5 Easy Make ahead Party Foods for hosting and sharing - with FREE Save Advent printable

One of the key Save Advent principles is to relocate as much of the seasonal work, expense, and preparation to other times of year as possible. Doing so we free time and energy (physical as well as mental) for the weeks leading up to Christmas. The result is a connected, intentional celebration that has more community and much less stress than we typically experience.

A great way to Save Advent is to prepare ahead the building blocks of delicious appetizers for sharing. Tuck one or two (or three!) of the following treats in your freezer and you'll eliminate a huge source of Advent stress. Want to issue a last-minute invitation to friends? No problem! You've got the makings of a lovely gathering already made. Completely forget about the neighborhood potluck? Why worry? You're ready to go with just a few minutes of garnishing and finishing.

Have I convinced you? I hope so! Here are five of my favorite make head and freezable party foods and why I love them. Click here for the free recipe printable, outlining ingredients and methods for each.

1. Baked Cheddar and Olive Balls: These little nibbles are a perfect one-bite size and ridiculously easy to make with a simple butter and cheese dough wrapped around drained olives. Dozens can be made in next to no time at all! Frozen individually on a cookie sheet before baking and stored in a freezer bag for up to three months, scoop out as many as you need to bake right from frozen in less than 15 minutes.

With just a few pre-prepped essentials, a holiday cocktail or potluck is stress-free and just minutes away.

2. Pesto Puffs: Ridiculously simple and so, so delicious. Pesto (homemade or store bought), puff pastry, and one egg are the only ingredients! Cut into small bites with a cookie cutter, they freeze just as the olive balls, before baking. With the addition of a final egg wash pesto puffs cook up quickly and easily. If you're not into pesto experiment with tapenade, roasted garlic, or a soft cheese instead.

3. Spicy & Herby Nuts: Sure, you could buy seasoned nuts but they won't have the depth of flavor and deeply satisfying richness as those made at home - and you can make seasoned nuts almost as easily as buying them so it's definitely worth the effort. I like two kinds: rosemary walnuts and a spicy mixed variety.

4. Drunken Wieners: People who love them, love them. They're certainly not gourmet but definitely crowd pleasers. Who doesn't like to please the crowd? Many of the ingredients are pantry staples (including the whisky, at least at my house!) so whipping up a batch for the freezer takes mere minutes.

5. Crabby Muffins: A classic for a reason! These are so easy you might feel guilty about them, but don't! Crabby Muffins are definitely more than the sum of their parts and even people who don't love English muffins will find their way to loving these rich, briny nibbles.

I could not live without these five treats nestled in my freezer waiting to be star players in my holiday celebrations. Let me know which ones you try!