7 Tasty Christmas Appetiser Ideas

1.  Bread sauce and stuffing croquettes

This recipe from Olive Magazine is one of our favourites as you don’t have to go out of your way to make any extra ingredients—you’ll have bread sauce and stuffing for the main meal anyway so may as well turn them into these crispy croquettes with a cranberry and chilli jam dip. You’ll need a good grating of our nutmeg for the bread sauce. This also makes for a lovely post-Christmas recipe when you need to use up any leftover bread sauce or stuffing.

2.  Grana Padano custard canapés with bacon and chives

Cheese and bacon? Yes please. This recipe from Matthew Tomkinson is bound to impress even the hardest-to-please dinner guests. Grana Padano (a hard cheese similar to Parmigiano Reggiano) is transformed into a punchy custard topped with crispy bacon, chives and peas. This can be made ahead of time for a fuss-free Christmas day.

3.  Achiote chicken wings

Chicken wings may not be the most traditional Christmas recipe, but there’s no harm in spicing things up a little. This is one of our own recipes, and uses our Achiote Paste Spice Mix to give a mild, salty and garlic flavour. Mixed with orange juice and garlic, the chicken wings are marinated in this sauce before being baked in the oven. It’s a deliciously sticky appetiser that’ll make you wish you had thought of doing this sooner.

4.  Carrot & caraway crackers

If you’re looking for something to dip into sauces and melted cheeses, take a look at this recipe for carrot and caraway crackers from BBC Good Food. These crackers are also a great choice if you’re catering for guests who are vegan. To make these, you’ll need our caraway seeds which will lend a sweet and spicy flavour with notes of mint, aniseed and orange—a very Christmassy spice!

5.  Quick dill, caper and goat’s cheese canapés

If there’s something we love in an appetiser, it’s when it has all the different flavours in one mouthful. This recipe by Delicious Magazine is a wonderfully moreish snack to keep your guests’ hunger satisfied. Soft, crumbly goat’s cheese pairs well with tangy lemon, salty capers and citrusy, earthy dill. Serve on rye bread or tiny pastry cases for an extra flaky crunch.

6.  Pigs in blankets sausage rolls

Combining two iconic finger foods? Who said it can’t be done? Also from Delicious Magazine is this ingenious recipe for pigs in blankets wrapped in a crispy puff pastry. They’re quick to make and only require five ingredients, so you don’t have to keep your guests waiting for too long. Plus, it’s a kid-friendly recipe so there won’t be any complaining in the background.

7.  Roasted sweet potato rounds

If you want your guests to think you’re a better chef than you actually are, this recipe from Tesco Real Food will do the trick. They’re deceptively easy to make and look much fancier than they are. The roasted sweet potato discs serve as a delicious base for a topping of whipped feta, sweet fig slices, pomegranate and a sticky balsamic glaze. Thank us later.