Are you busy decking the halls (or like me, the dogs ;) and trimming the tree?
I pulled together some inspiration from the archives to help us get in the Christmas spirit!
Click on the links to find Christmas inspiration for your holiday baking and entertaining with recipes for appetizers, cookies, cocktails, food gifts and more!
Christmas Tree Tailgate and Picnic
Southern Living Christmas All Through The South with The Novel Bakers
Christmas Tree Cheese Board
An easy and festive appetizer for a Christmas party
Slow Cooker Cranberry Mulled Wine
Put your slow cooker to work for easy holiday entertaining! This simmering Cranberry Mulled Wine will warm you up from the inside out and make the house smell wonderful too!
Pecan Bourbon Balls
An easy no-bake Southern treat to enjoy with a cup of tea or for Christmas gift giving!
Honey-Rosemary Cherries and Blue Cheese Crostini
Serve as an appetizer or let your guests serve themselves and assemble from bowls of ingredients. If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, substitute goat cheese or Boursin.
Easy Owl Cookies, a hoot to make!
Melted Snowmen Cookies
Turn any plain sugar or chocolate cookie into adorable melted snowmen!
No-Bake Coconut Orange Snowballs
These no-bake confections are addictive and an easy, make-ahead treat! I’ve made countless dozens for an annual holiday open house and they were always a hit!
Rosemary Wreath with Olives & Cheese!
A festive and easy appetizer for holiday entertaining
Spinach Tortellini Christmas Wreath
A 10 minute appetizer for your Christmas or holiday entertaining
Christmas Sangria with Rosemary Simple Syrup
As easy to mix as it is to drink!
Christmas Wreath Macaroons
These festive cookies require just four ingredients, plus your decorative sprinkles. Like all macaroons, since they are flourless, they’re gluten-free.
Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies
An easy Christmas cookie recipe that uses a short cut!
Marinated Shrimp and Artichokes
One of Southern Living’s best recipes of 2011. Quick and make-ahead, 8 to 24 hours in advance. It’s good anytime of year, but perfect for the busy holiday season!
Christmas Popcorn Crunch
A quick and easy food gift to give or make for holiday snacking!
Panettone Trifle with Orange Curd and Raspberries
A dessert recipe for the holidays with a ‘wow’ factor that uses one my favorite holiday treats, Panettone! Includes a recipe for easy microwave orange curd.
My favorite holiday gift basket and/or hostess gift, Panettone,and a bottle of Prosecco. Include a bottle of maple syrup and oranges for your recipient to enjoy as French toast.
German Chocolate Cake Mix Pancakes
Indulge in these over the top German Chocolate Pancakes, layered with German Chocolate “Syrup” or frosting, made with a box mix!
Parmesan-Crusted Crab Cake Bites with Chive Aioli
A great little appetizer to serve for the holidays! The crab mixture can be made a day in advance, then the bite-size cakes are baked in a mini muffin tin with a crust of Parmesan cheese and panko bread crumbs.
Bourbon-Pecan-Gingerbread Cookies
This cookie has a fluffy, muffin-like texture with a bourbon glaze on top!
Spicy Dark Chocolate Nut Clusters
A quick and easy food gift to make for the holidays!
Merry Cranberry Salsa
A light, flavorful, and healthy appetizer for the holidays that comes together in 10 minutes!
Making Lists and Make-Ahead Holiday Appetizers
Make-ahead recipes and inspiration for your holiday entertaining or Christmas party
Including Cha-Cha Chicken Salad, a molded chicken salad, made 8 – 24 hours in advance.
Candy Cane-infused Vodka
Ready to gift or sip in 3 hours and shake up a White Chocolate Peppermint Martini!
Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
Quick and easy cupcakes for the busy holiday season, served with candy cane handles!
Hot Chocolate Stirring Spoons
Easy and fun for kids to make with candy melts or almond bark and decorative holiday sprinkles
Candy Cane Cocoa Mix
A mix for easy seasonal sipping and ideal for gift giving.
The Grits that Stole Christmas and a Charleston Lowcountry Christmas
Ideal for brunch on Christmas or New Year’s Day
The winner of a copy of InStyle Parties is Virginia.
Thank you to Time Inc. Books for providing a copy of InStyle Parties for this giveaway and review.

Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Metamorphosis Monday, The Scoop,
Wow Us Wednesdays, Feathered Nest Friday, Foodie Friday
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Oh my goodness… I awed by your collection of recipes and hungry too! I think I wore out my pinning finger :) That Christmas tree cheeseboard is so cute! Thanks for all your inspiration, can’t wait to try some of these!
Best holiday recipes ever. You’ve given me so many ideas, I don’t know where to start! (Yes, like Karen S said, my pinning finger got a workout.)
Mary, I can always count on you for outstanding holiday recipes! This is over the top and I can’t wait to try some of these this Christmas season. Thank you for sharing your talents with us. 🌲🍽❣️
It takes time to pull together a compilation post with links, but it sure is appreciated – pinned – and thank you!
Mary, I know I must have seen your Panettone Trifle before but I don’t remember it. It looks beyond delicious and perfect for the holidays along with your other recipes. Thank you for your wonderful recipes and ideas, keep them coming. Jerrie
My , oh my, what a jolly time we will have with these recipes! I have made the darling wreath macaroons and the very delicious Panettone Trifle and it was enjoyed by all. This year I want to make the Cha cha chicken and the orange coconut snowballs. Those crab bites and the shrimp artichoke dish are calling to me also lol. Thank you Mary for this very festive post with all the delicious goodness with each recipe!
Everything looks great Mary, and sounds yummy! My sleigh just flew me to my happy place-Wally World. But early enough in the morning so it’s not so crazy… The tree’s up, now for the rest of the decorating. Hopefully it will be completed today. Have a great weekend:@)
What a round up! I didn’t think it was possible to be hungry so soon after Thanksgiving but your photos are drool worthy! Love your pups too. ❤️
Love it all, the tartan tailgate, the melted snowman, the decked-out dogs and the recipes. . . . your blog makes me smile. Cool way to start my day.
Good Morning Mary, I am so thrilled and excited to be the winner of the “In Styles Parties” book. Thank you so very much. Today’s post is just filled with so many yummie recipes some of which I have prepared in the past and will make again this year and others I cannot wait to try. I made the dark chocolate nut clusters a few days ago, they are a favorite anytime of year. My husband cannot have dark chocolate so I made him a batch using white chocolate, he’s a happy man. Thanks again for the book and for continuing to inspire us. Have a nice weekend.
These recipes look wonderful! Every single one of them.
I want to sample each of those recipes, Mary! Thanks for compiling such a great list for us to have when needed! You’re the best. ❤
I’m all set for holiday entertaining with these wonderful recipes. I’ve made the Christmas Wreath Macaroons and Crab Cake Bites and they were a hit. Thank you!
These recipes look like they’re right up your alley, Kar! I’ve been following this gal’s blog for a couple years & enjoy it. Lots of eye candy! Thought u might want to follow her blog too…😘
Mary, you have inspired me to get started baking! The orange coconut snowballs are a must for me every year. Thank you for the beautiful round-up!
Wow!!!!! You always amaze me!!! I love all the recipes and all your decor including the boat!!! You always seem to amaze me and your babies they are so adorable
This is a great round up Mary, and lots of effortless ideas which are really appealing today as we clean up after celebrating like the Pilgrims and Indians, 3 days of feasting! I am going to need a day or two to recover before decking my halls! I do want to make the snowballs, they are so pretty!
Jenna
This post is awesomes! i love it.
Love all the beautiful ideas! Thanks so much for sharing. I love all the recipes and all your decorations.