The holiday season is officially upon us. You know what that means. Twinkling lights, festive music, and the wonderful chaos of planning gatherings with family and friends. It’s my favorite time of year, but honestly, the pressure to create amazing food can be a little much.
If you are searching for Christmas appetizers easy enough to make you feel like a holiday hero without the stress, you have come to the right place. These adorable single serving charcuterie cups are your new best friend for holiday hosting.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Let’s talk about why these little cups are such a fantastic idea. First off, they are incredibly simple to put together. There is no cooking involved, just some light assembly. This makes them one of the best holiday appetizers easy to prepare when you have a million other things to do.
They are also super convenient for guests. Instead of everyone crowding around a traditional Christmas Charcuterie Board, each person gets their own personal cup. It’s a clean, elegant, and very practical way for people to mingle and enjoy some delicious bites.
Plus, they look so impressive. The vibrant colors and festive shapes really bring the holiday cheer. Your guests will think you spent hours on them, but we know the truth. They are delightful Christmas snacks for a party that look fancy but are secretly very simple.
The best part is how adaptable they are. You can easily switch up the ingredients based on what you love or what you have on hand. It’s a wonderful blueprint for creating your own unique Christmas party food appetizers.
Ingredients
Here is everything you will need to assemble these beautiful holiday cups. I found some of the festive items at my local Sprouts, but feel free to get creative with what your grocery store offers during the season.
- 18 slices Hard Italian Beef Salami
- 18 slices Beef Salami di Parma
- 6 Mini Brie Bites
- 6 cubes Smoked Gouda
- 6 pieces Aged Gouda shaped like a Christmas tree
- 3 cups Mixed Nuts
- 1 cup Jordan Almonds
- 12 Blackberries
- 12 Raspberries
- 12 Crackers, I used Lahvosh Crackers from Valley Lahvosh shaped like Christmas trees
- 12 gingerbread man cookies, the Sasha brand is great
- 12 springs Rosemary for a festive touch
Step By Step Instructions
Alright, let’s get to the fun part. Assembling these Christmas appetizers easy is more like a craft project than a cooking task. It’s relaxing and very rewarding. Just follow along.
Step 1: Prepare Your Cups
First, grab your serving cups. Clear plastic cups work wonderfully so you can see all the lovely layers inside. Begin by adding about a half cup of the mixed nuts to the bottom of each of the six cups. This creates a solid base for everything else.
Next, sprinkle the Jordan almonds over the nuts. Their candy coating adds a nice sweet crunch and a pop of color that looks beautiful through the cup. This foundation makes your cups stable.
Step 2: Assemble The Skewers
Now it is time to make the skewers that give these cups their height and drama. We will create a few different kinds. Let’s start with the salami. Take a slice of salami and fold it in half, then fold it in half again to create a ruffled, triangle like shape.
Carefully thread three of these folded salami pieces onto a skewer. Make sure the rounded edges face outward to create a fuller, more flower like appearance. Repeat this for all your salami skewers.
For the cheese skewers, you can alternate between the mini brie bites and the smoked gouda cubes on a cocktail pick. For another pick, add a blackberry and a raspberry for a burst of fresh flavor and color.
Step 3: Arrange The Charcuterie Cups
This is where your inner food artist gets to shine. Begin arranging the skewers in the cups. I like to place the taller salami skewers towards the back to create a nice backdrop. Then, place the shorter cheese and fruit picks in front of them.
Next, tuck in the other ingredients. Place the crackers shaped like Christmas trees on one side. Add your aged gouda cheese that is shaped like a Christmas tree where it can be seen easily. This is a key part of making great Christmas party food appetizers.
Finally, tuck in a few sprigs of fresh rosemary. It not only adds a wonderful pine like aroma but also looks just like little Christmas tree branches. Place one of the cute gingerbread man cookies right at the front. And there you have it, a perfect single serving snack!
These are truly Christmas appetizers easy to assemble once you get a little rhythm going. You will have a whole tray ready for your party in no time.
How To Store Leftovers
Honestly, you might not have any leftovers. These tend to disappear quickly. But if you do, storing them is simple. It is best to remove the crackers and cookies first so they do not become soft from the moisture of the other ingredients.
Cover the cups with some plastic wrap and they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a day. The nuts, cheese, and meats will still be fresh and tasty for a next day snack. These are such wonderful holiday appetizers easy to manage from start to finish.
Tips
Want to make your Christmas appetizers easy experience even smoother? Here are a few little tips I have learned along the way that might help you out.
First, you can prepare most of the components ahead of time. The cheeses can be cubed, the fruit washed, and the nuts portioned out a day before your event. Just store everything in airtight containers in the fridge. This makes assembly on party day so much faster.
Feel free to get creative with the containers. Small glass jars or even festive paper cups can work just as well. Use whatever matches the theme and style of your holiday party.
Do not be afraid to customize the ingredients. If you are not a fan of salami, try using prosciutto or turkey. Swap the gouda for cheddar or the brie for mozzarella balls. The possibilities for these Christmas snacks for a party are truly endless.
This is also a really fun recipe to get your kids involved with. They can help fold the salami, skewer the cheese, and arrange the cups. It is a great way to make holiday memories together in the kitchen.
To make these more budget conscious, look for cheeses sold in blocks that you can cube yourself. Buying nuts from the bulk bins can also be more economical than prepackaged options. A great Christmas Charcuterie Board experience does not have to be expensive.
Conclusion
So there you have it. A festive, beautiful, and unbelievably simple appetizer that is sure to be a hit at any holiday gathering. These little charcuterie cups prove that making Christmas appetizers easy and elegant is totally possible.
They take all the things we love about a big grazing board and package them into a personal, portable treat. Give this recipe a try for your next event. I promise you and your guests will absolutely love them. Happy holidays and happy hosting!
FAQ
How Far In Advance Can I Make These?
These are best assembled the day of your party to ensure the crackers and cookies stay crisp. However, you can prep all the individual components like slicing cheese and washing fruit one to two days in advance. Store them separately in the refrigerator.
Can I Make These Nut Free?
Absolutely. For a nut free version, you can use a base of small pretzels, crunchy roasted chickpeas, or festive colored goldfish crackers at the bottom of the cups. Just be sure all your other ingredients are certified nut free as well.
Where Can I Find Christmas Shaped Crackers And Cookies?
During the holiday season, many grocery stores carry festive shaped items. I found mine at Sprouts. You can also check stores like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, or even the seasonal aisle at Target or Walmart. Online retailers are another great option.
How Many Cups Does This Recipe Make?
This specific recipe is portioned to make six individual charcuterie cups. It is very easy to scale up or down. Simply multiply the ingredients by the number of guests you expect to serve. It’s a very flexible recipe for Christmas party food appetizers.
What Are Some Other Fun Additions?
There are so many other things you could add. Consider including cornichons, olives, or small mozzarella balls marinated in pesto. A small dollop of fig jam or honey at the bottom of the cup before adding the nuts is also a delicious touch. This makes for very versatile Christmas appetizers easy to customize.
Festive Holiday Charcuterie Cups
These adorable single-serving charcuterie cups are a simple and elegant appetizer for any holiday gathering. Easy to assemble with no cooking required, they feature a tasty mix of salami, cheeses, nuts, and festive garnishes for a convenient and impressive party snack.
Requirements
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare the cups: Add about a half cup of mixed nuts to the bottom of six serving cups. Sprinkle Jordan almonds over the nuts to create a stable base.
- Assemble the skewers: Fold salami slices in half, then in half again. Thread three folded pieces onto skewers. On separate cocktail picks, alternate mini brie bites and smoked gouda cubes, and on others, add a blackberry and a raspberry.
- Arrange the cups: Place taller salami skewers toward the back. Arrange the shorter cheese and fruit picks in front.
- Add final touches: Tuck in the Christmas tree shaped crackers and aged gouda. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and place a gingerbread man cookie at the front of each cup.
Notes
Prepare components ahead of time: Cube cheeses, wash fruit, and portion nuts a day in advance and store in airtight containers in the fridge.
Customize ingredients: Swap salami for prosciutto, or try different cheeses like cheddar or mozzarella balls.
Storing leftovers: Remove crackers and cookies to prevent them from getting soft. Cover cups and refrigerate for up to one day.
Nutrition
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