Festive Appetizers for the Holidays

I love adding color to my menu this time of the year. As you probably know, I’m hosting a few Christmas parties over the next couple weeks. So, I’ve been tweaking my menu and trying to add color in every way I can. In the process, I came up with some Festive Appetizers for the Holidays! They are great for entertaining! They not only taste wonderful but they’re adorable, too!

Cranberry and Brie Bruschetta 

One of my favorite things to eat and make is bruschetta. It’s easy, delicious, bite-seized, and versatile. This Cranberry and Brie Bruschetta is perfect for the holidays! It’s colorful and festive!

This is so easy to make! Simply slice a baguette and brush with olive oil and garlic salt. Bake at 350 for about 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Top with brie cheese and return to the oven until the brie just begins to melt. Top the brie with homemade or store bought cranberry sauce. I also like to sprinkle a little rosemary on top just before serving.

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Pear and Pomegranate Bruschetta 

Sticking with the bruschetta theme, I did basically the same thing with pear and pomegranate. The brie was the base, as it was in the Cranberry Bruschetta.

I placed thin slices of pear on some of the crostini and pomegranate seeds on others. I drizzled the top with honey and sprinkled with fresh rosemary and thyme.

These are so incredibly festive and super easy! They’re perfect for a cocktail party or as an appetizer to Christmas dinner. To keep things really simple, I use store bought de-seeded pomegranates.

Savory Butternut Squash Crostata

I also like to add pomegranate seeds to the top of this festive crostata. This is such a delicious dish and perfect for the holidays! It savory and packed with layers of flavor thanks to the goat cheese, butternut squash, and buttery pie crust.

The base of this crostata is butternut squash, onions and goat cheese. The recipe, from Giada De Laurentiis, calls for arugula but I didn’t have any on hand so I just used spinach. However, arugula would be much better!

The combination of onions, butternut squash, and goat cheese is soooo good! I just love this dish! It’s perfect for an appetizer or would make a great meal with soup and a salad. The sprinkle of pomegranate seeds on top adds the perfect touch of holiday cheer.

I hope you find some inspiration in this post! Don’t forget to check out my previous post for some more cocktail party inspiration! Cheers! xoxo