Festive & Easy: 10 Christmas Appetizers You Can Prepare in Advance

As Christmas approaches and celebrations begin, many women start searching for Christmas appetizers or recipes that can be prepared for the holiday season.

Many women prepare a variety of dishes and store them for days or even weeks before Christmas. Among the recipes that can be prepared and stored are various appetizers, desserts, dough-based items, and drinks in preparation for Christmas.

Try with us preparing 10 wonderful Christmas appetizers that you can store in the freezer, then thaw or bake and serve immediately.

Apple and Cheese Rolls

With the return of apple season, it is essential to take advantage of it in preparing various desserts and appetizers. For Christmas, prepare apple and cheese rolls with us today as one of the delicious appetizers that you can make in advance and store.

Ingredients for Apple and Cheese Rolls:

• 2 apples
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 package puff pastry dough
• 120 grams cheddar cheese
• 1 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

To prepare the apple and cheese rolls, grate the apples in a large bowl and mix them with lemon juice.

Add the butter and brown sugar to a medium pan and heat over medium heat. Stir the ingredients and add the apples.

Cook the mixture together for about 5 minutes, transfer it to a plate and let it cool, then refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Separate the puff pastry dough without thawing it into 4 equal rectangles.

Cover every two rectangles with the chilled apple mixture and spread it evenly to the edges.

Top the apple-covered dough with an appropriate amount of grated cheddar cheese, arrange it on a suitable tray, flatten it by hand, and freeze for 15 minutes.

Cut each rectangle into 6 pieces and roll each piece several times to form rolls. Arrange them on a prepared baking tray, cover with the remaining grated cheese, and sprinkle lightly with salt.

Bake the apple and cheese rolls in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes until golden brown.

Serve the apple and cheese rolls immediately.

You can store them before baking and bake them at any later time.

Cream Cheese and Feta Rolls

Cream cheese and feta rolls are easy appetizers that you can prepare in advance, store, and serve for Christmas. Below are the ingredients and preparation method for the most delicious cheese sandwich ever.

Ingredients for Cream Cheese and Feta Rolls:

• 225 grams cream cheese
• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
• ½ cup chopped green pepper
• ½ cup chopped dried cranberries
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 4 slices turkey
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 4 tortilla wraps

Preparation:

• To prepare the cream cheese and feta rolls, mix the cream cheese and feta with green pepper, cranberries, garlic powder, and onion powder in a large bowl.
• Spread the cheese filling evenly over the tortilla wraps, roll each one tightly, and refrigerate for 4 hours.
• Slice the filled tortillas into rolls, arrange them on a serving plate, and serve immediately.
• They can be stored chilled until serving.

Cheese Balls

Traditional Christmas cheese balls are one of the most famous appetizers that are essential for this occasion. They are prepared in many flavors and decorated in different colors. Prepare the most delicious cheese balls with an easy and quick recipe.

Ingredients for Cheese Balls:

• 220 grams cream cheese
• 70 grams chopped turkey
• 70 grams chopped green olives
• 1 sweet onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Preparation:

To prepare the cheese balls, mix the cream cheese with turkey, olives, onion, and sauce in a large bowl.

Shape the mixture into a ball, cover it, and refrigerate until firm.

Transfer the cheese ball to a suitable dish, sprinkle with chopped walnuts, and serve immediately. It can be stored until serving.

Marinated Olives

Marinated olives with fennel seeds, thyme, and rosemary are among the most delicious appetizers served at Christmas and other occasions. Prepare them with the easiest steps.

Ingredients for Marinated Olives:

• 225 grams pitted green olives
• 150 grams pitted Kalamata olives
• 2 bay leaves
• ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
• ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 6 tablespoons white vinegar

Preparation:

• To prepare marinated olives, place the olives in a colander and rinse with cold water.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine bay leaves, rosemary, fennel seeds, thyme, and white vinegar.
• Add the olives and toss well, then transfer to clean, sterilized jars. Seal and refrigerate for at least two days.

Serve the marinated olives directly in serving dishes.

Olive Pastries

With only two ingredients! Prepare the most delicious baked olive pastries ever and serve them at Christmas as one of the fastest appetizers to prepare.

Ingredients for Olive Pastries:

• 24 green olives stuffed with pepper
• 500 grams frozen puff pastry

Preparation:

To prepare olive pastries, cut the puff pastry into strips and roll them into circular shapes.

Place an olive in the center of each roll and bake in the oven for 20 minutes until golden brown.

Serve immediately. You can freeze them before baking and bake them later.

Meatballs with Sauce

Here is another new recipe to prepare meatballs with sauce step by step. They are flavorful and can be frozen and cooked directly for Christmas, usually served hot.

Ingredients for Meatballs with Sauce:

• 450 grams ground meat
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• 3 tablespoons chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 large egg
• 225 grams cranberry sauce
• ¾ cup hot pepper sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1½ teaspoons lemon juice

Preparation:

• To prepare meatballs with sauce, mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, onion, water, and egg together in a large bowl.
• Form small meatballs and arrange them on a non-stick baking tray.
• Bake in a preheated oven for about 25 minutes. Mix cranberry sauce, hot pepper sauce, brown sugar, and lemon juice in a large pot, and heat over low heat until smooth.
• Add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer for one hour before serving. Serve immediately.

Cheese Puffs

Quick cheese puffs made with Gruyère or cheddar cheese are known for their great taste and simple ingredients. Prepare them and decorate your Christmas table without hesitation.

Ingredients for Cheese Puffs:

• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup butter
• A pinch of salt
• ½ cup flour
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ cup cheddar cheese

Preparation:

• To prepare cheese puffs, heat water, butter, and salt in a medium pot over low heat.
• Add flour and stir until a dough forms. Transfer to a bowl and let cool completely.
• Beat eggs with thyme and black pepper into the dough until well combined. 
• Add three-quarters of the cheese to the dough, mix, form into balls, place on a lined baking tray, and sprinkle with remaining cheese. 
• Bake in a preheated oven for about 20 minutes until golden brown.

Serve immediately. They can be frozen before baking and baked when needed.

Cranberry Bites

Cranberry bites are one of the appetizers that must be present at any celebration. Prepare them now and serve immediately or store until Christmas.

Ingredients for Cranberry Bites:

• 225 grams round Brie cheese
• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry
• ½ cup cranberry sauce
• ½ cup finely chopped walnuts

Preparation:

• Cut the chilled Brie cheese into small pieces.
• Roll out the puff pastry into a rectangle, cut into strips, then into squares, press gently, and place into a muffin pan.
• Add 1 teaspoon cranberry sauce to each pastry cup, then a piece of Brie, and top with chopped walnuts.
• Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Bake for about 20 minutes until golden.
• Serve immediately.

Smoked Sausage Wreath

Smoked sausages wrapped in crispy puff pastry shaped into a wreath are a wonderful Christmas appetizer idea.

Ingredients for Smoked Sausage Wreath:

• 2 sheets frozen puff pastry
• ¼ cup cranberry or red currant jam
• 400 grams smoked sausages
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 large egg beaten with 1 teaspoon water

Preparation:

• Roll out one pastry sheet into a rectangle and cut a circle using a bowl.
• Use a smaller bowl to cut a smaller inner circle. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Arrange the halves into a wreath shape on a lined baking tray and press edges together.
• Cut remaining dough into strips and freeze for 15 minutes.
• Spread cranberry jam in the center, arrange sausage pieces in a circle.
• Brush inner and outer edges with egg wash.
• Place pastry strips over sausages, press and seal decoratively.
• Freeze for 15 minutes, brush with egg wash, season with salt and pepper, and bake for 30 minutes.
• Decorate as desired and serve immediately. Can be frozen before baking.

Cheese and Sausage Toast

Get creative with cheese and sausage toast using quick and easy steps, and serve it as a fast Christmas appetizer.

Ingredients for Cheese and Sausage Toast:

• 450 grams sausages
• 120 grams mascarpone or cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 220 grams Taleggio cheese
• ¼ cup finely chopped parsley
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 24 slices toast bread
• 120 grams grated Fontina cheese

Preparation:

• Cook sausages in a medium pan over medium heat for 5 minutes.
• Transfer to a cutting board and chop into small pieces.
• Return to the pan and stir with cheese, sauce, and thyme for 3 minutes.
• Add Taleggio and cook gently until melted and sticky.
• Remove from heat, add parsley and salt, stir, and let cool completely.
• Arrange toast slices on a baking tray, top with sausage mixture and Fontina cheese.
• Bake for about 20 minutes.
• Cut into halves, decorate as desired, and serve immediately.

In our article 10 Wonderful Appetizers You Can Prepare in Advance for Christmas, we presented many different appetizer options that you can prepare, freeze, and cook for Christmas or any later time. Try any of them, dear reader!