Whether you’re hosting an elegant Christmas party or enjoying a cozy family celebration, these Christmas food and drink ideas will add a touch of magic to your festivities. Treat your guests to sophisticated delights that mirror the grace of the season at your elegant Christmas gathering.
Don’t forget to capture every joyous moment with FREE printable Photo Booth props.
Inject some mischief into your holidays with our awesome Elf on the Shelf party ideas. Download our FREE Elf on the Shelf party printables to elevate the fun and add a touch of mischievous magic to your festivities.
For a lighthearted Christmas, sprinkle in the season’s joy with our FREE Ugly Sweater party printables. Encourage your guests to showcase their most outrageous holiday sweaters for a memorable gathering.
If you are planning a Grinch-themed Christmas party, dive into our world of our Grinch party ideas. We have so many fun and creative suggestions to make your celebration merry and bright.
Amidst the festivities, learn how to make a Christmas gift card holder, by adding a personal touch to your gift-giving.
We have a bunch of tasty ideas for Christmas food and drinks, such as Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes, Christmas Confetti Cookies, Santa Crackers, and some mouth-watering holiday cocktails. Enjoy!
Reasons to Love These Fantastic Christmas Food and Drink Ideas!
- Dazzling Variety: From savory bites to sweet treats and festive sips, these ideas offer a diverse range of flavors to satisfy every palate.
- Easy-to-Make Delights: Impress your guests with culinary delights that are not only delicious but also a breeze to prepare, ensuring stress-free hosting.
- Picture-Perfect Presentation: Elevate your holiday gathering with visually stunning dishes and drinks that add a touch of glamour to your Christmas party.
- Crowd-Pleasing Classics: Blend the comfort of traditional holiday favorites with a modern twist, catering to the timeless tastes that everyone loves.
- Interactive and Fun: Create a lively atmosphere with interactive food and drink stations that encourage mingling and make your Christmas party a memorable experience.
- Customizable Options: Whether catering to dietary restrictions or personal preferences, these ideas provide options that can be easily adapted to suit everyone’s needs.
- Festive Cheer in Every Bite: Infuse the holiday spirit into your gathering by incorporating seasonal ingredients and creative touches, spreading joy with every mouthwatering bite and sip.
Celebrate This Holiday Season With These Fantastic Christmas Food and Drink Ideas
🎄Christmas Desserts & Sweet Treats
Bring the festive magic to your holiday table with the most adorable and delicious Christmas desserts! These treats are perfect for parties, school events, family gatherings, and Christmas morning — fun, impressive, and easy to make.
🧁Cute & Festive Christmas Cupcakes
Cupcakes are always a holiday hit, and these Christmas-inspired designs make them extra special. From adorable Santa toppers to snowman marshmallow creations, these cupcakes are guaranteed to bring instant cheer to your dessert table.
1: Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes
Make your chocolate cupcake more festive by adding some ginger and cinnamon, and decorating them with a cute gingerbread man.
They are perfect for the holidays and will be a big hit with kids.
2: Santa Claus Cupcakes
These Santa Claus cupcakes are so fun and easy to make with store-bought goodies.
All you need is a fruit roll, some marshmallows, and some candy eyes and you’re pretty much good to go!
3: Marshmallow Snowman Cupcakes
You couldn’t dream of a cuter Christmas cupcake!
Everyone loves a snowman so grab some marshmallows and coconut and have fun making these holiday treats.
🍪 Christmas Cookies & Treats
Christmas cookies are a must-have for the season — whether you’re hosting, gifting, or baking with kids. These festive cookies are simple, decorative, and full of cozy holiday flavor, perfect for cookie exchanges and Santa’s plate.
4: Jammy Dodger Cookies
These beautiful traditional English jammy dodgers (shortbread cookies filled with jam) are lovely Christmas cookies to serve at a party or place in a pretty box as a gift.
Use as many tiny Christmas cookie cutters as you can to give them a holiday twist.
5: Christmas Tree Heart Cookie Ornament
I’ve always loved the idea of edible ornaments and these terrific heart cookie ornaments are just what you need to hang on your tree.
They are a lovely decoration that you can then enjoy later on as a treat. Pack them up and give them as a gift for Christmas.
6: Christmas Confetti Cookies
I just love sprinkles, and these Christmas confetti cookies are so much more playful than traditional sugar cookies.
Try this easy recipe and make your own melt-in-your-mouth delights!
7: Chewy Gingersnap Cookie
We like our cookies chewy at our house, and these cookies will give you that great soft mouthfeel with a little crunch, plus that little warmth of ginger.
I promise you will be addicted to them throughout Christmas!
8: Chewy Sugar Cookies
These chewy sugar cookies are so quick and easy to put together, and they taste great!
Top it with green and red sprinkles, or sprinkle on some cinnamon and sugar and you’ll have a great Christmas snickerdoodle.
🍫 Brownies, Bars & Cakes
If you love rich, comforting holiday bakes, this section is for you! These Christmas brownies, fudge, jello, and cakes are crowd-pleasing classics that look festive yet come together without any complicated techniques.
9: White Chocolate Peppermint Rocky Road Fudge
If you love peppermint desserts for Christmas you are going to love this one!
These creamy, nutty, minty, and marshmallowy treats are wonderful and are a great gift for family and friends too.
10: Red Velvet Christmas Tree Brownie
Brownies are an otherwise dark and rather drab-looking dessert, especially over the holidays, so I’ve tweaked them and created some fun holiday treats.
The best part is that these pretty red velvet trees don’t even require any fancy decorating skills!
11: Christmas Jello
This colorful jello just oozes Christmas with all the red, white, and green.
It’s a wonderful dessert to serve over the holidays and a great treat for those that love jello.
12: Eggnog Pound Cake
I love eggnog! Whether you’re adding it to your morning coffee, brandy for a nightcap, or to this delicious pound cake, you are in for a holiday treat.
This pound cake recipe has a mild eggnog flavor that even toddlers will go crazy over!
🎉 Fun Holiday Snacks
Make snack time extra festive with these playful Christmas treats. From holiday popcorn to sweet-and-salty pretzel rods, these fun ideas are perfect for movie nights, class parties, or as a sweet surprise for little elves at home.
13: Christmas Popcorn
There’s nothing like a fresh bucket of delicious popcorn and a great movie, especially over the holidays.
This Christmas popcorn jam-packed with goodies is just what you need to share with family and friends.
14: Christmas Pretzel Rods
If you are looking for a tasty and easy treat for your family this Christmas check out these festive Christmas pretzel rods!
They are so easy to make that your kids will want to join in.
🥨 Holiday Appetizers & Savory Party Bites
No Christmas celebration is complete without something delicious to nibble on! These festive bite-sized appetizers are easy to serve and ideal for grazing boards, holiday cocktail parties, and relaxed family gatherings.
🧀 Festive Cheese & Charcuterie Boards
Christmas grazing boards are a gorgeous — and stress-free — way to feed guests during the holidays. Think creamy cheeses, winter fruits, festive crackers, nuts, chutneys, and maybe even a fun Christmas-shaped brie! These boards are perfect for casual entertaining, cozy nights, or a Christmas Eve buffet.
15: Christmas Tree Shaped Charcuterie
This Christmas tree–shaped charcuterie board is a show-stopping vegetarian appetizer that looks luxe but takes minutes to assemble—perfect for stress-free holiday hosting.
Build the outline with rosemary, stack layers of cheese cubes and fresh fruit (grapes, berries), add a few cranberries for sparkle, top with star-cut cheese (or carrot), and use pretzel sticks for the trunk; serve with crackers on the side. No cooking, easy to scale for a crowd, and totally grab-and-graze—festive made simple.
16: Christmas Wreath Charcuterie Board
This Christmas wreath charcuterie board is a gorgeous holiday appetizer that doubles as festive table décor — and it’s surprisingly easy to put together! It’s perfect for grazing, makes a stunning centerpiece, and gives your guests a delicious mix of savory bites and sweet seasonal treats.
To make it, arrange fresh rosemary and thyme in a circle to create the wreath base, then layer in cheeses, cured meats, crackers, olives, grapes, nuts, and sugared cranberries for color and texture. Finish with star-shaped cheese or cookies and a little honey for dipping to give it that magical Christmas sparkle.
🥧 Savory Bites & Canapés
If you’re hosting a more traditional holiday gathering, these bite-sized savory treats are always a crowd favorite. From puff pastry stars to mini tarts and warm appetizers fresh from the oven, these festive nibbles make hosting effortless and delicious.
17: Antipasto Wreath
This Antipasto Wreath is a fresh and flavorful holiday appetizer that adds a stunning Italian twist to your Christmas party spread. It’s packed with festive color, easy-to-eat bites, and makes the perfect centerpiece for a grazing board or cocktail hour.
To make it, thread marinated mozzarella, olives, cherry tomatoes, salami, prosciutto, artichokes, and basil onto skewers, then arrange them in a wreath shape with sprigs of rosemary for a festive, fragrant finish. It’s light, savory, and crowd-pleasing, and guests can grab a skewer and mingle — no plates or fuss required.
18: Puff Pastry Cranberry Herb Cheese Bites
If you need a quick and easy appetizer over the holidays then you don’t want to miss this delicious puff pastry cranberry herb cheese bites recipe.
They’re flaky, tangy, creamy, buttery with a touch of sweetness. Your guests will love them!
19: Easy Christmas Santa Crackers
I love creating fun foods for the holidays as is the case with these easy Christmas Santa crackers.
Made with Ritz Crackers, sundried tomatoes, jack cheese, a touch of cream cheese, and currents, they are so tasty!
20: Deviled Egg Christmas Trees
These Deviled Egg Christmas Trees are a festive twist on classic deviled eggs and make the cutest savory appetizer for Christmas parties! They’re creamy, flavorful, naturally gluten-free, and bring a fun pop of color to your holiday grazing table.
To make them, pipe your deviled egg filling into tall swirls to create the “tree” shape, tint with herbs or avocado for a green hue, sprinkle with diced red pepper “ornaments,” and top with a tiny cheese star. They’re easy to prep ahead, crowd-pleasing, and protein-packed, making them a standout finger food for festive entertaining.
21: Mini Cheese Ball Holiday Platter
This Mini Cheese Ball Holiday Platter is a festive, bite-sized twist on the classic cheese board and makes the cutest Christmas party appetizer! It’s easy to serve, totally customizable with different flavor coatings, and ideal for grazing tables or holiday cocktail parties.
To put it together, roll your favorite cheese mixture into mini balls and coat them in colorful toppings like herbs, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and spices, then arrange them in a Christmas tree shape with crackers and fresh herbs. Guests can grab a cheese bite and cracker with no mess — a fun, flavorful, and super shareable holiday appetizer that looks gorgeous on the table.
22: Snowman Cheese Ball
This Snowman Cheese Ball is an adorable and delicious holiday appetizer that doubles as festive décor — the perfect centerpiece for a Christmas grazing table or charcuterie spread! It’s fun, family-friendly, and guaranteed to bring smiles before the party even starts.
To make it, shape your favorite cheese ball mixture into two stacked rounds, coat them in shredded cheese for a snowy look, and decorate with olive eyes, a carrot nose, mini candy buttons, and pretzel stick arms. Surround your snowman with crackers or veggie sticks, and you’ve got a cute, creamy, crowd-pleasing starter that takes minutes to assemble and is always a hit with kids and adults alike.
☕✨Christmas Drinks & Winter Sips
Toast to the season with festive drinks that warm the heart and set the holiday mood. From cozy hot chocolate treats to sparkling party cocktails, these sips are guaranteed to keep the Christmas spirit flowing.
🍫🎅 Hot Chocolate & Cozy Drinks
Nothing says Christmas comfort like a warm mug in hand. These cozy hot chocolates and homemade marshmallows are perfect for chilly nights, hot cocoa bars, and festive pajama parties by the tree.
23: Homemade Chocolate and Cinnamon Marshmallow
I love the taste of homemade marshmallows, and if you do too I’m sure you are going to be delighted with this recipe for homemade chocolate and cinnamon marshmallows.
They are so light and airy and will make any hot cocoa even more luscious!
24: Marshmallow Snowman Hot Chocolate
Snowmen and winter go hand in hand so how about making your kids this fun snowman hot cocoa!
It’s super fun and easy to make and the kids are going to love them!
25: Peppermint Christmas Float
This Peppermint Christmas Float is a magical holiday treat for kids (and peppermint-lovers of all ages)! Creamy, fizzy, and festive, it’s the perfect drink to serve at Christmas parties, cookie-decorating afternoons, or while watching holiday movies by the tree.
To make it, add peppermint ice cream (or vanilla with a splash of peppermint extract) to a glass, pour in sparkling soda or cream soda, and top with whipped cream, crushed candy canes, and a cherry. It’s quick, sweet, and full of holiday cheer — a fun and frosty non-alcoholic Christmas drink that feels extra special. 🎄🍒✨
🍸🎄 Festive Holiday Cocktails
Raise a glass with merry and bright cocktails that feel like a celebration in every sip. Whether you love citrusy winter flavors or sparkling holiday spritzes, these cocktail ideas make entertaining easy and impressive.
26: California Cosmopolitan Cocktail
Citrus isn’t usually associated with Christmas cocktails, but I just love the sweet and tangy flavors it can bring to a drink.
This California cosmopolitan cocktail recipe highlights the relaxed, casual, West Coast lifestyle and would brighten up any holiday party.
27: Cranberry Orange Martini
Wait until you see how easy these Christmas cranberry-orange martinis are to make!
They are the perfect cocktail for a holiday party, so grab a large pitcher and get shaking.
28: Winter Sea Breeze Holiday Cocktail
My hands-down favorite holiday drink is a winter sea breeze holiday cocktail!
It’s a great way to kick off your Christmas celebrations with its bubbly and tangy, flavor.
Make sure you decorate it with some pomegranate seeds and a spring of mint to give it a festive Christmas feel.
It’s the perfect holiday cocktail for anyone of our elegant christmas party themes!
29: Champagne Mojitos
Add a twist to your traditional champagne this holiday season by serving some champagne mojitos!
Mojitos are one of my favorite cocktails. I can’t get enough of the tangy lime, the cool mint, and the kick from the rum. Add it to some with champagne, and you won’t believe the flavor.
30: Gingerbread White Russian
This Gingerbread White Russian is a cozy-meets-festive holiday cocktail that combines the creamy richness of a classic White Russian with warm gingerbread spice — the perfect Christmas drink for cocktail lovers! It’s smooth, indulgent, and full of nostalgic holiday flavor, making it an instant party favorite.
To make it, shake vodka, coffee liqueur, and gingerbread syrup with ice, pour into a glass, and top with heavy cream or whipped cream. Garnish with ground cinnamon and a tiny gingerbread cookie, and you’ve got a creamy Christmas cocktail that looks as magical as it tastes.
⭐ Kid-Friendly Gingerbread “White Russian” Mocktail
Want a festive drink the kids can enjoy too? This Gingerbread White Russian Mocktail has all the cozy holiday flavor without the alcohol — the perfect treat for little holiday helpers!
To make it, mix gingerbread syrup, milk, and a splash of cold brew–style hot chocolate (or chocolate milk) over ice, then top with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon. Finish with a tiny gingerbread cookie or candy cane stir stick and you’ve got a holiday mocktail that feels just as special as the grown-up version. 🎅✨
Try almond milk or oat milk to make it dairy-free!
Christmas Food and Drink Ideas FAQ
Whip up quick and delicious options like cheese platters, bruschetta, and deviled eggs.
Create a signature holiday punch in advance to keep the drinks flowing with minimal effort.
Try stuffed mushrooms, vegetable skewers, and spinach and artichoke dip for tasty meatless options.
Offer gluten-free and dairy-free alternatives for key dishes and drinks to ensure everyone can indulge.
Craft a mocktail menu with sparkling cider, virgin mojitos, and fruit-infused water for refreshing alternatives.
Plan a well-thought-out menu, consider dietary needs, and arrange a comfortable and inviting space for guests to mingle and enjoy the festivities.
Need More Christmas party ideas?
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