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Hosting this year? Here is all my Christmas party food in one place: 16 gluten free and dairy free ideas, from sausage rolls and bang bang cauliflower to dips, a buffet quiche and a few sweet bites to pass round. Most of them can be made ahead or frozen, so you can actually enjoy the party.

My top pick

Homemade lentil and walnut sausage rolls on a stoneware plate garnished with sesame seeds.

Vegan Sausage Rolls

Rated 5 from 16 reviews

I love serving these as a holiday appetiser or finger food. There is cranberry sauce inside, and you can freeze them once baked.

I make a batch every Christmas, and I know you will love them.

P.S planning more of Christmas? My 29 Vegan Christmas Recipes has mains and starters, my 19 Christmas Side Dishes and Vegetables has every trimming, my 18 Gluten Free Christmas Desserts has pudding sorted, and my 21 Christmas Breakfast and Brunch Ideas covers the morning.

Christmas Party Bites and Buffet Dishes

The savoury things that disappear first. Almost all of them freeze, so you can bake ahead and just reheat on the night.

1. Vegan Sausage Rolls

homemade lentil and walnut sausage rolls on a stoneware plate garnished with sesame seeds.
5 from 16 votes

Vegan Sausage Rolls

A lentil, walnut and mushroom filling with rosemary, thyme and a layer of cranberry sauce, wrapped in gluten free puff pastry. Rated 5 from 16 reviews, and you can freeze them once baked and reheat from frozen in the oven.

“Made these last night and everyone loved them and were very impressed! Some including me enjoying more than normal sausage rolls. So tasty and filling and beautifully crunchy with the G.F pastry. I will definitely be making these again.”

★★★★★JoRead all reviews

2. Bang Bang Cauliflower

Bang Bang Cauliflower with dipping sauce.
5 from 2 votes

Bang Bang Cauliflower

Crispy battered cauliflower tossed in a sweet and spicy sriracha mayo, made for sharing. Use gluten free flour for the batter, and freeze the cauliflower and sauce separately for up to three months.

“Really easy and tasty”

★★★★★DonnaRead all reviews

3. Loaded Potato Skins

loaded potato skins with fresh basil leaves.
5 from 1 vote

Loaded Potato Skins

Crispy potato skins filled with a garlicky tomato and oregano sauce, topped with dairy free mozzarella and fresh basil. They freeze for up to 3 months and reheat in the air fryer or oven.

“Easy and delicious :)”

★★★★★WendyRead all reviews

4. Gluten Free Falafels

Gluten Free Falafels - Pitta
4.12 from 17 votes

Gluten Free Falafels

Black bean and chickpea falafels with paprika, coriander and lime, bound with chickpea flour. One batch makes 16, and they are perfect dunked in my Vegan Tzatziki.

5. Potato Cakes

mashed potato cakes with lime and chilli peppers.
5 from 10 votes

Potato Cakes

Baked potato cakes with quinoa, lime and fresh coriander, and a great way to use up leftover mash. Shape them small for the buffet, and they freeze for up to 3 months.

“I made these for the first time just over a fortnight ago and I have to say they are delicious. Full of flavour and go with absolutely anything. I will definitely be making them again.”

★★★★★AliciaRead all reviews

6. Vegan Quiche

vegan quiche with a crispy pastry served on a marble worktop.
4.46 from 11 votes

Vegan Quiche

A gluten free shortcrust with a silken tofu and nutritional yeast filling, cut into slices for the buffet table. Rated 4.46 from 11 reviews, and slices freeze for up to three months.

“This quiche is amazing! I’ve missed quiche so much over the past 3 years and I’m so pleased I’ve found this recipe. I’d put off making it for ages as I thought it might be a bit complicated but it’s so easy.”

★★★★★CarlyRead all reviews

7. Baked Christmas Salmon

baked christmas salmon served with cranberry sauce an brussels sprouts on a white plate.
5 from 3 votes

Baked Christmas Salmon

A whole side of salmon baked under a sticky cranberry and maple glaze with just 3 ingredients. It makes a beautiful centrepiece for a Christmas buffet and serves 6.

“I tried this one over the weekend in preparation for Boxing Day! It was utterly delicious and looked amazing! Definitely one to impress!”

★★★★★SusanRead all reviews

Dips, Spreads and Dippers

Put out a few bowls with crackers, crudites and flatbread strips and everyone can help themselves.

8. Garlic Hummus

Smoky Homemade Hummus
5 from 3 votes

Garlic Hummus

Smoky garlic hummus made in around 5 minutes with tahini, lemon and smoked paprika. It makes 10 large servings, keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days and freezes for up to 4 months.

“Just made the recipe but left out the olive oil and water and subbed chickpea juice. Amazing! Never thought of putting in smoked paprika in my hummus before.”

★★★★★HenriettaRead all reviews

9. Beetroot Hummus

beetroot hummus served with pita chips.
5 from 2 votes

Beetroot Hummus

Bright pink beetroot hummus with cumin, coriander and lemon, which looks so festive on the table. It keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days and freezes for up to four months.

“I made this and it was delicious! Thank you James ☺️”

★★★★★MandyRead all reviews

10. Vegan Tzatziki

Tzatziki on blue plate accompanied with pittabread
5 from 3 votes

Vegan Tzatziki

Coconut yoghurt, cucumber, mint, garlic and lime, ready in 5 minutes. Serve it with the falafels, and make double as it keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days.

“So yummy! We’ve made these several times. Always a hit!”

★★★★★StephanieRead all reviews

11. Smoked Mackerel Pate

smoked mackerel pate with crackers.
5 from 6 votes

Smoked Mackerel Pate

Smoked mackerel, coconut yoghurt, Dijon mustard, parsley and lemon, blended in 5 minutes and rated 5 from 6 reviews. Spread it on gluten free crackers or toast, and it freezes in small pots for up to 3 months.

“Perfect with the air fryer jacket potato. Wish I had made more. Added a roasted pepper and courgette salad.”

★★★★★NickRead all reviews

12. Gluten Free Flatbread

3 gluten free flatbreads on white plate.
4.60 from 30 votes

Gluten Free Flatbread

Soft flatbreads with just 3 ingredients, rated 4.6 from 30 reviews. Use a dairy free yoghurt, cut them into strips for dipping, and freeze them for up to 3 months with baking paper between each one.

“Love these, easy and quick. Have also made them with coconut yoghurt for a change. They are going down well with the family”

★★★★★LisaRead all reviews

Sweet Bites for the Party Table

Something sweet to pass round with the drinks, and all of them can be made days or weeks ahead.

13. Candied Pecans

Candied Pecans on a baking tray.
5 from 1 vote

Candied Pecans

Pecans roasted with maple syrup, coconut oil, cinnamon and sea salt in about 15 minutes. Put out a bowl with the drinks or bag them up as gifts, as they keep for a few weeks in an airtight container.

14. Vegan Chocolate Truffles

Vegan Chocolate Truffles on a plate with different toppings.
5 from 8 votes

Vegan Chocolate Truffles

Just 3 main ingredients, rolled in cacao, crushed pistachios or cacao nibs. They keep in the fridge for up to two weeks, so they are easy to make well before the party.

“Definitely delicious! I had difficulty remembering that the mix was in the freezer and ended up defrosting/refreezing but it didn't seem to harm them at all.”

★★★★★CarrieRead all reviews

15. Vegan Rocky Road

Vegan rocky road in slices on parchment paper.
4.35 from 20 votes

Vegan Rocky Road

Pecans, almonds, pistachios and dried cranberries set in a rich cacao mix and cut into 15 squares. It keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days.

“Wow, wow, wow. I finally made this today. It is fabulous. My only comment is that my chocolate sauce was so thick I had to add some of the still hot nuts to melt the sauce to enable me to pour it over the rest of the nuts.”

★★★★★CatherineRead all reviews

16. Healthy Mince Pies

Mince pies with nut base.
5 from 2 votes

Healthy Mince Pies

No bake mince pies with a crunchy walnut, almond and pecan base. Check your mincemeat is gluten free and vegan, and they freeze for up to three months.

“Amazing. I hate pastry so these are perfect. Also great for everyone”

★★★★★JohannaRead all reviews

My Christmas Party Prep Plan

All of these timings come from the notes on each recipe card, so on the night it is mostly reheating and putting bowls out.

  • Weeks ahead (freezer): Vegan Sausage Rolls (once baked), Loaded Potato Skins, Potato Cakes, Bang Bang Cauliflower (sauce frozen separately), Vegan Quiche slices, Smoked Mackerel Pate, Gluten Free Flatbreads and Healthy Mince Pies (up to 3 months), plus Garlic Hummus and Beetroot Hummus (up to 4 months).
  • Up to two weeks ahead: Vegan Chocolate Truffles in the fridge, and the Candied Pecans, which keep for a few weeks in an airtight container.
  • A few days ahead: Vegan Rocky Road (up to 5 days in the fridge), Beetroot Hummus (up to 5 days) and Garlic Hummus (up to 4 days).
  • The day before: Make the Vegan Tzatziki (up to 3 days in the fridge) and move the Potato Cakes to the fridge to defrost overnight.
  • On the night: Bake the Baked Christmas Salmon (about 35 minutes), cook the falafels, and reheat the sausage rolls, potato skins, potato cakes and cauliflower in the oven or air fryer until crispy.

I hope these 16 Christmas party food ideas make hosting a little easier this year. Please leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on the recipes you make and let me know how you get on in the comments.

FREE GUIDE

Get Christmas dinner sorted early

A free plan with make ahead recipes, a countdown and freezer labels

About James Wythe

Hey, I'm James! A fully qualified health coach, cookbook author, full time food blogger and new dad with over 1 million followers. I started this journey after a sudden illness left me bed bound for 2 years and housebound for 4 years! I’m here to help you make healthy and delicious food for you and your family in less time!

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