Christmas recipes for a brunch with friends

The Christmas holidays are the perfect opportunity to gather with loved ones and create unforgettable moments... and what better way to celebrate the magical atmosphere of Christmas than with a brunch or a custom-made aperitif in the company of your dearest friends? In this article, we at nss G-Club have gathered for you the most delightful and themed ideas, for a Christmas break that transforms the sacred moment of the aperitif into a Christmas-friendly celebration. From delicious finger foods to sparkling drinks, get ready to have fun organizing a unique experience that will become a must for every future Christmas, where you can prepare together an unforgettable banquet, showcasing all your creativity.

The atmosphere of city lights and decorations in the center is not easily replicable, just like a good hot chocolate prepared by your favorite bar, but we want to suggest an activity that brings the magic of the holidays into your homes and adds a touch of novelty during the annual gift exchange with friends.

Charcu-Tree

You know the famous charcuterie boards that have taken over tables worldwide? Well, now imagine the same ingredients but in a different arrangement. In fact, cold cuts, cheeses, and olives will not be presented on the classic wooden board but on a polystyrene cone wrapped in plastic wrap where toothpicks will be used to hold the dishes in place. The recipe is very simple; what makes the difference is the mise en place: a Christmas table tree composed of the classic protagonists of the Italian aperitif. Get high-quality ingredients to create the most delicious - and beautiful - aperitif Christmas tree your friends have ever seen. Amaze them with a festive presentation using a golden or glittering serving plate that can make it even more special, as it will be obligatory to immortalize the moment with an Instagram story.

Glittery Cocktail

With just two ingredients, you can create a cocktail more spectacular than you think. What is an aperitif without a accompanying drink? This drink is perfect to surprise guests on any occasion, but especially during the holidays when glitter reigns supreme. Cornstarch and water to prepare the glittery mixture, then any alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink of your choice to flavor the cocktail and make it to your liking. If the drink turns out colorless, you can always resort to a food or natural powdered coloring, the same one used to create colored glazes for cakes. To start, pour the cornstarch into a saucepan with cold water, then let it boil until it reaches a dense cream-like consistency. At this point - if you like - it's time for the food coloring! To stay on theme, you could opt for a nice red or green, but nothing prevents you from making it worthy of a Barbie movie with a beautiful pink. Now it's time to spread the mixture on a large baking sheet covered with parchment paper so that it becomes as thin as possible once dry: it will need a day at room temperature for the cream to solidify, or, if you have organized the aperitif last minute, simply put it in a fan-assisted oven at 100° - with the door slightly open - until it reaches the desired solidity. Now all you have to do is blend everything you have obtained, and you will have a shiny powder similar to sugar granules to dilute in the chosen cocktail: et voilà! Your toast has never been so sparkling.

Gift Sandwich

Along with the gifts under the tree, how about small edible packages based on speck and gorgonzola? Or salmon and Philadelphia? In the midst of the spread table for your aperitif, on a plate chosen specifically for the occasion, serve these simple little sandwiches based on any ingredient that can be functional to the purpose: they can become veg-friendly if you replace the "ribbon" with lettuce instead of cold cuts... as for the filling, all pâtés are useful! Since the gastronomic panettone has now become a savory variant of the traditional Italian panettone, known for being a Christmas sweet par excellence, transferring the same fillings to these gift sandwiches is a good idea.