Christmas eve: 3 mouth-watering snacks to make the festival special

From walnut muffins to paneer popcorn, check out some delicious snacks for your joyous Christmas party.
Christmas season is here, to embrace the delectable treats, elegant decorations, and pretty clothes. For some, hosting Christmas parties aren’t just a one-night affair. It can include a variety of activities, such as Christmas cookie exchanges, get-togethers with friends for cocktails, nights out with your favourite holiday movies, and, of course, the large Christmas dinner with all of your loved ones. However, there is one must for every party, regardless of how you choose to spend the Christmas season: a buffet of delectable delicacies (both sweet and savoury). This is when these cheery Christmas nibbles come in help. All you need to make any holiday gathering into a joyous Christmas party is some delicious snacks. Check out some lip-smacking snacks to make the festival special. (Also read: Goan Bath Cake to bring in the Christmas cheer: Recipe inside )
- Orange walnut muffin
(Recipe by Chef Ranveer Brar)

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 10 muffins
Ingredients:
2 Cups Refined Flour
¾ Cup Sugar
½ tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
½ tsp Salt
½ Cup Vegetable Oil
1 Cup Orange Juice
2 tbsp Orange Zest
4 tbsp Walnuts, chopped
3 tbsp Wheat Flakes, powdered
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. In a bowl put the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, walnuts and wheat flakes powder. Mix it all until well combined.
3. Now pour in the orange juice and orange zest. Prepare the muffin moulds.
4. Mix the oil and juice with the dry ingredients and pour them into the moulds.
5. Bake for about 20 minutes or until coloured.
2. Baked spinach and almond parcels
(Recipe by Chef Ajay Chopra)

Serves: 4
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
Cooked Chopped Spinach – 400 g
Almond flakes – 100 g
Mascarpone cheese – 200 g
Salt – 15 g
Pepper – 10 g
Spring roll sheets Pastry – 12 no.
Oil – 200 ml
Chilli powder – 20 g
Method:
1. In a bowl take cooked spinach which has no water content, add chopped almond flakes and seasoning in it.
2. Add mascarpone cheese to it and mix it. Line the spring roll sheets with oil and chilli powder and make 4 layers repeating the layering
3. Cut the layered sheets into half triangles and line the spinach mixture in it.
4. Close the triangle parcels with the help of slurry made with Maida and water.
5. Brush the parcels with oil and bake it at 180 degrees for 8-10 minutes, in a preheated oven. Serve hot.
3. Paneer popcorn
(Recipe by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor)

Prep time: 16-20 minutes
Cook time: 6-10 minutes
Serve: 4
Ingredients:
Cottage cheese (paneer) cut into 1/2 inch cubes 50 grams
Dried breadcrumbs 1 cup
Salt to taste
Red chilli powder 1 pinch
Refined flour 1/2 cup
Red chilli flakes 1 pinch
Dried oregano in a large pi
Ginger-garlic paste 1 teaspoon
Oil to deep fry
Chaat masla to sprinkle
Method:
1. Take breadcrumbs on a plate add salt and red chilli powder and mix well.
2. Take refined flour in a bowl add red chilli flakes, salt, oregano and ginger-garlic paste and sufficient water and mix well to make a slightly thick batter.
3. Heat sufficient oil in a kadai.
4. Dip each cube of cottage cheese in this batter and roll in the breadcrumbs mixture. Dip the cubes back in the same batter and roll again in the breadcrumbs mixture to double-coat the cheese cubes.
5. Slide the cottage cheese cubes into hot oil and deep-fry till golden and crisp. Drain on absorbent paper. Sprinkle chaat masala and mix well.
6. Transfer into a serving bowl and serve hot.
ABOUT THE AUTHORAkanksha AgnihotriAkanksha Agnihotri is a lifestyle journalist with over 3 years of experience. She is a psychology graduate and holds a postgraduate diploma in Radio and Television Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, where she graduated as a gold medalist. Originally from Bhopal, the beautiful capital of Madhya Pradesh, she draws inspiration from the city’s rich cultural heritage and layered storytelling traditions that subtly shape her narrative voice. She writes extensively about fashion, beauty, health, relationships, culture, and food, exploring everything from trending styles and runway moments to wellness routines and mindful living. Passionate about meaningful and candid conversations, she enjoys interviewing celebrities, doctors, designers, and film personalities, diving into discussions on fitness, beauty, mental health, and everything fun in between. With a keen eye for trends and a thoughtful understanding of human behaviour, she brings depth, sensitivity, and authenticity to her stories, ensuring they resonate with a wide and diverse audience. When she’s not working, you’ll usually find her lost in a book, planning her next mountain trek, or mapping out spontaneous travel escapes. She loves discovering new authors, revisiting old favourites, and spending quiet afternoons in museums soaking in art, history, and culture. An avid bird-watching enthusiast, she finds joy in early morning walks, spotting rare birds, and reconnecting with nature. Whether sipping coffee while journaling her thoughts or exploring hidden corners of a new city, she constantly seeks inspiration in everyday moments that often turn into compelling story ideas.Read More
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