So, you’ve figured out exactly how you’re going to cook the ham this year and have an epic list of sugar cookie recipes to tackle for dessert. But what’s everyone going to eat while they’re chatting in the living room, opening presents or waiting for dinner to be served? Problem solved: We found 60 savory and sweet Christmas snacks that take hardly any time or effort to prepare. Consider them a holiday miracle.
60 Christmas Snacks Even the Busiest Hosts Can Pull Off
1. Charcuterie Board with Black Pepper–Honey Brie, Figs and Rosemary
- 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.
2. Dill Pickle Snack Mix
- 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.
3. Crunchy Okra Fries
- 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.
4. ‘Swicy’ Caramel Corn
- 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.
5. Classy Cheese Balls
- 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.
7. Baked Chicken and Ricotta Meatballs
- 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.
8. Cranberry-Brie Pie Crust Bites
- 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.
9. Easy Skillet Mushroom and Gouda Fondue
- 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.
10. Cheesy Bacon Holiday Crack
- 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.
11. Holiday Cheese Board
- 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.
12. Deviled Eggs 3 Ways
- 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...).
13. Baked Coconut Shrimp
- 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.
14. The Best No-Bake Haystack Cookies
- 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.
15. Easy Candied Walnuts
- 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?”
17. Simple Vegan Creamed Spinach
- 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.
18. Crispy Baked Chickpeas
- 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.
19. French Onion Cups
- 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.
20. Lamb Chops with Crispy Shallots and Pomegranate Sauce
- 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.
21. Easy Yogurt Fruit Dip
- 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.
22. Fluffy Beer Biscuits
- 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.
23. Everything Bagel Pigs in a Blanket with Cheater’s Aioli
- 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.
24. Ham Sweet Potato Frittata
- 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.
25. Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
- 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.
26. Buffalo Chicken Bites with Blue Cheese Dressing
- 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.
27. Christmas Guacamole
- 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.
28. Christmas Cookie Dough Dip
- 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.
29. Cranberry Orange White Chocolate Fudge
- 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.
30. Turkey and Kale Butternut Squash Egg Muffins
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.
31. Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
- 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.
32. Eggnog Bread
- 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.
33. Roasted Squash and Pepita Pesto Dip
- 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.
34. Oreo-Stuffed Brownies
- 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.
35. Mac and Cheese Cups
- 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.
36. Loaded Christmas Tree Bark
- 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.
37. Salty, Sweet and Smoky Popcorn Snack Mix
- 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.
38. Tahini Buckeyes
- 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.
39. Mom’s Easy Fudge Recipe
- 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.
40. Roasted Mixed Nuts
- 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.
41. Avocado Toast with Persimmon, Pomegranate and Fennel
- 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.
42. Mushroom Bruschetta with Triple-Creme Brie, Sage and Truffle Oil
- 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.
43. Healthy French Onion Dip with Leeks and Shallots
- 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.
44. Goat Cheese-Stuffed Figs with Pancetta
- 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.
45. Crispy Mushrooms
- 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.
46. Spicy Glazed Meatballs
- 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.
47. Holiday Baked Brie
- 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.
48. Honey Ricotta Dip
- 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.
49. Crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprout Bites
- 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.
50. Sweet Potato Crostini
- 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.
51. Coconut Choux Bites
- 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.
52. Pear, Brie and Rosemary Flatbreads
- 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.
53. Easy Baked Goat Cheese Marinara Dip
- 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.
54. Peanut Butter Dip
- 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.
55. Roasted Winter Vegetable Platter with Miso Aioli and Romesco Sauce
- 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.
56. Beet Hummus
- 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.
57. Strawberry, Cardamom and Pistachio Pavlova Bites
- 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.)
58. Caramelized Onion, Spinach and Cheddar Pastries
- 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.
59. Mini Chocolate Snowball Cakes
- 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.
60. Swirled Tahini Cups
- 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.
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.