Reindeer Sausage Bites with Maple-Mustard Glaze Recipe
Reindeer Sausage Bites are savory and sweet appetizers featuring cocktail-sized sausages wrapped in crispy bacon with fresh sage, glazed with a sticky maple-mustard sauce. Perfect for holiday parties or casual snacking, these bites combine smoky, herbaceous, and sweet flavors in every delicious piece.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Meat and Herbs
- 16 thin slices of bacon
- 16 small sausages or cocktail-sized sausages
- 16 fresh sage leaves
Glaze
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Prep the Sausages: Place one fresh sage leaf along the length of each cocktail-sized sausage. Wrap each sausage tightly with a slice of bacon, ensuring the sage leaf is secured within the wrap.
- Make the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together maple syrup, whole-grain mustard, and a pinch of ground nutmeg until the mixture is smooth and evenly combined.
- Cook the Sausages - Air Fryer Method: Preheat the air fryer to 356°F. Lay the bacon-wrapped sausages in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Cook for 10 minutes or until the bacon starts turning golden. Brush the glaze over each sausage, then continue to air fry for an additional 4 minutes, basting occasionally, until the bacon is crispy and the glaze is sticky.
- Cook the Sausages - Oven Method: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Arrange the bacon-wrapped sausages on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 minutes or until the bacon begins to brown. Drizzle the glaze evenly over the sausages, then return the tray to the oven and bake for 5 more minutes, basting occasionally, until the bacon is crisp and the glaze has become sticky.
- Serve: Remove the sausage bites from the cooking method chosen and let them cool slightly before serving warm as a flavorful appetizer or snack.
Notes
- For best results, use cocktail-sized sausages or reindeer sausage if available for authentic flavor.
- Make sure not to overlap the bacon-wrapped sausages in the air fryer or on the baking sheet to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
- Brush the glaze generously and often near the end of cooking to build a sticky and flavorful finish.
- Fresh sage leaves add an aromatic herbal note; if unavailable, substitute with rosemary or thyme.
- These sausage bites can be prepared ahead and reheated in the oven or air fryer for about 5 minutes before serving.
