Unexpected Guests Will Never Catch You Off Guard If You Stock Up On These Holiday Packaged Foods

Quick and easy nibbles and impromptu drinks – these holiday foods (or gifts) will help you keep your “best host” status when unexpected guests pop by.

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holiday foods, packaged foods
photo credit: shutterstock

The holiday foods that’ll help you slay the holidays

We chose each of these holiday foods to make your hostessing duties a bit easier this December. They will have you ready for anybody popping by, expected or not.

Another hostess tip: Give guests these beauty-filled Christmas crackers.

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holiday foods squish vegan candies

Don’t think you’re ready for this jelly?

You’d think your vegan bestie popping buy for some holiday cheer would stress you, but not with these vegan jelly and gummy candies. The Prosecco Bears, Red Roses, Sour Grapefruit, and more aren’t just cute, they are also delish.

Vegan Faves Gift Box, $24 at squishcandies.com.

Ever try to go vegan? This seven-day plan is a cinch to follow.

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holiday foods PC candy cane cheesecake pops

The party’s poppin’!

We won’t tell anyone if you say you made these chocolate-covered peppermint cheesecake pops yourself. Your (holiday foods/home cooked) secret is safe with us.

PC Candy Cane Cheesecake Lollipops, $7.99 at local Loblaw grocery stores

Try this minty aperatif, too!

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holiday foods Spokes chips

All that and a bag of chips

Free of 11 allergens (like dairy, gluten, wheat, soy and egg), these air-puffed potato chips are one of our fave guilt-free packaged holiday foods.

Spokes Puffed Potatoes, $3.99 at grocer and food retailers.

Should you go gluten-free? This will help you decide.

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holiday foods lindt peppermint

The sweetest thing

You cannot go wrong with chocolate around the holidays – especially candy cane-flavoured truffles.

Lindt Lindor Peppermint Cookie Truffles, $7.95 at Lindt retailers.

Love these flavours? Why not have it for breakfast? For real!

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holiday foods Triscuit nutmeg and cinnamon crackers

A Triscuit – a tasket, a brown and yellow basket

Take your cheese and crackers game next level with flavoured crackers, a bit of cream cheese, some strawberry jam, topped with a few blueberries.

Triscuit Nutmeg & Cinnamon crackers, $3.49 at mass retailers. 

Need quickie canapés ideas? We’ve got 40 of them!

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holiday foods Keurig Christmas Blend

Specialty coffee

This limited-edition medium-flavoured coffee is as much of a treat for you as it is for your guests.

Keurig Timothy’s Christmas Blend Coffee, $16.99 at various retailers.

Enjoy these health benefits of coffee with every sip.

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holiday foods pom wonderful pomegranate seeds

So seedy

Pomegranate seeds make pretty much any dish you make look and taste fancier. Use the seeds to top your appetizers, salads, roasted veggies, meats and even dessert.

Pomegranate seeds, available at grocery stores.

Use them with leftover turkey, too!

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holiday foods Orville Buttery popcorn

Smooth like buttah

Everybody loves popcorn! And we cannot help but love the non-GMO claim.

Orville Redenbacher Butter Flavour Gourmet Popcorn, $3.49 at major grocery retailers, mass merchandise retailers, discount grocery retailers and club stores.

Here are seven healthy reasons you shouldn’t feel guilty about eating popcorn.

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holiday foods kim crawford sauvignon blanc

Toast of the town

Raise a glass or two to the holidays with this crowd-pleasing white wine.

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016, $16.95 at liquor stores.

Maybe a bottle of red is more your style.

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holiday foods PC chicken empanadas

Party favours

Pop these in the oven for a few minutes and – voilà! – you have delicious chicken appies. (Talk about packaged holiday foods to have on hand!) Serve with sour cream or chimichurri sauce for dipping.

PC Mini Chicken Empanadas, $8 at local Loblaw grocery stores

Hosting stress you out? It won’t if you follow our party hacks.

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holiday foods Sapsucker

Tasty drink, eh?

Egg nog is good and all, but why not create a new Canadian holiday tradition? To make a cranberry lemon cocktail, mix 1.5 ounce of dry gin, with three dashes of cranberry bitters, a half ounce of lemon juice with three ounces of maple water.

Sapsucker Maple Tree Filtered water, $5.99 at well.ca.

Have a culinary hero on your list? We have the best foodie gift ideas.

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Holiday foods Sugarfina Happy Haunukkah Candy Bento Box

Happy Hanukkah

These kosher-certified candies are the perfect indulgent for any day of the eight gifts you may have to pick up.

Happy Hanukkah Giftset, $35.95 at sugarfina.ca.

Just thinking about Hanukkah has us craving these savoury latkes.

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Holiday foods Argopur Brie L'Extra SC 3kg

On board

Cheese is always a crowd pleaser. So when you are unsure of what to serve your pop-in guests, pull this out of the reserves (your fridge). No unexpected guests? All the more for you.

Agropur L’extra Brie, available at mass retailers and grocery stores.

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