Holiday Finger Foods

By Southern Living
Photo: Charles Walton IV

Perfect for socializing and catching up, these no-fuss finger foods are easy to pick up and chow down.

From Thanksgiving to New Years Eve, parties are nearly non-stop. Whether you’re hosting or attending, you’re going to need a deep repertoire of holiday finger food recipes. Here we’ve compiled the best and the easiest holiday finger food appetizers for you to prepare. Some of these finger food recipes can be prepared ahead of time and frozen and there are holiday finger foods that can be thrown together at the last minute with ingredients likely to be found in your pantry. Start clicking to get your wheels turning on the best holiday finger foods to please guests this season.

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Inside-Out Hot Brown Bites

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Inside-Out Hot Brown Bites

We've reimagined this signature Kentucky sandwich of bacon, turkey, and cheese sauce into beautiful bite-size cups. 

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Smoked Trout Crostini with Radishes and Dill Cream

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Smoked Trout Crostini with Radishes and Dill Cream

For a fresh appetizer, try the smoked trout crostini with radishes and dill cream. An appetizer consisting of sour cream spread on a triangle of toasted crostini and topped with smoked trout and radishes will give guests a break from warm appetizers typically served at a dinner party. These perfect little triangles also offer a beautiful presentation, fooling guests into believing you worked much harder than you did on this appetizer. A fresh squeeze of lemon juice will also give guests the burst of freshness that will perfectly balance out your appetizer platter. For an even more colorful spread, replace the trout with smoked salmon. 

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Petite Sweet Potato Biscuits with Pulled Pork and Slaw

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Petite Sweet Potato Biscuits with Pulled Pork and Slaw

The sweet potato biscuits freeze beautifully—thaw, bake, and top them just before serving.

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Bacon-Fig Tassies

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Bacon-Fig Tassies

Pinched for time? Swap the dough for frozen mini-phyllo pastry shells.

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Sweet Potato Tartlets

PHoto: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Sweet Potato Tartlets

These festive tarts are the perfect sweet treat for grazing guests. You can make them up to a day ahead, and store, covered, in the fridge.

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Benne-Maple Roasted Pecans

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Benne-Maple Roasted Pecans

Make these a few days ahead, and chill in an airtight container.

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Cuban Sliders

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Cuban Sliders

A welcome change from the ubiquitous hamburger slider, this mini sandwich has all the flavor of a great Cuban. The key here is to crisp the bread by warming the sandwiches in a hot jelly-roll pan and adding weight on top of the bread.

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Fried Hominy

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Fried Hominy

Dangerously delicious, this is the new popcorn for tree trimming—if you don't eat it all first.

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Gumbo Rice Fritters

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Gumbo Rice Fritters

You can make the rice balls two weeks ahead and freeze. Bread and fry straight from the freezer.

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Marinated Olives and Almonds

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Marinated Olives and Almonds

A big batch of these antipasti will last in the refrigerator up to a week. It's the perfect snack to keep on hand to serve unexpected holiday company.

 

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Mushroom Puffs

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Mushroom Puffs

Flaky puff pastry envelopes a rich mix of cream cheese, mushrooms, onions, and Parmesan cheese. You can even assemble and freeze these ahead of time.

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Southern-Style Smørrebrød

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Southern-Style Smørrebrød

Sparked by the leisurely pleasures of the cocktail-and-canapé Mad Men era, smørrebrød (Danish open-faced sandwiches) are the latest craze in stress-free entertaining. With a little clever prep, you can set out an impressive DIY spread in under an hour. Now we'll toast to that. Skål, y'all!

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Tuna-Apple Mini Melts

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Tuna-Apple Mini Melts

A creamy tuna-apple mixture fills mini-phyllo pastry shells and is topped with Havarti cheese slices to make a tasty, bite-sized appetizer.

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Tiny Tomato Tarts

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke

Recipe: Tiny Tomato Tarts

With all the flavor of a traditional tomato pie, these tiny tarts will be a hit at your party. These bite-sized tarts are made with a simple blend of diced tomatoes, piecrusts, a blend of cheeses, and fresh basil. This recipe can also be made ahead by baking the pastry shells up to three days before they are served and storing in an airtight container, leaving the filling to be prepared the day of the party. A medley of Parmesan, cheddar, and mozzarella cheeses make this finger food a delicious alternative to a large slice of tomato pie while still being reminiscent of the Southern favorite.

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Spicy Cheddar "Long" Straws

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Spicy Cheddar "Long" Straws

Cheese straws are like deviled eggs—every Southern cook wants to make great ones. Our best tip for successful cheese straws is to shred your own cheese. It’s stickier and blends better than preshredded cheese.

These tasty strips have the shape of bread sticks but the crisp texture and cheddar-filled taste of cheese straws.

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Sweet Potato Crostini with Goat Cheese and Grape Salsa

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Sweet Potato Crostini with Goat Cheese and Grape Salsa

Spicy, sweet, and totally addictive, this easy appetizer starts with preseasoned fries.

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Orange-Basil Baked Brie

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Orange-Basil Baked Brie

Serve on a pretty cutting board with a cheese knife, and let guests cut their own portions.

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Spicy Cheddar Appetizer Cookies

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Spicy Cheddar Appetizer Cookies

Make party-perfect savory cookies by rolling cheese straw dough into festive shapes.

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Herbed Goat Cheese Bites

Photo: William Dickey

Recipe: Herbed Goat Cheese Bites

This scrumptious appetizer is easy to prep. Simply roll a log of creamy goat cheese in fresh chopped thyme, parsley, tarragon, and mint in advance. Then, just before serving, spread onto fresh toasted baguette slices and top with sun-dried tomatoes and basil leaves.

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Bacon-Wrapped Potatoes with Queso Blanco Dip

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Potatoes with Queso Blanco Dip

You can keep the queso blanco warm in a fondue pot or 1-qt. slow cooker. These are hearty, and would be a winner for a tailgate too.

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Pecan-Cheddar Buttons

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pecan-Cheddar Buttons

These salty cheese straw balls are rolled in finely chopped pecans and baked until crisp and delicious. They're sure to become a new party favorite.

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Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Bread

Recipe: Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Bread

We've taken garlic bread up a notch. These tasty toasts make perfect entertaining starters. For a light meal, serve them with a salad and glass of wine. Mix spreads the day before, and refrigerate overnight. You'll only need to slather them on French bread and bake for a super-quick presentation. So skip the carb counting, and crunch into something delicious.

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Smoked Paprika-Glazed Andouille

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Smoked Paprika-Glazed Andouille

Serve andouille with wooden toothpicks to create bite-size appetizers.

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Salt-Roasted Beef Tenderloin Sliders

Photo: Jim Franco

Recipe: Salt-Roasted Beef Tenderloin Sliders  

You can serve these hearty bites between biscuits, brioche, or artisan dinner rolls for an elegant presentation.

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Fingerling Potatoes with Avocado and Smoked Salmon

Photo: Jim Franco

Recipe: Fingerling Potatoes with Avocado and Smoked Salmon

You'll love the unexpected flavor combination of creamy avocado and fresh dill atop roasted potatoes. This makes a great handheld appetizer when entertaining—just be sure there are plenty to go around.

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Bacon-Wrapped Bourbon Figs

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Bourbon Figs

For bacon-wrapped bliss, turn to these inventive small bites featuring some of our favorite Southern staples.

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Pork Tenderloin Crostini

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Pork Tenderloin Crostini

These delectable open-faced crostini offer a kick with each bite plus a striking presentation thanks to the Cranberry-Pepper Jelly on top.

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Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp

Upgrade a typical holiday shrimp cocktail by wrapping the juicy bites in satisfyingly salty bacon.

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Pepper Jelly-Goat Cheese Cakes

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Pepper Jelly-Goat Cheese Cakes

These pretty bites have both green and red pepper jelly melted on top for an indulgent treat.

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Brisket Shooters

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Brisket Shooters

Save time and pick up brisket and sauce from your favorite barbecue joint to use in these party bites.

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Chicken-and-Bacon Satay

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chicken-and-Bacon Satay

A satay is an Indonesian version of kabobs: thinly sliced marinated meat grilled on a skewer and served with lip-licking peanut sauce.

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Pepper Jelly-Pecan Rugelach

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Pepper Jelly-Pecan Rugelach

Make these crunchy treats several hours ahead of time and serve at room temperature.

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Apple Butter-and-Cheddar Puffs

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Apple Butter-and-Cheddar Puffs

To get ahead, make these appetizers through Step 2 and freeze up to 1 month. Go straight to the oven from freezer; simply add 5 to 10 minutes to the bake time.

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Grits Crostini

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Grits Crostini

You can bake the crostini up to a couple of hours ahead of time, top just before guests arrive and place in the oven to finish.

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Chicken Salad Pitas

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chicken Salad Pitas

Pepper jelly adds a nice sweet-hot note to chicken salad. And you'll love the extra zing from lemon zest and ground red pepper.

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Pepper Jack Grits Poppers

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Pepper Jack Grits Poppers

Wow your guests with this 6-ingredient twist on the iconic finger food.

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Grits-and-Gumbo Tarts

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Grits-and-Gumbo Tarts

Capture the iconic flavors of New Orleans in these easy-to-make tarts.

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Afterburners

Southern Living

Recipe: Afterburners

These all-time favorite bite-sized peppers are delicious with Spicy Queso Dip.

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Caesar Salad Bites

Photo: Jennifer Davick/Prop Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell/Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Caesar Salad Bites

Fresh, chilled Caesar Salad Bites are tasty, super-easy make, and perfectly suitable for eating out of hand.

Turn these appetizers into a pretty salad by layering veggies and croutons in a clear ice bucket or trifle dish and topping with dressing and parsley.

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Cheese Straws

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Cheese Straws

If you like yours less spicy, use the smaller amount of red pepper.

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Marinated Mozzarella

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Marinated Mozzarella

These snacks are as simple as sliced cheese. Prepare them ahead of time to allow ample chill time. Be sure to garnish with a sprig of parsley or rosemary for a bit of panache.

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Tortellini Caprese Bites

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Tortellini Caprese Bites

Tortellini Caprese Bites are drizzled with a basil vinaigrette and are so simple to prepare. The no-mess presentation makes these appetizer skewers ideal for parties.

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Cranberry Meatballs

Recipe: Cranberry Meatballs

Making these meatballs ahead and freezing them is a great way to save time during the holiday months.

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White Bean-and-Black Olive Crostini

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

Recipe: White Bean-and-Black Olive Crostini

This salty, satisfying appetizer sets a great tone for the rest of your meal. Garnish with torn basil leaves.

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Bacon-Arugula-Apple Bites

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Bacon-Arugula-Apple Bites

Complement any menu with this no-fuss party appetizer.

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Hot Roast Beef Party Sandwiches

Recipe: Hot Roast Beef Party Sandwiches  

This is an updated version of a recipe that used ham, cheese, and mustard. Eyes lit up at our tasting table when these came out of the oven. These crowd pleasing sandwiches will surely delight guests.

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Caramelized Onion-Cranberry Cream Cheese Bites

Recipe: Caramelized Onion-Cranberry-Cream Cheese Bites

These bite-sized hors d'oeuvres combine a light cream cheese spread, whole grain crackers and a cranberry topping for an ideal mixture of salty and sweet.