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5 Fantastic Appetizers For Your Festive Florida Christmas Gatherings

woman taking a photo of food she is preparing in the kitchen

Do you still have more holiday parties to attend this week? Are you hosting people for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and need to fill in some blanks when it comes to the menu? Maybe some of these ideas can help. Here are 5 fantastic appetizers for your festive Florida Christmas gatherings and for TikTok Tuesday.

I have been seeing lots of videos on social media where cheese balls are shaped into all kinds of things and decorated. It seemed like Christmas trees were trending so I tried one. First, I took two disks of Boursin Garlic and Herb Cheese and molded it into the shape of a tree. Next, I took olive and stuck them in the cheese with toothpicks. You can't break the toothpick in half. You have to use the entire thing since the cheese is so soft.

Finally, I took sprigs of rosemary and stuck those around the olives. It looked a like a Christmas Tree and it was fun to dig into. Here is a video of the finished product. It is a little sparse in areas, like my real Christmas Tree. However, I think it was a good first effort as guests were arriving.

Here is a another easy idea I used at one of my holiday parties. Arrange traditional caprese salad in the shape of a candy cane. The colors are also perfect for Christmas. And if you buy quality ingredients, it tastes darn good too.

This is super easy to do and it tastes great. Alternate slices of tomato, buffalo mozzarella and basil leaves. Add a little salt, olive oil and balsamic vinegar and you are good to go.

You don't have to have a TikTok account to view these videos. We can use mine. Just scroll down and hit play from here. The videos are all office friendly. Finally, check out these 5 fantastic appetizers for your festive Florida Christmas gatherings and for TikTok Tuesday.

A Classic With A Twist

Bruschetta is always a crowd pleaser. It's easy to eat and not hard to make. This one has a little twist with the ricotta. I like it because it can be made in advance and easily assembled before guests arrive.

Cheesey Bites

This one looks so cute when it's finished. It appears to be fairly easy to execute. Again, who doesn't like pastry bites full of melted cheese.

Baked Brie Wreath

A friend brought something similar to my tree trimming party this year and it was a big hit. You can fill it full of other items too. My friend added some nuts and it really was good.

Brie Bites

This one also used brie but is less of a mess on the plate. Quick little bites that you can also customize to your liking. You could even different kinds of cheeses and toppings.

Meat Cups

Gluten free or have a guest who is? These are great substitutes for dough. It's another one that you can choose to stuff with whatever ingredients you like. Just use the salami as a base instead of pastry.

Gina Birch brings the sunshine to Sunny 106.3 every weekday morning from 6-10. She has worked in radio, television and print in Southwest Florida for nearly 30 years. During that time, she has become an advocate for numerous charities including those that support animals, children, women and wellness. In addition, she has written for numerous local, regional and national publications about food, wine and travel. Those are her longtime passions...along with shoes.