Celebrate with Our Holiday Party Recipes (2024)

Smoked Whitefish Spread

Horsefeather

At the now-closed The Rieger in Kansas City, bartenders prepare this dead-simple, gingery co*cktail with J. Rieger & Co. KC Whiskey—but any rye or blended whiskey will work!

Parmesan Gougères

Gougères, or hollow, cheesy puffs, are a traditional French snack taste eaten warm from the oven. They're best when fresh, though they can be made ahead and reheated for entertaining ease. Serve them as an appetizer with predinner co*cktails.

Smoked Gouda Artichoke Spread

This easy cheese spread from Shelly Westerhausen Worcel, author of Platters and Boards, is highly addictive thanks to the slight tang and brightness from marinated artichoke hearts and smokiness from the smoked gouda. You can make the spread a few days ahead and store in the fridge until ready to serve.

Bread-and-Butter Carrots

These sweet and slightly spicy pickled carrots created by Shelly Westerhausen Worcel, author of Platters and Boards, should be made at least 24 hours ahead of time so they have time for their flavors to develop. Although they will stay good in the fridge for over a week, they may lose some crunch after a couple of days.

Mediterranean Eight-Layered Dip

The day before you serve this layered dip, prepare the tomato mixture, hummus and tapenade. Cover and refrigerate separately until you're ready to layer and serve the dip. To save time, use purchased hummus.

Butternut-Tahini Dip

This creamy dip is packed with healthy ingredients, so it's great for keeping in the fridge for weekday snacks—but it's also tasty enough to serve at a party.

Jerry Thomas' Champagne Punch

Dating to the 1800s, this recipe is easy, breezy, pink and fruity—and still completely sophisticated. It comes from Cincinnati mixologist Molly Wellman.

Butternut Squash and Sausage Skewers

This crowd-pleasing sweet-and-salty appetizer comes from the Chowgirls Killer Catering cookbook. For ease or just a different flavor, you can skip roasting fresh Italian sausage and swap in a smoky precooked sausage.

Phyllo Cheese Straws

These easy-to-make cheese straws use just four ingredients: feta cheese, fresh parsley, frozen phyllo dough and butter.

Roasted Shrimp co*cktail with Bloody Mary co*cktail Sauce and Lemon-Chive Mayo

Skip the supermarket tray. Our shrimp co*cktail update is the ultimate make-ahead party app. Roasting brings out the shrimp's natural sweetness, and the two homemade sauces are ridiculously simple.

Cucumber Bites with Herbed Cheese and Salmon Mousse

The recipe makes half the bites with pink salmon mousse filling and half with white herbed cheese. If you like, streamline by choosing just one filling and doubling its ingredients. This recipe comes from Annie Marshall of Indianapolis.

Tangy Sour Cream and Onion Dip

Onion dip is a classic for a reason—and this 100 percent homemade version is one of the best we've tasted. It's fab with potato chips, of course, but we also love it with crisp Romaine or Little Gem lettuce leaves for a lighter twist.

Iron Range Pasties

These mini meat- and vegetable-filled turnovers are equally good warm from the oven or at room temperature. The recipe comes from the Chowgirls Killer Catering cookbook.

Roasted Fall Vegetables with Saffron Aioli

Featuring whatever's in season, this gorgeous platter is Chowgirls Catering's most popular menu item, an unexpected and delicious alternative to raw veggie trays. The recipe comes from the Minneapolis company's cookbook, Chowgirls Killer Party Food.

Turkey Pesto Sliders

These six-ingredient party sandwiches are simple and delicious.

Darling Clementine Mocktail

No offense to the classic mimosa, but not everyone wants to booze with their brunch. Enter the Darling Clementine, a tart, fizzy, deliciously pink, nonalcoholic alternative to classic morning co*cktails.

Sausage-and-Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms

Unlike most stuffed mushroom recipes, these savory sausage-filled gems don't contain cheese, so they're a great choice for people avoiding dairy. The recipe comes from Annie Marshall of Indianapolis.

French Onion Sliders

These totally indulgent sliders pack all the flavor of French onion soup into a tidy little sandwich. The recipe comes from Indianapolis blogger Annie Marshall.

Creamy Crab Rangoon Dip with Wonton Chips

The chips are easy and definitely add to the dip's appeal, but rice crackers, sugar snap peas, celery sticks and baby bok choy leaves all make good Asian-inspired dippers.

Ham Sliders

This crowd-pleasing party recipe is sweet, salty and highly addictive! Plus, you can assemble the sandwiches a day early for easy party prep.

Rosemary-Infused Grapefruit Gin co*cktail

Pretty in pink, yes, but this sweet drink has bite, too, thanks to grapefruit's subtle bitterness and the woodsy notes of gin and rosemary. This recipe makes enough rosemary-infused syrup for several co*cktails.

Ricotta and Parmesan Spread

Fresh herbs season this ridiculously simple spread from BelGioioso Cheese in Wisconsin. It keeps well in the fridge and is delicious with cherry tomatoes or other vegetable dippers, as well as crackers or baguette slices.

Caramel-Hazelnut Café Mocha

Melted Nutella. Need we say more? Our updated version of hot chocolate is made in a slow cooker, just for kicks, and after cooking, can be kept on the warm setting for one hour.

Cranberry-Sauced Meatballs Appetizer

Shape and bake the chicken meatballs ahead of time, then pop them in your slow cooker with cranberry and barbecue sauces.

Nutella Cherry Hazelnut Fudge

Chocolate-hazelnut spread (Nutella) gives this fudge a smooth texture and luscious nutty flavor.

Eggnog Cheesecake Bars

A spiced graham cracker crust and bourbon-infused egg nog filling give these simple bars a delicious holiday twist. The recipe comes from Annie Marshall of Indianapolis.

Bacon-Stuffed Mushrooms

This five-ingredient recipe comes from the bacon pros at Nueske's meats in Wisconsin.

Bacon-Cheddar Cheese Balls

Freshly shredded cheese works better than packaged shredded cheese in a cheese ball. Prepare the cheese mixture the night before so flavors have a chance to blend. Shape and roll in the crumbled bacon or pistachio nuts a few hours before serving.

Cranberry Margarita

Stir up a pitcher of these rosy margaritas for your next holiday bash. The Simple Syrup recipe makes enough syrup for 30 margaritas but is easily halved or quartered.