The Christmas apero sets the tone for the whole evening. It is when everyone gathers, raises a glass and nibbles while waiting for dinner. To make it both festive and stress-free, the idea is simple: a few exceptional products, a beautiful board and bites prepared ahead. Here are our ideas for an elegant, French-style Christmas apero.
The principle: festive but light
Before a generous Christmas dinner, the apero should open the appetite without spoiling it. Focus on quality rather than quantity: 5 to 7 bites per person are enough. If the apero replaces dinner, plan 15 to 20 bites instead, as for an apéritif dinner.
Foie gras, the star of the holiday apero
Nothing says Christmas like a foie gras toast. Slice a well-chilled block or whole foie gras, place each slice on gingerbread or brioche toast, add a touch of fig chutney and a pinch of fleur de sel. Allow 20 to 30 g of foie gras per person for the apero.
To choose and serve it well, read our guide what is foie gras.
A charcuterie board dressed for Christmas
Follow the rules of a great board, with a festive touch. Arrange a few flavoured dry-cured saucissons, mini saucissons, a jar of duck rillettes and two bold cheeses. Add seasonal touches: pomegranate seeds, clementines, walnuts, dried figs and a few sprigs of rosemary that evoke fir branches. The result is as beautiful as it is delicious.
For the complete method, follow our guide how to make a charcuterie board.
Bites to make the day before
To enjoy your guests, prepare as much as possible the day before. Puff pastry bites with duck rillettes, cheese gougeres and mini quiches can be made ahead and reheated for 5 minutes in the oven. Blinis are topped at the last minute with crème fraîche, smoked salmon or rillettes.
The touches that make the difference
Serve a few shots of hot soup in small glasses, walnuts roasted with honey and rosemary, or stuffed dates. Soft lighting, a few candles and pretty tableware are enough to set the mood.
What to drink at a Christmas apero?
Champagne or crémant remains the classic for a toast. With foie gras, a sweet white wine such as Sauternes or Jurançon works wonders. For charcuterie, a light, fruity red. Also plan a festive alcohol-free drink, such as sparkling apple juice with cinnamon.
The apero countdown
One week ahead, order your products: our foie gras and charcuterie in jars or cans keep easily until the holidays. The day before, prepare the hot bites. Two hours ahead, assemble the board and cover it. At the last minute, toast the bread, slice the foie gras and reheat the bites.
Our products for a Christmas apero
For an effortless holiday apero, choose our Périgord duck foie gras block, our Minis Lyonnais with hazelnuts, our duck rillettes with foie gras and our mini blinis. The full selection is in our apéritif collection, and our gift ideas in gourmet Christmas gift ideas.
FAQ
What should you serve at a Christmas apero?
Foie gras toasts, a charcuterie and cheese board dressed for the holidays, a few hot bites and topped blinis.
How many bites per person for a Christmas apero?
Allow 5 to 7 bites per person before a festive dinner, and 15 to 20 if the apero replaces dinner.
What can you prepare the day before a Christmas apero?
Hot bites such as puff pastry bites, gougeres and mini quiches. Assemble the board and toasts on the day.
What wine goes with foie gras at the apero?
A sweet white wine such as Sauternes or Jurançon, or champagne for a crisper pairing.
