Warm-Gruyere-Bacon-and-Caramelized-Onion-Dip||Beer-Pretzel-Cheese-Ball-Recipe||Holiday Apps So Good, Your Guests Will Never Leave||Holiday Apps So Good, Your Guests Will Never Leave||Pomegranate-Arancini-with-Goat-Cheese-Fonduta

Ingredients

The holidays are upon us! Are you ready?

Whether you're preparing to host hordes of distant relatives, or you just want something to guzzle while you curl up under a blanket, binge watch TV and prepare for your upcoming winter hibernation, we got you. Whatever it is that you need, we're pretty sure you can find the recipe right here, in these shamelessly loaded holiday appetizers. Go ahead, indulge!

1. Warm Gruyere Bacon and Caramelized Onion Dip

Want something warm, gooey, easy to make and super decadent? All you need to do is melt together a few easy ingredients, and you can totally caramelize the onions well in advance and freeze them, so you have no excuse not to make this!

2. Beer-Pretzel Cheese Ball

Ever had a cheese ball? If not, you have no idea what you're missing! This beer-infused EASY version gives a grown-up kick to this savory, creamy incarnation, plus the pretzels on the outside give it a nice little crunch.

3. Loaded Mashed Potato Cakes

Make a double batch of mashed potatoes next time, so that you'll have some leftover to bread and pan-fry. Or just use the instant stuff. Honestly these crispy, pillowy bites are incredible either way.

4. Italian Cheese Bread

Interested in baking some bread? Why not roll the dough in some cheese before throwing it in the oven? Because gooey melted cheese + freshly baked bread = heaven.

5. Bacon-Sweet Potato Tots with Maple-Mustard Dip

What's better than tater tots? That's an easy one: tots made out of sweet potatoes and bacon, coated in a crispy panko crust, and served with an improved version of honey mustard dip. What are you waiting for?

6. Baked Brie

If you're a brie lover, you absolutely need to try wrapping your brie in a puff pastry and throwing it in the oven until golden, flaky and oozing in the middle. Delicious!

7. Potato Rings with Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dipping Sauce

Can't choose between French fries and onion rings? Keep this recipe on hand so that you never have to make that tough call ever again. And why would you want to, when you can have a light and crispy shell surrounding a soft potato filling and a flavorful caramelized onion center?

8. Pomegranate Arancini with Goat Cheese Fonduta
​

These delicious DEEP FRIED RISOTTO BALLS (need we say more?) get a crunchy, sweet festive kick from the pomegranate seeds, making it pretty much the best surprise ever. Oh, and they're pretty easy to make if you have leftover risotto lying around. (Pro-tip: always make a double batch of risotto. For science.) The only problem with these ridiculously fancy schmancy apps are that your guests may never want to go home after tasting them.

Instructions

Print This Recipe

The holidays are upon us! Are you ready?

Whether you're preparing to host hordes of distant relatives, or you just want something to guzzle while you curl up under a blanket, binge watch TV and prepare for your upcoming winter hibernation, we got you. Whatever it is that you need, we're pretty sure you can find the recipe right here, in these shamelessly loaded holiday appetizers. Go ahead, indulge!

1. Warm Gruyere Bacon and Caramelized Onion Dip

Want something warm, gooey, easy to make and super decadent? All you need to do is melt together a few easy ingredients, and you can totally caramelize the onions well in advance and freeze them, so you have no excuse not to make this!

2. Beer-Pretzel Cheese Ball

Ever had a cheese ball? If not, you have no idea what you're missing! This beer-infused EASY version gives a grown-up kick to this savory, creamy incarnation, plus the pretzels on the outside give it a nice little crunch.

3. Loaded Mashed Potato Cakes

Make a double batch of mashed potatoes next time, so that you'll have some leftover to bread and pan-fry. Or just use the instant stuff. Honestly these crispy, pillowy bites are incredible either way.

4. Italian Cheese Bread

Interested in baking some bread? Why not roll the dough in some cheese before throwing it in the oven? Because gooey melted cheese + freshly baked bread = heaven.

5. Bacon-Sweet Potato Tots with Maple-Mustard Dip

What's better than tater tots? That's an easy one: tots made out of sweet potatoes and bacon, coated in a crispy panko crust, and served with an improved version of honey mustard dip. What are you waiting for?

6. Baked Brie

If you're a brie lover, you absolutely need to try wrapping your brie in a puff pastry and throwing it in the oven until golden, flaky and oozing in the middle. Delicious!

7. Potato Rings with Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dipping Sauce

Can't choose between French fries and onion rings? Keep this recipe on hand so that you never have to make that tough call ever again. And why would you want to, when you can have a light and crispy shell surrounding a soft potato filling and a flavorful caramelized onion center?

8. Pomegranate Arancini with Goat Cheese Fonduta
​

These delicious DEEP FRIED RISOTTO BALLS (need we say more?) get a crunchy, sweet festive kick from the pomegranate seeds, making it pretty much the best surprise ever. Oh, and they're pretty easy to make if you have leftover risotto lying around. (Pro-tip: always make a double batch of risotto. For science.) The only problem with these ridiculously fancy schmancy apps are that your guests may never want to go home after tasting them.

8 Holiday Apps So Good, Your Guests Will Never Leave

The holidays are upon us! Are you ready?

Whether you're preparing to host hordes of distant relatives, or you just want something to guzzle while you curl up under a blanket, binge watch TV and prepare for your upcoming winter hibernation, we got you. Whatever it is that you need, we're pretty sure you can find the recipe right here, in these shamelessly loaded holiday appetizers. Go ahead, indulge!

1. Warm Gruyere Bacon and Caramelized Onion Dip

Want something warm, gooey, easy to make and super decadent? All you need to do is melt together a few easy ingredients, and you can totally caramelize the onions well in advance and freeze them, so you have no excuse not to make this!

2. Beer-Pretzel Cheese Ball

Ever had a cheese ball? If not, you have no idea what you're missing! This beer-infused EASY version gives a grown-up kick to this savory, creamy incarnation, plus the pretzels on the outside give it a nice little crunch.

3. Loaded Mashed Potato Cakes

Make a double batch of mashed potatoes next time, so that you'll have some leftover to bread and pan-fry. Or just use the instant stuff. Honestly these crispy, pillowy bites are incredible either way.

4. Italian Cheese Bread

Interested in baking some bread? Why not roll the dough in some cheese before throwing it in the oven? Because gooey melted cheese + freshly baked bread = heaven.

5. Bacon-Sweet Potato Tots with Maple-Mustard Dip

What's better than tater tots? That's an easy one: tots made out of sweet potatoes and bacon, coated in a crispy panko crust, and served with an improved version of honey mustard dip. What are you waiting for?

6. Baked Brie

If you're a brie lover, you absolutely need to try wrapping your brie in a puff pastry and throwing it in the oven until golden, flaky and oozing in the middle. Delicious!

7. Potato Rings with Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dipping Sauce

Can't choose between French fries and onion rings? Keep this recipe on hand so that you never have to make that tough call ever again. And why would you want to, when you can have a light and crispy shell surrounding a soft potato filling and a flavorful caramelized onion center?

8. Pomegranate Arancini with Goat Cheese Fonduta
​

These delicious DEEP FRIED RISOTTO BALLS (need we say more?) get a crunchy, sweet festive kick from the pomegranate seeds, making it pretty much the best surprise ever. Oh, and they're pretty easy to make if you have leftover risotto lying around. (Pro-tip: always make a double batch of risotto. For science.) The only problem with these ridiculously fancy schmancy apps are that your guests may never want to go home after tasting them.