34 recipes for a Christmas aperitif the whole family will love!
At Christmas, the aperitif immediately sets the tone: your guests arrive, conversations begin, trays are passed around and everyone grabs a bite to eat before the meal. Golden puff pastries, colorful verrines, salmon or foie gras bites... It's the perfect time to come up with gourmet ideas without spending hours in the kitchen.
In this selection, you'll find quick, pretty and always effective recipes from around the world to delight everyone, even those who claim to "just nibble". All you have to do is pick from these ideas to create a festive aperitif that's as simple as it is successful ;)
Discover our recipes below:
Those funny appetizers are so good ! Try it out and maybe you will never have sweet cones again (or not...)
A fun, tree shaped appetizers, that are just perfect for the holiday season !
Have the fanciest starter for the Holidays ! A french classic changed into a dish using this marvelous foie gras, what else ?
Another way to make crepes in France is to use buckwheat flour, to make galettes and main dish crepes. Here we are using it to make a simple and nice appetizer!
Not inspired for the aperitif? Here are some toppings that should give you a boost! 9 ideas in total to enhance your blinis and vary the pleasures. And as for difficulty, don't worry, it will all be a question of cutting and associations, that's all!...
A delightful recipe to showcase your smoked salmon slices, perfect for holiday appetizers. Easy to prepare, you can make your choux in advance and fill them just before serving for a quick preparation. Paired with Philadelphia cream cheese and a hint...
A fancy appetizer, reminding of sushi rolls, perfect for a great dinner party !
Have you ever tried the unusual combination of beet with ricotta and arugula ? Our crepe rolls will surprise you! The beet, in addition to giving a vibrant color to the crepes, enriches the preparation with its antioxidant properties and its...
The salmon and avocado combo has proven itself time and again! Highlight it once more on toasted bread for an appetizer!
A sweet and savory combination that is both creamy and crunchy ;-)
The appetizer hour has arrived, and you can already hear your first guests arriving. With friends, there's no fuss, but you still want to innovate a little by changing the usual store-bought crackers and peanuts consumed between cocktails. Opt for...
It's appetizer time, but what should we eat to accompany our cocktail? At Ptitchef, we are tired of all kinds of snack biscuits and peanuts. Let's replace them with toasts! Quick and easy to make, some won't even require cooking. This is the case with...
A delightful recipe to showcase your smoked salmon slices, perfect for holiday appetizers. Easy to prepare, you can make your choux in advance and fill them just before serving for a quick preparation. Paired with Philadelphia cream cheese and a hint...
Looking for a festive appetizer? Choose our puffs filled with foie gras and onion chutney ;-) An easy recipe that can even become quick if you prepare your puffs in advance and fill them at the last moment! A 100% homemade preparation explained step by...
Homemade is a must for an even better appetizer! Here we offer you 4 ultra-easy recipes to make with cured meat. Use either bresaola or prosciutto to add that little salty touch that makes all the difference in this appetizer. 3 recipes will require no...
Learn step by step how to make classic maki and California rolls. With our detailed recipe and illustrated photos, discover all our tips and tricks. And for folding techniques, check out our video recipe at the end! Here we made them with salmon and...
Puff pastry, homemade tapenade, mix it all together and create a beautiful crispy Christmas tree for your appetizer! A super simple recipe to recreate at home with the kids ;-) Step by step, we explain how to make perfect black olive tapenade and show...
This recipe is so simple that you could make it with your eyes closed! Remember the origami puzzles you made when you were little? It's time to recreate them in sandwich form! :D A perfect idea for a snack among friends or a family gathering.
Perfect for the holiday season, these fun tree-shaped appetizers made with smoked and raw salmon will delight your taste buds! Easy to prepare, involve your kids for a delicious family activity :)
Indulge in this soft and twisted knot known as the pretzel, and make it even better by incorporating mozzarella cheese and rosemary. A perfect recipe to serve as an appetizer or to accompany you throughout the meal :-) From making the dough to baking,...
For a last-minute appetizer, opt for these easy, no-bake, and chic verrines! Inside, combine smoked salmon and avocado, then top it all off with a savory lemon whipped cream :-) A festive and colorful appetizer guaranteed! Here are our steps for...
For an appetizer, prepare rillettes! For a fresh touch, opt for the smoked salmon + cream cheese version :-) Very easy to make, these rillettes will be quick to prepare. With only 4 ingredients, you just need a blender to mix them together and you're...
For a quick Christmas appetizer, try these sandwich bread toasts transformed into yule logs! Topped with smoked salmon and cream cheese, you can easily make this recipe with the little ones ;-) Here are our step-by-step instructions below ↓
We've never been so happy to have snowflakes in the house ^^ Because yes, we can assure you that this flaky snowflake will very quickly become an addiction, it's so delicious! Garnished with cream cheese and salmon , your guests will fight for every...
You thought we were going to leave you without chic recipes for your holiday meal?! Here are our prawn and mango verrines for a sweet/savory combination that your guests will love. An easy-to-make preparation for last-minute verrines that we...
For a simple and refined appetizer, nothing beats verrines! A beautiful presentation ready in no time thanks to these little glasses, perfect for kicking off the festivities of Christmas, New Year, or a dinner buffet. Here we play with the colors and...
In just a few simple steps, create this super easy recipe for your appetizer! A beautiful wreath made of skewers, all guaranteed without cooking, what more could you ask for? Let yourself be tempted by the combination of our ingredients below and enjoy!
Looking for an appetizer idea that's a change from potato chips ? These cheese balls are ready in just a few minutes and always make an impression. Made with ricotta and Parmesan , they're fresh, melt-in-the-mouth and infinitely customizable: roll...
Looking for a chic, quick and no-fuss aperitif ? This smoked salmon aperitif spread is as beautiful as it is delicious! Creamy cream cheese, finely chopped smoked salmon , capers, dill and a touch of lemon... all beautifully arranged and ready to...
For an impromptu aperitif or a homemade touch to your buffets, these puff pastry bites are just perfect! :) Easy to prepare, they combine the sweetness of cream cheese , the acidity of sun-dried tomatoes, the flavor of pesto and the crunch of...
If you're looking for a sophisticated, easy-to-prepare appetizer that will impress your guests, cream cheese log with apricots and almonds is the ideal choice. The creaminess of the cream cheese , the sweet and fruity touch of the apricots and...
We had some leftover mushrooms last time, and instead of making a sauté, we decided to bake them! But first, we stuffed them with a fragrant mixture that we love. Thanks to the mozzarella, this mixture holds together well. You can cut your mushrooms in...
Who hasn't dreamed of a charcuterie board accompanied by a glass of wine? The assurance of a simple and effective evening with friends or loved ones. And to bring a bit of poetry to your evening, arrange your slices in a rose! A great tip for the...
Let's all agree that the combination of scallops and leeks is a winner, right? Make it even crispier for the holidays by adding it to filo pastry sheets! An ultra-simple homemade recipe, tested and approved by the entire Ptitchef team of course ;-) For...
Preparing Christmas aperitifs in advance: our time-saving tips
Happy hour is often the moment when everything comes together for your festive meal! To make the most of your guests without stress, it's best to plan ahead. Organize your preparations 24 hours before the big day: choose recipes that keep well, such as patés or frozen puff pastries. For a successful festive table, plan a precise schedule, alternating between cold preparations (verrines, toasts) that can wait in the fridge and items that need to be reheated just before guests arrive.
Keeping your appetizers fresh is essential. Puff pastries freeze well and can be reheated in the oven (never in the microwave, which softens them). Verrines and toasts can be prepared the day before, but put them together at the last minute to avoid them becoming soggy. Complete your buffet with gingerbread, which goes divinely with foie gras and can be kept for several days.
FAQ Christmas aperitif
What can you put on an aperitif board for Christmas?
A successful Christmas aperitif board combines tradition and originality. Arrange a variety of cheeses, festive charcuterie, dried and fresh fruit, and sweet treats like mini-toasts with foie gras or smoked salmon. Don't forget to add a decorative touch with sprigs of rosemary for a festive visual effect.
Which aperitif to drink at Christmas?
For a successful Christmas aperitif, opt for festive cocktails like the Moscow Mule with orange, very much on trend in 2025, or the traditional champagne soup. Spiced and citrusy mulled wines remain a classic, while cranberry spritzes add color and freshness. Don't forget non-alcoholic options such as berry mocktails or spiced hot chocolate for younger guests.
Which aperitif to prepare for Christmas?
To impress your guests, opt for tree-shaped puff pastries with pesto or salmon and chive cones. Foie gras mini-tatins and shrimp-mango verrines offer a touch of elegance with ease. For an express but impressive aperitif, make a crown of skewers or Yule log toasts topped with cream cheese and salmon. These simple yet festive preparations are the perfect way to kick off the festivities.
Adèle Peyches
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