Fun Recipes for Holiday Parties

With a long to-do list full of important tasks that need to be completed, the last thing you want to do is have to worry about your holiday party food. The great news is that with these holiday party recipe ideas, you won’t have to! With simple ingredients and instructions, these easy holiday recipes are quick and simple, but are still packed with delicious flavors that your guests are sure to enjoy. Check out the following holiday recipe ideas that will keep your job as host/hostess stress-free this season.

Here are a few recipes for holiday parties:

• Chickpea Appetizer: This is the definition of an easy holiday recipe. Simply take chickpeas from their jar and spread over a platter. Top with pita chips and cups full of red hummus, which will add color to your serving set up.

• Cheese Plate: A perfect cheese platter can make your party look like it was professionally catered. The key is having a good selection. Aim for a variety of different flavors and textures by choosing one fresh and smooth cheese (such as mozzarella or mild goat), one buttery option (such as Brie or Camembert), one milder semi-hard cheese (such as Gruyere or Manchego), and one drier and sharper variety (such as Parmesan or Pecorino Romano). Serve at room temperature on a large wood cutting board with thin baguette slices or crisp water crackers.

• Sausage and Swiss Chard Strata: This holiday party recipe just takes 15 minutes of prep time and then can be left to cook while you take care of other chores. Begin by preheating the oven to 375 degrees. Rinse 1 bunch (approximately 1 pound) Swiss chard and dice the stems into medium sized pieces. In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown 1 pound sweet or spicy Italian sausage for 5 minutes, breaking up the meat with your spoon. Transfer this into a bowl and then add your Swiss chard stems and 2 finely chopped shallots into the skillet. Once the shallots are translucent (about 3 minutes), add the chard leaves with a little bit of water to your skillet and cook until wilted (another 3 minutes). Season with a dash of salt and pepper. In a 9x13 inch baking dish, spread half of your sausage and chard mixture, then a layer of ½ inch baguette slices, and top with the remainder of your sausage and chard. Whisk together 2 ½ cups whole milk and 7 lightly beaten eggs and pour this mixture over the top of the dish. Let sit for 10 minutes so the egg mixture can soak into the bread and then bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Top with cheese and let cool 10 minutes before serving.

• Grand Raspberry Trifle: Perhaps the most important of the holiday party recipes—dessert! This colorful dish looks great and tastes just as good, too. Even better, you can prepare it up to 24 hours in advance. Bring ½ cup sugar, ¼ cup water, and ¼ cup lemon juice to a boil in a small saucepan and stir until the sugar is dissolved (about 1-2 minutes). As you let this cool, combine 1 cup raspberry jam and 3 cups raspberries in a small bowl, mashing the fruit slightly. Next, whip 2 cups heavy cream and 2 tablespoons sugar to stiff peaks. Slice 1 ½ pounds of your favorite pound cake into ¾ inch thick pieces and brush both sides of the slices with your lemon syrup. A big glass bowl will display your dessert. Fit ⅓ of the pound cake slices snugly in the bottom of your dish and then gently spread ⅓ of the raspberry mixture on top. Use ⅓ of the whipped cream to create the next layer. Repeat twice more and garnish with fresh raspberries. Be sure to refrigerate until you are ready to serve.

• Festive Mini Cheesecakes: Make your favorite cheesecake recipe into personal-sized dishes or ramekins. Top with a fragrant sprig of rosemary or other fresh herbs. The savory herb will complement the sweet cheesecake, and party guests are sure to love it!

These holiday food ideas will ensure smooth sailing through your party. Do your grocery shopping in advance if possible to minimize the amount of busy work the day of your event. Reach for packages of pre-cut salami, peeled carrots, already shredded cheese, and other time and energy saving products that will still give your dishes a homemade taste. Finally, invite only as many guests as you think you can handle to avoid being overwhelmed in the kitchen.

Ready to plan your own holiday party? Get started with one of our favorite Christmas party invitations!