A foolproof way to keep hunger at bay — and ravenous partygoers out of the kitchen — before the big holiday dinner is appetizers, and lots of 'em. We have plenty of tried-and-true Christmas appetizer recipes to choose from, but the ones that fly off the table the fastest are always ones filled with cheese.

Here are  five of our favorites, including crunchy crostini topped with baked p rosciutto, apple butter and melted Brie (pictured above) and deep-fried mozzarella bites. The best part? They're all ready in 30 minutes or less, so you can get back to babysitting your slow-roasted prime rib and other magnificent holiday dishes.

Once you pop, the fun don't stop with a bite-sized ball version of mozzarella sticks.

Did you know you can make fresh ricotta in less than 30 minutes? Once you try it, you'll never buy the packaged stuff again. Serve it on crostini with a sprinkle of lemon zest, or jazz it up with cured meat.

Goat Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomato Profiteroles with Herb Oil

Think of profiteroles as savory cream puffs, stuffed with goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and a drizzle of basil-mint oil.

Spice up your cheese plate with spicy red pepper flake-spiked honey. This contrasts particularly well with salty Pecorino, but you can try pairing it with an array of your favorite cheeses.

More holiday entertaining ideas.

The Wimpy Vegetarian: Miso Mashed Potato Stuffed Mushrooms

Healthy Eats: 7 Lighter Ways to Kick Off Your Holiday Meal

Taste with the Eyes: Holiday Entertaining: Oysters with Caviar

Swing Eats: Turkey Bacon Wrapped Dates with Cheese, Marcona Almonds, and Herbs

Creative Culinary: Pecan, Pineapple and Gorgonzola Cheese Ball with Dried Cranberries

FN Dish: Easy, Cheesy Appetizers Your Holiday Guests Will Hover Around