Fun and Easy Christmas Party Recipes

When you're planning a Christmas party for family and friends, choose easy recipes you can prepare ahead of time. Include appetizers, sandwich fillings on finger rolls or in puffed pastry, platters with cold cuts and cheese, and bite-sized desserts in your menu. Here are some Christmas party recipes that are sure to be a hit at your holiday gathering.

Italian Sausage Balls

Traditional, southern-style sausage balls, a favourite at holiday parties, prepared with pickled cherry peppers, adds colour and spice to your holiday table.

Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 10 minutes. Makes about 24 servings.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage with casings removed
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup self-rising flour
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 24 basil leaves
• 12 slices pickled cherry peppers

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Blend sausage, flour, cheese, and oil in a bowl until ingredients are well mixed. Use a level tablespoon of mixture for each meatball, shape into balls. There should be about twenty-four meatballs. Bake the meatballs for approximately twelve to fifteen minutes. Turn halfway through baking time. When ready to serve, skewer a basil leaf, pepper slice, and meatball onto decorative toothpicks. 

Traditional Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are a party favourite for any occasion, especially for the holidays. This recipe from Food.com is a tasty addition to any holiday buffet. If you're making deviled eggs for a party, the recipe may be doubled. 

Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 10 minutes. Makes 12 servings

Ingredients:

• 6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and halved lengthwise
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Paprika to garnish

Optional ingredients:

• finely diced veggies like celery, peppers or radishes

Directions:

Scoop egg yolks into a bowl. Set egg whites aside. Add mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper to egg yolks. Mash mixture with a fork until it's smooth. If adding veggies, do so after mashing. Scoop egg yolk mixture into scooped out egg whites. Garnish with paprika. Chill until ready to serve. 

Sparkling Pomegranate Punch

This Christmas punch recipe blends tangy cranberries, pomegranate juice, and wine to create a delicious, fruity punch to serve at your holiday party. This recipe may be doubled to accommodate a larger group.

Prep time: 15 minutes. No cook time! Makes 10-12 servings

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 2 bottles (750 mL) chilled sparkling wine
• 3/4 cups late-harvest chilled white wine, such as Riesling
• 2 oranges, thinly sliced
• 1 cup diced fresh pineapple
• 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds

Directions:

Dissolve the sugar and pomegranate juice in a large punch bowl and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the wine, fruit and pomegranate seeds. Serve chilled over ice. 

When planning your Christmas party, buy all your ingredients in advance to save time. The punch bowl may be the centrepiece of the buffet table, decorated with greenery and colourful Christmas balls around the base of the bowl. Enjoy!

Photo credit: stock.adobe.com

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• holiday (2)