Smoked Salmon Dill Cream Cheese Crostini

Best Christmas Appetizers Smoked Salmon Crostini Sorted

By Chef MayaAugust 17, 2025

Table of Contents

Recipe Introduction

Quick Hook

Ever panicked about best christmas appetizers ? Honestly, I have! These Smoked Salmon Crostini are light, elegant, and a total flavour bomb. They are packed with fresh dill and creamy goodness.

Brief Overview

Crostini, originating from Italy, are basically tiny toasts! My version adds a Scandinavian twist with smoked salmon. Ready in just 25 minutes, it is an easy christmas appetizer for a crowd.

It makes about 24 little bites perfect for 6-8 people.

Main Benefits

Smoked salmon is packed with omega-3s which are super good for your heart. I serve these Christmas Dinner Party Appetizers every year! What makes these festive holiday appetizers so special? They look fancy but are deceptively easy.

Diving into the Delicious Details

Let's get this show on the road. These are the easy Christmas appetizers that everybody likes. They look elegant, but honestly, they are so easy to throw together.

First, you need a baguette. Then we need to make the topping with cream cheese, dill, and lemon juice! Smoked salmon goes on top.

It is really all about assembly. A very nice Christmas party food spread can be done easy this way.

make-ahead Christmas appetizers are great, so make the cream cheese spread the day before. Toast the bread right before serving.

It gets soggy otherwise. I use a brick style cream cheese, full fat. Also, please, don't burn the bread!

Ingredients & Equipment for the Best Christmas Appetizers

So, you want to make the best christmas appetizers ? Let's talk shopping, yeah? Honestly, nailing these Christmas dinner appetizers finger foods is all about the ingredients and having the right kit.

Think of these festive holiday appetizers as a Christmas gift to yourself!

Main Ingredients Breakdown

Baguette: 1. You'll need 1 whole baguette, thinly sliced (about 1/4 inch or 0.6 cm thick). Key indicator: Freshly baked, crusty but not too hard.
Olive Oil: 2 tablespoons or 30 ml . Use a decent extra virgin olive oil. You know, the good stuff!
Cream Cheese: 8 ounces or 225g cream cheese, softened. Full fat, brick style is the way . Makes the best spread, innit?
Fresh Dill: 2 tablespoons or 30 ml chopped fresh dill. Fresh is key here!
Lemon Juice: 1 tablespoon or 15 ml lemon juice. Squeeze it fresh!
Garlic Powder: 1/2 teaspoon or 2.5 ml garlic powder. Just a touch.
Salt: 1/4 teaspoon or 1.25 ml .
Black Pepper: 1/8 teaspoon or 0.6 ml . Freshly ground, always!
Smoked Salmon: 4 ounces or 115g smoked salmon, thinly sliced. Quality is vital. It should smell fresh, not fishy. Look for nice color and marbling!
These smoked salmon appetizer recipes will impress.

Seasoning Notes: Flavor Bombs!

Dill and lemon are the dynamic duo here. It's the perfect flavour profile, makes your food feel fresh and your elegant Christmas appetizers even better.

. For a little kick, consider adding a tiny pinch of red pepper flakes to the cream cheese. Also, remember that you can enhance the lemon flavour by adding a little bit of lemon zests.

If you don't have fresh dill (gasp!), dried dill will work. Use 1 teaspoon or 5 ml , but it's not the same, you know?

Equipment Needed

Baking Sheet: For toasting the bread.
Small Mixing Bowl: For the cream cheese mixture.
Serrated Bread Knife: To slice the baguette.
Rubber Spatula: To mix and spread the cream cheese.

No fancy gadgets needed for these easy Christmas appetizers for a crowd ! Honestly, a bread knife that actually works is the only thing you really need.

If you haven't a baking sheet, any oven safe tray will do. These Christmas appies are a breeze. This is great Christmas party food spread .

Start making these make-ahead Christmas appetizers and you'll be the star of every Christmas dinner party appetizers !

Alright, let's get cracking! Time to whip up some smashing Christmas appetizers worthy of even the Queen's table. (Of course, she's got someone else to do it, but you get my drift!) I'm going to share my take on Smoked Salmon & Dill Cream Cheese Crostini.

Trust me, these are perfect Christmas dinner appetizers finger foods . They're light, elegant, and scream Festive holiday appetizers !

Smoked Salmon Crostini: A Christmas Cracker!

Honestly, these are so easy, it’s almost cheating. But hey, during the holidays, we need all the shortcuts we can get, right? I can remember trying to make these for my last Christmas Dinner Party Appetizers ! My oven decided to have a moment, and the baguette almost turned to charcoal!

Lesson learned: Keep a close eye.

These little gems are the best Christmas appetizers because they're so simple to make for a Christmas party food spread .

You want a holiday appetizers that wow your guests? Here we go!

Prep Steps: Mise en Place & Speedy Strategies

First up, mise en place, darlings. It's french, means having everything in place. Slice one baguette into thin rounds (about 1/4 inch thick).

Soften 8 ounces of cream cheese. Chop 2 tablespoons of fresh dill. Measure out 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Thinly slice 4 ounces of smoked salmon.

Time saving tip: chop the dill while the oven preheats. Safety reminder: Watch those fingers when slicing the baguette.

step-by-step: Crostini Perfection

Preheat your oven to 375° F ( 190° C) .
Brush the baguette slices with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Toast the bread on a baking sheet for 5- 7 minutes , until golden brown. Visual cue: Slightly golden is the goal, not burnt.
Mix 8 ounces softened cream cheese with 2 tablespoons dill, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Mix well.
Spread the cream cheese mixture onto each toasted baguette slice.
Top with the sliced 4 ounces smoked salmon.
Garnish with dill sprigs, lemon wedges, capers or red onion.

Pro Tips: Secrets to Success

Don't over toast the bread! Slightly under is better than burnt. Use good quality smoked salmon. Honestly, the flavour makes all the difference.

For a make-ahead option, prepare the cream cheese spread the day before. Store it in the fridge. Toast the bread just before serving to avoid sogginess.

Many consider smoked salmon appetizer recipes to be elegant Christmas appetizers ! This can be served for Appetizers Christmas Party !

I hope you enjoy these easy Christmas appetizers for a crowd . You know? This is now the recipe for crostini that my family loves!.

Recipe Notes

Alright, so you're ready to make the best Christmas appetizers ever? Fantastic! This isn’t just about slapping some salmon on toast.

It's about creating something that wows. Think about it: these Christmas dinner appetizers finger foods will set the tone for the whole festive feast!

Serving like a Pro

Want to make these Christmas appies look amazing? I always go for a rustic wooden board. Arrange the crostini artfully.

Garnish with extra dill. Maybe even a few lemon wedges. As for drinks, a chilled Sauvignon Blanc is a winner.

Or, if you’re feeling fancy, some prosecco. For a non-alcoholic option, try sparkling elderflower presse. Perfect for the Christmas party food spread !

Storage Solutions

Honestly, these are make-ahead Christmas appetizers but Smoked salmon appetizer recipes are always best served fresh. You can whip up the cream cheese spread a day ahead.

Just keep it in the fridge. But, don't assemble the crostini until just before serving. Nobody likes soggy bread! If you really need to store them, they'll keep in the fridge for a few hours.

But , the bread will soften. Reheating isn’t really an option. Just enjoy them cold!

Twists and Turns

Fancy a change? Go wild! For a vegetarian holiday appetizers , try smoked carrots instead of salmon. Seriously! It's surprisingly good.

Or, for a spicy kick, add a touch of horseradish to the cream cheese. gluten-free? No worries! Use gluten-free baguette slices, or even crackers.

These elegant Christmas appetizers are super easy to adapt.

Nutrition Know How

Each crostini is around 75 calories. Not bad, eh? They’re a good source of protein and healthy fats from the salmon.

Just remember, smoked salmon is high in sodium. So, maybe don't go overboard! These are just easy Christmas appetizers for a crowd anyway.

There you have it! My completely un-expert, very honest notes on these festive holiday appetizers . Remember, it's all about having fun.

Don't stress if they're not perfect. The most important thing is that they taste amazing. Now, go forth and create some deliciousness! These are sure to be some fantastic Christmas dinner party appetizers !

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some good make-ahead tips for these best christmas appetizers?

Absolutely! You can definitely get a head start. The cream cheese spread can be made a day in advance and stored in the fridge. Just hold off on toasting the baguette and assembling the crostini until right before serving to prevent them from getting soggy. Think of it as your secret weapon to a stress free Christmas!

Can I adapt these smoked salmon crostini for dietary restrictions, like gluten-free or vegan guests?

You bet! For a gluten-free version, simply use gluten-free baguette slices or crackers. And for your vegan friends, try a vegan cream cheese alternative and replace the smoked salmon with thinly sliced smoked carrots it's surprisingly delicious and looks just as festive.

It's all about making sure everyone gets to join in the Christmas cheer!

How long do these best christmas appetizers last, and how should I store them?

These Smoked Salmon Crostini are best enjoyed fresh, ideally within a few hours of assembly. If you have leftovers, store the cream cheese spread and smoked salmon separately in airtight containers in the fridge.

The toasted baguette is best on the day and will soften if stored, so I recommend eating these ASAP after assembly.

What are some variations I can make to these Smoked Salmon Crostini?

Fancy a twist? Try adding a little horseradish to the cream cheese for a spicy kick, or swap the dill for chives or capers. For a sweeter variation, a tiny amount of orange zest works wonders! Get creative and make these crostini your own little Christmas masterpiece.

What kind of smoked salmon is best to use for these best christmas appetizers?

The quality of the smoked salmon really shines through in this recipe, so opt for the best you can afford. Look for thinly sliced, good quality smoked salmon, preferably with a vibrant color and a delicate, smoky flavour.

Scottish or Norwegian smoked salmon is always a good bet it's like treating your guests to a little taste of luxury! Avoid any that seems too dry or looks dull in color.