12 Scrumptious Appetizers to Kick Off Your Thanksgiving Celebration

With all the focus on turkey, it's easy to forget about the course that'll whet your appetite for a whole day of feasting. What's that? Hors d'oeuvres, of course! These 12 appetizers are a great way to kick off your celebration. Featuring an assortment of cheesy, make-ahead and even a few healthier nibbles, there's a little something here for everyone.

Roasted Root Vegetable Crostini With Cranberry Relish

Featuring a cornucopia of produce, these hearty crostini are a delight for all the senses. (via On Sugar Mountain)

Fall Roasted Vegetables With Lemon Aioli

A dip in creamy, lemon-garlic aioli takes roasted veggies from being a mere side dish to a star starter with ease. (via My Living Nutrition)

Coconut-Crusted Brie-Stuffed Quinoa Bites

Let’s be real. Sharing an oozey round of baked brie can be a bit of a messy endeavor. These personal-sized cheese balls solve that problem, and pack an irresistible crunch into every bite at the same time. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Savory Cranberry Twists

The gorgeous ribbon of ruby cranberry will draw folks in, but the slight spice and flaky texture of these twists is what’s sure to keep ’em coming back for more. (via Handmade Mood)

Crab Meat Au Gratin

Without question, piping hot crab dip is a swanky starter to serve your holiday guests. (via Amy in the Kitchen)

Bloomin’ Onion Bread

Think you can handle even more cheesy goodness? Feel free to play around with different types and quantities to suit your tastes. (via The Cooking Jar)

Crispy Cornmeal Sweet Potato Fries

Your guests will gobble up these cris baked fries. Serve them with your favorite sweet potato accompaniment, or opt for a touch of tang with the included recipe for herbal chermoula-yogurt dip. (via My New Roots)

Red Beet Crostini

Make sure to serve these rustic toasts with a thick napkin or plate underneath to catch every last crumb. Creamy, torn burrata and blood-red beets are a delish, yet notoriously messy, topping combo. (via She Eats)

Acorn Squash Cheese Spread

Even if you’re entertaining a few squash-averse folks, the lightened-up artichoke dip baked inside these acorns will tempt them to dig right in. (via Ruffles and Truffles)

Rosemary Spiced Mixed Nuts

These seasoned nuts are not only a welcome addition to your appetizer spread or cheese platter, they also make terrific party favors to send home with your guests. It’s always nice having a little something on hand to satisfy those late-night munchies. (via Kitchen Konfidence)

Pear, Blue Cheese and Yam Blinis

 (Gluten-Free): Surprise your guests with a great alternative to crackers and cheese. Baked sweet potato, Anaheim pepper chutney, soft pears, tangy blue cheese and crunchy walnuts stack high to build this spicy-sweet creation. Talk about a unique take on the classic pear and cheese combo. (via Pham Fatale)

Cranberry Baked Brie Puff Pastry

The amount of buttery, flaky and tangy flavor packed into each of these puff pastry coins is unreal. Their totally poppable size makes them particularly dangerous. (via The Law Student’s Wife)