16 Vintage Appetizers for the Holidays and Beyond
Nothing gets the holidays going like a retro snack made for sharing, so I collected 16 recipes, from deviled eggs and shrimp cocktail to party mix and a big cheese ball.
Every gathering needs a great snack or two. Whether you have friends over for a casual game night, need to bring an app to a company potluck, or are hosting your family for the holidays, turn to one of these 16 party-friendly appetizers. They're perfectly retro, easy to pull together, and hit just the right note of delicious and nostalgic.
Find your next favorite recipe below and don't forget to read the helpful tips and tricks from our editors and contributors as you scroll.
1. Prosciutto and Cheese Puff Pastry Pinwheels
"For a convenient swap, use 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried Italian seasoning instead of all the fresh herbs." —Jessica Gavin, Simply Recipes Contributor
2. Classic Cheese Ball
"I like serving my cheese balls with buttery crackers like Ritz, but you can use any cracker. Vegetables like celery sticks or thick radish slices would work well too. The spread is also good smeared on a crusty baguette or served on a tortilla in a wrap!" —Nick Evans, Simply Recipes Contributor
3. 3-Ingredient Sausage Balls
"These three-ingredient gems are incredibly easy to make, but I will note one big tip: temperature is key. Your sausage has to be room temperature and your cheese has to be cold. Otherwise, it’s too hard to mix and all of the cheese will melt out as soon as it hits the oven." —Laurel Randolph, Simply Recipes Senior Editor
4. Pickled Shrimp
"You'll need a 1-quart canning jar or crock, or any combination of smaller jars equaling 1 quart. You can double or triple this recipe as needed, as long as you have extra jars." —Sheryl Julian, Simply Recipes Contributor
5. Triscuit Thingies
"You can make the spread up to 1 day in advance, which I recommend. The extra time provides a richer, more flavorful spread." —Sara Haas, Simply Recipes Contributor
6. Marinated Mushrooms
"While you can pretty much use any mushrooms you like, small, firm white button mushrooms and creminis are the best choices. You could mix in stemmed shiitakes, meaty oyster mushrooms or chanterelles too if you feel like venturing further down the mushroom trail." —Sally Vargas, Simply Recipes Contributor
7. Narsai’s Chutney Cheese Paté
"You’ll definitely want to use whipped cream cheese for this recipe—the fluffy and scoopable kind that comes in a tub, not a bar. It’s easily spreadable straight out of the tub, and no softening is required." —Coco Morante, Simply Recipes Contributor
8. Potato Skins
"Russets make the best potatoes for these classic potato skins because they're big and their skin is tough enough to handle the preparation." —Elise Bauer, Simply Recipes Founder
9. Cranberry Walnut Baked Brie
"For convenience, you can use jarred or canned cranberry sauce. Mix it thoroughly to loosen so it doesn’t look like a glop out of a container." —Jessica
10. Shrimp Cocktail
"The shrimp in this recipe are boiled unpeeled, which helps to intensify the shrimp flavor. If you prefer to devein the shrimp, you can do this with the shells still on by cutting a slit along the back of the shells with kitchen shears." —Jaden Hair, Simply Recipes Contributor
11. Cheddar Cheese Puffs
"These cheese puffs are made with cheddar cheese and a little bit of thyme. You could add crumbled bacon to the mix, or use sage or rosemary. You could use goat cheese instead of cheddar, or Gruyere or Emmenthaler (more traditional for a gougère)." —Elise
12. Deviled Eggs
"To make deviled eggs extra pretty, just pipe the egg yolk mayonnaise filling in the egg whites with a star-tipped piping bag (or cut off the corner of a plastic sandwich bag)." —Elise
13. Mini Salmon Quiches
"Be sure to thaw your puff pastry overnight in the fridge. If you forget, thaw it on the counter for 20 to 30 minutes, or until it can be easily unfolded without cracking. If the pastry becomes too soft and squishy, chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up before making the recipe." —Sally
14. 4-Ingredient Cheese Puffs
"Shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheddar is coated with anti-caking agents that prohibit the cheese from coming together, so break out the box grater, and do this step by hand." —Stephanie A. Ganz, Simply Recipes Contributor
15. Pimento Cheese
"This version is a little stiff for expert spreading on a burger, atop a cracker, or tucking in mushroom caps before running under the broiler. If you desire a looser dip, then adding up to 1/3 cup of more mayonnaise will do the trick." —Stephanie Burt, Simply Recipes Contributor
16. Retro Party Mix
"In addition to the classic combination of Wheat, Corn, and Rice Chex cereal, this recipe calls for Cheerios. Adding this smaller cereal makes the mix even more snackable." —Meghan Splawn, Simply Recipes Contributor
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