What Are The Best Appetizers For A Holiday Party? Cooking Our Favorite Hors d’Oeuvres At Home
What Are The Best Appetizers For A Holiday Party? Cooking Our Favorite Hors d’Oeuvres At Home  
Podcast: Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy
Published On: Tue Dec 16 2025
Description: Who doesn’t love a great appetizer – but do you get stumped on what to serve? Are you looking for something a little more exciting than crudites and a cheese board? This week, we’re sharing our go-to appetizers for festive hosting. These are small bites that you can easily make (or even buy!), that will encourage your guests to graze and linger for “just one more bite.”By the end of this episode, you’ll:Walk away with a go-to list of 16 appetizers you can mix and match for any kind of gathering - whether you’re hosting or headed to a potluckLearn how to create a mix of homemade, make-ahead, vegetarian, and store-bought optionsDiscover nostalgic classics like sausage balls and roasted chestnuts, as well as unexpected spicy treats like a flavorful edamame starter and an Indian-inspired snack mixPress play now to discover an appetizer game plan for your next December gathering!***This week's episode is sponsored by Burlap & Barrel!We rely on Burlap & Barrel for the spices we cook with the most, because their quality really does make everything taste better. This time of year, we find ourselves reaching for a few favorites again and again.Royal Cinnamon goes into our holiday gingerbread cookies, overnight oats, and we even add a pinch to our French press coffee in the morning. It’s naturally sweet and fragrant and makes everything taste like a treat. We love to add New Harvest Turmeric to our rich, brothy vegetable soups, steamed rice, and big pots of coconut red lentils. It adds that unmistakable golden glow and warmth that always makes friends ask, “What’s in this dish?”And Cured Sumac is our secret for roast chicken — especially when it’s sharing the table with freshly fried latkes. Its lemony, earthy tartness is the perfect lively counterpart to those decadent, crispy potato pancakes.If you want to stock up, Burlap & Barrel is offering a rare holiday deal through December 31st for new customers: buy any two spices and get a free jar of Royal Cinnamon with code CINNAMONFF (just add the cinnamon to your cart first). ***LINKSSnacky: Two-ingredient crackers from The Big Man’s WorldIndian Snack Mix (Chewda) by Aarti Sequeira, from Food Network  Maple bourbon chestnut and dates from Justine SnacksMiso-maple walnuts from EpicuriousVeggie/Easy:Orange marinated olives by Carolina GellenBlack bean, orange peel edamame from Food 52Nostalgic:Anchovy aioli by Not Quite Nigella to serve with and crudités or endiveClassic sausage balls from All Recipes, and the “Million Dollar” version from Southern LivingCheesy:Parm crusted butter beans by Justine DoironBrussels sprouts and ricotta toast from EpicuriousStore Bought Help:Tinned fish with Triscuits and cornichons from the Prune Cookbook via Amateur GourmetFour dips in one sheet pan from All Recipes Warm/Hot:Sonya’s phyllo triangles with feta and honeyKorean-style gochujang meatballs by Foxloveslemons via Food52Dips:Samin Nosrat’s miso labneh dip A cookie dough ball that you scoop with Nilla wafers, from Delish.com***Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here. You can also now find us on YouTube. We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!Looking for an in-person Food Friends experience? Book a farmers’ market tour with Sonya in Portland, OR!