Christmas Sausage Rolls – Festive Appetizer Recipe

This Christmas sausage rolls recipe was first published on November 29, 2021.

I don’t know about you, but to me, nothing screams Christmas lunch or dinner like Christmas sausage rolls. Yes, an Italian has now developed a full-on obsession with sausage rolls. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll start selling them around Italy to bring a bit of UK down that side of the sea. Or maybe I will set up shop here in London and start selling my own spin on sausage rolls. I have plenty to try out from this list too. I would definitely be offering Christmas sausage rolls because it’s the best time of the year. So it needs a proper celebration in place. With a majestic, full of flavour sausage roll.

I believe we do have something very similar back home or sort of. Just not as yummy, in my opinion. And you won’t really be able to find it everywhere, or at any given time. In Rome, you get something similar when you are at kids parties or at a buffet. But won’t be getting the same say south of Rome. Or even north of Rome for that matter.

But before I start diving into the magic of Rome’s food scene, and make a whole post about me remembering what I used to have at my fellow schoolmates’ birthday parties, just know we will have a time and place for that. And that would be our new blog! Which is yet to launch, but you will be able to find it here. It will be all about Italy, the food and culture, the places to see and the stuff you shouldn’t miss out on. Again, I am just diving into stuff you don’t really need to know about just yet.

If you have been to The Grumpy Olive before, you’ll know I am a bit of a freak when it comes to stories and things to say.

Usually, I am very much famous for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Like, if there was an award for that, I would be the winner every single year. Especially around Christmas, when I am surrounded by family or friends. And I say stuff that would leave everyone in disbelief.

But hey, that’s just me in a nutshell. Food lover, wannabe baker, big mouth. If there is a correlation between these three, we have just discovered it.

Alas, let me go back to these Christmas sausage rolls.

I love making sausage rolls because they are quick to prepare, bake in less than 30 minutes and are always a hit with everyone who tries them. Why do I call them Christmas sausage rolls, you ask? Well, let me dive right into it.

What are the Christmas sausage rolls you go on and on about?

The sausage rolls recipe I am about to share with you it’s nothing along the lines of what you’d expect. No stuffing, no cranberries. That would be pretty much what everyone does. And we’re definitely for putting our own spin to everything, you know it by now. But there is one thing you should never change in sausage rolls. Or maybe two: pork – or sausage meat, to be honest – and puff pastry. Then, if you feel fancy, you can dip them in cranberry sauce or slather them in red onion relish or chutney. I like english mustard with them, but you do you.

You can prepare these Christmas sausage rolls ahead of Christmas and keep them in the freezer. But you can also whip them up in no time as they are easy and quick to get ready. They require very little ingredients, most of which you’ll have in your pantry anyway.

What ingredients do I need to make them?

As mentioned above, the ingredients for these Christmas sausage rolls are pretty common. But to us is the spices which scream Christmas. You’ll be using nutmeg and fennel seeds, and maybe it’s because my grandma prepares every Christmas dish with those, I don’t know. They just mean Christmas through and through! We have also added some chilli flakes, for that kick you need, and some fresh parsley and thyme for good measure. We like our sausage rolls, including this Christmas version, to be full of flavour and a kick. No plain nonsense around here, ever. Especially when it comes to these Christmas sausage rolls.

What can I substitute in the Christmas Sausage Rolls?

Again, I would say you can use or omit anything you like. Because it’s pretty much an easy way to add what you like and remove what you dislike. And I know I am about to be blasphemous, but there is plenty of options now to make these vegan and pork-free for the fellow readers who don’t eat pork. You can use ground beef and if you have it around you, Omnipork does the vegan version you’ll love, trust us. Also, if you are making these vegan instead, you can replace the egg wash with some melted vegan butter instead. Just like we did with our vegan mushroom Wellington.

How do I make the sausage rolls?

This is honestly an easy sausage roll recipe. And you know it already, but you’ll be ready to have these from prep to table in less than an hour.

Start by warming up your oven to 180°C and prepare a baking tray with some parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, mix the sausage meat with all the spices and salt and pepper and set aside.

Roll out your puff pastry and then place the meat in the middle, creating a long sausage log. Close and seal the pastry, pinching it with your fingers.

No,w for the decoration, use the leftover pastry from the roll and create a nice decoration on top, like we did. We have formed some balls by rolling some puff pastry in our hands, and cut out the leaves from some rolled out puff.

Brush the logs with the beaten egg or melted butter, then place the decorations and brush those as well. If you are using sesame or poppy seeds, just sprinkle them on top after the egg wash.

Bake for 25–30 minutes and let them cool down properly before cutting. Serve with a sauce of your choice and enjoy your festive sausage rolls recipe hot!

Can I make them with different sausage roll fillings?

Absolutely! There are so many festive fillings that you can use instead to prepare these festive sausage rolls:

• Pork sausage meat, dried cranberries, caramelised onion, sage;
• Pork sausage meat, grated apple, thyme, nutmeg;
• Mushroom, walnut & thyme;
• Spinach, ricotta & nutmeg;
• Pork sausage, crumbled Stilton or blue cheese, black pepper;
• Pork sausage, soft Brie, caramelised onions;
• Sweet potato and cranberries;
• Caramelised onion & goat cheese.

How to freeze sausage rolls?

If you make a bigger batch or want to make these in advance, you can easily freeze your christmas sausage rolls. You can freeze them both baked or unbaked just following these simple step by step instructions:

To freeze unbaked sausage rolls:

1. Prepare the sausage rolls as usual, up to the point before baking.
2. Place them on a tray lined with parchment paper, making sure they’re not touching.
3. Freeze on the tray for 2–3 hours, or until solid.
4. Transfer the frozen sausage rolls into an airtight container or freezer bag.
5. Label and date. Store for up to 3 months.
6. To bake from frozen: place directly onto a baking tray and bake at the usual temperature (180°C), adding an extra 10–15 minutes.

To freeze baked sausage rolls:

1. Let them cool completely after baking.
2. Freeze in a single layer on a tray until solid.
3. Transfer to a sealed container or bag and freeze for up to 2 months.
4. To reheat: bake from frozen at 160–170°C for about 15–20 minutes until heated through and crisp again.

Christmas Sausage Rolls

Simona

The epitome of party food, sausage rolls. But make them Christmassy and oh so tasty!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Savoury

Cuisine English

Ingredients

  

• 650 g fresh sausage meat
• 1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• ½ tsp chilli flakes
• 1 tsp freshly chopped parsley
• 1 tsp fresh thyme
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 block puff pastry 500g
• 1 egg OR 50g butter

Instructions

 

• Start by warming up your oven at 180°C and prepare a baking tray with some parchment paper and set aside.
• In a bowl, mix the sausage meat with all the spices and salt and pepper and set aside.
• Roll out your puff pastry and then place the meat in the middle, creating a long sausage log. Close and seal the pastry pinching it with your fingers.
• Now for the decoration, use the leftover pastry from the roll and create a nice decoration on top like we did. We have formed some balls by rolling some puff pastry in our hands, and cut out the leaves from some rolled out puff. 
• Brush the logs with the beaten egg or melted butter, then place the decorations and brush those as well. If you are using sesame or poppy seeds, just sprinkle on top after the egg wash.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes and let them cool down properly before cutting.
• Serve with a sauce of your choice.

Notes

If you are preparing them ahead of time and freezing them, do not do the egg wash and decorating until the day you will be baking them.

Baking from frozen will add 10-15 minutes to the cooking time, make sure you bear this in mind.

Keyword Christmas sausage rolls

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Alas, this is the end of this post.

I know, I know. How can this be the end already? Well, in all honesty, how much more can you say about sausage rolls, or even better Christmas sausage rolls?

I am getting overly excited for Christmas, and if you are too… Why not check out our latest posts? This beauty gift guide is all the rage right now! And if you fancy our latest recipe instead, check out this one for white chocolate fudge with walnuts and cranberries!

Pin these festive sausage rolls for later!