5-Ingredient Holiday Party Foods

December 05, 2011
Make holiday entertaining stress-free with these festive 5-ingredient easy appetizers and desserts.
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Pimiento Cheese Cookies

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo:
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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

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

Photo: 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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