Christmas Party Ideas

Holiday Cocktail Party

« Jason Travi wraps prosciutto around persimmon wedges and roasts them until the meat crisps and the fruit turns tender and sweet.

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Easy Christmas Cocktail Party

Sophisticated Cocktail Party

Cocktail Party Planning Tactics

Fast, Make-Ahead Party Menu

« These luscious little tarts are filled with fresh ricotta. The trick to making the cheese silky is to puree it before spreading it on the flaky pastry and topping it with oven-roasted tomatoes.

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Superfast Side Dishes for Entertaining

Melissa Clark’s Fast Cocktail Party Strategies

Invent Your Own Cocktail Party

« To help wannabe mixologists, rising-star bartender Eric Alperin threw a party at which he taught a handful of friends how to invent an original cocktail.

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Classic Cocktails

30-Minute Hors d’Oeuvres

« These spicy, tangy little party snacks are Southwestern take on the classic combination of smoked salmon, red onion and capers. Chef Dean Fearing throws in roasted garlic, lime juice and jalapeño and replaces the standard cream cheese with sour cream.

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Quick Party Appetizers

Tasty Party Snacks

Christmas Appetizers

« Melissa Clark’s speedy, creamy spinach-and-shrimp dip is a variation on a cocktail-party classic.

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Great Aperitifs

The Best Christmas Cookies

Crackers

Holiday Party Dip Recipes

« This bright-flavored take on the classic Syrian nut dip muhammara includes pistachios, cashews and freshly toasted pine nuts, almonds and walnuts give it a chunky texture, while onions and red bell peppers make it tangy-sweet.

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Party Snacks Menu

Late-Night Christmas Party Menu

Christmas Brunch

« Grace Parisi has two shortcuts for these incredible faux sticky buns: using a biscuit dough instead of a yeast dough and baking it with maple syrup instead of homemade caramel.

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Recipes for Holiday Houseguests

Christmas Tea Party

Christmas Roasts

« "The great thing about doing a whole rib roast is that you don’t have to concentrate," Michael Mina says. "Season it right with salt and pepper, put it in the oven and then you can focus on all the dishes that go along with it."

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Luxe Christmas Dinner Party Menu

Smoked Ham Christmas Dinner

Christmas Wine Pairings

Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes Party

« In a riff on Italian Christmas Eve tradition, F&W’s Marcia Kiesel creates easy seafood hors d’oeuvres.

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More Holiday Hors d’Oeuvres

Fish and Seafood Cooking Guide

Holiday Potluck Recipes

« This hearty, meaty baked pasta is chef Tom Valenti’s ultimate make-ahead meal. "It’s actually better the next day," he says. "I always make more than I think we’ll need—and we always eat all of it."

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Crowd-Pleasing Christmas Dinner

Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes

A Sweet Holiday Potluck

Intimate Christmas Dinner

« "It’s traditional to stuff birds with plain bread," chef Celestino Drago says, "but I like to use focaccia with herbs; it’s nicer."

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Fuss-Free Holiday Recipes

Recipes for Two

Easy Christmas Desserts

« Kate Krader has been making these fudgy, sweet-salty brownies since she was 10 years old. As a kid she used regular table salt; now she recommends a flaky sea salt like Maldon, because the flavor is less harsh and it melts so nicely into the batter, accentuating the chocolaty sweetness.

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Milk Chocolate Dessert Buffet

Holiday Cookie Party

Bargain Wines

« Good quality box wines and more wine tips for party planning.

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5 Amazing Party Wines

Smart Wine Splurges

Champagne Cocktails

« Mixologist John Coltharp likes making this festive Champagne cocktail with herbal, woody Jameson 12-year Irish whiskey (made in Ireland’s County Cork).

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Value Champagne Picks

Top Prestige Cuvées for Toasts

Festive Red Cocktails

« Mexican-born mixologist Junior Merino balances flavors like a chef, creating classically inspired, invariably pretty drinks, such as this sherry-spiked riff on a brandy sour.

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Eat by Color: Green Foods

Eat by Color: Red Foods

The Best Mixed Drinks

Holiday Punch Recipes

« Erick Castro, former bar manager at San Francisco’s Rickhouse, created this sparkling punch. It’s terrifically light, but the malted grain–based genever adds whiskey-like depth.

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$12-and-Under Wines for Punch

Single-Serving Punches from Mixologist Wayne Collins

Nonalcoholic Drinks

Sparkling Wine Cocktails

« José Andrés kicks off his Christmas party with cocktails made with his favorite cava and fresh pomegranate juice, a distinctly Spanish take on a Kir Royale.

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A Sparkling Wine and Cheese Tasting Party

Best Sparkling Wine Values

Sparkling Wine Gifts

Tapas Party Recipes

« This delicious appetizer is a twist on the traditional Basque txangurro (crab simmered with tomato), crossed with a Galician empanada. "Part of my efforts to build a bridge between America and Spain," José Andrés explains.

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José Andrés’s Christmas with a Spanish Accent

Easy, Ethnic Party Recipes