The Christmas buffet is a long-standing tradition in my family. The week before Christmas, we start making recipes ahead of time and choosing easy day-of recipes to whip up and share throughout the day. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a holiday meal without the fuss of a sit-down feast. Plus, it’s easy to prep these ahead of time and set out or just pop in the oven for a quick warm-up. And if you want some Christmas candy, check my amazing list of sweet delights.

But if you’re kind of bored with the same-old recipes, you might want to check out this list of fantastic dips, wraps, pinwheels, rolls, and more for the perfect combination of delightful treats to serve all day.

Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

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Most of the folks who join us for our Christmas day feast are all about bacon. If your family is like mine, they’ll love this unique bacon-wrapped water chestnut recipe. It’s a unique, chewy yet crunchy recipe that’s easy to whip up and absolutely delicious.

Christmas Tree Cheeseball

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Now here’s a fun cheeseball treat. It’s not a ball per se, but rather a Christmas tree cheese, uh… tree! The colorful cheeseball uses loads of cheese, pimentos, seasonings, and onions for a tasty, easy and fun treat for the buffet.

White Cheddar Beer Cheese Dip

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This incredible dip is the perfect partner for doughy pretzels, breadsticks or just about anything else you can dip. The beer adds a little extra zing to the flavor and the cheese, well, it’s cheese.

Cream Cheese Shrimp Dip

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Another decadent, cheesy dip is this incredible shrimp dip. It’s a gluten-free, low-carb dip, too, which makes it even more exciting for folks trying to not go too overboard this holiday season. Shrimp, cheese, low-carb… Can’t beat it!

Veggie Pinwheels

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One of my favorites for the Christmas buffet has always been pinwheels. Using a little cream cheese and some tangy veggies make them the perfect little finger food for the buffet without requiring a load of work to prepare. Spreading, slicing, and dicing, pretty much, and you’re done.

Roasted Parmesan Garlic Shrimp

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Every Christmas Eve, my grandmother always served roasted shrimp. I don’t have her recipe anymore, but this one looks like a fantastically delicious replacement. Parmesan cheese and garlic with shrimp? Yeah. That’ll do.

Vegan Smoked “Salmon” Rolls

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If you’re looking to keep things Vegan-friendly (or at least offer some Vegan choices), this decadent, delicious sushi replacement seems like the perfect choice. You’ll create your own cashew cream cheese and wrap it up with smoky bell peppers instead of salmon. Wrap them and enjoy. Everybody will love them, including the fish lovers.

Mini Cheese Truffles

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If you’re like me and love all things mini and individual serving size, these mini cheese truffles are the perfect answer to cheeseballs. They’re adorable, delicious, and the perfect choice for easy serving any time during your holiday feast.

Cranberry Brie Pastry Tarts

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Cranberries and brie make for the perfect holiday blend. So, if you’re looking for a little less sweet dessert alternative to serve on that buffet, consider these gorgeous cranberry brie pastry tarts. They’re made with pre-made puff pastry and simple ingredients to get the job done quickly. These are perfect for making ahead of time and freezing before the big day.

Citrus Marinated Olives and Feta

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My husband is absolutely in love with all foods Mediterranean, especially feta and olives. This is a fantastic way to serve them up for him and any of your family who love the same treats.

Shrimp Cocktail

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A classic holiday buffet item that’s so easy and delicious is shrimp cocktail. I serve some every year, using my pretty glassware. Shrimp needs to chill ahead of time – lots of time – so it’s also the perfect choice for preparing a day or two ahead of time.

Jalapeno Dip

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If you or yours love some zing in your holiday meals, try this fantastic jalapeno dip. It’s got the perfect balance of heat and creaminess for the best treat for folks to graze all day on the buffet.

Holiday Pomegranate Guacamole on Roasted Sweet Potato Tarts

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Another popular dip is always guacamole – but with this recipe there’s a seasonal twist with the gorgeous bright red pomegranate seeds on sweet potato discs. They make for a healthy, delicious offering on your Christmas buffet.

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail

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Love shrimp cocktail but want something a little different from the norm? Try this Mexican style shrimp cocktail with an extra zing and some Mexican flair, topped with tomato and avocado salsa.

Maple Rosemary Roasted Nuts

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For a sweet and savory addition to the Christmas buffet, grab some nuts and get roasting! These maple rosemary nuts look absolutely amazing. Roast them ahead of time and put them out first thing or serve them in a beautiful candy dish later in the day.

Fried Ravioli

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Fried ravioli – what an amazing thought! These are so easy and delicious. Just grab some store-bought ravioli and ready-made sauce for dipping. Easy, delicious, and perfect for that all-day buffet.

Tortilla Roll-Ups with Salsa

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Here’s another pinwheel-type option. Made with spinach tortillas, cream cheese, ranch dressing, peppers, olives, hot peppers, and pimentos, these rolls up are going to be a real winner at the buffet. Top with salsa and you’ll have the perfect red and green treat for the holiday.

Smoked Salmon Dip

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Grab your favorite veggies and crackers and whip up this amazing smoked salmon dip for an amazing addition to your Christmas buffet. It’s super easy to make and uses cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, smoked salmon, capers, green onions, dill, and lemon. You won’t regret adding this to the meal plan!

Sausage Rolls

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Similar to sausage rolls from Australia and the UK, these fantastic mini rolls are amazingly delicious and going to be the complete hit at the buffet. You’ll use pork sausage, fresh garlic, smoky bacon, and fluffy pre-made pastry dough to whip them up in no time.

Vegan Walnut, Sage, and Cranberry Stuffed Holiday Mushrooms

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Mushrooms were meant to be stuffed — and when you pop one of these tasty and easy holiday appetizers into your mouth, you'll agree. The nutty, herbaceous, and slightly sweet filling creates a palate pleaser that will WOW your friends.

Artichoke Wonton Wrappers

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For a tasty appetizer not quite like any others, check out these artichoke wonton wrappers. They’re easy, delicious, and quick to make. Just grab some wonton wrappers, artichoke hearts, parmesan cheese, mayo, olives, pepper, and seasonings for the perfect holiday treat.

Cranberry Brie Bites

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Another decadent, sweet, rich dessert-like treat for your buffet is these amazing cranberry brie bites. They’re super easy and just use crescent rolls, cranberry sauce, brie, and pecans for an amazing, easy app for the buffet line.

French Dip Squares

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Love French dip sandwiches? These little squares are the easier (and cheaper) way to serve some up without going too crazy overboard. Caramelized onions are the show stopper on the tasty treat, with amazing au jus sauce to round them out.

Walnut Brie Stuffed Mushrooms

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Stuffed mushrooms have been a staple on our family’s Christmas buffet for as long as I can remember. I’ve usually gone with simple cream cheese, green onion, and spices for ours. These walnut blue cheese stuffed mushrooms, though, are really upping the game this year! Can’t believe how amazing these look!

Red Pepper Jelly Crackers

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It’s been a long time since I had red pepper jelly, but this year while I was working on a cookbook, I rediscovered this amazing ingredient. Now, my husband and I are obsessed with the delightful, tangy, amazing topping. And one of the absolute best ways to enjoy this treat is on crackers with cream cheese. Make your own red pepper jelly with this perfectly balanced recipe.

Loaded Cheeseball Bites

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Cheeseballs, cheeseball bites… loaded cheeseball bites. Um, yes please! These amazing little nibbles for the buffet use a blend of cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, and spices for the perfect bite – at the end of the pretzel stick.

Blue Cheese Pear Tartlets

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Don’t let the name of these amazing blue cheese pear tarts worry you. They’re incredibly easy to make and take just 10 minutes to whip up! And, bonus, you can make up the filling ahead of time for easy, quick, fresh goodies on the day without a lot of extra kitchen time.

Bacon-Wrapped Scallops with Cajun Cream Sauce

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Here’s another winning bacon-wrapped recipe: scallops with Cajun cream sauce. They’re tangy, they’re spicy, they’ve got a little kick – and they’re going to be the party-pleaser for bacon and seafood lovers this Christmas!

Sweet Potato Bites

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For just something a little sweet, try these delightful sweet potato bites. They’re basically mini sweet potato casseroles you can grab with your fingers. Marshmallows, sweet potato discs, and pecans. Win-win-win.

Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Peppadew Peppers

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If you like some rich, sweetness with your bacon-wrapped goodies, try these bacon-wrapped stuffed peppadew peppers for a tangy appetizer the whole crowd will love. They use sweet peppers, cream cheese, bacon, and that’s it! So easy – so tasty!

Pigs in a Blanket Wreath

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When pigs in a blanket aren’t quite enough to get you in the holiday mood, check out this recipe for a wreath made up of the goodies. I’m never going back to just laying them out on a plate again.

BLT Dip

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BLT lovers rejoice! This incredible BLT dip is the perfect way to enjoy your favorite sandwich in small bites. The dip is perfect with toasted baguette slices, crostini, or your favorite crackers.

Red Wine Caramelized Onion Baked Brie

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Another decadent, rich treat to serve this Christmas buffet is this amazing red wine caramelized onion-baked brie. It’s easy and just uses a few key ingredients like red cooking wine, brie, onions, brown sugar, butter, and salt. That’s it. Caramelize the onions, top the brie, and bake!

Pecan-Stuffed Mushrooms

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Here’s a vegetarian-friendly stuffed mushroom dish the whole family is sure to love: pecan-stuffed mushrooms. These use mushrooms, green onions, pecans, butter, goat cheese, panko bread crumbs, and seasonings for the perfect blend for your savory app.

Pull-Apart Cheese Bread

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Okay, it might sound hard by the name, but this pull-apart cheese bread is so easy and absolutely delicious. Any cheese lover in the crowd is going to love it and keep coming back for more. You just might want to make a few pans.

Baked Brie

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For a rich and gooey goody for your holiday feast, consider making this baked brie recipe.  It’s brie wrapped in puff pastry and filled with pecans. It’s delicious and oh, so easy!

Cranberry Meatballs

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For the meat lovers in the crowd looking for something extra Christmas-y, these cranberry meatballs are just the ticket. They’re made up like regular meatballs, then coated with a creamy cranberry sauce for a sweet and zesty treat on the table.

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip

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Okay – time for a classic here: spinach and artichoke dip. It’s an easy, rich, creamy dip you’ll love all winter long, but especially when you’re looking for a quick, easy way to satisfy the hungry crowds on the holiday.

Caramelized Onion Dip

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Another amazing dip to whip up this holiday season is this amazing caramelized onion dip. It’s perfect for chips, veggies, pita chips, pretzels – anything you can dip will pretty much taste amazing with this easy treat.

Olive Wreath Holiday App Plate

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Here’s another one my husband’s begging for this year – and since it’s so easy, it’s probably happening. It’s a festive holiday app platter using olives, cherry or grape tomatoes, mini mozzarella cheese balls (or you can use feta cubes if you prefer!), fresh rosemary, olive oil, and seasonings. It’s absolutely gorgeous and so easy to make.

Perfect Guacamole

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You might associate guac with Cinco de Mayo or other warmer month holidays, but the perfect guac, as this recipe claims to be, is a fantastic choice for the holiday app table, too. Plus, hey, it’s naturally red and green.

Deviled Eggs

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Another classic you might want to whip up for the buffet table is a batch of deviled eggs. They’re easy, delicious, and almost everybody loves them. And, of course, you can make them ahead of time for an easy “uncover and serve” kind of dish.

Queso Fundido

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Here’s another one my hubby’s dying to try out this Christmas season: queso fundido. Basically, it’s the traditional queso dip for your corn chips, but with spicy chorizo! (Bonus, if you need something vegetarian, grab some soy chorizo from Trader Joe’s for the perfect replacement.)

Everything Bagel Cheeseball

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Here’s a twist on the classic cheeseball – the everything bagel cheeseball. You’ll use horseradish, cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar, green onions, bacon, and, of course, that everything bagel seasoning blend for the amazing cheeseball. It’s perfect for dipping bagel chips or even rye chips in.

Cheddar and Onion Cheeseball

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Here’s another classic cheeseball option – cheddar and onion cheeseball. So easy, tasty, and gooey – and perfect for making ahead of time for a super easy dish to please the crowds.

Swedish Meatballs

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Any buffet would welcome Swedish meatballs, a true smorgasbord classic dish. They’re warmed with tempting spices and covered in creamy sauce. And they’re always a hit.

Cheese Board

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Here’s another easy, prepare-ahead platter to make up for your party – a cheese board (also known as a charcuterie board). If you live near an Aldi, you’ll find these fancy cheese and meat suggestions for a bargain price, or order some online from your local grocery. If you really want to get fancy, find a local import grocery for the finest imported cheese and meats from Europe, Canada, and other locales. The instructions give you ideas for crafting your perfect service.

Jalapeno Poppers

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If you’ve got some spice fans, they’ll love it if you make up a batch of these easy jalapeno poppers. They’re made with cheese, bacon, jalapenos (of course), and will be gobbled up pretty much the second you get them on the table.

Veggie Dip

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If you’re looking to tempt folks into eating some more healthy choices, whipping up a batch of veggie dip might help. And this veggie dip is pretty amazing – some folks have called it the “best of the best.” The recipe was gotten from a local deli, so you know it’s not just your basic sour cream and ranch dip.

Beef Empanadas

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For a little international flair, try making these hearty beef empanadas for filling staple on the table. They’re the perfect way to provide a heavier appetizer for the big appetites around the house.

Baked Coconut Shrimp

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Okay, here’s a holiday favorite I’m not sure I could do without – coconut shrimp! This particular recipe is an easy, baked recipe for a healthier option and they’re just as amazing, if not more so than the typical fried option.

Grilled Scallops

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Another seafood option for the family is these grilled scallops. Make them outdoors on the grill or whip them up on an indoor grill if you’ve got one and it’s a little too cold outside. Or, if you’re really wanting that char kiss but don’t want to fire up the charcoal, try broiling them.

Bacon-Wrapped Sweet Potatoes

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Our last bacon-wrapped fare is these amazing bacon-wrapped sweet potato wedges. You just need sweet potatoes, bacon, salt and pepper, plus your choice of dipping sauce (I’d also recommend a sweet honey BBQ beyond the ones they mention in the recipe).

Tomato and Avocado Bruschetta

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Finally, some tomato and avocado bruschetta can finish out the buffet menu this year. The bright green and red of the fruit topping the crisp bread make it a perfectly Christmas-y treat that’s easy to make and absolutely delicious.

Here Comes the Yum!

Whatever combination of amazing holiday buffet recipes you pick for your buffet, your friends and guests are sure to find some options they love. They’ll keep coming back for more, though, so be sure to make enough! I’d also recommend asking the crowd ahead of time: which ones are you going to want? You’ll know which to double up and which to scale back. Don’t forget to whip up some winter cocktails ahead of time, too, for the grown-ups to enjoy.

Personally, I’m planning to whip up the baked coconut shrimp, caramelized onion dip, cranberry brie bites, French dip squares, loaded cheeseball bites, red pepper jelly crackers, and a few of the bacon-wrapped choices to offer my meat and seafood lovers this year.