Christmas Dips for Holiday Parties

When it comes to holiday gatherings, Christmas dips are my absolute go-to appetizer. Why? They’re easy to prepare, and let’s face it—a good dip is a party must.

Whether you’re whipping up creamy classics to share or sweet dessert dips, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy. As a bonus, many of them ahead of time, saving yourself time and mess on the day of the party.

cookie dough dip for christmas.

Here are our favorite Christmas Dip recipes that will keep you the most popular place to hang out this year.


Holiday-Themed Dips with Fall Flavors

What’s Christmas without a little festive flair? The season always includes favorites like cranberries, pomegranates, fresh rosemary, and even pumpkin—the flavors and colors of fall.

  • Top pick: Hands down one of my favorite dips during the holidays, this cranberry cream cheese dip with pecans is one of my most requested dips when I bring it to a party. I cannot recommend this dip recipe enough!
easy cranberry cream cheese dip.

While I love serving up cranberry for Christmas, there are other great flavors that work too! Try one of these killer dip ideas:

  • Baked Honey Brie: Warm, gooey brie topped with honey and herbs is a total crowd-pleaser. Serve it with crackers or fresh bread for a decadent appetizer.
  • Strawberry Cranberry Dip: This sweet, tangy dip is bursting with holiday color.
  • Whipped Feta and Honey Dip: This dip includes two premium ingredients, making it a hit at a posh party. Personally, I love this dip recipe to make it just for myself as well.

Classic Dips are a must for Christmas

Don’t discount making sure there are plenty of classic creamy dips available. These types of dips, made with simple ingredients like cream cheese, sour cream, or mayo, fall under easy no-cook finger foods for parties.

  • Top pick: Our 5 star Cucumber Dip recipe. Perfectly seasoned, this dip is a reader favorite (and Pinterest favorite) time and time again. It’s not made with cucumbers, but rather for cucumbers (or any other veggie) and is a great party appetizer.
cucumber dip with cucumber slice.
  • Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip: Lighter and tangy, this is the perfect dip for raw veggies.
  • Cream Cheese Veggie Dip: Creamy, smooth, and delicious, this dip pairs beautifully with crunchy crackers or veggie sticks and I like to serve them in individual charcuterie cups.
  • Ranch Dip Recipe: Classic Ranch never fails as an offered dip.

Pro Tip: Prep Dips Ahead of Time and Refrigerate Overnight. Dips often taste even better after sitting for a while. Preparing your dips the night before gives the flavors time to develop and saves you time on party day. Store them in the fridge and stir them well before serving.


Warm Christmas Dips to Keep You Cozy

When the weather outside is frightful, warm dips make everything delightful. There’s nothing like a hot dip fresh from the oven to warm up a chilly evening.

buffalo dip without ranch.

For something a bit more indulgent, fried brie or blueberry brie are both fantastic options. The crispy exterior gives way to gooey, warm cheese that feels gourmet without too much effort.

Pair one of these dips with toasted baguette slices or crackers, and your guests will be impressed.

baked brie with blueberries.
Brie is a fantastic upscale choice for dips.

In a similar category, this warm Smoked cream cheese recipe went viral with that deep, rich flavor and pairs beautifully with breadsticks or pretzels.

Another party favorite is chicken enchilada dip with ooey, gooey cheese. These warm dips will make your Christmas party feel extra special, whether you are hosting a small personal game night or a large Christmas present exchange.

chicken enchilada dip.

Sweet Dips are a great Substitute for Christmas Dessert

The holidays are also my personal excuse to forget that calories exist. If that speaks to you at a basic level, make sure to add sweet dips to your Christmas dessert spread.

Sweet dips, typically based with marshmallow cream, cool whip, cream cheese, or chocolate of some sort, should all be included in a spread.

tiktok viral little debbie christmas tree dip in a bowl.
Little Debbies Christmas Tree Cakes make an amazing dip!
peppermint dip recipe
Peppermint dip is a great Christmas Dip.
best marshmallow fruit dip for apples.
Marshmallow fruit dip is a great choice for Christmas parties.

Tiramisu Dip is a creamy, dreamy dip with hints of coffee and cocoa, perfectly mimicking the flavors of the classic Italian dessert. Another holiday favorite is Cherry Cheesecake Dip, which we make every year, and it’s easy to get creative with—just swap the cherries for any other fruit pie filling you prefer.

For a fun, festive touch, Funfetti Dip or Christmas Cookie Dough Dip are both always a hit, especially when you change up the sprinkles to red and green for the season.

Lastly, this hot cocoa dip is a great choice that just screams fa-la-la-iday.

Oreo fluff recipe.
Try this deliciously sweet oreo dip recipe and take your snacking game to the next level. A delectable dessert dip will satisfy your sweet tooth, and you won't regret this easy oreo dessert recipe.
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cherry cheesecake dip on a plate
Sweet and satisfying, Cherry Cheesecake dip made with Cool Whip topping, cream cheese, and marshmallow fluff is simple and quick. Done in 5 minutes, create this special dessert dip in no time at all and be on your way to an indulgent cherry filled bite that everyone will love.
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funfetti dip made with cake batter and filled with delicious sprinkles, surrounded by vanilla wafers to serve.
Funfetti Cake Dip is a super fun, super delicious cake batter dessert dip waiting to be dunked with graham crackers or Nilla Wafers. Layer on the sprinkles and let's get Dipping in this easy and fun cake mix recipe.
Get the recipe

Crockpot Dips for Easy Entertaining

If you’re cooking a ham or turkey and the oven is busy all day, crockpot dips can be your best friend. You can set it and forget it, keeping your dips warm and ready for guests throughout the entire party.

Here are some crockpot favorites:

nacho cheese dip
  • Corn Dip with Cream Cheese: Sweet and savory, this one is always a crowd-pleaser.
  • Velveeta Cheeseburger Dip: Everything you love about a cheeseburger, in a cheesy, dippable form.
  • Crockpot Velveeta Cheese Dip: Perfectly cheesy and creamy, ideal for serving with chips or veggies.
  • This baked Queso Dip can be made in the oven or slow cooker.

Pair Dips with a Variety of Dippers: The right dippers make all the difference. For savory dips, offer a mix of crackers, sliced baguettes, and veggies like cucumber or bell peppers.


Cheese Balls are dips too

I would be remiss to not point out that not all dips go in a bowl. Making a cheeseball dip is a lot easier than most think and can be a sweet or savory Christmas dip option.

Try a peanut butter cheeseball, classic chocolate chip cheeseball or even a ham cheeseball with pecans. Click on the image to be taken to the recipe.

classic cheeseball recipe.

ham cheese ball recipe.
chocolate chip cheeseball

As you can see, the choices this year are endless. Push aside your same old options and mix up this year with one, two, or MANY types of Christmas dip recipes that will be remembered for years to come.

While I tried to showcase all the dip recipes, if you see a picture and cannot find the link, simply go to our DIP category and search. All the images are directly from dips here on this site!

Make sure to follow Salty Side Dish on Pinterest to get our newest dips in your stream!