Since cooking a Thanksgiving dinner takes a hot minute, it's not a bad idea to have some appetizerson-hand to serve your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving guests. Of course, you don’t want to have to spend a ton of time making snacks when you’re also preparing a feast – but that’s where these last-minute bites come in! These Thanksgiving appetizers will keep your guests satisfied until dinner, and they’re so easy to make, you won’t have to deal with any extra kitchen drama.
Without further ado, let's dive into these quick and easy Thanksgiving appetizers!
Fresh Eggs Daily
Yummy Thanksgiving Appetizers can be as cute as they are scrumptious — like these Baked Eggs in Butternut Squash Rings recipe form Lisa Steele, author of The Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook. Here's how you make it:
Ingredients:
Sarah Anderson
Stuffed mushrooms are such a reliable crowd-pleaser when it comes to Thanksgiving appetizer, or starters for any occasion, really! These 'shrooms in particular take inspiration from Greek cuisine and include tomatoes, olives, pepperoncini, feta cheese, and salami.
Plant Provisions
These hand pies are 100% vegan, so you can confidently serve them to a party of all diets. They're meaty, cheesy, herby, and definitely filling if you need to prep a decent snack ahead of your fancy Thanksgiving feast.
Parmigiano Reggiano
Chocolate and cheese work surprisingly well together, and these creative dipped bites will certainly have all the foodies at the function buzzing.
Snixy Kitchen
Deviled eggs are such a classic snack, but they can easily become yummy Thanksgiving appetizers when you add butternut squash and bacon to the centers!
The Pioneer Woman
Transform your famous charcuterie board with fall accents to make a Thanksgivingappetizer that'll hit all the right taste buds.
Nutmeg Nanny
Don't you just love a bite-sized snack that's super quick to make?
The Home Cook's Kitchen
Should your guests craves something that's creamy and crunchy, serve them these bready Thanksgiving appetizers.
Half Baked Harvest
What do you get when you combine the savory flavors of French onion soup and meatballs? We'll give you a hint — it has something to do with being irresistible.
Half Baked Harvest
Warning: biting into these sweet, spicy, crispy, and cheesy chips is the point of no return, but it's so worth it.
Savory Tooth
Two-ingredient appetizers are always a winner in our book, and this one is extra hearty.
Pizzazzerie
Candied walnuts are excellent on their own, so imagine how they taste with pears and goat cheese on toast.
The Blond Cook
Soy sauce and brown sugar coat these mini hot dogs, and a touch of Sriracha makes them even more spice-tastic.
Sunkissed Kitchen
Carrots and cinnamon are blended with classic hummus ingredients for a healthy dip to pair with pita chips. The pomegranate and pumpkin seed garnish really ups the presentation of this Thanksgiving appetizer.
Recipe Tin Eats
Keep a package of wonton wrappers in the fridge, and you’ll never have to worry about what snacks to prep next for your party guests! This recipe stuffs the wraps with Caesar salad fixings, but the options are endless.
The Real Food Dietitians
Even if you don’t have a ton of time, you can easily roast up a batch of these smoky mixed nuts before your guests arrive.
Tara's Multicultural Table
Turn French onion soup into a convenient appetizer with crusty bread, sautéed onions, and smoky cheese! Yummm.
The Recipe Critic
Smooth goat cheese and tart raspberry preserves are a match made in snack heaven. The crispy puff pastry layer makes it all worth it.
Lavender and Lovage
If you have cheese lingering in your deli drawer, it’s the beginning of a tasty appetizer. Sprinkle it into some puff pastry for a twisty "straw" you'll reach for again and again.
The Seasoned Mom
The combo of chicken, bacon, and barbecue sauce results in a Thanksgiving appetizer that's almost impossible to stop eating.
Savory Tooth
Smokey bacon and salty, nutty cheddar top some earthy mushrooms for a new version of this classic stuffed app.
The Baking Fairy
If you have vegetarian guests coming to your party, you’ll want to have a tasty option for them. These olives in a "blanket" do the trick nicely! As a bonus, most store-bought crescent roll dough is vegan.
The Cookie Rookie
There's a reason why sharp cheddar cheese balls are a classic Thanksgiving appetizer. Serve them with buttery Ritz crackers to reach total snack nirvana.
Half Baked Harvest
Sweet and savory, this goat cheese dip is perfect for dipping crostini and vegetables in.
Live Eat Learn
Top a cracker with sour cream (or brie or goat cheese) and spread on this cranberry salsa for a light, yet spicy-sweet bite.
Amanda Wilens
Pear really finds its life's purpose when it's tucked into a square of puff pastry and topped with salty gouda cheese.
Get more ideas and inspiration for your Thanksgiving appetizers and other festive holiday entertaining tips by following us on Pinterest or joining our newsletter.
This post has been updated with additional reporting by Sara Cagle,Jasmine Williams, and Meredith Holser.
In all honestly, all I look forward to during the holidays (other than my fam) is the pie. There's pumpkin pie. Apple pie. Chocolate pie. Sweet potato pie. But more than any other dessert, pecan piejust gets me. I'm salivating as I'm thinking about it!
Anywho... making an entire pecan pie can become a whole ordeal very quickly. That's where these delicious pecan pie bars from Chahinez with Lifestyle of a Foodiestep in. They're simple to make, plus provide the ideal eating experience – pecan pie bars easily qualify under finger foods, and they are downright addictive.
Let's get into the recipe!
Lifestyle of a Foodie
For the shortbread crust:
For the pecan pie filling:
Lifestyle of a Foodie
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Recipe + photography by Lifestyle of a Foodie.
This post has been updated.
Black Friday will be here before you know it, with thousands of retailers flaunting their best deals of the year. We're shoppers at heart, so you know we're already scoping out 2024's offerings! Given that the list of stores and brands hosting Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales this year is essentially endless, we're weeding out only the best deals from the places you love to spend (and save). From beauty faves like Dieux and Kiehl's to home goods from Amazon and Walmart, these are the Black Friday deals you simply can't miss.
Kaboompics / PEXELS
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving that typically signifies the start of holiday shopping season, though many retailers have started to launch their Black Friday deals earlier year over year. A lot of the deals that stores and brands offer during Black Friday outpace their other sales events (such as Memorial Day and Labor Day) in terms of savings.
Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS
Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving that highlights savings and deals online as opposed to in-store offers. It's one of the busiest times of year for online shopping.
Vlada Karpovich / PEXELS
We're big believers that it's never too early to start shopping for holiday gifts. The sooner you shop, the better, so you can check everyone off your list ahead of the busy holiday season and have some peace of mind once the real festivities start! Plus, if you're shopping online, starting early gives you ample time to wait for items to be shipped and delivered to your door. If deals and savings are what you're looking for, Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer some really great opportunities.
Kaboompics / PEXELS
The best thing to shop for during Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday promotions really depends on what your needs are as well as the items you're scoping out to treat yourself (or the people you're gifting for the holidays). Typically, big-ticket items like home appliances, tech products like earbuds, laptops, TVs, and tablets, and luxury self-care tools are heavily discounted during this time.
Amazon
Bliss Bright Idea Vitamin C + Tri-Peptide Collagen Brightening Serum
When: November 20-December 17
What: 20-30% off select products
Ulta
Perricone MD High Potency Hyaluronic Intensive Hydrating Serum
When: Now-November 23
What: Weekly deals on skincare, makeup, hair care, and fragrance.
IT Cosmetics
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Full-Coverage Foundation with SPF 50+
When: November 23-December 3
What: 30% off sitewide (loyalty members get 35% off)
Amazon
When: November 21-December 2
What: 30% off site-wide and 50% off select items on November 26 only
Moroccanoil
Moroccanoil Original Treatment
When: November 25-December 3 (rewards members will have early access to the sale on December 2)
What: 25% off sitewide
NOYZ
When: November 28-30 and December 1-2
What: 25% off sitewide and a free baseball cap on purchases over $55 on November 28-30, 25% off sitewide and a free candle on purchases over $55 on December 1-2
Dieux
When: November 29-December 2
What: 30% off original price items, 20% off single items, and a free Mini Slugging Kit on orders over $30
ILIA
ILIA Skin Rewind Complexion Stick
When: November 25-December 2, VIP members get early access November 24
What: 20% off sitewide, 25% off orders over $125, and 25% off plus a free full-size product for orders over $150
Ogee
When: November 1-December 3
What: 20% off sitewide with code 'GIFTGLOW20' and receive free deluxe samples with purchases over $200 (November 28-December 3 only)
Amazon
Youth To The People Superfood Facial Cleanser
When: November 23-December 3 on YTTP.com, November 21-December 2 on Amazon, and December 2 at Sephora
What:
Amazon
Dream Pairs Genuine Suede Classic Platform Boots
When: November 21-December 2
What: 20-40% off select styles on the Dream Pairs site and Amazon
Madewell
Madewell The Essential Bucket Tote
When: November 21-27
What: 30% off your purchase, including new arrivals
H&M
When: November 28-December 1
What: 30% off online only (November 28), 30% off online and in-store (November 29-30), and up to 50% off (November 30-December 1)
Old Navy
When: November 1-December 2
What: 50% off select products online and in-store (November 1-6), 50% off everything online and in-store (November 7-10), and 50% off everything online only and 50% off select products in-store (November 27-December 2)
Land's End
Land's End Medium Canvas Tote Bag
When: November 29-December 3
What: 50% off, including customizable canvas totes, sheets, towels, accessories and more.
Showpo
When: November 22-December 3
What:
Franco Sarto
Franco Sarto Jaxon Mid Calf Boot
When: November 23-December 3
What: Up to 70% off + free shipping
Oomiay
When: November 28-December 2
What: Free exclusive jewelry pieces (up to 5) with every item purchased on November 28-December 1 and up to 50% off your entire order on December 2 only
Barefoot Dreams
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Solid Robe
When: November 27-December 1 (Black Friday VIP access starts November 25) and December 2-3 (for Cyber Monday)
What: 20% off 2 items, 25% off 3 items, and 30% off 4 or more items for Black Friday. The CozyChic Checks & Stripes Sock Set will be just $9.98 (was $45) on Cyber Monday only.
Local Eclectic
Local Eclectic Whimsical Charm Necklace
When: November 25-December 2
What: 20% off sitewide
Quince
Quince Italian Wool Classic Single-Breasted Coat
When: November 27-December 2
What: 40% off select products
Revival Rugs
When: November 14-December 2
What: Scaled discounts automatically applied at checkout:
Walmart
Samsung 55” Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV
When: November 11-December 1
What: Walmart is breaking up their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals into two events.
Amazon
TheraGun Sense Percussion Massage Gun
When: November 29 and December 2 (tentative)
What: Amazon will feature "tons of great deals across all different categories."
Ruggable
Morris & Co. Strawberry Thief Sage & Rose Tufted Rug
When: Starting November 26
What: 25% off sitewide (exclusions apply) with code 'BF24'
Brümate
When: November 26-December 2
What: 20% off coolers and 25% off drinkware with code 'HOLIDAY25'
sproos!
sproos! Lookin Good Handheld Shower System
When: November 27-December 2
What: 30% off of the Lookin' Good Bundle on sproos.co and Amazon
Great Jones
When: November 4-December 2 on Great Jones site and November 21-December on Amazon
What: up to 50% off sitewide and 20-33% off select items on Amazon
Cure
Cure Electrolyte Drink Mix Starter Kit
When: November 26-December 3
What: 25% off sitewide on all Electrolyte Drink Mixes, Cure Kids, Energy Teas and merch with code 'HELPYOURSELF25'
Petco
Native Pet Omega 3 Fish Oil For Dog Skin & Coat
When: November 23-30
What: 50% off select items
Subscribe to our newsletter to shop even more Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals!
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
This post has been updated.
Brand-new gift sets, foodie gifts, beauty gifts, and the like are sure to bring joy this year, but if you're planning to give something with a personal twist, handmade gifts are *the* way to go. The possibilities are truly endless when you employ your creativity and craft items that your gift recipients have maybe seen (or received) before – hats, cards, coasters, picture holders, and more await.
Check out these entirely homemade gifts that will spark your next holiday idea! Some components of these handmade gifts can even be thrifted, saving you some cash along the way.
Anete Lusina / PEXELS
Nothing communicates your love, time, and effort behind a gift more than personalized cards. Even if you can’t DIY the gift itself, having a handmade card (with a thoughtful message inside) as a prelude to the unwrapping ritual will touch everyone’s heart. Make sure to craft yours on some hardy cardstock so they feel *extra* special. Peep some of these stellar holiday card ideas for inspiration!
@miascozycorner i inadvertently seem to have to fallen into a purple theme?? #christmascrafts#diychristmasdecor#diychristmasornaments#claycreations#tiktokdiy#christmas♬ original sound - mia 🍒
Handmade gift wrapping elements will also step up your holiday game. These darling little gift toppers that @miascozycorner made out of polymer clay are sure to inspire your own designs! Decorate the shapes you make with paint pens and coat them in Liquitex for durability, then attach them to your gift box or bag using some cute ribbon or yarn.
Riley Williams
Clay is your BFF for making handmade gifts. This idea from @rileyrosestudio lets your giftee display pictures, memories, cards, or even recipe cards in the form of their favorite food! Go for a trendier take by sculpting an olive or tomato out of air-dry clay, or opt to craft something as intricate as a burger or pizza slice – no matter what shape it is, they’re sure to love it. Riley usesgesso to prime her air-dry clay pieces, then an acrylic sealant to make sure those lovely designs stay put.
Meredith Holser
A dried orange garland takes an entire day (and sometimes more) to make, so your recipient should definitely feel special knowing you put hours of love into this handmade gift. Though they look intricate, you only need to follow a few steps (and have few materials: orange slices, twine, and a thick yarn needle) to achieve the cozy garland. Luckily, there are tons of citrus garland tutorials on social media to assist in your creation. B+C Creative Assistant, Meredith, tied cutie little pink ribbon bows on her homemade garland.
Krissy Derrick
Mariam Antadze / PEXELS
To make some handmade coasters, roll out some air-dry clay, let it dry, and coat it with gesso before you get to painting! The canvas is yours with this gift idea, but here are a few concepts to get the creative juices flowing: smiley faces, rainbows, spirals, initials, and fruits or vegetables. Ensure that your hard work stays in place with a sealant that’ll repel moisture. Some thrifted glassware pieces to give alongside your handmade coasters would be the absolute cherry on top!
Meredith Holser
Magazines are really not hard to come by, and if you're looking for a sustainable gift, you can find some especially unique ones at re-sell bookstores or thrift stores to make your own collage. Some of the best ones to start with are Vogue and National Geographic. There are a lot of different techniques and themes you could run with, so we recommend doing some visual research on Pinterest beforehand to nail down your collage's concept. Maybe it's full of imagery that reminds you of your relationship, or a jumble of words that form a sweet poem – it's really up to you! Just have glue, an X-Acto knife, and a cutting board on-hand for the process. Complete this artsy handmade gift by signing your work and framing the collage in a nifty frame.
Meredith Holser
Got a necklace you don’t love? Deconstruct that baby using small wire cutters or scissors so that you can use the leftover beads and charms to make something entirely new! If you don’t have them on-hand already, you will need some beading cord, bead clamps, jump rings, clasps, and pliers.
Brit + Co
Making your own body scrubs or balt salts is *a lot* easier than you’d think. Some recipes only call for ingredients you’d find in your kitchen! Make a range of self-care products at home, then package them up in thrifted jars with ribbon and a handmade tag to really impress.
Ron Lach / PEXELS
Fish tin candles are in, but you can really use any vessel to pour your own candles in. All you need is some candle wax, wicks, and a scent of your choice to create something super unique! Try your first handmade candle with an empty, clean tinned fish tin, then get adventurous with soda cans or crushed tomato cans to bring out that Tomato Girl energy for your gift recipient.
Karolina Grabowska / PEXELS
Karolina Grabowska / PEXELS
Roman Odinstov / PEXELS
Anete Lusina / PEXELS
Having knitting and/or crochet skills is invaluable when it comes to gifting season. You can easily find patterns online for creating beanies, blankets, scarves, leg warmers, balaclavas, mittens, and more, so your giftee can stay stylishly warm beyond the holidays in a bespoke garment that *you* made!
Damir / PEXELS
小龙 魏 / PEXELS
You can easily thrift a glass vessel (or use one you already have), paint a unique design on it using glass paint, then fill it with a little bit of water to gift a small plant cutting! This way, you’re giving them a stylish home decor piece along with a heirloom piece of nature that they’ll admire every day as it grows.
Brit + Co
Mati Mango / PEXELS
It may seem a little old-school now, but the gift idea of burning a CD will appeal to every gift recipient that’s old enough to remember portable CD players. They can play it in their car or through their at-home speaker system to jam out. Just grab a pack of blank CDs that come with covers, and let the nostalgic process take you away.
In addition to making your own playlist to gift, you should definitely consider designing an album cover and tracklist for that personalized touch – platforms like Canva are a great option for doing this. The music-lover in your life will surely appreciate the time you took to craft each and every detail of the CD – and maybe they’ll even discover some new tunes along the way!Brit + Co
You just can’t go wrong with sweets during the holidays! Whatever form they come in – vegan, gluten-free, paleo – cookies are sure to satisfy your giftee. We have a ton of recipes you could check out (I highly recommend the Taylor Swift chai cookies), but if you already have a method to your madness, whip up whatever dessert recipe you have in mind. Just make sure they’re fairly fresh when you hand them over.
If you don’t have a neat cookie tin on-hand, run to your nearest thrift store. It’s guaranteed that you’ll find a cute one to house your cookies!Brit + Co
If your gift recipient has a green thumb, it’s not a bad idea to gift them a few plant-related things. Luckily, handmade gifts have a stake in this – just grab a terracotta pot (you can easily thrift one or find one for cheap at the dollar store) and some chalk pens, then decorate the exterior however you like.
To get some ideas flowing, you could include illustrated motifs of your relationship with this person, write their name out in bubble letters, or just doodle random designs. Matching their interior design aesthetic is definitely recommended.
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
This post has been updated.
