Christmas Party Ideas for Food

Enhance your office Christmas party with a spread of tasty treats to satisfy a crowd. Choose a variety of items to suit different tastes; if the party isn't a sit-down dinner affair, stick to neat, bite-size finger foods that are easy to eat while shaking hands or engaging in conversation with fellow party guests.

Beverages

• The drink menu is a critical component of any office party and will probably be the first thing guests ask for once they arrive. Keep it simple with a selection of wine, beer and mixed drinks, or go all out and provide some seasonally festive options. For instance, whip up a traditional batch of eggnog or fix a warm spiced rum punch. If you plan to serve alcoholic beverages, provide several alternative options for non-drinkers including a non-alcoholic batch of eggnog or hot apple cider.

Appetizers

• Provide a variety of food items for your guests to nibble on during the party. Choose bite-size finger foods that won't be too messy or awkward to eat while mingling with other party guests. Create snacks that can be placed on the end of a toothpick to ensure it will be easily managed in a single bite. Serve standard items like cheese and crackers and bite-size vegetables alongside dip or hummus. For some festive foods, prepare seasonally inspired dishes like cinnamon fruit kebabs with apples and pears, roasted nuts, sausage and cheese bites, or stuffed figs.

Main Courses

• If the party will feature a sit-down dinner, offer several main course options to suit a variety of tastes and diets. For instance, serve a vegetarian option like a warm goat cheese and spinach salad, or offer a hearty winter vegetable-based soup. For the meat-eaters on the guest list, offer options that they won't be tired of during the holidays. For instance, lamb and duck are typically less common during the holiday season, so complement these with wintry flavors like mint or cranberry for a hearty alternative to the standard Christmas meat and poultry dishes. Provide a mix of hearty roasted root vegetables like squash or sweet potatoes to accompany your protein selections.

Desserts

• Regardless of whether or not you are planning to include a sit-down dinner, provide a selection of seasonal mini desserts to cap off your office party. The miniature sweets will offer a light finish to a hearty meal, and will also be ideal for munching and mingling. Serve fruit kebabs for a light, portable option, as well as a variety of miniature pastries and tarts for guests with a serious sweet tooth. Focus your flavors on seasonal items like apples, cranberries, pumpkins, pears, peppermint and cinnamon. Provide warm beverages like coffee, tea and hot chocolate to accompany the seasonal desserts.