Christmas recipes for the whole family

Christmas appetizers are a fundamental part of our Christmas menu. Whether they're canapés and cold hors d'oeuvres or hot appetizers, the truth is that during this time we usually fill our tables with colorful and delicious options that everyone enjoys when hunger begins to strike.

If you're in charge of organizing this year's Christmas lunch or dinner and don't know where to start, here we offer so many ideas that the hardest part will be deciding which ones to prepare. You'll find easy and sophisticated appetizers, original and creative canapés, hors d'oeuvres and starters designed to wow your guests, and, of course, the classic Christmas appetizer recipes that have become a tradition at our celebrations.

Christmas wreath of cold cuts and cheese

An original idea for your appetizers is to make a Christmas wreath made of cheese, sausages, and olives. Although it seems complicated, it's actually very easy.

To make it you'll need a good salami (you can also use ham), mozzarella cheese balls, pitted black and green olives, and cherry tomatoes.

You stick an olive, a slice of salami or ham, and a mozzarella ball or half a cherry tomato on cocktail sticks.

Place on a tray in a circular shape, alternating the mozzarella or olives on top.

Decorate with fresh rosemary sprigs for a more festive touch.

Baked peaches with brie cheese

To make them, start by washing the peaches, halving them, and removing the core. Brush them with honey and place them in a baking dish. Bake at 180°C for 20-30 minutes, or until well cooked.

Once they're done, remove them from the oven and place a slice of Brie cheese and a slice of Serrano ham on each half. Drizzle with Modena balsamic vinegar cream and garnish with a sprig of parsley. Serve immediately while piping hot.

Canapés with foie micuit and smoked salmon

You should cut the block of foie micuit and the bread with star cutters to make them this original. Top with curly parsley, a few peppercorns, and a few flakes of salt.

Dates stuffed with cheese and pistachios

Mix 200 grams of goat cheese, 2 tablespoons of cream, a variety of peppers, and salt. Mix the cheese and cream together. Cut a slit lengthwise in each date and fill with the mixture. Sprinkle with pistachios and serve.

Ham, blue cheese and fruit toasts

Cut 4 ripe figs into 4 wedges. Cut 2 pears in half and core them, then cut each half into 4 wedges. Cover each slice of fruit with a small piece of cheese and wrap it with a slice of ham. Place it on toast and serve drizzled with a little honey.

Salty puff pastry Christmas tree

This puff pastry Christmas tree is very original and can be filled like a pizza, with tomato, cheese, and your favorite filling. You can also fill it with pesto or brush it with butter and garlic, like garlic bread, to accompany your main dishes. Just roll out a rectangular sheet of puff pastry, add your filling, and place another sheet of the same puff pastry on top. Then cut it into the shape of a tree, make horizontal slits, and roll it up. Brush with beaten egg and bake until golden.

Feta cheese canapés

Preheat the oven to 190°C and place the oven rack in the center position. Roll out the puff pastry and cut into 24 squares. Grease a muffin tin with oil and place the squares in the slots. Fill each square with a slice of roasted red pepper, a cube of feta cheese, a sprinkle of thyme leaves, and julienned shallots. Season the bites lightly with salt.

Bake until the pastry is well-risen and golden brown, 15 to 17 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes, transfer to a serving plate, and top with more fresh thyme leaves. Grate a light layer of lemon zest over the bites before serving.

Shrimp skewers

If you're looking for something more sophisticated and festive, but also simple, make some skewers alternating between a cherry tomato, a cooked shrimp, and a pitted olive. Skewer them on oriental-style bamboo cocktail sticks.

If you've made it this far, you're probably thinking about saving all these recipes. We hope you love them! At Madequa, we'd love to receive your photos or videos of any of these dishes. Happy holidays!