5-Ingredient Holiday Party Foods

Updated December 05, 2011

Make holiday entertaining stress-free with these festive 5-ingredient easy appetizers and desserts.

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Pimiento Cheese Cookies

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Pimiento Cheese Cookies Recipe

We used Palmetto Cheese, a South Carolina favorite, in these treats.

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Chocolate-Dipped Praline Pretzels

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Chocolate-Dipped Praline Pretzels Recipe

These simple chocolate-dipped pretzels are a great grab and go option to satisfy that sweet-and-salty craving.

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Pepper Jelly-Pecan Rugelach

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Pepper Jelly-Pecan Rugelach Recipe

Pepper Jelly-Pecan Rugelach are buttery and flaky with just the right amount of sweet heat thanks to the red pepper jelly.

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Mini Quiches

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Mini Quiches Recipe

Five ingredients and 5 minutes of baking gets you these mini quiches, tasty pastry cups filled with egg and cheese and topped with bacon.

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Bacon-Wrapped Figs

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Bacon-Wrapped Figs Recipe

Stuff figs with soft goat cheese and pecan halves, and then wrap in bacon for a savory-sweet appetizer.

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5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies

Credit: Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller

5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies Recipe

Your holiday party will be a huge hit with these elegant ornament sugar cookies.

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Goat Cheese and Chocolate-Stuffed Dates

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Goat Cheese and Chocolate-Stuffed Dates Recipe

With goat cheese, dates, unsweetened chocolate and powdered sugar, you might consider this recipe a dessert masquerading as an appetizer. Either way, you’ll find these stuffed dates hard to resist.

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Red Pepper-Walnut Dip

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Red Pepper-Walnut Dip Recipe

Guests will be surprised to learn that walnuts and raisins give this dip its unique flavor. Serve with toasted pita wedges or sourdough baguette slices.

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Curried Coconut Shrimp Balls

Credit: Howard L. Puckett; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty

Curried Coconut Shrimp Balls Recipe

The flavor-packed bites are a great grab-and-go option for the appetizer table.

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Olive-Nut Spread Sandwiches

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Olive-Nut Spread Sandwiches Recipe

Toasted pecans add a nice crunch to the olive and cream cheese spread for these tasty party sandwiches.

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White Chocolate-Peppermint Mousse

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst

White Chocolate-Peppermint Mousse Recipe

Heavy cream, white chocolate, and peppermint extract are the only ingredients you'll need to make these cute-as-can-be dessert cups. Top with crushed peppermint candies for crunch, if desired.

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Candied Hazelnut Brittle

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Candied Hazelnut Brittle Recipe

Offer a bite of something sweet to guest with this easy-to-make candy that looks beautiful on the serving table.

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Goat Cheese-and-Olive Mini Tarts

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Goat Cheese-and-Olive Mini Tarts Recipe

Fill frozen mini phyllo sheets with a savory mixture of goat cheese and olive tapenade for a super-quick, sophisticated appetizer.

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Browned Butter-Pecan Shortbread

Browned Butter-Pecan Shortbread Recipe

These “not-too-sweet” wafers pair nicely with fruits, cheeses and wines for a cocktail buffet party.

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No-Bake Peanut Butter Clusters

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

No-Bake Peanut Butter Clusters Recipe

You might want to make an extra batch of these crispy cereal treats as they’ll get gobbled up quickly at any holiday party.

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Rocky Top Brownies

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Rocky Top Brownies Recipe

To serve at a holiday dessert party, we suggest cutting these candy-topped brownies into small squares that are easy to pick up from the platter.

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Pimiento Cheese Rolls

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Pimiento Cheese Rolls Recipe

Serve up a twist on the Southern staple with this easy appetizer.

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White Chocolate-Cherry Bark

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr and Leigh Ann Ross

White Chocolate-Cherry Bark Recipe

White chocolate, pretzels, almonds, and cherries are the stars in this sweet holiday bark.

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Holiday Power Mix

Holiday Power Mix Recipe

We used a dried fruit mix blend of blueberries, cherries, cranberries, and plums.

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Duchess Potatoes

Duchess Potatoes Recipe

A great choice for entertaining, Duchess Potatoes are cooked potatoes that are blended with egg yolks, butter and cream, piped into a decorative shape and baked.

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Lemon-and-Black-Pepper Cheese Straws

Lemon-and-Black-Pepper Cheese Straws Recipe

Use frozen puff pastry to make these pretty twists. No one can resist a good cheese straw!

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Savory Parmesan Bites

Credit: Gooseberry Patch

Savory Parmesan Bites Recipe

These yummy sausage cups are the perfect morning treat. Easy to grab and go, these little cups will be a hit at your next brunch.

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Savory Parmesan Bites

Savory Parmesan Bites Recipe

Prepare these festive parmesan bites the night before your next holiday party for the ultimate party platter.

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Chocolate Bruschetta

Credit: Randy Mayor; Cindy Barr

Chocolate Bruschetta Recipe

Salt enhances the chocolate flavor. For best results, use good-quality chocolate and coarse sea salt. Garnish with fresh mint leaves instead of orange rind, if desired.

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Last-Minute Spinach Dip

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Last-Minute Spinach Dip Recipe

Combine store-bought hummus and frozen spinach for a super-easy dip.

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Ice Cream Truffles

Credit: Anna Williams

Ice Cream Truffles Recipe

These perfect bite-sized ice cream treats are a fun twist on the standard truffle.

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Divine Pimiento Cheese

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Divine Pimiento Cheese Recipe

"If I could choose my last meal, it would have to include pimiento cheese. There are very few days when my fridge isn’t home to a batch of the famous spread."

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Spicy Tortilla Strips

Credit: John Autry

Spicy Tortilla Strips Recipe

Increase the ground red pepper to add a kick, or omit it for a tame batch. Blend regular flour, whole-wheat flour, and corn tortillas for a mixture of taste and texture, if you like.

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Cheese Crostini with Prosciutto

Cheese Crostini with Prosciutto Recipe

This fast, simple appetizer complements pastas, soups, and salads. You can grate the cheese for the crostini in advance.

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