Nothing says Christmas like cranberries. These tart berries add a festive flavor to your meal, but you don’t just have to serve them at dinner. These cranberry appetizers for Christmas will fill your guests while adding color to your table.
17+ Fancy Cranberry Appetizers For Christmas
1. 30 Minute Cranberry Brie Bites
Who doesn’t love quick and easy cranberry appetizers for Christmas? These Brie bites are so simple to prepare.
Just fill the cups of a mini muffin pan with squares of puff pastry (be sure to keep the corners upright to make little cups). Fill with a cube of Brie, a spoonful of cranberry mixture and a sprinkle of pecans.
Bake for 12-15 minutes and serve. I also like to add a sprig of rosemary to each bite.
I recommend refrigerating the muffin tin with the puff pastry for at least 10 minutes before baking. Cold pastry dough will puff higher and add more flakiness.
2. Cranberry and Brie Crostini
Three ingredients are all you need for these crostini: baguette, Brie and cranberry sauce. Top each slice of baguette with Brie and a spoonful of cranberry sauce.
Bake for just a few minutes to warm up the crostini and soften the cheese.
I like to add a sprig of thyme for some color and flavor.
While I’ve never tried this recipe with other types of cheese, I’m sure you could use mozzarella, cheddar or goat cheese.
Related: 15 Festive Christmas Appetizers with a Fruit Twist
3. Cranberry Brie Wreath
Eight servings of these delicious treats on crescent rolls are sure to be a good start to any family gathering or party. You’ll use refrigerated rolls with egg brushed on top to make them crispy and fill them with:
- Cranberry sauce
- Brie cheese
- Chopped pistachios
- Fresh rosemary
You’ll add some finishing touches with salt, honey and sugared cranberries, all of which are optional. Preheat your oven to 390℉, line your baking sheet with parchment paper and then begin arranging your dough. Add your filling, fold and seal, brush on your egg wash and then bake.
4. Cranberry Brie Bites
For once, I’m going to recommend ignoring the recipe for this dish. I used the photo as inspiration for my appetizer and it turned out great.
Cut a wheel of Brie into cubes and top with a small spoonful of cranberry sauce. Insert a toothpick into each bite to make it easy for guests to pick up and eat.
5. Cranberry and Brie Filo Crackers
These filo crackers are so festive, and they offer the tart cranberry flavor that everyone loves. The flaky filo sheets melt in your mouth, and the filling is made with a delicious mix of Brie cheese, cranberry sauce and almond flakes.
You can also use cheddar cheese or goat cheese instead of Brie.
Just roll up your sheets, pinch both ends to form crackers and bake for 15-20 minutes.
Garnish with chives or rosemary leaves.
You can make these ahead of time, but they taste best when they’re fresh and crispy.
6. Creamy Baked Cranberry Dip
How fancy is this cranberry dip? The colors and fresh berries as garnish are a feast for the eyes.
The best part is that this is not even a complicated recipe.
You’ll make a tasty cranberry sauce with fresh berries, sugar, orange juice and zest, and vanilla extract.
Beat softened cream cheese until smooth, spread it into a baking dish and pour the cranberry sauce on top.
Bake until the edges are bubbly and the cranberry topping is caramelized.
Serve with baguette slices, crackers or veggies.
7. Cranberry Brie Tart with Pancetta and Thyme
This recipe is one of my favorite cranberry appetizers for Christmas. The savory pancetta pairs so well with the tart cranberries, adding so much depth and flavor.
And the puff pastry adds some flakiness for a truly tasty dish.
Preparing the tart is easy. Thaw your puff pastry dough, roll it out, add the Brie and then top with cranberries and pancetta.
Top with thyme sprigs and brush on an egg wash to make the crust golden and glossy.
8. Baked Cranberry Brie Bites
These baked bites are crispy and tasty. They’re filled with cubes of Brie cheese, cranberry sauce, nuts (pecans or walnuts work best) and honey or maple syrup.
The recipe calls for puff pastry, but I’ve also used eggroll wrappers to make these and they were extra crispy.
Serve them with extra cranberry sauce. You can even add cooked turkey into the filling for some protein.
9. Sweet Potato Rounds with Cranberries and Pecans
These sweet potato rounds are crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. But what makes them really special is the cranberry, pecan and Brie topping.
Roast your sweet potato slices or cook them in an air fryer. You can add a little brown sugar and cinnamon to them to add a festive flavor.
I prefer to use pecans, but you can use any type of nut you want. Don’t forget to add sprigs of thyme or rosemary to add a little extra color and flavor.
Related: 25+ Light Appetizers for Your Christmas Gathering
10. White Cheddar Cranberry Dip
White cheddar and cranberries pair perfectly in this recipe. This dip is a simple mix of extra sharp cheddar, cream cheese, cranberry sauce, fresh cranberries and a pinch of nutmeg.
You’ll make your own cranberry sauce first and allow it to cool before preparing the base of this dip.
Assemble your dip in a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes. Add a little extra white cheddar to the top and bake again for a few minutes to crisp it up.
Serve with crostini or sturdy crackers.
11. Cranberry Brie Bombs
These little bombs are so delicious, and they only take 35 minutes to make. You’ll use refrigerated biscuit dough, which saves time and adds so much flakiness to the dish.
Each biscuit is flattened and topped with a cube of Brie cheese, some cranberry sauce and spices. Then, the dough is wrapped around the filling, brushed with melted butter and baked.
12. Eggnog Panna Cotta with Spiked Cranberry Sauce
Who says you can’t have dessert as an appetizer? This delicious panna cotta is topped with a spiked cranberry sauce featuring orange liqueur, orange juice, cranberries and sugar.
Make the eggnog panna cotta and top with the sauce. Add fresh berries and rosemary sprigs as garnish.
13. Andouille Sausage Appetizer Bites With Cranberry Cheddar
Appetizer bites like these are packed with flavor. You’ll follow along with detailed photos from the author as they make these bites with just five main ingredients:
- Andouille sausage
- Cranberry cheddar
- Vegetable oil
- Cranberry sauce
- Appetizer picks
14. Cranberry Meatballs
You’ll love the taste of these meatballs either way. For the meatballs themselves, you’ll need eggs, tomato ketchup, salt and pepper, lean ground pork, Worcestershire sauce, small onion, parsley and breadcrumbs.
But the magic comes from the sauce on top, which is made from:
- Ketchup
- Lemon juice
- Packed brown sugar
- Cranberry sauce
While you bake the meatballs, you’ll prepare the sauce and then garnish and serve.
15. Harvest Cranberry Deviled Eggs
Trust me when I say that you should add these cranberry appetizers for Christmas to the menu this year. You’ll make deviled eggs by placing your eggs in a saucepan with water covering them and bringing them to a boil.
Allow to cool for 12 minutes before transferring them to an ice bath.
Peel the eggs, remove the yolk and then mash with a fork. Mix in your mayo, Dijon mustard, spices and apple cider vinegar. Stir in your parsley and chives before piping the mix back into the egg whites.
Top with a mixture of cranberry sauce and honey, garnish with paprika and parsley leaves and serve.
16. Cranberry Salsa
Want some crackers this Christmas and need the perfect dip to go along with it? Fresh, bold flavors await with a salsa made from:
- Fresh cranberries
- Green onions
- Cilantro
- Jalapeno pepper
- Granulated sugar
- Limes
- Cumin powder
Wash your cranberries, seed and chop the jalapeno, and then combine all of your ingredients in a food processor before chilling. You will serve this over a block of cream cheese for added flavor.
17. Cranberry and Turkey Stuffing Meatballs
Savory turkey and sweet cranberries come together well with this side dish. You’ll have the perfect excuse to make leftover turkey and stuffing, both of which are core parts of this recipe, along with:
- Dried cranberries
- Chicken broth
- Parsley
- Breadcrumbs
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
Add your turkey, stuffing and cranberries into a large mixing bowl. Mix well before adding your chicken broth, parsley, salt and pepper. The hardest part is gradually adding your broth so that it’s moist and not wet.
In a separate bowl, beat eggs and add them into your mixture followed by breadcrumbs. Form your meatballs, transfer them to a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
Related: 15+ Best Christmas Appetizers That Are Anything But Boring
18. Cranberry Pecan Crostini with Brie
Here’s another delicious crostini recipe that you’ll love – and so will your guests. It’s a simple dish made with slices of baguette, brie and pecans.
To make the best crostini:
- Use fresh bread and make sure your slices are about 1/2″ thick.
- Use a young, firm Brie that will hold its shape and won’t have a strong aroma.
- If you have the time, make a homemade cranberry sauce. Otherwise, use whole cranberry sauce.
- Toast the pecans to bring out their nutty flavor and add some crunch to your dish.
You can even add a drizzle of honey to your crostini if you want to add a touch of sweetness.
19. Cranberry Feta Pinwheels with Cream Cheese
I love making these cranberry feta pinwheels for holiday parties because they look festive without any effort. It’s just a creamy mix of cream cheese and feta with dried cranberries, fresh parsley, and walnuts rolled up in soft tortillas and sliced into cute bite-size swirls. The combo is sweet, tangy, and salty in the best way, and they chill in the fridge before slicing so you can make them ahead. They’re the kind of appetizer everyone grabs first and asks for the recipe.
20. Bacon Cranberry Walnut Stuffed Celery
I love how simple this cranberry bacon stuffed celery is, and it looks way fancier than it really is. It’s a creamy mix of cream cheese, crispy bacon, dried cranberries, and chopped walnuts piped into fresh celery sticks for the best sweet-salty crunch in one bite. You can chill the filling ahead, stuff the celery right before serving, and you’ve got an easy holiday appetizer that feels fresh on the table next to all the heavier party food. It’s one of those recipes people don’t expect but always ask for.
21. Turkey Cranberry Sliders
These little sliders are my favorite way to turn holiday leftovers into something everyone actually gets excited about. It’s just soft mini rolls stacked with juicy turkey, a layer of sweet-tart cranberry sauce, and melty Swiss, all brushed with buttery seasoning and baked until everything gets warm and gooey.
It tastes like cozy holiday flavors in one bite and it works for anything from a casual hangout to a brunch spread. I’ve swapped the turkey for chicken before and added stuffing in the middle and it was ridiculous in the best way.
22. Cranberry Walnut Salad
Salad is always something I make as an appetizer for any dinner I host, and this one feels extra festive during the holidays. It’s super simple but looks beautiful on the table.
Just mixed greens tossed with dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, feta cheese, and a splash of balsamic vinaigrette. The sweet cranberries, crunchy nuts, and creamy feta hit all the right notes, and it pairs perfectly next to richer dishes like stuffing and roasted meats.
I love serving it chilled so the flavors stay bright and fresh, and if there are leftovers, it makes the best lunch the next day with a little turkey on top.
