60 Christmas Snacks Even the Busiest Hosts Can Pull Off

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, no cook, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy

Ah, cheese boards: They're classy, endlessly riffable and don't require a moment of cooking. Most importantly, it's one app all your guests can get behind.

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

The secret ingredients (aka dried dill and vinegar powder) in this cheesy, crunchy masterpiece make it pleasantly briny and dangerously irresistible.

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

Thanks to rice flour and curry powder in the batter, the okra fries turn out impeccably crisp and flavorful, despite being baked. Finish them with mayonnaise and fresh cilantro.

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

Sweet and salty is a no-brainer. Sweet and spicy is plain revelatory. Go wild with the cayenne pepper if you like it extra hot.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, no cook

You only *think* cheese balls are tacky. A few modern toppings, like pomegranate arils and fresh dill, are here to prove you wrong.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, beginner-friendly

Beets, parsnips and radishes have never looked this appetizing. Chalk it up to a melange of fresh herbs.

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

The earthy, charred broccolini is just a bonus. Serve the meatballs over rice, in broth or solo with toothpicks.

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

A classy appetizer in 15 minutes flat? Sounds like a job for store-bought pie crust.

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

You truly can't go wrong with a skillet of bubbly, melted cheese. Serve with sliced bread, green apples and raw veggies for dipping.

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

Sweet, salty, herbaceous and addictively crunchy. Just FYI, this snack will last about 30 seconds at the kids' table.

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

Prepare for your creation to be featured on every one of your friends’ Insta stories.

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

Your guests can choose from Dijon, roasted garlic, crispy capers and spicy sriracha (or better yet, sample all four...).

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

Honestly, we’d eat coconut shrimp on any day of the year. But it’s Christmas, so we’re having seconds. And thirds.

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

No-bake cookies shave precious time off the whole holiday bake sale dilemma. Phew, Katie Workman to the rescue.

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

A knock at the door? Toss together Maria Lichty’s candied walnuts in ten minutes. “Oh, so good of you to drop by. Would you like a snack?”

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy

Beer bread takes on new meaning with this chocolate Guinness stout cake that’s decadent enough for the holidays (and easy on the host, too).

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

Everyone will love Gena Hamshaw’s ingenious side (made with tofu and nutritional yeast), and the cheese lovers at the table will never know the difference.

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

If you’re tired of bar nuts, these crunchy baked chickpeas are packed with spices and ready in less than an hour.

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

Anything is possible with store-bought pastry dough. Now, go enjoy your holiday party with these soup-inspired bites.

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

Hearty 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.

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

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 secretly appreciate the fresh fruit.

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

These little guys are like savory muffins spiked with beer. In other words, they're our newest holiday tradition.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly

Between the store-bought crescent dough and garlicky cheater's dip, this take on a timeless hors d'oeuvre couldn't be any simpler.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, beginner-friendly

How to clean out the fridge: Throw your leftover veggies, cheese and meat into a frittata for a quick and easy appetizer. Thank us later.

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

Stash this recipe where you can easily access it. It will quickly become your holiday go-to, whether you decorate your cookies with frosting, sugar or every sprinkle your kids can get their hands on.

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

There’s no deep-frying involved in these stovetop chicken bites, which are doused in buffalo sauce. Just add blue cheese.

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

Guacamole’s allure extends far beyond taco Tuesday. Gaby Dalkin tops the avocado dip with pomegranate seeds for a festive touch.

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

Way, way faster than baking a batch of cookies. The dip calls on cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar for decadence and sweetness.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, one pot

Five ingredients, a few minutes of prep and a gorgeous final product? We’re making this treat for everyone on our list.

Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, gluten free, Paleo-friendly

Gluten-free, dairy-free and Paleo—Ali Maffucci’s egg muffins work for plenty of your guests’ dietary restrictions.

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

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.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy

Maria Lichty’s eggnog quick bread can be served for breakfast through dessert, making it one of the most versatile holiday snacks for a busy hostess.

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

Big party? Don’t sweat it. Aida Mollenkamp’s roasted squash and pumpkin seed pesto dip serves up to 12 guests.

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

Cookies or brownies? We vote both. Bonus points: These Oreo-stuffed goodies are ready in less than an hour.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead, vegetarian

If it were up to us, we’d eat mac and cheese for every meal. Get one step closer by making your favorite dinner a finger food.

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

You probably remember a neighbor always gifting you Christmas bark—it’s a tried-and-true holiday recipe. Give it a festive twist by adding sprinkles and white chocolate chips.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, make ahead

Liz Harris’s savory and sweet snack mix—including popcorn, cranberries and smoked almonds—can be made two days in advance.

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

Jess Larson’s buckeye balls get a nut-free update with tahini. That means they’re likely safe for everyone at the school holiday party.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead

Let your refrigerator do the work when you whip up Heidi Larsen’s homemade fudge. The secret? It’s all in the evaporated milk.

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

The best pairing for a winter cocktail: a handful of mixed nuts. Make your own in just 15 minutes flat.

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

A healthy Christmas snack that includes seasonal ingredients like persimmon and pomegranate, all atop a trusty breakfast favorite.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy

Our favorite recipes are those that look fancier and more complicated than they really are.

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

Powdery soup mix? Surely you jest. You can make French onion dip from scratch in just 30 minutes. Phoebe Lapine will show you how.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, no cook, crowd-pleaser

An elegant bite that doesn't require a second of cooking? That's just what the doctor ordered.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan,

Just slow-roast to crunchy, umami-laced perfection, then season with flaky salt and fresh parsley.

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

Stick them with toothpicks for easy grabbing, and serve with plenty of napkins—that zingy, sticky glaze gets messy.

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

Olives and pickled peppers offer briny brightness to decadent cheese and savory dough bites.

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

We'd be lying if we said we weren't tempted to dive in face-first. Spread it on crackers or dunk with crostini.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian

Your favorite winter veggie is all zhuzhed up for the big day. Fair warning: You'll want to slather the Dijon-lemon dip on everything.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly

Swapping traditional bread for roasted sweet potato slices makes these beauties look so sophisticated. Choose from smoked salmon or cranberry-almond.

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

They're like super crunchy, lightly sweet cream puffs, but instead of cream filling, they're rolled in coconut and pearl sugar.

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

Wondering how this 15-minute gem is even possible? Store-bought naan is the key to speedy prep.

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

It has store-bought marinara beat by a mile. Make sure you have lots of bread for generous scooping.

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

Served alongside a pile of pretzels, this dip is a one-way ticket to sweet-and-salty bliss.

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

Raw sliced veggies are a lot more fitting in the summertime. Roasting them is a better approach in the colder months.

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

Pair this pretty-in-pink starter with cucumbers for a play on the Christmas color scheme.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser

Crispy, light as air and fancy enough to serve to Santa himself. (They're way easy on the eyes to boot.)

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy

So flaky, so savory. These puff pastry bites are the perfect addition to any holiday table.

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

These taste like straight-up nostalgia. Now when a Hostess snack cake craving strikes, you'll know what to do.

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

They may look gourmet, but they're actually a breeze to make. Simply pipe the filling into the chocolate and swirl, then let the oohs and ahhs roll in.