Description
Savory Christmas sausage rolls delight festive gatherings with British charm. Flaky pastry and herb-infused meat create a crowd-pleasing appetizer you’ll crave at holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground sausage meat (pork or mix of pork and turkey)
- ¼ cup dried cranberries, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh breadcrumbs
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tsp dried sage or thyme
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 sheet puff pastry (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Sesame seeds or poppy seeds (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Mixture Preparation: Blend sausage meat, cranberries, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, parsley, sage, nutmeg, cinnamon, and seasoning in a large mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Pastry Setup: Preheat oven to 400F (200C). Roll out puff pastry on a floured surface into a thin rectangular sheet. Cut pastry into two long strips, ensuring even width and smooth edges.
- Filling and Wrapping: Form sausage mixture into two uniform logs, positioning each along the edge of pastry strips. Carefully roll pastry around filling, sealing edges with egg wash. Trim excess pastry for clean, precise edges.
- Shaping and Prepping: Slice logs into bite-sized rolls, approximately 2 inches wide. Position rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet with seam facing downward. Brush pastry surface with egg wash and optionally sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds.
- Baking and Finishing: Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until pastry turns golden brown and sausage filling is completely cooked. Transfer to a wire rack and allow brief cooling. Serve warm with cranberry sauce or mustard for enhanced flavor.
Notes
- Meat Mixing Technique: Thoroughly combine ingredients by hand to ensure even distribution of spices and prevent dry spots in the sausage mixture.
- Pastry Rolling Pro Tip: Roll puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to prevent sticking and achieve an even 1/8-inch thickness for perfect crispy texture.
- Sealing Secrets: Use beaten egg as a natural glue to seal pastry edges securely, preventing filling from leaking during baking.
- Temperature Check: Verify internal sausage temperature reaches 160F to ensure complete cooking and food safety, especially important for meat-based appetizers.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg