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Schedule for Dec 26
If you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party this year, you need appetizers that are easy, crowd-pleasing, and totally irresistible. This hand-picked collection of New Year’s Eve appetizers has everything from warm and cheesy dips to fresh party bites, sliders, bacon-wrapped favorites, and make-ahead options.
Every appetizer is simple to prepare, party-tested, and perfect for ringing in the new year deliciously.
Hot & Cheesy Dips
Warm dips are a must-have on New Year’s Eve! We love dips that are comforting and scoopable, and they are always the first thing guests gather around. These bubbly, cheesy favorites pair perfectly with crackers, veggies, or toasted bread.
These dips and fresh finger foods balance out your spread with bright, bold flavors. They’re easy to prep ahead and perfect for guests who like lighter, refreshing appetizers.
A sweet, creamy dip that tastes just like brownie batter and goes perfectly with fruit, pretzels, or cookies.
Crostini, Sliders & Elegant Small Bites
These elevated appetizers feel fancy but are incredibly easy to assemble. They offer beautiful presentation and outrageous flavor for any NYE gathering.
Warm, melty mini sandwiches brushed with buttery seasonings that are great for feeding a hungry crowd.
Bacon-Wrapped & Oven-Baked Favorites
For irresistible savory appetizers, these bacon-wrapped and oven-fried classics deliver big flavor in bite-sized form. They’re simple, satisfying, and always a hit.
Smoky cocktail sausages wrapped in bacon and baked until caramelized, crispy, and impossibly addictive. These never last long!
Party Snacks & No-Fuss Crowd Pleasers
These simple snacks and dips require minimal prep but deliver maximum enjoyment. They’re ideal for filling out a party table and keeping guests happily munching.
Fun cheese bread twists (or bites) that come together fast and vanish even faster.
No matter how you celebrate, these New Year’s Eve appetizer recipes make it easy to put together a fun and unforgettable spread. Mix and match a few warm dips, a couple of handheld bites, and something fresh or festive to balance the table.
With recipes this simple and delicious, you’ll be free to relax, raise a toast, and enjoy the countdown. Happy New Year — and happy snacking!
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Christmas gatherings deserve food that brings people together—and nothing sets the mood like delicious holiday appetizers. Whether you’re hosting a formal Christmas dinner, a casual family gathering, or a festive holiday work potluck, these Christmas appetizers and easy finger foods make entertaining effortless.
From warm bites and cheesy dips to elegant handheld snacks, and make-ahead options, this collection has something for every party. Mix, match, and build your perfect holiday menu!
read more: If you’re looking for more sweet Christmas dessert options, check our our Christmas cookies and treats recipe roundup!
Holiday Classics & Crowd Favorites
These are the appetizers everyone expects at a Christmas party—warm, creamy, cheesy, and always demolished by the end of the night.
Warm, creamy cheese topped with sweet-tart cranberries and baked until perfectly melty. This festive dip looks stunning on a holiday table and disappears in minutes.
Elegant Holiday Bites
These appetizers look fancy but are surprisingly simple. Perfect for Christmas Eve dinners or evenings when you want something a little special.
Classic Chex mix with deep smoky flavor that takes holiday snacking to the next level.
Whether you’re hosting a full holiday party or just need a few festive snacks to round out Christmas dinner, these easy and irresistible appetizers are guaranteed to shine. From hot and cheesy dips fresh from the oven to sweet snack mixes and elegant bite-sized starters, there’s something here for every celebration and every guest.
No matter which you choose, the magic of the season is always better when shared over good food, great company, and plenty of laughter. So grab a plate, dig in to these holiday party snacks!
read more: If you are looking for Christmas breakfast ideas or need helping deciding what to make for Christmas dinner, check out our Christmas breakfast recipes roundup and our Christmas dinner recipes collection.
Get ready for the most decadent and irresistible blue cheese dip of your life! I never thought I’d see the day that I would say the secret is in the blue cheese, but in fact, the key to this recipe is the Treasure Cave Blue Cheese!
The other secrets are the crispy prosciutto, roasted pears and the other 3 cheeses in the dip, but with everything combined and that unique flavor of blue cheese, this dip recipe is one that will have everyone asking for more!
This tasty blue cheese dip is the next recipe in my partnership with Treasure Cave. Have you tried the blue cheese gratin potato casserole yet? If that didn’t make a blue cheese lover out of you, then this dip surely will!
Treasure Cave is a brand that embraces bold and fun flavors and adventures, and that 100% describes everything I want out of life. So, I partnered with them to create a recipe inspired by my favorite adventure, a trip to Italy that reignited a love for combining flavors in beautiful yet approachable ways.
All haters of blue cheese, I welcome you to the table and challenge you to give this easy blue cheese dip recipe a try and let it make a blue cheese lover out of you! The combination of flavors and textures is so dreamy, I’m so confident you’ll love this creamy blue cheese dip, I’m willing to buy you a new car if you don’t love it! Ok, just kidding, but you absolutely have to give it a try!
Ingredients for Blue Cheese Dip
I took the blue cheese dip basics of sour cream, blue cheese and mayo and augmented them a little to elevate the flavor and make it even more gooey and cheesy. Here is everything you will need:
Prosciutto: Adds crunchy texture and a salty, smoky flavor to the dip.
Pear: Slice them thin and roast them until brown. They add sweetness and delicious flavor.
Olive Oil: Helps roast the pears.
Cream Cheese: I prefer the flavor and texture of full fat cream cheese and make sure it is softened so it isn’t clumpy in the dip.
Sour Cream: Avoid the light or fat free stuff for the best texture and flavor.
Mayonnaise: Use a good quality brand of mayo and choose whatever your favorite brand is.
Spices: Ground Cardamom and Ground Nutmeg
Salt and Black Pepper: for flavor
Treasure Cave Blue Cheese: You can also use Treasure Cave Gorgonzola Cheese if you just can’t get past the blue-ness of the blue cheese.
Fontina Cheese: Buy a block if you can find it and shred it yourself.
Parmesan Cheese: I like to use a microplane to grate the parmesan myself.
Herbs: Thyme and Chives are our favorites, and parsley is also a great option. Be sure to use fresh herbs!
Scroll down to the end of the post for all the measurements for each ingredient.
How to Make Blue Cheese Dip
This easy dip recipe takes a couple of steps to get all the ingredients ready to make this recipe. First, we will get the prosciutto all crispy and then we will roast the pears. Then everything is ready to combine and bake. Here are the steps:
Prep: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Bake: Lay the prosciutto in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for 6 minutes. Flip all the pieces and bake for another 5-6 minutes. Remove the prosciutto to a plate to cool and then crumble it up.
Roast: Increase the temperature of the oven to 450 degrees F. Lay the pears in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for 10-15 minutes. Flip the pears and bake for another 5 minutes.
Reduce Heat: Decrease the oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix: Add the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise and seasonings to a medium size mixing bowl and mix together with an electric hand mixer.
Fold: Add the blue cheese crumbles, fontina and parmesan and fold into the cream mixture. Add 2/3 of the roasted pears and prosciutto crumbles and fold again.
Bake: Pour the mixture into a baking dish (8×8) or a deep pie dish and bake for 30 minutes.
Garnish: Sprinkle the remaining pears, prosciutto and the fresh herbs over the top and bake for 5-10 more minutes.
Serve: Serve it hot and gooey with crostinis!
The recipe card down below contains this recipe in its entirety. You can also print or save the recipe there.
What to Eat with Blue Cheese Dip
I’m going to explain below how to make crostinis at home because they are my favorite thing to eat with this dip, but you can dip almost anything in it! It’s so good! Here are some ideas:
Crostinis
Carrots Sticks
Pita Chips
Celery Sticks
Crackers
Pretzels
Bell Peppers
Tortilla Chips
Bread
How to Make Crostinis
Crostinis are made by slicing an artisan bread, like a baguette, and then brushing it with a little oil or butter and browning it under a broiler until lightly golden.
Ok, let me start with a disclaimer on this…yes, you can make this a little lighter but the texture and creaminess and flavor will be very different. If you want to lighten up this dip, then swap the cream cheese for low fat cream cheese, swap the regular mayo for light mayo, full-fat sour cream for light sour cream, and then substitute plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. There’s not anything you can do to lighten up the cheese unfortunately.
What is Treasure Cave?
Treasure Cave is a Wisconsin based company that was founded in 1935 in the caves of Wisconsin. The caves were renovated to be the first blue cheese caves established in America. By the early 1990s, the popularity of Treasure Cave outgrew the caves and they moved to a facility where they continued to make the most delicious cave-aged cheeses. They have made a blue cheese lover out of me!
Where Can I Find Treasure Cave Products?
Here in Utah, I buy Treasure Cave blue cheese at Smith’s or at Harmon’s. The awesome thing is that Treasure Cave has a handy feature on their website where you can search using your zip code and see what grocery stores near you carry their products. It’s so handy!
Storage Tips
Leftover blue cheese and roasted pear dip should be stored in the refrigerator and it will keep for up to 4-5 days.
Leftovers can be reheated in the oven or in the microwave. I prefer to use the oven if I have the time because it gets all caramelized again and bubbly on top again.
I do not recommend freezing this dip recipe.
Made with 4 different cheese (Treasure Cave Blue Cheese being the star!), crispy prosciutto, roasted pears and fresh herbs, this homemade blue cheese dip is unlike anything you’ve tried before! Perfect for a tailgating party on game day, an appetizer on New Years Eve, or a starter for your holiday festivities.
More Delicious Dip Recipes:
Servings: 14
Prep Time: 15 minutesmins
Cook Time: 1 hourhr
Total Time: 1 hourhr15 minutesmins
Description
Get ready for the most decadent and irresistible blue cheese dip of your life! I never thought I’d see the day that said the secret is in the blue cheese, but in fact, the key to this recipe is the Treasure Cave Blue Cheese!
Herbs, for garnish, we prefer thyme and chopped chives, or parsley they make all the difference
Heat the oven to 400 degrees F and lay the prosciutto out on a parchment lined baking sheet.
5 oz Prosciutto
Bake for 6 minutes, flip and bake another 5-6 minutes. Remove to a plate to cool and then crumble.
Increase the heat up to 450 degrees F and lay the pear slices out flat with a small drizzle of oil and bake for 10- 15 minutes, flip once once they are starting to brown and cook for another 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
1 Pear, Olive Oil
Decrease the heat down to 350 degrees F.
In a bowl, using a hand mixer, mix the cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise with the seasonings.
1 Brick Cream Cheese, 1/2 Cup Sour Cream, 1 Cup Mayonnaise, 1/8 teaspoon Ground Cardamom, 1/8 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg, Salt and Pepper
Add the Treasure Cave Treasured Cave Blue Cheese and fold to combine.
1 ½ Cups Treasure Cave Crumbled Blue Cheese, 1 ½ Cups Fontina Cheese, 1 Cup Parmesan Cheese
Add 2/3 of the pears and prosciutto and fold again.
Place in a baking dish or deep dish pie dish (8×8) and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.
Sprinkle with remaining pears, prosciutto, a little more Treasure Cave Crumbled Blue Cheese and fresh herbs. Bake another 5-10 minutes or until bubbling.
Herbs
Serve with crostinis (see step 9 if you want to make them yourself)!
To make crostinis, thinly slice a baguette, then place the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and brush with oil or butter. Place the baking sheet in the broiler and let the slices get toasty. You can flip them to toast both sides if desired.
If you love Mexican food, you will love this Mexican Corn Dip. It’s easy to make and full of Mexican flavors and spices. So get ready for our all-time favorite Mexican Corn Dip recipe!
We love elote Mexican street corn in our house! Those flavors are just heaven! Then we thought…why not take those same flavors and make a dip?! Less mess, less corn stuck in your teeth but all the same deliciousness!
We posted our slow cooker corn dip with chorizo a little while ago and it is fabulous, but I wanted to create a cold dip version. So this edition of corn dip skips the chorizo (though you could keep the chorizo if you want) and adds some minced jalapeno. You’re going to love it!
Recommended Equipment
Before You Begin…
If you’re roasting your own corn, start by firing up the grill and getting the corn ready. It really does make a difference to roast your own fresh corn on the cob (yummmmm!), but there are other options if you don’t want to roast your own. Keep scrolling down…
What’s in Mexican Corn Dip?
The ingredients for cold Mexican corn dip are simple and easy to find! Here is what you will need…
Base: Plain Yogurt, Mayo, Lime Juice, White Vinegar
Cheeses: Cotija Cheese and Mexican Shredded Cheese
Seasonings: Chili Powder, Cayenne, Salt, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, and Smoked Paprika
Add-ins: Diced Green Chiles, Fire Roasted Corn, Green Onions, and Roasted Jalapenos
The measurements for all of the ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
How to Make Corn Dip
This dip recipe couldn’t be any easier. You just mix everything together and then place it in an airtight container in the fridge for at least an hour (or up to overnight) for all the flavors to combine. That’s it!
Can I Use Canned or Frozen Corn?
I know that fresh corn on the cob isn’t accessible most places all year round. So I definitely use canned or frozen corn on occasion because I NEED to make this corn dip all year round! Either canned or frozen corn will work.
PRO TIP: Fresh corn on the cob freezes extremely well. Sometimes I will buy them in bulk, shuck them, give them a quick blanch and then cut the corn off the cob. I use my food saver to seal up bags of fresh corn and then pull one out of the freezer when I need to make this dip in the winter!
If you need to use frozen corn, make sure to let it thaw and dry any excess water. Canned corn needs to be drained thoroughly. You can roast canned or frozen corn to get that charred smoky flavor in the oven or on the stove top in a cast iron skillet.
Substitute for Cotija?
Cotija cheese can be found in the cheese section with the other Mexican cheeses. If you can’t find it or aren’t a fan, you can use feta or queso fresco.
Variations
One of the things I love about dip recipes is that they can be flexible and open to customization. Here are a few ideas:
Additions: shredded chicken, black olives, chopped cilantro, black beans or pinto beans (drained and rinsed), bacon crumbles, avocado, cooked chorizo
Substitutions: swap sour cream for the plain yogurt, or add pepper jack cheese instead of the Mexican shredded cheese (either all or part of it)
Removals: leave out the jalapenos to reduce the heat
You can also eat this dip hot. Just add everything to saucepan (or slow cooker) and mix everything together. Let it simmer until warmed through.
How to Eat
I’ll use just about anything as a vessel to get this dip into my mouth, but here are some suggestions…
Tortilla chips
Baguette slices
Pita chips
Carrots
Pretzel chips
Celery
What to Serve with Mexican Street Corn Dip
Here are a few ideas of some of our favorite main dishes that would go great with this corn dip:
How to Store and Use Leftovers
Store leftover corn dip in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It will keep for 3-4 days.
If you have a lot of leftovers, one of my favorite ways to use this dip is in enchiladas. Mix some shredded cooked chicken to the dip and then wrap about a half cup of the filling into flour tortillas and line them in a baking dish. Top with some green enchilada sauce and shredded cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Totally delicious!!
Mexican corn dip is creamy, a little spicy, perfectly chunky, and has all the flavors you love in Mexican street corn! You’re going to totally flip for this dip recipe!
More Delicious Mexican Dips to Try:
Servings: 18
Prep Time: 10 minutesmins
Description
If you love Mexican food, you will love this Mexican Corn Dip. It’s easy to make and full of Mexican flavors and spices. So get ready for our all-time favorite Mexican Corn Dip recipe!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Add everything to a large mixing bowl and stir everything together.
1 1/2 Cups Plain Yogurt, 1 1/2 Cups Mayo, 2/3 Cup Cotija Cheese, 3 Cups Mexican Shredded Cheese, 1 Can Diced Green Chiles, 1 1/2 teaspoons Chili Powder, 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne, 1 teaspoon Salt, 1 teaspoon Onion Powder, 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder, 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika, 2 Cups Fire Roasted Corn, 1 Squeeze Lime Juice, 1 Tablespoon White Vinegar, 2 Green Onions, 1-2 Roasted Jalapenos
Let it sit, covered, in the fridge for at least 30-60 minutes (or up to overnight) to let all the flavors meld.
Over 50 Perfect Game Day Recipes for feeding a few or a large crowd. From dips to drinks, appetizers and tacos, nachos and taquitos. You’ll find all you need right here!
The big game is this weekend and truth be told… I’m a little excited.
This year I’m making Stromboli and Caesar salad and other than that, I’m not leaving the couch. Just a lazy Sunday filled with food and football. And just incase you’re looking for a little snack or sandwich inspiration, I decided to compile a list of perfect game day recipes! A list that already has over 50 recipes! However I do plan to update it throughout the year, so this list will be growing.
What do you make on Super Bowl Sunday? Do you have any staple game day recipes? Let me know in the comments!
