The holiday season is a time for socializing, travel, parties, and quality time with loved ones. It's also a time when delicious temptations are abundant. Strategic planning can make it simpler for both you and your guests to enjoy healthier options. This collection of healthy holiday appetizers will wow your guests while keeping things light!
Cheese-Focused Delights
Cabot's Pinecone Cheese Ball
This gorgeous take on a traditional cheese ball is sure to top your list of favorite healthy Christmas appetizers. It is simple to make by combining Cabot Vermont Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Greek Yogurt, Cream Cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco.
Festive Cabot Cheddar Tree
Turn a simple cheese board into a stunning centerpiece for your holiday table. Make this Festive Cabot Cheddar Tree by creating a colorful arrangement of your favorite Cabot cheeses and charcuterie items on a platter in the shape of a tree.
Steamed Artichokes with Cabot Butter
Impress your guests with this easy appetizer. Steamed Artichokes with Cabot Butter make the perfect healthy Christmas party food.
Cottage Cheese Dip
Mix up this Cottage Cheese Dip in seconds by combining Cabot Cottage cheese with garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, chili flakes, cilantro, and salt.
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Radishes with Butter
Radishes with Butter are the perfect easy, healthy, and indulgent appetizer. All you need is a bunch of radishes, a stick of Cabot Salted Butter, and flaky sea salt.
Spinach Cheddar Holiday Rolls
These Spinach Cheddar Holiday Rolls make fantastic healthy holiday appetizers. Just brush an unrolled tube of crescent dough with mustard and top with Vermont Sharp Cheddar Cheese, spinach, peppers, and scallions.
Holiday Cheddar Wreath
Another beautiful way to dress up a traditional cheese plate is by assembling this Holiday Cheddar Wreath using a variety of Cabot cheese flavors. First, form a wreath shape with French loaf dough and bake the bread. Then insert rosemary sprigs to add greenery and finish by arranging cheese cubes and grape tomatoes.
Holiday Cheddar Star
When it comes to favorite party recipes for Christmas, healthy appetizers like the Holiday Cheddar Star are simple to prepare and great for a crowd. All you need is five flavors of Cabot cheese like Vermont Sharp Cheddar, Pepper Jack, and Garlic Herb Cheddar Cheese.
Festive Flavors Cheese Board
Whip up this Festive Flavors Cheese Board for a flavor-packed appetizer your guests will love! Include four to six types of Cabot cheese, such as seriously sharp cheddar or Pepper Jack.
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Keto Cheese Board
A Keto Cheese Board is the ideal addition to your healthy holiday snacks. Make a cheese board by selecting your favorite cubed Cabot cheeses or cracker cuts and several keto-friendly crackers.
Holiday Cheese Board
Creating a Holiday Cheese Board allows you to make a gorgeous and tasty appetizer using your favorite Cabot cheese flavors. Keep it interesting by incorporating a variety of fruits, berries, nuts, crackers, and condiments. Aim for contrasting flavors from sweet marmalades to sour pickles and savory salami.
Cabot Vermont Sharp Cheddar Cheese Fondue
Whether you're planning a romantic fondue date night or a lively fondue party with loved ones, our Cabot Vermont Sharp Cheddar Cheese Fondue is a must-try. Add this recipe to your collection of light holiday appetizers.
Baked Cottage Cheese with Roasted Grape Tomatoes
Baked Cottage Cheese with Roasted Grape Tomatoes is mouth-watering and unique enough to add variety to traditional holiday recipes.
Meat and Seafood Options
Turkey Swedish Meatballs
Turkey Swedish Meatballs offer a unique twist to a classic appetizer. Greek Yogurt and White Oak Cheddar Cheese combined with ground turkey, zucchini, and seasonings make these a must-have to add a light, yet hearty dish to the traditional high-calorie offerings.
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Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Tarts with Apples
These ham and cheese puff pastry tarts with apples are delicious! They're savory, flavorful, and easy to pull together.
Antipasto Christmas Wreath
This Antipasto Christmas Wreath is the cutest holiday appetizer!
Persimmon Prosciutto Crostinis with Homemade Ricotta
This simple recipe for persimmon prosciutto crostinis with homemade ricotta is a wonderful appetizer.
Shrimp with Zesty Sauce
These easy shrimp look impressive on a buffet table and taste even better! The zesty sauce has a wonderful spicy citrus flavor. I especially like this recipe because I can prepare it ahead of time. 1 shrimp: 28 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 26mg cholesterol, 36mg sodium, 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 3g protein.
Pomegranate Chicken Salad
The pomegranate chicken salad is one of our favorites. We think it makes a great appetizer as well. You could still serve it in lettuce cups, or you could serve it with a tray of vegetables and crackers. Either way, your guests won’t be disappointed! The sweet and salty combination with the crunch of the pomegranate and pumpkin seeds make it perfect.
Vegetable-Forward Bites
Sweet Potato Latkes
Make these healthy holiday Sweet Potato Latkes to wow your guests. Vermont sharp cheddar cheese and minced onion add tons of flavor.
Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks
Make a healthy version of the traditional breadsticks with these Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks. Simply mix together riced cauliflower with Vermont sharp cheddar cheese, egg, salt, and pepper and pat it into a rectangle. Bake until the edges begin to brown and then top with more cheese and seasonings. Bake a few minutes longer, cut into slices, and enjoy!
Lightened-Up Artichoke and Spinach Dip
You can't go wrong with this Lightened-Up Artichoke and Spinach Dip for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Antipasto Skewers
They're like charcuterie boards on a stick! Loaded with cured meats, mozzarella, artichoke hearts, olives, cherry tomatoes, and pepperoncini, they're great for snacking while mingling.
Caprese Salad
It's classic for a reason! Think: thick slices of tomato and mozzarella surrounded by flavorful fresh basil leaves, olive oil, and a beautiful balsamic reduction.
Zucchini Pizza Bites
Swap out the pizza dough for slices of nutritious zucchini in this fun bite-sized snack. They're still topped with sauce, cheese, and mini pepperoni pieces, so your kids will love them, too.
Waldorf Salad
This refreshing salad made with apples, grapes, and celery is an old-school favorite that has stood the test of time. Serve it in crisp lettuce cups to give it a new elegant, party-ready spin.
Spring Rolls
These spring rolls have a rainbow of color thanks to their tender shrimp and crisp veggie filling. The fresh flavor (and peanut dipping sauce) will get anyone excited about eating their vegetables!
Cabbage Salad
This salad is crunchy, refreshing, and packed with healthy mix-ins like fresh apple slices, chopped nuts, and herbs. The pretty purple and green colors are just another reason to love it.
Avocado Salsa
You can think of this dip like a mash-up between guacamole and pico de gallo. It's fresher than store-bought dips and perfect for serving up with baked chips or even veggies for scooping.
Avocado Dip
Made with heart-healthy avocado and protein-back yogurt, this dip is a lovely, bright addition to any party. It gets a ton of flavor from basil, green onions, lemon, and garlic. Serve it up with fresh cut veggies, like radishes, cucumbers, and carrots.
Burrata Salad
Creamy burrata cheese is just one part of this vibrant salad. There's also colorful tomatoes, healthy arugula, shallots, and herbs.
Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
This prosciutto wrapped asparagus is so simple and delicious. Three ingredients? What’s not to love. If you don’t like prosciutto or can’t find it in the store, you could also use bacon.
Sweet Potato Guac Bites
These sweet potato guac bites are so good. I wanted to create a recipe that was colorful and healthy, so I decided to use roasted sweet potato rounds instead of chips. You can serve this guacamole recipe alone as well if you aren’t into the sweet potato rounds. But you should give it a chance as is, first. This recipe is the perfect way to enjoy a serving of veggies, but your taste buds won't know the difference!
Muhammara
Muhammara is a delicious, lightly spicy dip made from roast red bell peppers and walnuts.
Mixed Olive and Ricotta Dip
This delicious mixed olive and ricotta dip is the perfect appetizer or snack for a holiday party!
Caprese Wreath
This beautiful and festive Caprese wreath is a wonderful holiday appetizer or side salad.
Potato and Garlic Dip (Skordalia)
This recipe for a potato and garlic dip, called skordalia, is a delicious snack or appetizer.
Christmas Charcuterie Board
This pretty Christmas charcuterie board is centered around a festive Caprese candy cane.
Baked Feta and Olives with Burst Tomatoes
This tasty appetizer recipe of baked feta and olives with burst tomatoes is easy to pull together. The flavors meld together perfectly for a savory and creamy dish, perfect for a pre-dinner snack.
Endive Salad Bites
These delicious endive salad bites have citrus, grilled feta, toasted nuts, fresh herbs, and pomegranate seeds.
Decorated Focaccia Bread Art
Making decorated focaccia bread art is so fun (and it tastes great)!
Watermelon Radish Bites with Spicy Tuna
These watermelon radish bites with spicy tuna are a great little appetizer.
Deviled Trees
It’s hard to resist these adorable deviled trees on our buffet table. The avocado filling has pepperoncini and cilantro for extra zip.
Crunchy Vegetable Salad
Crunchy Vegetable Salad is a tasty and colorful side dish Linda Russell of Exeter, Ontario frequently puts on her table. 1-1/2 cups: 176 calories, 15g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 698mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 3g fiber), 2g protein.
Roasted Vegetables
Eat these roasted veggies with a crunchy baguette or a couple of cheeses. You can also double, or triple, the amounts and have leftovers to toss with spaghetti the next day. 1/4 cup: 71 calories, 7g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 380mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 0 protein.
Marinated Artichokes with Mozzarella and Tomatoes
I dressed up the classic Italian trio of mozzarella, tomatoes and basil with marinated artichokes. It looks so yummy on a pretty platter set out on a buffet. Using fresh mozzarella is the key to its great taste. 1/2 cup: 192 calories, 16g fat (7g saturated fat), 30mg cholesterol, 179mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 7g protein.
Brussels Sprouts with Garlic and Goat Cheese
I wanted to up my veggie game, so I smothered Brussels sprouts with garlic and goat cheese. It’s really a side dish, but I love to eat it for lunch! 2/3 cup: 81 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 6mg cholesterol, 205mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 4g protein.
Radish Salsa
Radishes add a wonderful crunch to this colorful salsa that is also great over grilled fish. There’s just enough jalapeno to give flavor without much of the heat. 1/4 cup: 38 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 43mg cholesterol, 119mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 6g protein.
Dips and Spreads
Cottage Cheese Dip
Mix up this Cottage Cheese Dip in seconds by combining Cabot Cottage cheese with garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, chili flakes, cilantro, and salt.
Whipped Feta Dip
You are going to love this delicious whipped feta dip!
tags: #healthy #christmas #appetizers #finger #foods