Am I allowed to throw a party in my pajamas?

That’s my fantasy every year when the holiday season rolls around. Not my plaid flannels; I picture myself clad in thick silk, the kind of thing I’m sure Katharine Hepburn wore — comfortable, elegant and well-matched to a dry martini.

And what kind of food goes with this vision? Easy snacks and nibbles that are comfortable, elegant and, yes, perfectly matched to a cocktail, martini or otherwise. Dishes that you can set out at the beginning of the night and then not fuss over — so you can do the important party work of chatting, sipping and noshing.

A good formula is to make three festive, high-impact, low-effort recipes and then supplement them with an assortment of colorful things in small bowls: olives; salted nuts or corn nuts; potato chips, crackers or breadsticks; a marinated cheese like mozzarella or feta; sliced salami; cut vegetables.

Recipe: Delicata Squash Tart With Hot Honey and Pistachios

Of the things you make, one should be a showstopper to accrue oohs and aahs. I love a vegetable tart because it’s pretty, festive and meatless, yet substantial enough to stand in for dinner. Using store-bought puff pastry as the crust is a time-honored hack that yields golden, buttery results. Here, I’ve topped it with roasted delicata squash, Parmesan, hot honey and pistachios for a bright, cheery tart that’s complexly flavored and stylish.

Recipe: French Onion Baked Brie

Then, one should be a rich, easygoing crowd-pleaser that will disappear minutes after it’s brought out — a classic party appetizer everyone adores. Baked Brie easily fills this bill. This version has one significant twist: Instead of being swaddled in pastry, it lets the runny, tangy cheese take center stage, happily oozing into a baking dish along with a caramelized onion topping that gives the whole thing French-onion-soup vibes.

Recipe: Tuna Rillettes

Finally, offer something more sophisticated, with sharp flavors to balance things out. These rillettes are a pescatarian take on the classic French pork spread, mixing good-quality canned tuna with butter seasoned with herbs and shallots, and capers or horseradish for added tang.

Will I actually wear silk pajamas to my next party? I’m not ruling it out. But more important, I’ll keep things simple and remind myself that the point of a party is to enjoy it. The pajamas are optional. The fun is not.

Follow New York Times Cooking on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Pinterest. Get regular updates from New York Times Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice.