18 Make-Ahead Christmas Appetizers for a Stress-Free Holiday

Because holidays are meant to be enjoyed.

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published December 09, 2025
Theodora Kaloudis
Mini Salmon Quiches
Sally Vargas

If you’re stressing about your upcoming holiday gathering, here’s a tip: Choose recipes that can be made ahead. When I’m hosting, I like to prepare as much as possible days beforehand, so I won’t be stuck in the kitchen and can actually enjoy the party and spend time with my guests.

With a mix of retro and modern, we’ve curated a collection of appetizers that feature a make-ahead component. Classic recipes such as Stuffed Mushrooms and Shrimp Cocktail, as well as easy snack mixes like sweet and Spicy Nuts and a Chex Mix with a twist. To make life even easier, we pulled out the important make-ahead details for you, so scroll down, pick your favorites, and get ready to host a stress-free holiday party.

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  • Easy Baked Brie in Puff Pastry

    Baked Brie
    Elise Bauer

    You can assemble the brie in the puff pastry up to two days ahead, just don’t add the maple syrup and brown sugar until you’re ready to bake. Store the assembled appetizer in the fridge wrapped in foil that’s been lightly greased with oil or cooking spray, so it doesn’t stick to the pastry.

  • Classic Stuffed Mushrooms

    A platter of stuffed mushrooms on a bed of greens
    Sally Vargas

    “You can prepare the filling and stuff the mushrooms (without baking them) for up to 24 hours ahead. Just cover and refrigerate them, and then cook them right before serving.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Honey Chorizo Dip

    Side view of honey chorizo spread in a bowl surrounded by radishes, cucumber spears and sliced baguette, with one baguette slice topped with the spread

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    The dip can be made up to two days ahead and stored in the fridge in an airtight container. When ready to serve, bring the dip to room temperature. If the dip is too thick, add water a tablespoon at a time until it reaches a spreadable consistency.

  • Shrimp Cocktail

    Shrimp Cocktail + Shrimp Cocktail Sauce

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

    Both the shrimp and cocktail sauce can be made ahead. Refrigerate the shrimp within two hours of cooking. Store them in an airtight container and place them in the coldest part of the fridge up to two days ahead. The cocktail sauce will keep in the fridge for one to two weeks.

    Continue to 5 of 18 below

  • Millionaire’s Bacon

    Overhead view of six slices of cooked bacon on a teal baking tray

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “Millionaire’s Bacon stores well and can be made ahead of time, freeing you up on the morning of a special breakfast or brunch gathering. Cook the bacon as directed and cool it completely before storing it in an airtight container for up to five days in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, warm it slightly by microwaving it for 15 to 20 seconds, but don’t overcook it—you want it warm but not hot when served.” —Irvin Lin, Recipe Developer

  • Cheese Straws

    Twisted Cheese Straws on a Plate Next to a Drink and a Kitchen Towel. One Twisted Cheese Straw Is Broken in Half Next to the Plate.

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    “Store for up to a week in an airtight container. If your cheese straws lose some of their crispness, recrisp them briefly in a toaster oven and cool before serving.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Sriracha Honey Chex Mix

    Sweet and spicy chex mix in a bowl at a table setting with two glasses of beer and a yellow kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “Sriracha, with its fresh, vinegary spiciness, pairs wonderfully with sticky-sweet honey. It’s a truly magical flavor combination when applied to Chex Mix. A little soy sauce adds some savory saltiness, and butter makes everything better (and crispy). The Chex Mix will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Mini Salmon Quiches

    Mini Salmon Quiches
    Sally Vargas

    “You can assemble them ahead of time and freeze them, saving effort for the day of your event. To reheat, place them, still frozen, on a baking sheet and warm in a 350°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until hot all the way through.” —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

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  • Whipped Feta with Figs, Pistachio, and Honey

    Whipped feta with figs, nuts, and honey in a bowl with bread dipped in the side.
    Karishma Pradhan

    “This dip has the lightest, creamiest texture on the day it's made, but it can definitely be made one to two days ahead and kept covered in the fridge. When ready to serve, bring the dip to room temperature. I recommend preparing the fig honey topping just before serving so the honey syrup doesn't crystallize in the fridge.” —Karishma Pradhan, Recipe Developer

  • Million Dollar Deviled Eggs

    A ceramic serving plate with deviled eggs, garnished with chopped chives and paprika

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    “Once assembled, deviled eggs can be kept in an airtight container or loosely covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for 24 hours. Let warm up closer to room temperature before serving.” —Irvin Lin, Recipe Developer

  • Spinach Artichoke Dip with Bacon

    Best Spinach Artichoke Dip with Bacon
    Elise Bauer

    “This dip can be fully prepared up to 24 hours ahead and transferred to the casserole dish. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to eat. Remove the plastic wrap and heat in the oven as per the recipe, adding a few extra minutes to the total time.” —Aaron Hutcherson, Recipe Developer

  • Marry Me Party Dip

    Cheesy dip in a skillet with chips being dipped in

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    “You can make this recipe ahead of time, though I recommend substituting 1/2 cup of fresh spinach for the frozen spinach called for in the recipe. Mix together all the dip ingredients except the parmesan and mozzarella that gets sprinkled on top. Refrigerate the dip in an airtight container for up to two days.” — Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

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  • Classic Cheese Ball

    A platter with a cheese ball coated in nuts surrounded by crackers radishes and celery

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Alex Huang / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    “The best thing about cheese balls is you can make a few and keep them in the fridge for up to a week for easy snacking. Just roll them in nuts (or your coating of choice), and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap.” —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • Smoked Salmon Crostini

    Smoked salmon, cucumber, and cream cheese crostini on a platter.

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Gavin

    “The baguette slices can be baked five days in advance. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature. You could also freeze them in a resealable plastic bag for up to a month. Bring them to room temperature before assembling them. Assembled crostini can be made up to two hours ahead, covered, and refrigerated.” — Jessica Gavin, Recipe Developer

  • Cheddar Cheese Puffs

    Plate of golden cheddar cheese puffs arranged closely together
    Elise Bauer

    The cheese puffs can be frozen before or after baking. To freeze before baking, scoop spoonfuls of dough onto a lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a zip-top bag and freeze for up to two months. Baked cheese puffs can be stored in a zip-top bag and frozen for up to a month.

  • Classic Mixed Nuts

    overhead view of a bowl of Classic Mixed Nuts

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne

    “The cooled nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, in the fridge for up to one week, or in the freezer for up to one month.” —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

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  • Golden Cheddar Cheese Crisps

    Golden Cheddar Cheese Crisps
    Sally Vargas

    Store the cheese crisps at room temperature in an airtight container for up to two days. If they’ve lost their crispness, pop them in a 350°F oven for a few minutes to warm them up. They’ll be crisp once cooled.

  • Whipped Goat Cheese Dip

    A dish of goat cheese dip topped with bacon nuts and chives served with pita chips on the side
    Nick Evans

    “This dip was just as good on day three as on day one, so feel free to make it a few days in advance of any parties. ... If you plan to add herbs to the dip, hold off adding them until right before serving. Herbs like chives will brown slightly in the fridge if the dip is made too far in advance.” —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

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