From social gatherings to family time and holiday traditions, food is a cornerstone of many aspects of human culture. Think for a moment about your favorite holiday. What foods do you enjoy eating? Chances are you and your family make the same feast year after year–and you never get bored of it. Food is so important that the majority of people enjoy the food more than football at Superbowl parties. So if you’re planning any holiday parties this year, serving food is probably on your to-do list. These 15 finger foods are delicious ways to make friends and family feel welcome, while catering to everyone’s dietary needs.

The key to selecting the perfect finger foods is making sure guests can eat it with one hand. Whatever you serve should be easy to grab and take a bite out of. Of course, you can provide toothpicks or utensils to make the grabbing easier. But try to avoid large snacks or treats that are messy. And if you’re not sure what specifically to serve–go with a variety. For example, you can offer some sweet finger foods along with savory, with a variety of ingredients, too. And if your friends are vegan, we have that covered, too! Keep scrolling to discover 15 delicious finger foods for your next holiday party.

Vegan Finger Apps

Veg Lollipops from Dainty Kitchen

Taking only 30 minutes, these bite-sized treats are quick and easy to make. But the best part? You can customize them completely. While this specific recipe calls for potatoes, green peas, bell peppers, and cauliflower, you can also use carrots and zucchini–whatever you’d like to eat! And you can create a sauce to pair with it, or stick a toothpick in it and turn it into a lollipop.

Popcorn Tofu Nuggets from VNutrition

This recipe calls for an air fryer, which means they’re simple to make and quick to clean up. They’re a great alternative to deep-fried nuggets, without compromising on any crunch or flavor. Plus, they’re the perfect dunking side, so you can pair them with a variety of sauces. Just be sure to make plenty–these will be a crowd favorite!

Cranberry & Thyme Cheese Balls from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken

Nothing feels more festive than cheese balls covered in berries. And while this recipe uses vegan cheese, you can swap it out with non-vegan cheese if you’d prefer. This finger food makes the list because it requires zero cooking or baking. You simply combine the ingredients, form the balls, and let them sit in the fridge until they’re ready to serve. It doesn’t get any easier!

Vegetarian Finger Apps

Roasted Grape & Honey Goat Cheese Crostini from Fork in the Kitchen

Crostini is another holiday favorite. And while you can put almost anything on crostini and it would be delicious, this particular pairing of grape and honey is perfect for the cooler months. You get the crunch from the bread, the tart from the grape, and the sweet from the honey–all in one bite. Plus, the crostini acts as a little plate, so they don’t make a mess, either.

Broccoli Fritters from RecipeTin Eats

Even kids love these broccoli finger foods! They’re packed with green veggies and served warm, with just a little added crunch from the frying. These tasty treats freeze well, too. So if you end up with any leftovers, you can save them for a yummy vegetarian snack down the road.

Sweet & Spicy Soy-Glazed Edamame from For the Love of Cooking

Maybe you like your holiday snacks on the hotter side. Then these glazed edamame are perfect for you! With a blend of chili, ginger, soy sauce, and brown sugar, these veggies are the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. And the sprinkled sesame seeds on top add just the right amount of crunch. Although they’re a unique type of finger food, we think they’ll be a hit at your next party.

Comfort Food Apps

Sausage Rolls from The Pioneer Woman

Now, for some people, holiday time calls for richer comfort foods. And these sausage rolls fit the bill! With bacon, pork, onion, celery, and garlic mixed, these rolls are an elevated version of pigs in a blanket. But for all their delicious flavors, they take less than two hours to make–including bake time. So you can pop these in the oven and start working on your other finger foods, like…

Garlic Butter Breadsticks from Damn Delicious

…garlic butter breadsticks! We know how it sounds–isn’t making breadsticks complicated? But with this recipe, there’s no yeast or rolling dough involved. Instead, there’s a little whisking, and little twisting, and then a little baking. That’s it! If you’re short on time or ideas, these finger foods take less than 15 minutes to bake, so you can quickly and easily fill your guests’ plates.

Potato Pavé with Bacon & Parmesan from Tara’s Multicultural Table

Pavé is simply a tasty treat with lots of thin layers. For this specific recipe, those layers are made out of bacon, potato, and Parmesan cheese. And while these treats are bite-sized, you don’t cut them until the very end. Instead, you layer the ingredients in a large baking dish and cut to the desired size before serving. Although this is an easy recipe, it does require overnight chilling–so plan accordingly!

Fruity Finger Apps

stuffed dates are delicious fruity finger foods

Air Fryer Apple Slices from That Girl Cooks Healthy

These wedges are like super mini apple pies. After slicing the apples, you dunk them in a sugar-cinnamon-breadcrumb mixture. Then you air fry them for approximately 15 minutes, and they’re good to go! Be aware, though, that the recipe is only for 2-3 apples. So if you’re feeding a crowd, you’ll have to increase everything. Thankfully, this is a simple and delicious recipe to scale!

Stuffed Dates from A Couple Cooks

Honey and goat cheese are the combo of the year! This recipe calls for both ingredients along with pistachio and some spices to kick the flavor up a notch. And you don’t need an oven, air fryer, or whisk to make these! It’s as simple at splitting some dates and filling them with yummy cheese and all the other ingredients. Then, they’re ready to serve or wait in the fridge until your guests arrive.

Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Truffles from The Novice Chef

These truffles have sweet, they have savory. They also have crunchy nuts and smooth cheese. It’s a whole flavor experience in a snack size. And like the stuffed dates, they don’t take long to make and they’re ready to eat as soon as they’re made. Because of their ingredients, they can be served as appetizers or even for dessert, too.

Delicious Dips

picture of hummus in bowls with text overlay that says "delicious finger foods for your holiday party"

Cauliflower Buffalo Dip from Veggies Don’t Bite

Who doesn’t love a little heat to keep you warm in the chilly months? With this cauliflower dip, the kick from the buffalo sauce will warm your guests right up. And because of this dip’s versatility, you can serve a variety of dippables to satisfy every guest: chips and crackers or veggies. Guests can even just eat it on its own or drizzle over chicken.

Apple Brickle Dip from Julie’s Eats & Treats

If you’re looking for a dip on the sweeter side, consider this apple brickle dip. It’s made with cream cheese, brown sugar, and toffee, and it’s as simple as mixing the ingredients together. Plus, the toffee isn’t melted, so it adds a delightful crunch. The recipe says to serve with apples, which would be absolutely delicious. But you can also serve it with graham crackers, wafers, or any other fruit.

Chipotle Guacamole from Culinary Hill

Of course, you can always stick with a classic guacamole with just a hint of heat. It’s perfect with chips or veggies, and it’s easy to make in large quantities. But it does include avocado, which doesn’t keep very long. So be sure to make this right before your party, so it’s fresh for all the guests!

Conclusion

Finger foods are perfect for long parties where guests will come and go. They’re also ideal for events at odd hours–like just after dinner time or in the middle of the afternoon. And because food is such an important part of culture, most guests will expect some type of refreshment. (Even if they don’t realize it!) So whip up a couple of these appetizers for a festive treat at your next event.

Which recipe sounds the best to you? Share which one you’ll try with us below!

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