Planning a party is stressful enough. The last thing you want to worry about is what or how you’re going to feed your guests. Here’s the good news: you don’t need complicated dishes to keep everyone full and happy. In fact, I have 21+ easy winter appetizers that will warm up your gathering and impress your guests.
Planning a party is stressful enough. The last thing you want to worry about is what or how you’re going to feed your guests. Here’s the good news: you don’t need complicated dishes to keep everyone full and happy. In fact, I have 21+ easy winter appetizers that will warm up your gathering and impress your guests.
21+ Easy Winter Appetizers to Warm Up Any Party
1. Easy Goat Cheese Appetizer with Fig Jam and Pecans
What’s the one appetizer that everyone loves? Dip. And this one is something that people won’t be expecting.
This dip features creamy goat cheese topped with a delicious mix of warm honey, fig jam and balsamic vinegar.
I also like to add fresh thyme and nuts (walnuts or pecans).
Serve this with crostini or sturdy crackers.
2. Winter Harvest Endive Cups
These endive cups are so fancy, but they’re also so easy to make. Each cup is filled with a delicious winter-inspired salad of:
- Fresh pears
- Celery
- Pomegranate seeds
- Pistachios
- Parsley
- Blue cheese
- A homemade vinaigrette
Our Salty Kitchen has a tasty vinaigrette recipe that calls for Dijon mustard, champagne vinegar, honey and other tasty ingredients.
Just fill each endive cup with a scoop or two of the salad and serve on a pretty platter.
Related: The 20 Best Hot Appetizers – From Melty Dips to Crispy Bites
3. Fig and Goat Cheese Pinwheels
Pinwheels are a simple and delicious puff pastry-based appetizer that you can make in so many different ways. This recipe includes fig preserves, goat cheese, fresh thyme and a little brown sugar for some sweetness.
Just roll out your thawed pastry dough, top with fig jam and goat cheese, roll, slice and bake.
The best part about this appetizer is that it looks so fancy and complicated, but you’ll only spend 30 minutes or less in the kitchen.
4. Whipped Feta Crostini with Hot Honey
Easy winter appetizers don’t get much tastier than this recipe, which is both sweet and spicy. You need just three ingredients to make the feta spread: feta cheese crumbles, cream cheese and cottage cheese.
Half and Half Mag also includes a recipe for homemade hot honey, but you can always buy a pre-made jar if that’s easier.
The rest is easy. Toast your slices of baguette and top with goat cheese and honey. Add a sprig or two of rosemary for some color, and you’re ready to serve.
5. Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates with Rosemary Honey
Stuffed dates are a fun, tasty and easy appetizer that your guests will love. Just half your dates lengthwise, fill with creamy goat cheese and wrap each half in a slice of bacon.
Before baking, drizzle on some honey, rosemary, cayenne and a pinch of salt and pepper. The honey will help caramelize the bacon in the oven.
6. Avocado Toast with Pomegranate Salsa
Put a winter twist on the classic avocado toast recipe. Layer crusty slices of bread with a mix of avocado and lime juice and a tasty pomegranate salsa featuring spicy jalapeno, citrus and spices.
Top with goat cheese and you have the perfect easy appetizer that your guests won’t be expecting.
7. Cranberry, Brie and Prosciutto Crostini with Balsamic Glaze
These crostini are almost too pretty to eat, and they take no time to prepare. Top each slice of crusty bread with a slice of brie, prosciutto, a generous teaspoon of cranberry sauce and homemade balsamic glaze.
I like to add a sprig of mint and some walnuts as garnish. I also recommend placing a toothpick into each crostini to hold everything together.
8. Pear and Brie Salad Skewers
Simple, delicious and easy to prepare. Just thread chunks of pear onto a skewer, along with slices of brie and arugula. Lay them out on a serving platter and top with walnuts and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
The glaze will help the walnuts stick to the pear slices.
If you don’t like pears, you can use apples instead. You can also use cheddar or mozzarella instead of brie.
9. Smoked Salmon Bagel Dip
Easy winter appetizers like these are always crowd pleasers. The base of this dip is a simple mix of ricotta cheese, softened cream cheese, lemon juice and salt.
The topping? It’s a delicious blend of smoked salmon, thinly sliced red onion, lemon zest, capers, fresh dill and everything bagel seasoning.
Serve this with bagel crisps or crackers.
10. Spinach Artichoke Wonton Cups
Here’s an appetizer that has everything you love about spinach artichoke dip in a convenient, crispy wonton cup.
You can find pre-made wonton wrappers in the grocery store.
Just pop a wrapper in each cup of a mini muffin pan and bake to make your cups. Then, fill each one with the delicious spinach artichoke filling made with:
- Cream cheese
- Sour cream
- Mayo
- Mozzarella
- Parmesan cheese
- Artichokes
- Spinach
- Salt and pepper
11. Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella Bites
Ten minutes is all you need to make this appetizer. Grab some high-quality prosciutto, slice it lengthwise and assemble each bite.
Start with the prosciutto. Then, add a fresh basil leaf, the mozzarella ball, and then roll. Pierce with a toothpick to hold it all together.
I like to top with balsamic glaze and fresh herbs.
12. Salami Roll Ups
Appetizers don’t get much simpler and easier than this recipe. Blend softened cream cheese with Italian seasoning and green onions, spread this mixture on a slice of salami, roll up and add a toothpick to hold the roll-up together.
Add an olive to each toothpick for an extra bite of flavor.
Related: 15+ Best Christmas Appetizers That Are Anything But Boring
13. Onion Ring Chips
I love easy winter appetizers like this one because they look so much more complicated and taste amazing.
The concept is really simple. You’ll dip rings of onion in a tasty buttermilk and spiced flour batter before frying.
If you’re not a fan of deep frying, you can use an air fryer instead.
These cook in just a few minutes and can be served with any dipping sauce you like.
14. Jalapeno Corn Nuggets
Spicy jalapenos mixed with sweet corn and cheese, all rolled up in a delicious batter and fried to golden perfection.
These little nuggets are addictive and only need to be fried for a few minutes per batch.
They taste great on their own, but you can add dipping sauce if you want.
15. Endive with Marinated Salad
Another endive recipe makes this list because these appetizers are so easy to make (not to mention tasty).
Each endive cup is filled with:
- Marinated beets
- Gorgonzola
- Pistachios
Plan ahead for this one. You’ll want to make the dressing a few hours ahead and let it sit in the fridge to marinate.
16. BLT Dip
The Cozy Cook’s BLT dip is absolutely delicious and so easy to prepare. Plus, it’s served cold, so you can even make it ahead of time.
This tasty dip is a mix of cream cheese, sour cream Ranch seasoning, tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, lettuce and crispy bacon.
It’s everything you love about a BLT sandwich in a convenient dip. Serve with crackers or chips.
17. Cheese Tortellini Party Snack
Fried tortellini served with a tasty marinara dipping sauce. For this recipe, you’ll need fresh tortellini. Cook it first and let it cool. Then, roll your pasta in flour, egg and then breadcrumbs before frying.
You can use an air fryer instead of a pan or deep fryer.
18. Air Fryer Ranch Mushrooms
Air fryers make easy winter appetizers and it takes all of seven minutes to make. All you need are portobello mushroom caps, ranch dressing, milk, all-purpose flour, bread crumbs, dry ranch dressing mix, garlic and onion seasoning and a nonstick cooking spray.
In just four easy steps, you’ll be eating delish mushrooms that are crispy and golden.
19. Whiskey Peach BBQ Meatballs
Whiskey peach meatballs are perfect for your winter parties, or as a snack, and there is a crock pot recipe that goes with it. You’ll use frozen homestyle meatballs, so it’s as simple as slathering them in your mix of:
- Hot pepper peach preserves
- BBQ sauce
- Chili sauce
- Whiskey
- Worcestershire sauce
- Minced garlic
Coat, cook for 2-3 hours and then serve with toothpicks or skewers.
20. Bacon Crackers
Savory and satiating, bacon crackers are as simple as laying your club crackers on a wire rack, placing bacon strips on them with a little brown sugar and cayenne pepper and baking for 15 to 20 minutes.
Allow to cool until the crackers crisp.
21. Feta Spinach Pinwheels
Another easy, delish pinwheel recipe. These feta pinwheels are made in a mere 45 minutes and are simple to make with puff pastry, egg, spinach, nutmeg, garlic salt, feta, green onion and mozzarella.
Make an egg wash, roll out your pastry, top with your cheese mixture and some spinach and then seal your pinwheels.
Bake and enjoy.
22. Italian Pinwheel
Zesty pinwheels like these take just 10 minutes prep time, but they do have to chill for an hour. You’ll need a serrated knife for this recipe, which calls for:
- Salami
- Large tortillas
- Provolone cheese
- Banana peppers
- Cream cheese
- Red pepper spread
- Seasonings
You’ll make a mixture of cream cheese, pepper spread, banana peppers and seasoning, which you’ll mash and combine in a bowl. Spread on your tortillas, add your meat and cheese, roll up and allow to chill for at least an hour.
Related: Cozy Winter Cocktails to Serve at Your Next Party
23. Apple Pie Dip
Apple Pie Dip sounds so good right now while it’s cold outside and the wind is blowing incessantly. You’ll need medium apples, which you’ll peel and then chop into ¼-inch cubes. Stir the apples with:
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- Granulated sugar
- Lemon juice
Add the mixture into a large skillet with water, bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes, remove some of the liquid, add in your cornstarch and stir well until your dip thickens.
You’ll then make chips to go along with your dip.
