This Is How I Prepare for Our Little Christmas Party

Every December, I start planning a tiny Christmas party at home. It’s nothing fancy, just a small gathering for our little family with a table full of simple treats I can manage without feeling stressed.

I’m clumsy when it comes to decorating food, so I always pick ideas that look cute but don’t require perfect skills.

I usually sit at the dining table with my notebook, scroll through saved photos on my phone, and choose the dishes that feel doable. This year, the list looks like this:

• Reindeer cheese bites
• Banana Santa skewers
• Salami Christmas tree skewers
• Christmas tree fruit platter
• Gingerbread parfait cups

Once I choose my menu, I start gathering ingredients one by one so I don’t mix things up later.

I Start With the Reindeer Cheese Bites

I always begin with the reindeer cheese bites because they calm my nerves. They’re easy and they help me warm up before I try anything more detailed. I open all the cheese wedges and set them neatly on a big white plate.

Then I stick on the candy eyes. They don’t always land straight the first time, so I adjust them with the tip of a toothpick until they look right. After that, I press a small red candy at the tip to make the nose.

The antlers are where my clumsiness shows. The pretzels break if I push too fast, so I hold each piece carefully and guide it into the cheese.

Some reindeer end up with one antler slightly higher than the other, but I don’t fix it because it gives them personality. By the end, the whole plate feels cheerful.

Then I Make the Banana Santa Skewers

Next, I work on the banana Santa skewers. I slice the bananas into even pieces and insert them onto small wooden sticks. The bananas sometimes lean to one side, so I take a few seconds to straighten them. After that, I add the strawberries to create Santa’s hat.

For the hat trim, I use tiny marshmallows. They stick easily and make the skewers look more festive. The noses are the same red candies I used for the reindeer, and I think it’s cute when all the dishes share similar details.

Specially, the eyes take the most time. I cut tiny chocolate pieces and press them into the banana. Some Santas look sleepy, some look surprised, and some look like they’re about to laugh.

My little one usually watches me closely during this part, and their small giggles make the whole process feel fun instead of tiring.

Next, I Try the Salami Christmas Tree Skewers

Once the sweet snacks are done, I move on to the savory ones. I fold each salami slice in half and then fold it again so it creates a layered, wavy shape. I slide each piece onto a wooden skewer. As I add more slices, the tree shape appears naturally.

At the bottom, I add half a pickle as the tree trunk. It looks funny at first, but when the whole skewer is finished, it makes sense.

The cheese stars are the part I take the most care with. I press a small star-shaped cutter into a slice of cheese, lift it slowly, and hope it comes out clean. I place one star on top of each skewer, and suddenly the whole board looks like a row of tiny Christmas trees.

The Fruit Christmas Tree Takes the Most Time

I save the fruit platter for last because it’s the biggest job and also the freshest. I wash all the fruit and dry each piece properly so the platter doesn’t get watery.

I arrange the fruit row by row to form a Christmas tree shape including raspberries at the bottom, then green grapes, kiwi slices, strawberries, pineapple, and mandarin orange segments.

As I build each row, the colors begin to form a bright, cheerful shape. I cut a pineapple slice into a star and place it at the top.

The shape isn’t perfect, but it looks sweet and natural. I tuck a few pine branches around the platter so it feels more like a holiday display.

Finally, I Prepare the Gingerbread Parfait Cups

The parfait cups are the last thing I put together. I crush ginger cookies and spoon the crumbs into small glasses. Then I add a layer of cream and top it with a berry mixture I prepare earlier.

The best part is placing a gingerbread cookie on top of each cup. They stand upright like little guests at the party. I sprinkle a few sugared cranberries over everything for a brighter touch.

When all four or five cups are lined up together, they look like tiny desserts from a cozy bakery.

Everything Looks When It Comes Together

When all the dishes are finished, I clean the dining table and start arranging them. Even though none of them are complicated, the colors make the whole room feel brighter.

The reindeer cheese bites make the table look playful. The banana Santas bring a soft, sweet look. The salami trees add a little festive charm. The fruit platter stands out with its bright layers. And the parfait cups bring everything together with a soft holiday feeling.

Evan always smiles when he sees the table. He usually says something like, “It looks so cozy,” and that makes me feel proud, even if I dropped pretzels, squished a banana, or cut a crooked cheese star along the way.

Preparing these treats reminds me that my clumsy hands can still make something lovely for Christmas. I don’t aim for perfect — I just want our home to feel warm and happy. And with these small dishes, it always does.