A Perfect Christmas Party
Christmas is the perfect time to spend with friends and family, be the perfect host this holiday season with these four tips.
Are you looking for great ideas to host a sweet Christmas party? This year, my family decided to host a “Christmas open house,” where people can stop by whenever and stay as long as they can to enjoy Christmas appetizers, drinks, desserts, music, decor, and of course company. This can be a large gathering or small, making it perfect for apartment living or if you have a house.
I still live at home with my family, so this idea of an “open-house” felt so homey and cozy. I was excited to see family and family-friends and welcome them into our home. The gathering started at 3 p.m. and lasted till whenever. There of course was a lot of prep (some of it was last minute) but I believe we pulled together such a great gathering! So if you are hoping to host your very own Christmas open house this season check out these tips…
Appetizers and Small Fare is the Way to Go
My sister and I put together a beautiful charcuterie board (inspired by Pinterest) in the shape of a Christmas wreath. We took toothpicks and put savory combinations of meats, cheese, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, red peppers, olives, little pickles, and spicy peppers on them. In the middle we had two types of cheddar cheese. We also whipped up little meatballs, pigs in a blanket, and of course had chips and dip. People who came to the gathering also brought their own creations: we had spinach pie, mini ham and cheese sandwiches, meatballs and rolls, veggies, and hummus flatbreads.
There were rounds of food because as the night went on, new people showed up. It was helpful to have guests bring their favorite dish so people could pick at yummy eats all night long. A helpful tip would be to have something to make on hand (just in case) like frozen mini pizzas or pigs in a blanket, in the off chance food does run out!
Ugly Sweaters Create a Festive Atmosphere
The best way to invite your guests (and the easiest) is to create an event on Facebook. That way you can see exactly who checked off that they are coming. You can post into your event to give people details of what to expect. We were sure to put out there that ugly Christmas sweaters were optional. So many people showed up in festive attire. If you are looking to put requests or details out about your party, Facebook is the way to go.
Pour Me a Glass
Of course, a Christmas party needs festive holiday drinks. Mistletoe margaritas are a great option, and they were definitely a big hit for us! I was inspired to make these margaritas from a TikTok I saw, and found a great recipe on Pinterest. Featuring cranberries and sprigs of rosemary, this beautiful cocktail screams Christmas. In addition to margaritas, we had a wide selection of wine and of course sodas.
Don’t Forget Dessert
A quick and easy option for a Chirstmasy dessert is chocolate bark. Throw a bag of chocolate chips onto a parchment paper lined tray and place it in the oven at 250 degrees. It’ll take about 15-20 minutes to melt. Once its a bit melty (but not too runny), take the chocolate out and spread out with a butter knife into a rectangle. Add pretzels and M&Ms to milk chocolate or crushed candy canes to white chocolate. Let the bark cool in the freezer, then break into chunks once set (these do not have to be perfect shapes). We also had guests bring their favorite desserts as well, from delicious cookie cake to chocolate mousse.
So there you have it. Hopefully these ideas will help you to make your Christmas party a hit this holiday season!