37 Easy Eats and Sips That Make You Pray for a Longer Holiday Season
As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs, Easy Homemade Life may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. This comes at no additional cost to you, and all the prices and availability are accurate at the time of publishing.
Some holiday flavors are so good you catch yourself wishing the season would drag on a little longer. Easy eats and sips can take the pressure off busy days while still giving you that cozy, festive feeling everyone craves. When recipes taste special without demanding time or effort you don’t have, your holidays run smoother and feel a whole lot more enjoyable.
Basil Tomato Mozzarella Skewers
Basil tomato mozzarella skewers bring a fresh, colorful break to the richer snacks that tend to crowd holiday tables. Juicy tomatoes, soft mozzarella, and fragrant basil give little bursts of flavor that people keep wandering back for between conversations. With a light drizzle of balsamic on top, they slip perfectly into those long evenings when you secretly hope the season never winds down.
Get the Recipe: Basil Tomato Mozzarella Skewers
Homemade Non-Alcoholic Eggnog
Homemade non alcoholic eggnog pours out creamy and gently spiced, the sort of drink that makes the whole house feel unhurried. Each sip has that cozy holiday warmth that suits morning gift sorting just as well as late night catch ups. Set out a big pitcher and suddenly everyone seems more willing to linger, as if the season might last just a bit longer.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Non-Alcoholic Eggnog
Christmas Charcuterie Board
Christmas charcuterie board lays out an easy spread of meats, cheeses, fruit, and little extras that invites everyone to snack at their own pace. The colorful layout turns even a simple coffee table into something that feels party ready. Once it is set down, conversations stretch out and nobody is in a rush to call the night.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Charcuterie Board
Apple Cider Cocktail
Apple cider cocktail pulls in crisp apple flavor and gentle spice for a drink that feels tailor-made for long fall and winter evenings. The balance of sweetness and warmth sits nicely beside a cheeseboard or dessert. Mix a quick glass, and suddenly staying in sounds better than any night out.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cider Cocktail
Holiday Popcorn
Holiday popcorn shows up with cheerful sweet salty crunch that works for every low key holiday moment. Bowls filled with popcorn, candy, pretzels, and sprinkles sit easily next to board games, movies, or late night chats. As long as there is a bowl within reach, it feels a bit easier to pretend the holidays are not ending soon.
Get the Recipe: Holiday Popcorn
Cranberry Margarita
Cranberry margarita brings a tart, jewel toned sparkle to the drink lineup, perfect for evenings when the music is low and the lights are twinkling. The bright cranberry and citrus combo keeps things lively without feeling heavy. Pour a round for friends and the celebration has a way of stretching past the usual stopping point.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Margarita
Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Slow cooker spinach and artichoke dip quietly holds down the snack table with its warm, melty comfort. Rich cheese, tender spinach, and savory artichokes stay ready for dipping as people cycle through for refills. When the dip is still bubbling away, nobody is in a hurry to grab their coat.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Christmas Popcorn Balls
Christmas popcorn balls deliver gooey, crunchy bites that feel tailor made for long, cozy holiday nights. The mix of popcorn, marshmallow, and colorful sprinkles makes them fun to pass around during movies or wrapping sessions. A plate in the center of the room turns simple downtime into something you wish could repeat week after week.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Popcorn Balls
Drop Biscuits
Drop biscuits come together quickly yet taste like the kind of comfort you want to stretch across every last day of the season. Buttery, soft centers pair just as well with a holiday stew as they do with leftover ham at night or jam in the morning. Pull a warm pan from the oven and suddenly staying in that holiday bubble feels wonderfully easy.
Get the Recipe: Drop Biscuits
Cranberry Brie Bites
Cranberry brie bites bring a bright pop of red and gold to the snack table, just the thing for long holiday evenings. Buttery pastry holding creamy brie and sweet tart cranberry feels fancy without keeping you in the kitchen. Set out a warm tray, and conversations have a funny way of stretching a little later.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Brie Bites
Old Fashioned Fudge
Old-fashioned fudge leans into deep, creamy chocolate comfort that keeps people hanging around the dessert table. Every little square tastes like classic holiday sweetness, the kind families never seem ready to give up when January creeps closer. Leave a tin open on the counter, and the season suddenly feels like it might last another week.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Fudge
Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf
Cheese and bacon cob loaf shows up bubbling and golden, turning snack time into a slow, cozy event. Pulling off chunks of crusty bread filled with hot cheese and crisp bacon makes everyone settle in instead of drifting home. Once the loaf hits the table, nobody is in a hurry for the night to end.
Get the Recipe: Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf
Poached Pears
Poached pears bring a softer, elegant side to holiday dessert, with tender fruit soaking up wine, honey, and warm spices. The gentle sweetness feels just right after a big meal, keeping the mood relaxed instead of heavy. Plates linger, stories keep going, then suddenly the evening feels wonderfully stretched out.
Get the Recipe: Poached Pears
Ginger Beer Mocktail
Ginger beer mocktail brings fizzy, gingery brightness with a subtle apple note that suits both parties and quiet nights. The mix feels fun enough to sip on all evening while keeping things alcohol free. With only a few minutes of effort, you have a drink that makes the season feel just a little longer.
Get the Recipe: Ginger Beer Mocktail
Bacon Wrapped Pineapple
Bacon-wrapped pineapple adds a playful, sweet, savory bite that fits right into long holiday hangouts. Juicy fruit wrapped in salty bacon has people reaching for seconds while they keep talking on the couch. With a batch ready to go, it becomes very tempting to invite everyone to stay just a little longer.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Pineapple
White Chocolate Mousse with Raspberries
White chocolate mousse with raspberries brings light, creamy sweetness to the table without weighing anyone down. The fluffy mousse and tart berries feel special enough for a celebration yet take only a few quick steps. Dessert that easy makes it simple to say yes to one more round of holiday get-togethers.
Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Mousse with Raspberries
Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
Air fryer stuffed mushrooms come out hot and cheesy in minutes, perfect for nights when everyone wants “just one more” snack. Tender caps with creamy filling keep people circling the appetizer plate between board games and movies. With a fast cook time, you can keep refilling the tray as long as the evening rolls on.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
Candy Cane Martini
Candy cane martini brings peppermint sparkle to holiday nights that already feel a little magical. The creamy mint sip looks pretty in the glass, especially with a crushed candy rim. Mix a round for friends, and suddenly, nobody is ready to pack away the lights just yet.
Get the Recipe: Candy Cane Martini
Pecan Pie
Pecan pie shows up with that gooey, caramel nut filling that makes lingering at the table feel completely reasonable. The buttery crust and toasty pecans taste like the part of the holidays everyone waits for all year. Small slices stretched through the evening help the celebration hang on just a bit longer.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie
Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread
Cheesy garlic pull apart bread turns any casual hangout into the sort of holiday night you never want to wrap up. Warm, buttery pieces pull apart with plenty of mozzarella stretch, so everyone keeps reaching back into the pan. Set it in the middle of the table and conversation has a habit of lingering right alongside it.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread
Frozen Cranberry Margarita
Frozen cranberry margarita blends into a slushy, jewel red drink that feels tailor made for long, cozy holiday evenings. Tart cranberry, lime, and tequila stay bright and refreshing, even when the room gets warm from all the laughter. Pour a round and suddenly one more game or one more story sounds like an excellent idea.
Get the Recipe: Frozen Cranberry Margarita
M&M Christmas Cookies
M&M Christmas cookies bring colorful, low effort joy to days when the holiday schedule is packed but you still want a little magic. Soft, chocolatey cookies studded with bright candies look playful on any plate. A quick batch out of the oven makes it very easy to stretch snack time into a whole mood.
Get the Recipe: M&M Christmas Cookies
Blueberry Mocktail
Blueberry mocktail shows up vibrant and bubbly, the sort of drink that makes even a simple night at home feel a bit more festive. Fresh berries, lime, and mint create a cool, crisp sip that works for everyone at the table. Pour it over ice and the holiday vibe settles in for a nice, long stay.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Mocktail
3 Ingredient Shortbread
3-ingredient shortbread keeps things simple so you can spend more time enjoying the season instead of fussing in the kitchen. Buttery, tender squares pair perfectly with cocoa, coffee, or a late-night holiday movie. A full tin on the counter gives everyone an excuse to stay up just a bit longer.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Shortbread
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Peppermint hot chocolate brings that cozy, peppermint cocoa comfort that makes a December night feel endless in the best way. Creamy chocolate with a cool mint finish tastes perfect under twinkle lights or by the tree. One warm mug has a way of turning “just one more episode” into three.
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Pineapple Cheese Ball
Pineapple cheese ball lands on the snack table with a sweet, savory mix that keeps people circling back all afternoon. Creamy cheese blended with pineapple, peppers, and pecans tastes just right with crackers during slow holiday afternoons. As long as there is a little left to scoop, no one seems eager to head home.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Cheese Ball
Cinnamon Palmiers
Cinnamon palmiers offer light, crisp bites that feel made for lingering over coffee on chilly December mornings. Flaky pastry with a simple sugar cinnamon swirl looks elegant but takes hardly any effort. A plate on the counter makes it easy to stretch breakfast into a slow, holiday-style start.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Palmiers
Vodka Cranberry
Vodka cranberry brings a bright, ruby sparkle to the drink table that fits right in with long, festive evenings. The sweet tart mix stays refreshing instead of heavy, so it suits chatting, snacking, and a little dancing. With a simple stir in the glass, you are ready for another round of holiday fun.
Get the Recipe: Vodka Cranberry
Almond Crescent Cookies
Almond crescent cookies bring that soft, buttery sweetness that makes the season feel like it could go on forever. Powdered sugar and a gentle almond note melt together the moment you take a bite. A tin passed around the room has a way of keeping everyone parked on the couch a little longer.
Get the Recipe: Almond Crescent Cookies
Sugar-free Eggnog
This sugar-free eggnog lets you enjoy classic holiday flavor even on night three of indulging without the guilt. Creamy spices and a silky texture make it feel festive without weighing you down. With a chilled glass in hand, it’s tempting to linger in the holiday spirit a little longer.
Get the Recipe: Sugar-free Eggnog
Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
Bacon wrapped Brussels sprouts bring a smoky, sweet crunch that keeps the snack platters busy all evening. Tender sprouts in crisp bacon with a light glaze vanish faster than most fancy appetizers. Keep a warm tray coming from the oven, the party energy just keeps rolling.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
Eggnog Martini
Eggnog martini turns classic eggnog into a grown-up treat that suits long, relaxed evenings with friends. Vodka and amaretto blend into the creamy base for a smooth sip that feels special without demanding effort. A round of martinis tends to keep everyone gathered around the living room a little longer than planned.
Get the Recipe: Eggnog Martini
Hot Chocolate Cookies
Hot chocolate cookies bake up with soft cocoa centers and gooey marshmallow tops that taste like a campfire night indoors. The flavor feels perfectly aligned with slow, twinkle light evenings and second cups of cocoa. A plate in the middle of the table makes “just one more cookie” the easiest decision of the night.
Get the Recipe: Hot Chocolate Cookies
Peppermint Mocha
Peppermint mocha brings together rich coffee, cocoa, and cool mint, so mornings and late nights both feel a little more holiday-ready. The drink tastes like something you would order out, only you get to stay in your coziest clothes. Whipping one up at home makes it easier to linger over emails, movies, or gift lists.
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Mocha
Christmas Tree Cheese Platter
Christmas tree cheese platter doubles as both snack and décor, which makes gatherings feel festive from the moment guests walk in. Cheeses, tomatoes, and simple garnishes arranged in a tree shape invite everyone to nibble as they chat. Once it is on the table, nobody rushes to clear it away.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Tree Cheese Platter
Paloma Mocktail
Paloma mocktail offers bright grapefruit flavor with bubbles and a hint of rosemary, perfect for holidays when you want to stretch the fun without the alcohol. Each sip feels light and refreshing in the middle of all the rich food. A pitcher on the table lets everyone refill and stay part of the conversation.
Get the Recipe: Paloma Mocktail
Saltine Toffee
Saltine toffee turns a few pantry staples into snackable shards of caramel, chocolate, and pecans that are almost too easy to keep eating. The sweet salty crunch works for movie nights, game nights, or just wandering through the kitchen chatting. A tin within reach has a way of keeping the holiday nibbling going all season.
Get the Recipe: Saltine Toffee
