Joy Lasseter, Ph.D. Nutritionist

Assorted New Year’s party appetizer tarts including smoked salmon, cranberry brie, mushroom and goat cheese, and crab tartlets arranged on white platters.

I enjoy small appetizers at parties. They’re tasty treats that come in a variety of flavors, textures, and colors—perfect for grazing while celebrating with friends. But making appetizer tarts from scratch can be time-consuming, especially if you don’t have extra help in the kitchen.

That’s why I’m sharing my favorite time-saving shortcuts for New Year’s entertaining. These easy party appetizers let you spend less time cooking and more time enjoying the celebration. Surprise your guests with elegant, flavorful bites—without spending hours in the kitchen.

Tips for Easy New Year’s Party Appetizers

To keep these appetizer recipes simple and quick, I buy containers of pre-made mini tart shells and fill them with high-quality, ready-to-use ingredients found at grocery stores. Many of these items are seasonal and especially easy to find around the holidays.

I like to place the filled tart shells on parchment paper cut to the size of the oven pan. This helps prevent the bottoms from over-browning and makes cleanup easy. Warm the tarts at 200–250°F and serve warm or hot as desired.

Important: Do not leave the oven unattended—mini tart shells can burn very quickly.

Where to Buy Mini Tart Shells

To save time, look for pre-made mini tart shells and pastry products at your local grocery store. These are typically found in the bakery, frozen dough, or baking aisle, especially during the holiday season.

Boxes of ready-to-fill mini tart shells and a roll of parchment paper displayed on a kitchen counter for easy party appetizer preparation.

You may find good options at:

Fred Meyer – Frozen puff pastry shells and occasionally mini tart shells
Safeway – Puff pastry sheets or shells and refrigerated pie dough that can be shaped into mini tarts
Costco – Bulk boxes of mini tart shells or puff pastry, ideal for entertaining larger groups

Mini tart shells are usually sold pre-baked or frozen and come in boxes ranging from 6 to 24 shells, while warehouse stores may sell larger packs. Look for labels such as “ready-to-fill,” “tartlet shells,” or “puff pastry shells.”

You’ll also want parchment paper, which helps prevent over-browning and makes warming the tarts easier.

Tip: Availability of mini tart shells can vary by store and season, so check the frozen bakery section or ask a bakery associate for help.

Smoked Salmon and Cucumber Tarts

These light, savory appetizer tarts feel elegant and fresh and pair beautifully with other New Year’s party foods.

Slice cucumbers very thin using a potato peeler and set aside.
Spoon smoked salmon spread into the mini tart shells and warm in the oven.
Remove and garnish with cucumber “ruffles” on top.

Cranberry Brie Bites

Sweet, tangy, and creamy, these cranberry brie tarts are always a crowd favorite at holiday parties.

Cranberry brie tartlets with chopped nuts in golden mini tart shells, served warm on a white platter.

Warm Brie cheese in the oven until it reaches a spreading consistency.
Chop your favorite nuts and stir them into cranberry relish.
Spoon the mixture into tart shells and warm.
Remove from the oven and spread hot Brie on top of each tart.

Spicy Crab Bites

These bold, savory appetizer tarts add just the right amount of heat to your New Year’s appetizer spread.

Spicy crab tartlets in mini pastry shells garnished with parsley, arranged on a white plate for a party appetizer.

Buy spicy crab spread, or add a small pinch of cayenne pepper to plain crab spread and stir well.
Fill the tart shells and warm in the oven.
Garnish with parsley before serving.

Mushroom and Goat Cheese Tarts

Earthy mushrooms and creamy goat cheese make these appetizer tarts rich, comforting, and irresistible.

Mushroom and goat cheese tartlets in golden mini tart shells, topped with crumbled goat cheese and served on a white platter.

Slice small mushrooms and sauté gently over low heat in butter with ground Green Goddess herb mix.
Remove from the pan and fill the tart shells.
Garnish with crumbled goat cheese.

A Word About New Year’s Resolutions

Many people make New Year’s resolutions and feel frustrated when progress feels slow—then quit. My own success comes from focusing on one small change at a time.

What helps me:

Writing my goal down
Posting reminders around my home
Journaling about what it will feel like to achieve my goal
Creating simple, step-by-step guides
Not giving up or beating myself up if it takes longer than expected

And remember—there is nothing magical about starting on January 1st. You can start any time.

Just start.

Happy New Year!
— Dr. Joy

Discover More Recipes and Wellness Tips

For more easy recipes, nutrition tips, and practical ideas to support a joyful, healthy lifestyle, visit JoyfulLivingHealthy.com:
👉 https://joyfullivinghealthy.com

Easy New Year’s Party Appetizers