The 7 Best Snacks for Your Happenin’ Holiday Get-Together

By Kait Spong

The holidays are quickly approaching, which means festive parties, get-togethers, and gatherings galore. You’re sure to have one at work, maybe one or two at a friend’s dorm or apartment, and of course, the few that litter your university’s campus on finals week.

So, it’s time to get that tacky sweater ordered, that holiday eggnog stocked, and those White Elephant gifts checked off your shopping list. But in the midst of all that, there’s also the expectation of bringing a dish to contribute to a potluck-style feast. With the stress of finals, potentially moving from your dorm or apartment, and obviously, Christmas shopping, you’ve barely had time to wrap up the second season of Stranger Things, much less plan a delicious treat to impress all your buddies with—but you’re in luck! Just in time for the holiday season, uCribs has devised our list of the 7 most delectably delicious holiday finger foods that are so good that they might just fill you up before the main course.

Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce Meatballs

Like Guy Fieri unintelligibly babbles on his smash-hit show, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, there just something “out of bounds” about a sweet and spicy flavor combination that will take you well past “Flavortown” and into a whole new realm of mouthwatering and tasty. This recipe for grape jelly and chili sauce meatballs is no exception, and the resulting 50 meatballs that yield from this recipe may not be enough to satisfy the greedy hands of the Grinch alone—much less 25 of your closest pals.

Ingredients:

3-5 lbs. frozen cooked small meatballs

1 (32 ounce) jar grape jelly

2 (12 ounce) jars chili sauce

1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions:

1. In a pot, combine the grape jelly with the chili sauce.

2. Add in the meatballs and simmer for about 45 minutes uncovered or until the sauce has thickened.

Ranch and Bacon Cheese Ball

Nothing says Christmastime like a ball of cheese rolled in more cheese then covered in bacon. This Ranch and Cheese Ball recipe has been a holiday party favorite since your grandmother was setting up the color wheel behind the Christmas tree to make it shine with those crazy, psychedelic rainbow colors so unique to the 60s. But back to the topic at hand—cheese balls are incredible, and you should totally surprise your friends with this special treat for this year’s holiday get-together.

Ingredients:

2 (8 ounce) packages of cream cheese

1 (1 ounce) package of dry Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix

1 cup shredded colby or cheddar cheese

1 (3 ounce) bottle Hormel real bacon bits, or real crumbled bacon

Directions:

1. Take 2 packages of softened cream cheese, and mix till slightly whipped.

2. Add packet of ranch dressing, and mix until incorporated.

3. Fold in 1 cup shredded cheese.

4. Pour bacon bits in a plate or pie tin.

5. Form cream cheese mixture into a ball with your hands.

6. Roll ball in bacon bits until covered. Wrap cheese ball in plastic wrap and place in the fridge.

7. When cheese ball feels firm, remove and serve with crackers.

Chocolate Dipped Kettle Chips

Remember that Guy Fieri reference from two paragraphs ago? Well, he would have enjoyed this recipe too with its combination of the sweet chocolate and the salty kettle cooked potato chips. It’s like peanut butter and bacon, or salty fries dipped in a Wendy’s chocolate Frosty—it’s a combination that just works even though you’re not entirely sure how. But you do know this much: it’s savory, sweet, and delightful, and we are positive your friends will not get enough of this holiday party contribution, especially when it’s united with the crunch of your favorite potato chip.

Ingredients:

4 ounces of dark chocolate

1 teaspoon of vegetable oil

9 ounces of salted kettle-cooked potato chips

Chopped pistachios

Coarse Salt

Cayenne Pepper

Directions:

1. Line 2 cookie sheets with wax paper.

2. In a small bowl, break up chocolate. Microwave chocolate and oil on high power, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.

3. Working with one chip at a time, dip the chips into the hot chocolate and set on the rack.

4. Sprinkle chopped pistachios over one-third of chips.

5. Sprinkle coarse salt over one third.

6. Sprinkle cayenne pepper over one third.

7. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Onion Chip Dip

Feeling nostalgic for the onion dip you’d eat every day after school? Well now you can make your own to serve up at this year’s holiday gathering. The best thing about this dish? Just about any dippable vessel will suffice, whether you choose raw veggies, crackers, chips, toasted pita, or cheese straws. Get creative! The possibilities are endless…and each more appetizing than the last.

Ingredients:

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese

1 package onion soup mix

1 cup sour cream

Directions:

1. With a hand mixer, mix all of the ingredients.

2. Refrigerate for at least two hours to flavor through.

3. Serve with chips or raw veggies.

Baked Tomato Bruschetta Bites

The mere mention of bruschetta has our mouths watering. Maybe it’s the subtle combination of juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, and tangy vinegar, or it could possibly be the creaminess of the heavenly mozzarella, but this tempting bite-size snack always has us hankering for more. If you want to make it extra savory, we recommend adding a crisped piece of prosciutto to the top. With all these ingredients along with the crunch of the bread, you may even consider starting a whole new tradition, leaving them for Santa in place of the standard chocolate chip cookie and glass of milk. Hey! That’s what leftovers are for…if there are any.

Ingredients:

1 baguette, thinly sliced

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

4 slices Sargento Mozzarella Cheese

2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

1 clove garlic, pressed

Pinch of kosher salt

Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup basil leaves, chiffonade

Dijon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Place baguette slices onto prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place into oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.

3. Top each baguette slice with mozzarella cheese. Place into oven and bake for 4-6 minutes, or until cheese has melted

4. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper, to taste

5. Top each baguette slice with tomato mixture, garnished with basil

6. Serve immediately.

Deep Fried Coconut Shrimp

You had us at deep fried, and then we saw those glorious words followed by two even better ones: coconut AND shrimp. Served up with a sweet orange marmalade dipping sauce, this dish will blow the festive socks off anyone in your social circle—as long as you don’t devour them all before the actual party yourself, which may or may have not have happened at one of our own holiday parties. I am not pointing any fingers…but it wasn’t me. #shaggyremix

Ingredients:

3/4 cup of flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon pepper

3 egg whites

2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut

1 1/2 lbs. large shrimp, cleaned and deveined

Vegetable oil (enough to fry shrimp)

Directions:

1. Heat oil in deep fryer or deep skillet to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Meanwhile, mix flour, salt, ginger, and pepper.

3. Beat egg whites, just until foamy.

4. Coat shrimp with flour; dip into egg whites.

5. Pat coconut onto shrimp.

6. Fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.

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