Christmas appetizers should be easy to make, easy to share, and gone before the main course arrives. This list has 20 easy vegetarian Christmas appetizers, all from real food bloggers, and all linked to the creator’s own recipe page so you can get the full method and measurements. You will find no-cook options, baked bites, dips, and a few shaped like Christmas trees and wreaths, because a holiday table can look festive without extra work.
Pick three or four for a small gathering, or six to eight if appetizers are the whole meal. Mix cold and hot, and pick at least one thing that can be made a day or two ahead. That way the oven is not doing everything at once on Christmas Day.
1. Cranberry-Orange Goat Cheese Bites
Small goat cheese balls rolled in chopped fresh cranberries, orange zest, rosemary and salt, finished with chili-infused honey. The cranberry coating looks festive and the bites hold their shape on a platter. Prep time is 20 minutes and they keep 2 to 3 days refrigerated, so they are a useful one to make before the party.
Recipe: Cranberry-Orange Goat Cheese Bites by Sara Wells, Our Best Bites.
2. Cranberry and Brie Puff Pastry Wreath
A circle of puff pastry filled with cranberry sauce and sliced Brie, scattered with pistachios and baked until golden. Prep is 15 minutes and cook time is 15 minutes at 200C/400F, for 6 servings. It can be assembled and refrigerated up to 2 days ahead and baked up to an hour before serving, which takes pressure off the day itself.
Recipe: Cranberry and Brie Puff Pastry Wreath by Simply Delicious Food.
3. Baked Camembert with Garlic and Rosemary
A 250 g boxed Camembert scored and studded with garlic slivers and rosemary, baked until soft inside. Prep is 5 minutes and cook time is about 20 minutes at 180C/350F, for a total of 25 minutes. Serve it straight from the box with bread or vegetable sticks for dipping, and let guests help themselves.
Recipe: Baked Camembert with Garlic and Rosemary by Emma, Emma Eats and Explores.
4. Pomegranate Salsa
Pomegranate arils tossed with red onion, cilantro, jalapeño, lime zest and juice, and salt, served over an optional whipped goat cheese. The recipe makes 8 appetizer servings and leftovers keep up to 5 days. The page notes that pomegranates are typically available in the US from the end of September through January, so this one is in season for Christmas.
Recipe: Pomegranate Salsa by Kathryne Taylor, Cookie and Kate.
5. Pistachio Pomegranate Crostini
Toasted baguette slices spread with honey-flavoured goat cheese and topped with pomegranate arils, chopped pistachios and rosemary. Prep is 20 minutes and cook time is 10 minutes, for a total of 30 minutes, and the recipe makes 36 crostini. The bread is toasted in a 400 degree oven.
Recipe: Pistachio Pomegranate Crostini by Julie Wunder, Running in a Skirt.
6. Herb Goat Cheese Christmas Tree
Goat cheese shaped into a tree and coated with a mix of olive oil, lemon juice and zest, cilantro or parsley, and dill, with pomegranate seeds scattered over the top. It takes about 5 minutes and is served with crostini or vegetables. It keeps one day refrigerated, so make it the day before at the earliest.
Recipe: Herb Goat Cheese Christmas Tree by Laura Lynch, A Food Lover’s Kitchen.
7. Christmas Cheese Ball Wreath
Cream cheese and feta mixed with Dijon mustard, lemon juice and zest, balsamic vinegar, garlic, dried cranberries and toasted pistachios, shaped into a ring and decorated with herbs, cranberries and rosemary. The pistachios are toasted at 180C/350F for 8 minutes. Chill for 3 or more hours, and it can be made 4 days ahead, which makes it one of the best make-ahead picks on this list.
Recipe: Christmas Cheese Ball Wreath by The Kiwi Country Girl.
8. Caprese Stuffed Mushrooms
Twelve large button mushrooms filled with cheese and mozzarella and topped with halved grape tomatoes marinated with basil and olive oil. They bake at 400F for 20 to 25 minutes. The tomato and basil topping gives each mushroom the familiar caprese flavour in a single bite, and they need no cutlery.
Recipe: Caprese Stuffed Mushrooms by Happy Mothering.
9. Spinach and Cheese Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread
Refrigerated pizza dough shaped into a Christmas tree and filled with spinach, cream cheese, Parmesan and mozzarella, brushed with garlic butter. It bakes at 400F for 20 minutes on the bottom rack and is served warm with marinara. The page lists the recipe as vegetarian.
Recipe: Spinach and Cheese Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread by Raising Veggie Lovers.
10. Roasted Beet Hummus with Cauliflower
A chickpea-free hummus made from roasted beetroot, roasted garlic and roasted cauliflower blended with olive oil, tahini, mustard, cumin, and lemon juice and zest. The vegetables roast at 200C/400F, and the cauliflower roasts for a further 30 minutes after being added. The beetroot gives the dip a deep pink colour that suits a Christmas table, and it works with crackers, bread, or vegetable sticks.
Recipe: Roasted Beet Hummus with Cauliflower by Claudia Curici, Creative in My Kitchen.
11. Vegetable Christmas Tree Appetizer
Broccoli florets arranged as a Christmas tree on a bed of ranch dressing, with cauliflower as snow at the base, cherry tomato and carrot ornaments, and a broccoli stalk or pretzel stick as the trunk. It is ready in 15 minutes, serves 6 to 8, and should be chilled for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Recipe: Vegetable Christmas Tree Appetizer by Easy GF Recipes.
12. Veggie Wreath
Broccoli, snap peas, cucumber, radishes, cherry tomatoes and bell pepper shapes cut with cookie cutters, arranged in a ring around a bowl of dip in the centre. Prep and total time are both 15 minutes. It is a no-cook option that can be put together while something else is in the oven, and it gives the table something fresh next to all the pastry and cheese.
Recipe: Veggie Wreath by Eating Richly.
13. Christmas Tree Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs made with avocado flesh, Dijon mustard, lime juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper, piped into Christmas tree shapes and decorated with red and yellow bell pepper pieces and grated Parmesan. Six eggs make 12 halves, with prep of 30 minutes and cook time of 15 minutes for a total of 1 hour 5 minutes. The eggs stand 11 minutes after boiling, then 10 minutes in ice water. The source advises storing assembled eggs at 40F (4C) or below, within 2 days, and keeping them out for no longer than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90F (32C).
Recipe: Christmas Tree Deviled Eggs by Spice Up Bites.
14. Roasted Garlic White Bean Dip with Rosemary and Lemon
Cannellini beans blended with roasted garlic, toasted walnuts, lemon, rosemary-lemon infused oil, red pepper flakes, cumin and coriander. Cook and total time are 20 minutes for 6 servings, and the garlic roasts at 400F for 15 minutes in foil. Serve it with pita chips, sliced peppers, radishes and carrots. Roast the garlic first, then the rest comes together quickly.
Recipe: Roasted Garlic White Bean Dip with Rosemary and Lemon by Namaste Home Cooking.
15. Caprese Christmas Wreath
Cherry tomatoes, mini mozzarella balls and basil leaves threaded on cocktail sticks and arranged in a wreath around a balsamic and honey glaze, simmered for about 12 minutes. The wreath keeps in the fridge for up to 6 hours. It is a cold appetizer that needs no oven time at all, so it is a good choice when the oven is already full.
Recipe: Caprese Christmas Wreath by Ciara Attwell, My Fussy Eater.
16. Crispy Baked Smashed Potatoes with Garlic and Parmesan
Baby potatoes boiled, smashed flat, and baked until crisp, then finished with butter, Parmesan and parsley. Prep is 10 minutes and cook time is 50 minutes, for a total of 1 hour. The oven is set to 425F: the potatoes boil for 15 to 20 minutes, bake for 25 to 30 minutes, then bake 3 to 5 minutes more after the butter and Parmesan go on.
Recipe: Crispy Baked Smashed Potatoes with Garlic and Parmesan by Grace Lawson, Let Me Dish.
17. Festive Cranberry Feta Pinwheels
A puff pastry log spread with cream cheese and filled with feta, dried cranberries, spinach and garlic powder, sliced and baked with an egg wash. Prep is 20 minutes and cook time is 18 minutes, for a total of 38 minutes and 20 servings. The pinwheels bake at 400F/200C for 15 to 18 minutes.
Recipe: Festive Cranberry Feta Pinwheels by Recipes of Home.
18. Vegan Jalapeño Poppers
Twelve jalapeños filled with vegan cream cheese, garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast and parsley, topped with nondairy cheddar and breadcrumbs. Prep is 10 minutes and cook time is 20 minutes. They bake at 425F/215C for 15 to 20 minutes. They are vegan, so they suit guests who eat no dairy or eggs, and they add some heat to a table full of cheese and pastry.
Recipe: Vegan Jalapeño Poppers by Crowded Kitchen.
19. Goat Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers
Mini pepper halves baked briefly until slightly tender, then filled with goat cheese and drizzled with balsamic reduction. The recipe uses 1 lb of mini peppers, 8 oz of goat cheese and 1/4 cup of balsamic reduction. The pepper halves bake at 400F for 5 minutes before filling.
Recipe: Goat Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers by Chrisy Toombs, Homemade Hooplah.
20. Baked Spinach Artichoke Bites
Puff pastry cups filled with spinach, artichoke hearts, cream cheese, Greek yogurt, sour cream, Parmesan, mozzarella, garlic, salt and red pepper flakes. Prep is 15 minutes and cook time is 25 minutes, for a total of 40 minutes and 32 bites. They bake at 375F for 20 to 25 minutes, and the filling can be made 1 to 2 days ahead. Make the filling early, fill the cups on the day, and bake just before guests arrive.
Recipe: Baked Spinach Artichoke Bites by Caitlin, Kalefornia Kravings.
How to build a Christmas appetizer spread
Start with the oven. Only a few items here need it at the same time, and several bake at 400F, so group those together and bake in batches. Cold items can go out first while the hot ones finish. A dip, a cheese item, something fresh, and something baked is a good mix for most tables.
Make-ahead work helps more than extra recipes. The cheese ball wreath can be made 4 days ahead, the cranberry brie wreath can be assembled up to 2 days ahead, the goat cheese bites keep 2 to 3 days refrigerated, and the spinach artichoke filling can be made 1 to 2 days ahead. Check each creator recipe for its own storage notes before you plan around them, because times differ from one recipe to the next.
For serving, put small labels next to anything with eggs, nuts, or dairy, and keep the vegan poppers on their own tray so guests do not have to guess. Refill cold platters in small batches instead of leaving a full tray out for hours, and keep dips chilled until serving time.
Frequently asked questions
What vegetarian Christmas appetizers can I make ahead?
The Christmas cheese ball wreath can be made 4 days ahead. The cranberry and brie puff pastry wreath can be assembled and refrigerated up to 2 days ahead. The cranberry-orange goat cheese bites keep 2 to 3 days refrigerated. The spinach artichoke bite filling can be made 1 to 2 days ahead, and the herb goat cheese tree keeps one day refrigerated. Always check the linked recipe for the exact storage notes for the dish you choose.
Which appetizers on this list need no cooking?
The pomegranate salsa, the herb goat cheese Christmas tree, the caprese Christmas wreath, the veggie wreath, and the vegetable Christmas tree need no oven time. The cheese ball wreath needs chilling rather than baking, though its pistachios are toasted. The vegetable tree should be chilled for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Are any of these appetizers vegan?
The vegan jalapeño poppers are labelled vegan on the creator’s page. The other items in this list contain cheese, eggs, or other dairy unless the creator recipe says otherwise, so check each linked recipe before serving it to a vegan guest.
How long can cold appetizers sit out?
Follow the guidance on the recipe you are using. For the Christmas tree deviled eggs, the source advises storing assembled eggs at 40F (4C) or below, within 2 days, and keeping them out for no longer than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90F (32C). For other cold items, keep them chilled until serving, put out small amounts at a time, and return leftovers to the fridge promptly.
What should I make for a crowd?
The pistachio pomegranate crostini make 36, the baked spinach artichoke bites make 32, the festive cranberry feta pinwheels make 20 servings, and the vegetable Christmas tree serves 6 to 8. For a large group, pick two of the bigger batches plus a dip and a cold wreath, rather than doubling a small recipe you have never made before.
Can I make these appetizers gluten-free?
It depends on the recipe. Check each creator page and check the labels on the bread, crackers, pastry, and dips you buy. Dips served with vegetable sticks are the simplest swap. Puff pastry items and bread-based items need a gluten-free pastry or bread that suits that recipe, so read the creator’s notes before substituting.
Conclusion
Start with one make-ahead item, one cold item, and one hot item, and the rest of the table will fall into place. All 20 recipes above link to the creator’s own page, so open the ones that fit your oven schedule and your guests, and follow the method there.
If you want more of the planning done in advance, see 10 Make-Ahead Vegetarian Christmas Appetizers. And when the appetizers are cleared away, Vegetarian Christmas Dinner Mains has the main course covered.
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