make-ahead-appetizers-for-christmas
                     Make-ahead appetizers for christmas
Making Christmas appetizers ahead of time, which you can store for days or even weeks, is one 
of the best ways to get ready for a busy party season. Make-ahead Appetizers For Christmas 
There are recipes that you can freeze, then quickly thaw and bake. Certain recipes taste even 
better the longer they are prepared ahead of time and allowed to mature in the refrigerator. In 
either case, a little preparation now pays off nicely later in the season. We'll offer advice on how 
to prepare holiday appetizers ahead of time, along with ten of our best recipes.
12 Irresistible Make-Ahead Appetizers for Christmas
Quick Tips for Making Appetizers
Now freeze, then thaw: For optimal results, flash-freeze or individually quick-freeze meals. This 
will also help to avoid having all of your artfully prepared appetizers freeze into one large clump. 
Arrange your prepared appetizers in a single layer on a plate, pan, or baking sheet, then flash-
freeze in the freezer until they are almost completely frozen. After that, move them to a 
container or airtight bag with a label and put them back in the freezer. Large ice crystals can ruin 
texture as they thaw, so a quick freeze can help avoid this from happening. Find out more about 
proper food freezing techniques.
Safely thaw: Foods should always be slowly thawed in the refrigerator rather than on the 
counter or in the sink, which can encourage the growth of dangerous bacteria and produce 
mushy food. A lot of recipes can also be frozen and baked directly from there; simply lengthen 
the baking time to compensate for the frozen start.
1. Brie with Cranberries 
We're betting that nobody will be able to resist these small bite-sized, creamy-tangy treats, which 
are basically little baked brie. As Julie Hubert advises, prepare up to three days ahead of time, wrap 
tightly in plastic, and then chill before baking.
2. Cheese Puffs from Chef John's Party 
These easy cheese puffs, sometimes called gougères, can be made up to a month in advance. 
Homecook Nightfall "piped" the dough onto parchment before baking, using a plastic storage bag 
with the end cut off.
Before freezing, make sure they are completely cold. Warm up as many as required on a baking 
sheet at 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius).
3. Pasta in a Cocktail 
Prepare a few of these well-liked appetizers ahead of time, allow them to cool, and then flash freeze 
them for convenient storage. For a quick and well-liked appetizer, simply reheat your slow cooker 
with their sweet and spicy cranberry sauce an hour before your guests arrive.
4. The Customary Cheese Ball for Christmas
This is a "simple, traditional cheese ball that Love2Cook87 looks forward to every year." Even 
better, this is the type of recipe that is best prepared ahead of time. Making sure your cheeseball is 
well wrapped is the key to keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for up to one week.
5. Pinwheel with Pesto Puff Pastry 
With just four ingredients, this gorgeous puff pastry pinwheel is a fantastic complement to any 
appetizer table. This festive appetizer, according to Magda, begs to be ripped apart!
This pinwheel can be baked, cooled, and frozen. You can just take it straight out of the freezer and 
reheat it in a prepared oven when your guests arrive. Even at room temperature, it tastes fantastic.
6. Pickled Olives
These are "better than anything you can get at the supermarket and considerably cheaper," as 
Esmee Williams puts it.
7. Crab Rangoon 
Anna enjoys the taste of freshly fried, sizzling hot rangoons, which she uses as a conversation piece 
as the visitors trickle in. You can shape the wontons around the filling in advance and freeze them 
before frying.
Right out of the freezer, drop them into the heated oil, drain, and serve hot.
8. The Finest Spread for Smoked Salmon
After a day or two in the refrigerator, smoked salmon spread gets even more flavorful. However, 
make sure to cover it to prevent the spread from absorbing tastes from other foods in 
the refrigerator.
9. Simple Mini Quizzes
Small quiches are a wonderful way to satisfy a variety of tastes. You can add spinach or 
mushrooms, use your preferred kind of cheese instead of cheese, or make it vegetarian by 
leaving out the bacon.
To prepare and bake these, follow the recipe's instructions, then freeze them in a sealed 
container in a single layer. To reheat them, all you have to do is bake them for 7 minutes at 400 
degrees Fahrenheit (205 degrees Celsius).
10. Olive Puffs
All you need for this simple two-ingredient dish are frozen puff pastry and olives.
You can make these ahead of time and freeze; allow the pastry to thaw before baking, adds Syd, 
the recipe's originator. For a visually striking presentation, use a variety of olives.
11. Pigs in a Blanket, Everything
It should come as no surprise that these nostalgic nibbles are the first to disappear on my party 
spread. These are basically freezer-friendly and very forgiving if prepared ahead of time.
I prepare these up to a month in advance, packing them into freezer-safe storage containers, 
then baking them just before the celebration.