Julie Van Rosendaal: 5 easy, cheesy nibbles for party season

The holidays are often the most celebratory time of the year, which means more calories consumed in the form of cheese, cookies and cocktails. So having a few easy (but delicious) nibbles up your sleeve for impromptu parties is a good idea.

Whether youre having friends over or need to bring a little something to a soiree, these simple snacks will make the season a little less stressful.

1)Baked Brie with Maple-Pecan Praline

Who doesnt love a gooey baked brie? The pecan praline is simple to stir together. Keep it warm on the stovetop, then slide the brie into the oven for five minutes as guests arrive. Itll be ready to go as soon as drinks are poured.

• 1/3 cup pecan halves
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 3 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
• small wheel or wedge of brie

Preheat the oven to 350F. In a small skillet, toast pecan halves in butter over medium heat until fragrant. Add brown sugar and maple syrup and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring, for a minute, then remove from the heat.

Meanwhile, place a small wheel or wedge of brie on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 5-8 minutes, or until soft. Carefully transfer to a serving plate and cover with pecan praline. Serve warm, with a baguette.

2)Goat Cheese with Garlicky Herbed Olive Oil

This is my go-to when I need to bring something to a party. Put the oil, garlic, herbs and pepper in a small jar and bring it along with a log of goat cheese. When you get there, take off the lid and microwave for 20-30 seconds, then pour over the goat cheese.

Alternatively, use more olive oil, warm it with the garlic, fresh herbs and peppercorns and pour over a jar of cubed feta or baby bocconcini. If its not eaten, the jar of marinated cheese keeps well in the fridge for up to a month. Adapted from Gourmet, via Gwendolyn Richards.

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, peeled and lightly crushed
• 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary (or a sprig)
• 1-2 sprigs of thyme
• 5-8 whole peppercorns or a big pinch of red chili flakes
• 1 log soft goat cheese
• crusty bread or crackers

In a small saucepan, heat the olive oil with the garlic, rosemary, thyme and pepper. Place the goat cheese in a shallow dish and pour the warm oil over top.

Serve immediately with crusty bread or crackers. Serves 6-8.

3)Rosemary Raisin Pecan Crisps

These crackers are easier to make than they look - and taste just like the real thing. Feel free to play around with nuts, seeds, dried fruits and spices to create your own custom cracker.

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup roasted pumpkin seeds (optional)
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1/4 cup flax seed, ground
• 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary

Preheat oven to 350 F.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add the buttermilk, brown sugar and honey and stir a few strokes. Add the raisins, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, flax seed and rosemary and stir just until blended.

Pour the batter into two 8x4-inch loaf pans that have been sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake for about 40 minutes, until golden and springy to the touch. Remove from the pans and cool on a wire rack.

The cooler the bread, the easier it is to slice really thin. You can leave it until the next day or pop it in the freezer. Slice the loaves as thin as you can and place the slices in a single layer on a parchment-lined sheet. (I like to slice and bake one loaf and pop the other in the freezer for another day).

Reduce the oven heat to 300F and bake them for about 15 minutes, then flip them over and bake for another 10 minutes, until crisp and deep golden. Try not to eat them all at once.

Makes about 8 dozen crackers.

4)Crunchy Cheddar Crackers

These ultra-cheesy crackers are delicious to nibble on their own. The dough can be made ahead of time, and even the crackers themselves keep well once baked.

• 2 cups grated old cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup Rice Krispies
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• a good grind of black pepper, or pinch of cayenne

Preheat the oven to 350F.

In a medium bowl, beat the butter and cheese together. Stir in the flour, Rice Krispies, salt and pepper. Roll the dough into balls, place on a baking sheet and flatten with a fork or the bottom of a glass. (Alternatively, shape the dough into a log and refrigerate, then slice and bake).

Bake for 10-15 minutes, until pale golden around the edges and set. Makes 2-3 dozen crackers.

5)Quick Cheese Fondue

A quick cheese fondue is a great way to use up any leftover cheese ends. If youre going somewhere, bring it to reheat, along with a loaf of crusty bread and a couple tart apples to slice and dip. If you dont have a fondue pot, just keep it warm in a serving bowl and use bamboo skewers as disposable dippers.

• 1 garlic clove, peeled and halved lengthwise
• 2 cups beer, dry white wine or milk
• 5-6 cups shredded aged cheddar, Gouda, Gruyere, Emmenthal or your choice of meltable cheeses
• 3 Tbsp. flour
• 1 tsp. dry mustard (optional)

Rub a medium saucepan with the cut clove of garlic and heat the beer, wine or milk over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, toss the cheese with the flour and mustard to coat. Add to the simmering liquid and stir until smooth.

Serve with crusty bread and tart apple slices. Serves eightor more.