Making Christmas appetizers ahead of time, which you can store for days or even weeks, is one of the best ways to get ready for a busy party season. Make-ahead Appetizers For Christmas There are recipes that you can freeze, then quickly thaw and bake. Certain recipes taste even better the longer they are prepared ahead of time and allowed to mature in the refrigerator. In either case, a little preparation now pays off nicely later in the season. We'll offer advice on how to prepare holiday appetizers ahead of time, along with ten of our best recipes.
12 Irresistible Make-Ahead Appetizers for Christmas
Quick Tips for Making Appetizers
- Now freeze, then thaw: For optimal results, flash-freeze or individually quick-freeze meals. This will also help to avoid having all of your artfully prepared appetizers freeze into one large clump. Arrange your prepared appetizers in a single layer on a plate, pan, or baking sheet, then flash-freeze in the freezer until they are almost completely frozen. After that, move them to a container or airtight bag with a label and put them back in the freezer. Large ice crystals can ruin texture as they thaw, so a quick freeze can help avoid this from happening. Find out more about proper food freezing techniques.
- Safely thaw: Foods should always be slowly thawed in the refrigerator rather than on the counter or in the sink, which can encourage the growth of dangerous bacteria and produce mushy food. A lot of recipes can also be frozen and baked directly from there; simply lengthen the baking time to compensate for the frozen start.
- Warm and consume: Many foods can be reheated in a microwave, slow cooker, or stovetop in addition to your oven. After reheating, make sure to consume those things immediately and maintain safe temperatures.
1. Brie with Cranberries |
We're betting that nobody will be able to resist these small bite-sized, creamy-tangy treats, which are basically little baked brie. As Julie Hubert advises, prepare up to three days ahead of time, wrap tightly in plastic, and then chill before baking.
The best of all? You don't have to serve them right away after baking.
2. Cheese Puffs from Chef John's Party
These easy cheese puffs, sometimes called gougères, can be made up to a month in advance. Homecook Nightfall "piped" the dough onto parchment before baking, using a plastic storage bag with the end cut off.
Before freezing, make sure they are completely cold. Warm up as many as required on a baking sheet at 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius).
Read also: 10 Easy Steps to Making Healthy Appetizers
3. Pasta in a Cocktail
Prepare a few of these well-liked appetizers ahead of time, allow them to cool, and then flash freeze them for convenient storage. For a quick and well-liked appetizer, simply reheat your slow cooker with their sweet and spicy cranberry sauce an hour before your guests arrive.
I made these for a Christmas party, and I think out of the whole spread, they were THE BEST dish at the party, says Allrecipes home chef Pinksnowflakeliz. The ideal balance of tart and sweetness.
4. The Customary Cheese Ball for Christmas
This is a "simple, traditional cheese ball that Love2Cook87 looks forward to every year." Even better, this is the type of recipe that is best prepared ahead of time. Making sure your cheeseball is well wrapped is the key to keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for up to one week.
To keep the shape and flavor, first wrap in a layer of plastic wrap and then cover with aluminum foil. Before serving, take the cheese out of its wrapper, roll it in your crunchy crumbs, and let it sit at room temperature for at least twenty minutes.
5. Pinwheel with Pesto Puff Pastry
With just four ingredients, this gorgeous puff pastry pinwheel is a fantastic complement to any appetizer table. This festive appetizer, according to Magda, begs to be ripped apart!
This pinwheel can be baked, cooled, and frozen. You can just take it straight out of the freezer and reheat it in a prepared oven when your guests arrive. Even at room temperature, it tastes fantastic.
6. Pickled Olives
These are "better than anything you can get at the supermarket and considerably cheaper," as Esmee Williams puts it.
To experience the flavors of fennel and rosemary with a Mediterranean influence, feel free to customize the recipe or stick to it exactly. Add the fresh garlic to the marinade a few days ahead of time if you want to serve it that way.
7. Crab Rangoon
Anna enjoys the taste of freshly fried, sizzling hot rangoons, which she uses as a conversation piece as the visitors trickle in. You can shape the wontons around the filling in advance and freeze them before frying.
Right out of the freezer, drop them into the heated oil, drain, and serve hot.
Read also: Homemade SpaghettiOs with Meatballs
8. The Finest Spread for Smoked Salmon
After a day or two in the refrigerator, smoked salmon spread gets even more flavorful. However, make sure to cover it to prevent the spread from absorbing tastes from other foods in the refrigerator.
Take note that this will come out more mousse-like if you make it in your food processor rather than little chunkier if you make it in your stand mixer. It's your decision.
9. Simple Mini Quizzes
Small quiches are a wonderful way to satisfy a variety of tastes. You can add spinach or mushrooms, use your preferred kind of cheese instead of cheese, or make it vegetarian by leaving out the bacon.
To prepare and bake these, follow the recipe's instructions, then freeze them in a sealed container in a single layer. To reheat them, all you have to do is bake them for 7 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (205 degrees Celsius).
These are also easily portable, according to MLK73, in case you need to pack an appetizer to share when traveling.
10. Olive Puffs
All you need for this simple two-ingredient dish are frozen puff pastry and olives.
You can make these ahead of time and freeze; allow the pastry to thaw before baking, adds Syd, the recipe's originator. For a visually striking presentation, use a variety of olives.
11. Pigs in a Blanket, Everything
It should come as no surprise that these nostalgic nibbles are the first to disappear on my party spread. These are basically freezer-friendly and very forgiving if prepared ahead of time.
I prepare these up to a month in advance, packing them into freezer-safe storage containers, then baking them just before the celebration.
These piggies will not make it to market when the hungry visitors arrive, I promise, because the plate will be empty the moment you turn around.
12. Gina's Stuffed Mushrooms from Nonna
When I have a large group of folks coming over for a holiday meal, my mom's stuffed mushrooms always save the day. I prepare the stuffing well in advance, form it into little balls, freeze it, and store it until the big day.
All I have to do is place the frozen stuffing balls in the mushroom caps and bake them when company arrives. The flavorful and substantial mushrooms are well worth preparing ahead of time.
FAQ's: Make-ahead Appetizers For Christmas
How to make Christmas dinner ahead of time?
- To Make a Week or More Before Christmas: Bread Stuffing.
- Buns. You can bake, then freeze the baked buns until you are ready to serve them.
- Chop Onions and Celery.
- Gravy.
- Pie Crust Dough.
- Make a Few Days Before Christmas Dinner.
- Cranberry Sauce.
- Ham Glaze.
How many appetizers for Christmas?
Each visitor will typically receive roughly six appetizers; however, if the event is cocktail-style, this amount may quadruple. Not too much so as to spoil your guests' appetites, but just enough to keep them happy. (These are some simple, 15-minute or less, crowd-pleasing apps.
How do I choose appetizers for a party?
- Keep it simple.
- Balance the choices.
- Contrasting colors and shapes.
- Consider temperature and texture.
- Plan make-ahead selections.
- Avoid repeating flavors.
What are typical appetizers?
Meatballs and marinara, meatballs and bruschetta, dips and toast, hummus and pita chips, plus mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, fried shrimp, fried pickles, potato skins, boneless wings, conch fritters, fried calamari, crab cakes, and shrimp cocktail.
How to set up an appetizer table?
To prepare a sideboard, buffet, or console table for your buffet table, you must first empty it. I next cover with a table runner and various serving utensils that I want to use for the appetizers. Simply gather your household items; cheese boards, cake stands, and platters are all useful. It's okay to mix and match.
What comes first appetizers?
When seated at a table, the first course offered is the appetizer. An appetizer is typically the small-portioned first dish of a multi-part meal, served to compliment an entrée. The purpose of appetizers is to stimulate the appetite prior to main courses. Appetizers suggest that there will be dinner thereafter.
