Savory Christmas Candles, a very simple appetizer, quick to prepare and perfect to serve during the Christmas holidays. I was looking for an idea similar to my puff pastry Christmas trees, Christmas placeholders, and I saw these cute little candles on social media that intrigued me a lot for their simplicity in making them. A tasty idea and perfect to amaze your guests with very few ingredients. Sandwich bread and salami to make the base, cheese cut into sticks to make the body, and pickled onions as the candle flame. Everything put together with a toothpick that will also help hold the structure. To make the base, I used a star-shaped mold, but you can simply make them round and even larger, using a glass. They would thus become pretty Christmas centerpieces. But now, enough talking, let’s head to the kitchen together, because the Savory Christmas Candles will be ready in a click!
If you are interested in more Christmas appetizer recipes, also check out:
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 20 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Christmas, New Year's Eve
- Energy 187.62 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 5.85 (g) of which sugars 2.41 (g)
- Proteins 12.08 (g)
- Fat 12.89 (g) of which saturated 0.49 (g)of which unsaturated 0.74 (g)
- Fibers 0.58 (g)
- Sodium 242.68 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 69 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 2 slices white sandwich bread
- salami (to taste)
- 6.35 oz emmental cheese
- 4.23 oz pickled onions
- mayonnaise (to taste)
- extra virgin olive oil (to taste for frying the bread)
Tools
- Air Fryer
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Mold star-shaped
- Toothpicks
Steps
First, cut the candle bases out of the slices of sandwich bread. I used a star-shaped mold, the kind typically used for cookies. Then transfer the stars obtained into the air fryer basket and distribute a very small amount of oil. Cook them at 340°F (170°C) for 5 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally for even cooking. Once they are golden, remove them and set them aside.
Then, using the same mold, cut stars out of the salami slices. I recommend using slightly thicker slices of salami so that you can easily cut out the shapes. If they are thick enough, they will not break as happened to me with some.
Next, cut the cheese into sticks about 3/8 inch (1 cm) wide and then cut them in half. Skewer each stick with a toothpick, which should protrude from both sides of the cheese. And now it’s time to assemble the candles. Spread some mayonnaise on a star of sandwich bread. This step, in addition to making the appetizer tastier, will act as a glue for the next ingredient.
Then lay the salami star and skewer the cheese with the toothpick. To make it stand perfectly, do not let the toothpick protrude from the sandwich bread, and the cheese should adhere perfectly to the salami. I hope I am not too convoluted with the explanations, but I want to be precise with the steps. It may seem trivial, but these small tricks will help you make the appetizer even simpler and faster.
Finally, place a pickled onion on each appetizer and serve.
Storage and Tips for Savory Christmas Candles
You can prepare this appetizer in advance by cooking the sandwich bread shapes and storing them in a cool, dry place for 1 or 2 days. Also prepare the various pieces to assemble the candles in advance and store them in the refrigerator in containers with lids for 1 day. A few hours before serving, assemble the appetizer and serve it.
FAQ Questions and Answers for Savory Christmas Candles
Can I use whole wheat sandwich bread instead of white?
Yes, of course, you can also use puff pastry if you prefer, and cook it in the air fryer at 340°F (170°C) for 10 minutes.
What can I substitute for pickled onions?
Instead of pickled onions, you can use pickled peppers.
