Maple Glazed Pigs in Blankets Recipe - a Christmas Tradition! (2024)

Christmas | Other Recipes | Recipes

ByDonna Wishart

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It’s no secret that I love Christmas and for me one of the big parts of Christmas is the food. It’s the one time of year you can eat all day without anyone questioning it. Plus, you can have all your favourite things on one very full dinner plate!

When Waitrose got in contact to share with me some food traditions from around the world I started to think of what food traditions we have in our house.

What are your favourite Christmas food traditions?

We start buying mince pies as soon as they appear in the shops and in the run up to Christmas we buy everything that’s on offer – a big box of chocolates, nibbles and the obligatory Chocolate Orange.

But when it comes to Christmas it just wouldn’t be the same without turkey and all the trimmings. In our house that means roast potatoes and parsnips, lots of different steamed veg, sprouts, red cabbage, stuffing, yorkshire puddings, really thick gravy and not forgetting the pigs in blankets.

For me, the one thing we save just for Christmas is pigs in blankets – they are the ultimate comfort food and my favourite sausage recipes. We don’t have them any other time of the year and it makes having them at Christmas just that little bit more special.For me, the one thing we save just for Christmas is pigs in blankets.

We don’t have them any other time of the year and it makes having them at Christmas just that little bit more special. We enjoy them throughout the festive period, having them at any party or social gathering, as a buffet snack or side dish.

They really one of our favourite British traditions – you cannot beat the taste of these little bacon wrapped sausages. They may not be that healthy but they’re quick and delicious!

Maple Glazed Pigs in Blankets Recipe - a Christmas Tradition! (2)

What sausages should we use for pigs in blankets?

We use pretty standard pork cocktail sausages for this recipe but you could use chicken or beef sausages or even vegetarian sausages and a bacon alternative for a meat free option. Plus, you can cook pigs in blankets in the air fryer too.

We also love Honey and Mustard Pigs in Blankets and Caramelised Onion Pigs in Blankets if you’d like to try those recipes too. You can see our other pigs in blanket recipe variations here and all our other Christmas recipes too!

Here’s our easy Maple Glazed Pigs in Blankets Recipe

Ingredients

  • 18 Cocktail Sausages
  • 9 Smoked Streaky Bacon Rashers
  • 150ml /10 tbsp Maple Syrup
Maple Glazed Pigs in Blankets Recipe - a Christmas Tradition! (3)

Recipe

  • Preheat oven to 180C and line an oven dish or deep baking tray with foil
  • Cut each rasher of streaky bacon in half and wrap around a sausage, securing with a cocktail stick. Repeat, placing them in the oven dish.
  • Bake the pigs in blankets for 20 minutes before pouring away the excess fat from the dish. Drizzle the sausages with the maple syrup and place back in the oven to continue cooking for another 15-20 minutes until the sausages are nicely golden browned.
  • Remove the sausages from the dish, giving them one last coat in the sweet sticky maple syrup sauce.
Maple Glazed Pigs in Blankets Recipe - a Christmas Tradition! (4)

So that is our Christmas tradition. Lovely, sticky pigs in blankets. They will be served on Christmas day alongside the honey roast parsnips and eaten surrounded by family. For me Christmas dinner is my favourite meal of the year.

If you’d like to print or pin the Maple Glazed Pigs in Blankets Recipe for later you can do so below. Enjoy!

Maple Glazed Pigs in Blankets Recipe - a Christmas Tradition! (5)

Print Pin

Maple Glazed Pigs in Blankets

For me, the one thing we save just for Christmas is pigs in blankets. We don’t have them any other time of the year and it makes having them at Christmas just that little bit more special.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine British

Keyword christmas

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 18 sausages

Calories 90kcal

Ingredients

  • 18 Cocktail Sausages
  • 9 Smoked Streaky Bacon Rashers
  • 150 ml Maple Syrup

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180C and line an oven dish with foil

  • Cut each rasher of streaky bacon in half and wrap around a sausage, securing with a cocktail stick. Repeat, placing them in the oven dish.

  • Bake the pigs in blankets for 20 minutes before pouring away the excess fat from the dish. Drizzle the sausages with the maple syrup and place back in the oven for another 15-20 minutes until the sausages are nicely browned.

  • Remove the sausages from the dish, giving them one last coat in the maple syrup.

*Note: Nutritional information is estimated, based on publicly available data. Nutrient values may vary from those published.

Maple Glazed Pigs in Blankets Recipe - a Christmas Tradition! (6)
Maple Glazed Pigs in Blankets Recipe - a Christmas Tradition! (2024)

FAQs

Why are pigs in blankets associated with Christmas? ›

Why are pigs in blankets eaten at Christmas? There are no specific known origins of pigs in blankets becoming a traditional part of the British Christmas dinner, but the first written record of the product in general goes back to 1957.

Where did the tradition of pigs in blankets come from? ›

Pigs in blankets are thought to have originated from Czechoslovakia or Germany but first appeared in print in the Cooking for Kids cookbook, published by U.S food firm Betty Crocker in 1957.

How many pigs in a blanket are eaten on Christmas Day? ›

It is estimated that over 128 million pigs in blankets are eaten on Christmas Day alone!

What do the Scottish call pigs in blankets? ›

Pigs in blankets, kilted sausages or kilted soldiers is a dish served in the United Kingdom and Ireland consisting of small sausages (usually chipolatas) wrapped in bacon. They are a popular and traditional accompaniment to roast turkey in a Christmas dinner and are served as a side dish.

What is the tradition of the Christmas pig? ›

Place of Origin

After Christmas dinner, a family member deposits the pig into a small sack. Using a small, metal mallet, each person at the table gives the pink porker a thwack, and shares a story of their good fortune from the past year.

When did pigs in blankets become part of Christmas dinner? ›

It's generally believed that pigs in blankets were popularised in the 1990s, when Delia Smith included a recipe in her Christmas cookbook. These salty morsels are generally considered a Christmas item, owing to its moreish and indulgent qualities, and are widely accepted as one of the UK's favourite festive trimmings.

What do Americans call pigs in blankets? ›

In the United States the term "pigs in a blanket" typically refers to hot dogs in croissant dough, but may include Vienna sausages, cocktail or breakfast/link sausages baked inside biscuit dough or croissant dough.

What do Jews call pigs in a blanket? ›

In Israel, pigs in a blanket morph into baby Moses in a basket, or in Hebrew, Moshe bateivah (Mo-SHEH ba-tei-VAH).

What do Texans call pigs in a blanket? ›

The Texanist: Why Do Texans Call a Pig in a Blanket a Kolache? – Texas Monthly.

What is the most eaten thing at Christmas? ›

What are the Most Popular Christmas Foods Eaten Around the World?
  • Roast turkey or ham, a standard main course for holiday dinners.
  • Eggnog, a rich and creamy beverage made with eggs, milk, and spices. ...
  • Gingerbread cookies and houses are popular festive treats and decorations.

What is the most eaten meat at Christmas? ›

Turkey is definitely the most traditional meat for Christmas dinner and you can take a look at our wide selection of whole, rolled and diced turkeys here – perfect for your traditional Christmas dinner!

What is a Scottish cuddle? ›

'Coorie' is a Gaelic word meaning to nestle or snuggle but it's taken on a different meaning recently. The word has evolved from its origin to a lifestyle trend, the Scottish equivalent of the Danish Hygge, of appreciating Scotland's beauty and what it has to offer.

What are the Dutch pig in a blankets called? ›

Saucijzebroodjes (Dutch Pig in a Blankets)

What are some fun names for pigs in a blanket? ›

Other names for the food are franks in a blanket, franks in blanks, and wiener winks. Although, wiener winks tend to use bread and cheese in their recipe instead of biscuit dough or croissant dough.

What does pigs on a blanket mean? ›

In the United States the term "pigs in a blanket" typically refers to hot dogs in croissant dough, but may include Vienna sausages, cocktail or breakfast/link sausages baked inside biscuit dough or croissant dough.

Why do people eat pork on Christmas? ›

The tradition of eating ham is thought to have evolved from the Germanic pagan ritual of sacrificing a wild boar known as a sonargöltr to the Norse god Freyr during harvest festivals.

Why are donkeys associated with Christmas? ›

Donkeys are another animal that is often associated with Christmas. According to Christian teachings, donkeys were used by Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem for Jesus' birth, making them an important part of the nativity story.

What is the peppermint pig Christmas tradition? ›

An 8 ounce peppermint pig is sold in a velvet bag along with a metal hammer, and tradition dictates that the pig is to be smashed inside of the bag using the hammer at Christmas dinner.

References

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