16 Holiday Appetizers to Get the Party Started Get festive with these celebratory bites. Close Credit: Justin Walker Appetizers are important: They set the tone for the meal or party to come. But they're never more important than during the holidays when there are more occasions requiring pre-dinner snacks, appetite enhancers, and small plates accompanied by festive cocktails or cups of punch. If you're looking for Martha-level recipes for holiday appetizers, you're in luck: We're sharing some you'll actually find at our founder's festive gatherings, including simple one-bite snacks, crowd-pleasing dips, and even a wildcard entry or two to keep things interesting. There's truly something for everyone, from the traditional to the adventurous. 24 Christmas Appetizers to Kick Off All Your Festive Celebrations 01 of 16 Pull-Apart Pigs in a Blanket Credit: Kirsten Francis Take your presentation of this go-to party treat up a notch by baking the pizza dough-wrapped hot dogs in a springform pan. Guests can pull them apart themselves, and then dip in a kicky sriracha mayonnaise. View Recipe 02 of 16 Labneh Dip With Caramelized Onions and Fennel Consider this a new take on a classic: It's essentially a more inspired take on caramelized onion dip. Like it's inspiration, it's sure to be the first thing to go at a party. View Recipe 03 of 16 Puff-Pastry Cheese Straws Credit: David Malosh These twisty hors d'oeuvres just keep on giving: Everyone loves them, they are easy to eat out of hand, and they pair well with practically any drink. Another bonus: They're easy to make using store-bought puff pastry. View Recipe 04 of 16 Salmon Mousse Here's a quick, easy, and sophisticated spread: A modest portion of smoked salmon yields a luxurious mousse when blended with sour cream and a touch of lemon juice. View Recipe 05 of 16 Baked Camembert With Cherry Jam Credit: Nico Schinco Here's a secret: You don't have to spend a fortune on cheese. Just heat Camembert, or another inexpensive triple cream like Brie, right in its box until melting. Set it out with crostini, crudités, cherry jam, and nuts on top. View Recipe 06 of 16 Spicy Shrimp Dip Credit: Armando Rafael Tender shrimp, fiery serrano chiles, and plenty of fresh lime juice and cilantro take this creamy dip to the next level. A crunchy panko topping is the perfect finishing touch. View Recipe 07 of 16 Classic Deviled Eggs Credit: Bryan Gardner What's a holiday gathering without deviled eggs? You could easily make a whole menu using our deviled egg variations on the classic appetizer. View Recipe 08 of 16 Spanish Chorizo Balls Credit: Con Poulos For those occasions when you need a hot appetizer, we suggest these half-pork, half-chorizo meatballs. Serve them alongside plenty of crusty bread to sop up all of the delicious citrus-spiked tomato gravy. View Recipe 09 of 16 Warm Olives With Cracked Coriander Credit: Justin Walker When you want to prepare an impressive but oh-so-easy appetizer, this four-ingredient wonder is exactly what you need. Coriander seeds are toasted in olive oil until fragrant, then tossed with olives and bay leaves. View Recipe 10 of 16 Fried Macaroni-and-Cheese Bites Credit: David Malosh This snackable form of the perennial favorite pasta dish is sure to be a hit at any party. Make the stove-top mac and cheese a few days ahead so it can firm up in the refrigerator, then wow your family with this irresistible bite. View Recipe 11 of 16 Chicken-Liver Mousse With Raspberry Jelly Credit: Christopher Testani Both exquisite and easy, the rich combination of chicken livers and butter is beautifully complemented by the sweet-tart raspberry jelly in this chic appetizer. View Recipe 12 of 16 Smoked Trout Pate on Toasted Baguette Credit: Burcu Avsar Just a few ingredients are all you need for this super easy but sophisticated hors d'oeuvre. Make them for a last-minute get-together or a more formal soirée. View Recipe 13 of 16 Shrimp and Crudité Platter With Two Sauces Credit: Justin Walker Here's a Martha-level appetizer spread that's sure to delight. It's a feast of raw and steamed vegetables, hard-cooked eggs, and chilled seafood served with a side of jarred mayonnaise doctored with anchovies and oil-packed tuna, as well as a vegan avocado-based green-goddess dip. View Recipe 14 of 16 Date, Olive, and Goat-Cheese Tart Credit: Louise Hagger This chèvre tart is like a cheese plate in a single bite, with luscious dates, briny olives, and pickled chiles, all cradled in a buttery pastry shell. View Recipe 15 of 16 Cheese Ball Cranberry Walnut Cheese Ball. Credit: Brit + Co This throwback appetizer has a nostalgic appeal, backed up by a delicious taste. It starts with a mixture of cream cheese and cheddar enhanced with Dijon and Worcestershire sauce, and then you roll the ball in a coating of finely chopped pecans. Serve with crackers and veggies for a surefire win. View Recipe 16 of 16 Pull-Apart Cheesy Pesto Bread Credit: Lennart Weibull There's so much to love about this four-ingredient cheesy bread: it's easy to make, doesn't require a laundry list of items, and tastes out of this world. Simply cut a loaf of bread at one-inch intervals and spread pesto between each slice, then stuff with mozzarella and Taleggio, bake, and serve. 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