sweet and spicy? That's plain revelatory. "It has just enough heat and a stick-to-your-teeth coating to keep you coming back for another handful, and another, and another," Gillen warns. Go wild with the cayenne pepper if you'd like the popcorn extra hot.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8 to 10

Between the store-bought Crescent dough and garlicky cheater's aioli, this take on a timeless hors d'oeuvre couldn't be simpler. "They're just as easy to make as the original, but with a special pretzel treatment that gives them a gorgeously golden brown crust, and a sprinkle of everything seasoning," Gillen raves. I guarantee they'll be a home run at the kids' table.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, no cook
• Serves: 10 to 12

You only *think* cheese balls are tacky. A few modern toppings, like pomegranate arils and fresh dill, are here to prove you wrong. Take your pick of everything bagel-goat cheese, lemon-dill cheddar and pomegranate-blue cheese varieties (or go with all three for maximum brownie points).

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

Nothing against spuds, but you can fancy up the classic for the holidays. Beets, parsnips and radishes have never looked this appetizing, either. Chalk it up to a melange of fresh herbs, flaky salt and a few cracks of fresh black pepper.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 4

The meatballs are filling, moist (thanks to ricotta cheese) and crowd-pleasing. The earthy, charred broccolini is just a bonus. Serve them over rice, in broth or solo with toothpicks. No matter what route you take, be sure to use every drop of the charred lemon juice.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 14

A classy holiday appetizer in 15 minutes flat? Sounds like a job for store-bought pie crust. I won't tell if you double down on the shortcuts with store-bought cranberry sauce either, but our go-to red wine cranberry sauce recipe only calls for five ingredients.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pan, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

You truly can't go wrong with a skillet of bubbly, melted cheese. Serve the cheater's fondue with sliced bread, green apples and raw veggies for dipping (or steak, if you're feeling fancy). This one is supremely savory and umami-packed.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8

Sweet, salty, herbaceous and addictively crunchy, this appetizer will become a staple at your holiday shindig at first bite. Just FYI, this Christmas snack will last about 30 seconds at the kids' table (or any table, really—you're never too old for potato chips, right?).

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

Cheese boards are not only stunning, but they often don't require a moment of cooking, so they're an easy win for hostesses who want their job to be as low-lift as possible. Simply assemble this masterpiece and see your wintry creation featured on every one of your friends' Insta stories.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12 halves

This old-school starter just got the facelift it deserves. Your guests can choose from classic Dijon, roasted garlic, crispy capers and spicy sriracha varieties (though I'd encourage them to sample all of 'em). Might I suggest making it ahead, since they can chill in the fridge before the guests arrive?

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, kid-friendly, gluten free
• Serves: 6

Honestly, I'd eat coconut shrimp on any day of the year. But it’s Christmas, so I'm having seconds...and thirds. Don't skimp on the swicy dipping sauce (it's nothing but honey and chili paste), and feel free to have cocktail sauce for the purists at the function.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 24

No-bake cookies shave precious time off the whole holiday bake sale dilemma, and they keep your oven empty for other projects. Even better, these dressed-up chow mein noodles only require four additional ingredients to transform. Phew, Katie Workman to the rescue.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

A surprise knock at the door? Toss together Maria Lichty’s candied walnuts in ten minutes and hit your unexpected guest with a casual, “Oh, so good of you to drop by. Would you like a snack?” These also make a stellar host gift, if I do say so myself.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6 to 8

Beer bread takes on new meaning with this chocolate Guinness stout cake that's decadent and elegant enough to serve for the holidays (and it's easy on the host, too). Bonus? You'll only need nine ingredients to make it.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan, dairy free
• Serves: 4

Everyone will love Gena Hamshaw’s ingenious appetizer (made with tofu and nutritional yeast instead of dairy). I promise the cheese lovers at the table will never know the difference. Serve it with toasted pita, pretzel chips or crudités.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, sheet pan recipe
• Serves: 4

If you’re tired of bar nuts, these crunchy baked chickpeas are packed with spices and ready to devour in less than an hour. Folks with nut allergies at the party will be able to chow down. Choose from curry powder, shawarma spices or straight-up chili powder.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Anything is possible with store-bought pastry dough, including this comfort food-inspired Christmas snack. Now, go enjoy your holiday party with these winter soup-inspired bites that somehow make your favorite cold-weather dish even cozier.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 2

Hearty Christmas snacks are great for balancing out all the holiday sweets—and let’s be real, the alcohol. Plus, these chops only take 25 minutes to prepare, despite looking like they took you all night. Your secret is safe with me, friend.

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook
• Serves: 12

Heidi Larsen, you’re a genius. This three-ingredient dip takes minutes to make, and guests who have been to three holiday parties in one week will surely appreciate the fresh fruit. You can even make it ahead to check one task off your to-do list early.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, make ahead
• Serves: 12

These little guys are like savory muffins spiked with beer. In other words, they're my newest holiday tradition. They're prime for dragging through any gravy left on your plate, but I wouldn't mind a couple of them before dinner.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 4

Thanks to rice flour and curry powder in the batter, these okra fries turn out impeccably crisp and flavorful, despite being baked instead of fried. Serve them with garlicky mayonnaise for dipping and a flourish of fresh cilantro.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

My favorite way to clean out the fridge? Throw all your leftover veggies, cheese and meat into teeny-tiny frittatas for a quick and easy appetizer (or Christmas morning breakfast). This recipe can accommodate just about any edible loose ends that you have on hand. Thank me later.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 24 cookies

Stash this recipe where you can easily access it. It will quickly become your holiday go-to, whether you decorate the cookies with frosting, Nutella or every sprinkle your kids can get their hands on. (Yeah, on second thought, let them take care of it.)

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, one pot, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 10

There’s no deep-frying involved in making these stovetop chicken bites, which are doused in tangy Buffalo sauce. Just add blue cheese (OK, or ranch dressing) and a side of celery or carrots for dipping.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, no cook, <30 minutes, make ahead
• Serves: 4

Guacamole’s allure extends far beyond taco Tuesday—so much so that I saved a spot for it on this year's holiday menu. Gaby Dalkin tops the avocado dip with pomegranate seeds for a festive, on-theme finishing touch.

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, beginner-friendly, make ahead, kid-friendly
• Serves: 8

Way, way faster than baking a batch of cookies, yet just as satisfying. The dip calls on cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar for tang, decadence and sweetness. Serve it with fresh fruit, graham crackers, pretzels and store-bought cookies.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 20 minutes (includes chilling time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, one pot
• Serves: 8 to 10

Five ingredients, a few minutes of prep and a gorgeous final product? I'm making this five-ingredient fudge for everyone on my list. It would look great wrapped in cellophane with seasonal bows, in case you need a last-minute party gift.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, gluten free, Paleo-friendly
• Serves: 12

Fuel up to open presents—it'll be a few hours before dinner's on the table anyway. Gluten free, dairy free and Paleo, Ali Maffucci’s egg muffins accommodate plenty of your guests’ dietary restrictions. Substitute ground chicken, beef or tofu if that's what you have on hand.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, no bake, beginner-friendly, gluten free
• Serves: 24 cookies

If you’re feeling stressed about hosting this year, you'll want this sweet on your side. You likely already have all the ingredients you need to make them. (There are only eight, after all.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8 to 12

Lichty’s eggnog quick bread can be served for breakfast, as an appetizer or dessert, making it one of the most versatile Christmas snacks for a busy hostess in my book. Wash it down with mulled cider, a gingerbread latte or spiked eggnog.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: vegan, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 16

Big party coming? Don’t sweat it. Aida Mollenkamp’s roasted winter squash and pumpkin seed pesto dip serves more than a dozen guests in one fell swoop. Roast the butternut ahead to save time before the party.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 9

Cookies or brownies? I vote both. Bonus points: These Oreo-stuffed goodies are ready to devour in less than an hour. I'm betting St. Nick wouldn't mind getting a couple of these in place of the usual sugar cookies either.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead, vegetarian
• Serves: 48 bites

If it were up to me, I'd eat mac and cheese for every meal. Get one step closer by making your favorite dinner a finger food. Baking the bites in a muffin tin ensures a crispy exterior and tender interior. "I’m a fan of using chili powder instead of cayenne for more of a smoky note,” PureWow VP of editorial Candace Davison adds.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 2 pounds

You probably remember a neighbor always gifting you Christmas bark. It’s a tried-and-true holiday recipe for a reason. Give it a festive twist by adding sprinkles, crushed Oreos or candy canes and white chocolate chips to the mix.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, make ahead
• Serves: 8 to 12

Liz Harris’s savory and sweet snack mix—including popcorn, cranberries and smoked almonds—can be made up to two days in advance. It's a great addition to a fancy cheese board, if I do say so myself.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients, gluten free
• Serves: 24 pieces

Does it get more classic than this Christmas snack? I think not. Jess Larson’s buckeye balls get a nut-free update that everyone can enjoy, courtesy of tahini. That means they’re more likely to be safe for everyone at your kid's classroom holiday party.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes (includes chilling time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 32 pieces

Let your refrigerator do the work when you whip up Larsen’s homemade fudge. Besides it being damn delicious, it's also a great Christmas snack idea because you can prepare it up to a week ahead if you store it in the fridge until serving.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegan, <30 minutes
• Serves: 6 cups

The best pairing for a winter cocktail: a handful of mixed nuts. Make your own in just 15 minutes flat with pantry spices and a trio of fresh herbs (oregano! thyme! rosemary!). Use any mix you'd like, but I'm partial to almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews and pistachios.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, no cook, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 1

A healthy Christmas snack that includes seasonal ingredients like persimmon and pomegranate, all atop a trusty breakfast favorite. Cut the souped-up toast into bite-size triangles, and boom: It's an appetizer. (It's a breeze to multiply, too.)

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 16 to 20

My favorite recipes are those that look fancier and more complicated than they really are, and Brie is the best in the game. Case in point: These truffley, buttery bites, starring everyone's favorite funky cheese.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 2 cups

Powdery soup mix? Surely you jest. (JK, I *love* that stuff, too.) Did you know you can make French onion dip from scratch in just 30 minutes? Recipe creator Phoebe Lapine will show you how, and it's a total game-changer.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 36 pieces

An elegant bite that requires minimal cooking? That's just what the doctor ordered on Christmas morning. Take your pick of pancetta or bacon for the topping—just ensure it's cooked until shatteringly crisp.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4 to 6

Mushroom haters: This Christmas snack recipe will convert you. Slow-roasted to crunchy, umami-laced perfection and seasoned with flaky salt and fresh parsley, they're pretty darn irresistible, not to mention unexpected.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

Stick them with toothpicks so your guests can easily help themselves. It'll definitely keep them full until the holiday ham hits the table. Oh, and be sure to serve them with plenty of napkins—that zingy, sticky glaze gets delightfully messy.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
• Serves: 15

Yup, I'm hanging this masterpiece on the front door instead this year. Olives and pickled peppers offer briny brightness to decadent cheese and savory dough bites. (Don't stress, it's made with store-bought pizza dough for minimal fuss.)

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, one bowl
• Serves: 8

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted to dive face-first into this seven-ingredient prize. But fine, I'll spread it on crackers (or dunk into it with crostini) if I must. Finish it with hot honey or crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy edge.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
• Serves: 8 to 10

Your favorite winter veggie is all zhuzhed up for the big day, and it just might outshine the turkey before your guests even taste it. Fair warning: You'll want to slather the Dijon-lemon dip on everything, so make a double batch.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 30 crostini

Swapping traditional bread for roasted sweet potato slices makes these paper-thin goodies look so sophisticated (and it makes them gluten free to boot). Take your pick of smoked salmon or cranberry-almond toppings.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 50 pieces

They're like super crunchy, lightly sweetened cream puffs, but instead of cream filling, they're rolled in coconut and pearl sugar. The recipe will leave you with 50 cookies in 45 minutes. Need I say more?

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
• Serves: 8

Wondering how this 15-minute gem is even possible? Store-bought naan is the key to speedy prep. The rest is all low-lift assembly, and it tastes like holiday magic.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
• Serves: 8

The beyond-simple homemade sauce has store-bought marinara beat by a mile. Make sure you serve the dip with plenty of bread (perhaps garlic bread for some extra razzle-dazzle?) to encourage generous scooping.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, no bake, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8

Served alongside a pile of pretzels, this dip is a one-way ticket to sweet-and-salty bliss. Think tangy cream cheese, silky peanut butter and fluffy whipped topping. It'd pair well with graham crackers, pancakes and toast points, too.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, dairy free, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

Raw sliced veggies are a lot more fitting in the summertime. Roasted veggies, on the other hand, are a more mouthwatering approach in the colder months—and this photo-worthy platter is proof.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, vegan, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

Pair this pretty-in-pink Christmas snack with cucumbers or kale chips for a vibrant play on the red-and-green color scheme. It's a cinch to prepare ahead for painless hosting, and it's certainly eye-catching.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 25 minutes (includes cooling time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 16 pieces

Crispy, light as air and fancy enough to serve to Santa himself, these nine-ingredient meringues are worth the elbow grease. Of course, they're also stunning, but you already knew that.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6 to 9

So flaky, so savory...sorry, am I drooling? These puff pastry bites are a much-welcome addition to any Christmas snack spread, trust. Pair them with your favorite holiday movie for a cozy, festive evening everyone will remember.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 8 cakes

These snow-inspired confections taste like straight-up nostalgia and make for a coconut-y blizzard of happiness. Now when a Hostess snack cake craving strikes, you'll know exactly what to do.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 18

These candies may look gourmet, but they're actually a breeze to prepare—even for newbies or first-time hosts. Simply pipe the filling into the chocolate and swirl, then let the oohs and ahhs roll in.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours (includes rising time)
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8

Your guests might not believe this work of art is homemade, but once they taste it, that'll change. The best part? Each and every inch of the delicacy is filled with creamy, dreamy Nutella.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, gluten free
• Serves: 20 pieces

Fancy-looking, reminiscent of summer and beyond easy—where do I sign? Those deviled egg purists won't know what hit their taste buds when they taste this. (Don't worry, canned corn is a fine substitute for fresh in the off-season.)

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, kid-friendly
• Serves: 12

Salads don't have to be boring...in fact, some come in a drool-worthy fried wonton package. Even picky kids might get down with this crispy, decadent twist on a classic Caesar, trust.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 25 dumplings

Warning: This clever recipe will become a Christmas brunch staple forever and always, since your family members will be asking for it every year. Dunk the dumplings in ketchup, sriracha mayo or sweet chili sauce.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: make-ahead, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6 to 8

They may not be typical Christmas fare, but they're a reliable vegetarian option for those don't eat meat or dairy. Serve them with hummus, spicy mayo or tzatziki.