Christmas Party Food Ideas: An Easy Festive Buffet

Planning a Christmas party, family get-together or festive gathering? A buffet is one of the easiest ways to feed a group at Christmas – especially when you want everyone to relax, help themselves and enjoy the occasion.

From sandwiches and sausage rolls to pork pies, cheese and something sweet, you don't need an enormous menu to create a great Christmas spread.

At Farmhouse Deli, we've been making and serving food in Gloucester and Cheltenham since 1969. Here are some of our favourite ideas for putting together an easy Christmas buffet.

Start with a Good Selection of Sandwiches

Sandwiches might sound simple, but there's a reason they're still at the heart of a good buffet.

Choose a mixture of fillings so there's something for everyone and combine them with a few more substantial savoury options.

They're particularly useful when you're catering for a larger group because they're easy to serve, easy to eat and don't require plates full of cutlery.

Add Some Proper Savoury Favourites

This is where a buffet starts to get interesting.

A selection of bite-sized savouries gives guests plenty to choose from and works particularly well for a Christmas party where people are eating while chatting and socialising.

Some of our favourites include:

• Mini Farmhouse sausage rolls

• Farmhouse Gloucester sausage bites

• Pork pies

• Pork & egg pie

• Homemade Scotch eggs

• Quiche

• Vegetable spring rolls

• Chicken drumsticks

Choose a few different options rather than trying to provide everything. It makes the table easier to manage while still giving guests plenty of variety.

Don't Forget the Cheese

Christmas and cheese belong together.

A cheese platter can be served alongside the main buffet or brought out later in the evening with crackers and chutney.

A mixture of familiar favourites and something local works particularly well.

You could combine mature cheddar, Brie and Stilton with Gloucestershire cheeses such as Single Gloucester or Double Gloucester.

Add crackers, chutney and perhaps some grapes, and you have a simple Christmas cheese board that requires very little preparation.

Something Sweet

Once the savoury food is sorted, add a few sweet treats.

Cakes, traybakes and other bite-sized desserts work particularly well for buffets because guests can help themselves without needing a formal dessert course.

If it's an office Christmas party or afternoon gathering, Danish pastries can also work well alongside tea and coffee.

How Much Party Food Do You Need?

This is probably one of the questions we're asked most when people are organising a buffet.

The answer depends on the type of event.

If your buffet is replacing a full meal, you'll naturally need more food per person than if you're serving it alongside drinks or later in the evening.

It also depends on how long your party will last, whether children are attending and how many different dishes you're serving.

If you're unsure, speak to our team. We can help you work out a sensible amount without leaving you with mountains of food at the end of the party.

Make It Easy for Yourself

Christmas is busy enough without spending the day before your party making dozens of sandwiches and sausage rolls.

Choosing ready-prepared platters means you can collect your food, put everything out and concentrate on enjoying the occasion.

Our buffet and party food can be mixed and matched, so you can create a spread that suits the number of guests you're expecting and the type of celebration you're planning.

Christmas Party Food in Gloucester & Cheltenham

Farmhouse Deli has been serving Gloucestershire since 1969.

Our freshly prepared buffet and party food is available to order for Christmas parties, office celebrations, family gatherings, birthdays and other events.

Browse our Buffet & Party Food range online to see the available platters and party favourites, or contact our Gloucester or Cheltenham team if you need help deciding what to order.

Christmas is one of our busiest times of year, so we recommend ordering early if you have a particular date in mind.