The holidays are all about sharing moments and amazing food—and these easy make-ahead appetizers are here to make hosting a breeze! From creamy crab pinwheels to sweet and salty candied pecans, you’ll find festive, crowd-pleasing bites that are big on flavor and short on prep time. Get ready to impress with creamy dips, crunchy snacks, and sweet treats like chocolate-covered strawberries and holiday Chex mix. The best part? You can make them ahead of time and enjoy stress-free entertaining. Check out the full list and find your new go-to holiday favorites!

Creamy Crab Pinwheels

Pinwheel tortilla rolls filled with vegetables and cheese are arranged on a tray. Garnished with chopped green onions and red peppers, lemon wedges are placed at the edges.
Creamy Crab Pinwheels. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Tortilla pinwheels filled with a creamy crab mixture make a flavorful and easy appetizer. Prepare them ahead, slice before serving, and enjoy their fresh taste.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Crab Pinwheels

Homemade Spicy Pimento Cheese

spicy pimento cheese
Homemade Spicy Pimento Cheese. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This versatile Southern spread combines rich flavors and a hint of spice. Make it ahead and serve with crackers or fresh veggies for an effortless crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Spicy Pimento Cheese

Creamy Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip

spinach artichoke dip with tortilla chips
Creamy Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

A warm, savory dip that’s perfect for holiday gatherings. Assemble it ahead of time and bake just before serving for maximum flavor.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip

Easy 3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings

Crock pot chicken wings with Dr Pepper and barbecue sauce beans brushed on
Easy 3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

These wings are cooked in a slow cooker, requiring minimal prep. Keep them warm in the crockpot to serve throughout your party.
Get the Recipe: Easy 3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings

Rich And Creamy Pretzel Cheese Dip

A close-up of soft pretzels sprinkled with salt next to a white bowl filled with creamy pretzel cheese dip. The smooth dip, with visible specks of seasoning, sits invitingly on a wooden surface.
Rich And Creamy Pretzel Cheese Dip. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This indulgent dip pairs perfectly with pretzels or breadsticks. Make it ahead and reheat when ready to serve for a comforting appetizer.
Get the Recipe: Rich And Creamy Pretzel Cheese Dip

Sweet and Salty Candied Cashews

A bowl of candied cashews on a light gray surface. The cashews are piled in a white bowl lined with parchment paper, and a cloth napkin is partially visible in the background.
Sweet and Salty Candied Cashews. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

These candied nuts offer a delightful balance of sweetness and saltiness. Prepare them ahead of time and serve as a simple, crunchy snack.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Salty Candied Cashews

Easy And Creamy Classic Deviled Eggs

A plate of deviled eggs is arranged neatly, each with a creamy orange filling and a sprinkle of paprika on top. The background features stacked white plates and a white cloth.
Easy And Creamy Classic Deviled Eggs. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

A timeless appetizer that’s quick to prepare and always a hit. Make them a day in advance and add garnish just before serving.
Get the Recipe: Easy And Creamy Classic Deviled Eggs

Sweet Creamy Pumpkin Dip

A white bowl filled with creamy orange dip, garnished with a ginger snap cookie. Surrounding the bowl are more ginger snap cookies and green apple slices on a white plate. A striped cloth and small white pumpkins are in the background.
Sweet Creamy Pumpkin Dip. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This festive dip blends pumpkin and cream cheese for a holiday-inspired treat. Serve it with gingersnaps or apple slices after preparing it ahead of time.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Creamy Pumpkin Dip

4-Ingredient No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Clusters

A silver tray holds clusters of chocolate-covered peanuts and a small cup filled with salted peanuts. Scattered around the tray are additional chocolate clusters and a few loose peanuts. A striped towel is partially visible beneath the tray.
4-Ingredient No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Clusters. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

These simple clusters mix chocolate and peanuts for a sweet and salty treat. Make them ahead and store them in an airtight container until your event.
Get the Recipe: 4-Ingredient No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Clusters

Christmas Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Strawberries decorated for the holidays with white and dark chocolate coatings, topped with festive sprinkles, red and green icing, and holiday shapes like Christmas trees and stars, arranged on a white tray.
Christmas Chocolate Covered Strawberries. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Juicy strawberries dipped in chocolate and decorated festively are both elegant and easy to make. Prepare them ahead and refrigerate until serving time.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Chocolate Covered Strawberries

15-Minute Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Jalapeno Dip

A close-up of a bowl filled with cranberry salsa, garnished with sliced jalapeños. A hand is dipping a cracker into the salsa. In the background, there's a bowl of cranberries and scattered crackers.
15-Minute Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Jalapeno Dip. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This dip balances the tartness of cranberries with the heat of jalapeños for a bold, festive flavor. Let it chill in the fridge for a few hours to enhance its taste.
Get the Recipe: 15-Minute Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Jalapeno Dip

Candied Pecans

A bowl filled with glazed or candied pecans rests on a white surface. Some pecans are scattered nearby, showcasing their glossy coating and appeal as a sweet snack or dessert topping.
Candied Pecans. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

These sweet, crunchy nuts are a versatile snack or salad topping. Prepare them in advance and store them in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Get the Recipe: Candied Pecans

White Chocolate Christmas Chex Mix

A bowl of snack mix containing pretzels, cereal squares, red and green candies, and peanuts, mixed with a creamy coating. A small bowl of red, white, and green sprinkles is seen in the background.
White Chocolate Christmas Chex Mix. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

A festive twist on the classic snack mix, this version includes white chocolate and holiday-themed add-ins. Make it ahead and store it in an airtight container until your gathering.
Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Christmas Chex Mix

4-Ingredient Pretzel Christmas Treats

A bowl filled with festive pretzel snacks. Each pretzel is topped with melted chocolate, round red and green candies, and colorful sprinkles. The treats have a holiday theme with a mix of sweet and salty flavors.
4-Ingredient Pretzel Christmas Treats. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

These bite-sized snacks combine pretzels, chocolate, and festive toppings for a sweet and salty treat. Prepare them in advance and store them in a cool place until serving.
Get the Recipe: 4-Ingredient Pretzel Christmas Treats

Easy Mexican Caviar: 10-Minute Party Dip

Texas caviar with beans, cilantro, onions and seasonings
Easy Mexican Caviar: 10-Minute Party Dip. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Also known as Texas caviar, this dip features black-eyed peas, corn, and a tangy dressing. It’s quick to assemble and can be made a day ahead to enhance the flavors.
Get the Recipe: Easy Mexican Caviar: 10-Minute Party Dip

Sweet Strawberry Pretzel Dip

pretzel dip
Sweet Strawberry Pretzel Dip. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This creamy dip combines strawberries and cream cheese for a sweet complement to salty pretzels. Prepare it ahead and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Strawberry Pretzel Dip

Cold Knorr Vegetable Dip

knorr vegetable dip
Cold Knorr Vegetable Dip. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This classic dip made with Knorr’s vegetable mix is perfect for pairing with fresh veggies or bread. Make it the day before to allow the flavors to develop.
Get the Recipe: Cold Knorr Vegetable Dip

A plate of chocolate cookies partially dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with crushed peppermint candy. The cookies are arranged in a pile on a white plate.
29 Great Cookie Exchange Recipes. Photo Credit: Trop Rockin.

Holiday cookie exchanges are a delightful way to share the joy of the season with friends and family. This recipe collection is filled with treats from soft and spiced Holiday Classic Gingerbread Cookies to the indulgent Red Velvet Crinkles and refreshing Peppermint Bark Cookies. There’s even a creative DIY Cookie Mix in a Jar idea for gifting. With so many incredible recipes to choose from, you’ll want to bake them all and spread holiday cheer one cookie at a time! Get All The Recipes: 29 Great Cookie Exchange Recipes Everyone Will Want