Easy Appetizers & Dessert Hacks for the Holidays
Get ready for the holiday season this year with easy appetizer and dessert hacks for the holidays. Inspired by our Compliments and Panache collections, all you have to do is make a simple addition to add a festive spin. Plus, people won’t even realize they’re not homemade!
Truffle Shrimp
Add some Japanese flair to your Panache Truffle Flavour Tempura Shrimp this holiday season by adding a simple dipping sauce. In a small sauce pan add ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup of dry white wine, ¼ cup water, 2 tbsp brown sugar, and the green part of green onions. Bring to a boil, once boil reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes. Let it cool to room temperature before serving. For a festive touch, garnish with a few sprigs of microgreens or pink peppercorns to add some holiday magic to the plate.
Korean-Style Mozzarella Sticks
Add some heat to your holiday party with a spicy twist on a classic favourite! Kick things up a notch pairing Compliments Mozzarella Sticks with a rich and fiery Korean gochujang. Simply whisk together 2 tbsp gochujang paste, 1 ½ tsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp sesame oil, and 1 tbsp maple syrup. Once the mozzarella sticks are ready, drizzle the sauce over them and top with chopped scallions and roasted sesame seeds. They’re the perfect party app: unexpected, crave-worthy, and gone in seconds.
French Onion Soup Brie
Add a warm and comforting twist to your holiday charcuterie spread, with the savoury flavours of French onion soup. Top Compliments Double Cream Brie with the Panache Caramelized Onion and Balsamic Topper, cooked Compliments Blooming Pearl Onions, a layer of crushed croutons for that classic French onion crunch. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh thyme. Serve with crackers and fresh veggies.
Pickle Spears Ranch Dill Dip
Create a dill ranch dip for your Compliments Breaded Pickle Spears. Simply mix ½ cup of mayo, ½ cup of sour cream, ½ cup buttermilk, 3 tbsp pickle juice, ½ tsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp fresh chopped dill, and 2 tbsp finely chopped dill pickles. Serve alongside the crispy pickle spears for a holiday appetizer that’s equal parts comforting and delicious. It’s like the cozy sweater of party snacks.
Southwest Sprolls Cottage Cheese Queso
Give Compliments Southwest Beef Sprolls an upgrade with cottage cheese queso. Made for sharing, this velvety queso dip will have your holiday guests coming back for more. Add 1 cup of full fat cottage cheese and 3 tbsp of taco mix to a blender or food processor and blend together until smooth. Add mixture to microwave safe bowl and add ½ cup of shredded Tex Mex cheese and microwave at 30 second increments until melted. Serve warm with a side of Southwest Sprolls. Great for gatherings, holiday move nights, or quick weeknight snacks during the busiest time of the year.
Panache Plain Cheesecake Biscoff
Bring a touch of European charm to your holiday celebrations this year with a delicious Biscoff topper for the Panache NY-Style Cheesecake. Inspired by the warm, spiced flavours of the Belgian cookie, this dessert is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Start by melting ½ cup of Biscoff spread in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until it is runny. Pour over the Cheesecake and spread with a spatula. Spread biscoff cookie crumbs around the edge of the cake. Whether you’re hosting a festive dinner or enjoying a quiet holiday moment, this cheesecake brings comfort, and richness to every bite.
Peppermint Chocolate Mini Eclairs
Give Panache Mini Eclairs a holiday makeover this year! Add a festive peppermint twist to these bite-sized treats with just a few simple touches. Simply melt ¼ cup white chocolate chips, divide into 2 bowls and add red food colouring to one of the bowls. Drizzle both colours over chocolate mini eclairs. Finish with a sprinkle of crushed candy canes for a seasonal peppermint flavour. Great for holiday dessert platters, these mini eclairs are sure to brighten up any holiday celebration.
Salted Caramel Profiteroles
Add a sweet and salty festive touch to your mini profiteroles this holiday season. Start by melting ¼ cup of Compliments Dulce de Leche in the microwave for a couple of seconds. Drizzle the warm caramel sauce over plain profiteroles and let the richness melt into every bite. For a delightful holiday crunch, sprinkle some crushed Compliments Dark and Milk Chocolate Coated Pretzel Rods on top for a perfect blend of chocolate, sweet and salty. Let the profiteroles sit for 5 minutes to allow the caramel topper to cool and the flavours to mingle. Then serve and watch your guests’ faces light up with holiday joy.
Double Chocolate Profiteroles
Chocolate lovers rejoice this holiday season, because we’re adding even more chocolate to Panche Milk Chocolate Profiteroles. Simply melt white chocolate in the microwave for a couple seconds until it is silky smooth, then drizzle over the top the profiteroles. The sweet snowy finish adds some holiday magic to your holiday dessert table.
Chestnut Whipped Cream Tiramisu
Add some festive freshness to our Panache Petites Mousses Selection with Tiramisu. Start with making the chestnut puree. Crush about 500g of boiled chestnuts in a food processor. In a bowl, whip 1 cup of heavy cream on medium speed. Once the cream starts to thicken slightly, add 1 tbsp of icing sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 4 tbsp of the chestnut puree. Continue whipping until you get soft to medium peaks. Using a piping bag, pipe the chestnut whipped cream to the top of the tiramisu mousse. The rich flavour combined with the light and airy cream brings together the festive flavours of chestnut and tiramisu. It is the perfect way to finish your holiday dinner.