Christmas Ale Beer Brat Bites
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The following recipe and photography were provided by local blogger Carolyn Hodges of The Dinner Shift.
Celebrate the holiday season with this festive appetizer featuring Heinen’s exclusive Christmas Ale Beer Brats, made in partnership with Cleveland’s own Great Lakes Brewing Co.!
These savory brats are produced by Heinen’s CARE Certified pork partner using Great Lakes Brewing Co.’s famous seasonal Christmas Ale, so they’re juicy and full of flavor with subtle notes of cinnamon.
Transform the brats into an incredible two-bite appetizer your holiday guests will love by wrapping them in Heinen’s CARE Certified hickory smoked bacon and coating them in a sweet and spicy glaze.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- You Won’t Find These Holiday Brats Anywhere Else! Heinen’s and their CARE Certified pork partner worked exclusively with Great Lakes Brewing Co. to create these brats, available only at Heinen’s for a limited time.
- They Look Fancy and Festive, but The Prep is Easy! Calling for fewer than 10 ingredients and about 15 minutes of hands-on prep, holiday appetizers don’t get much simpler than this!
- They’re Sweet and Savory! The subtle notes of cinnamon in the beer brats are enhanced by a spicy-sweet homemade brown sugar mustard glaze. Be sure to serve with stone ground mustard for added flavor!
Christmas Ale Beer Brat Bites
Cook time: 25min Prep time: 15min Total time: 40min
Servings: 8 (2 brat bites per seving)
Ingredients
- 1 package Heinen's and Great Lakes Brewing Co. Christmas Ale Beer Brats
- 12 oz. Great Lakes Brewing Co. Christmas Ale
- 8 slices Heinen’s CARE Certified hickory smoked uncured bacon
- 3 Tbsp. Heinen’s organic stone ground mustard, plus more for serving
- 2 Tbsp. Heinen’s organic brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp. Heinen’s orange juice
- ¼ tsp. Heinen’s ground cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp. Heinen’s cayenne pepper, plus more to taste
- Chopped chives, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Soak 16 toothpicks in water for 20-30 minutes.
- Combine the brats and Christmas Ale in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for 5 minutes. Remove the brats and allow to cool slightly.
- Cut each brat into 4 equal pieces. Cut each strip of bacon in half.
- Wrap each brat bite in half a strip of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
- Whisk together the mustard, brown sugar, orange juice, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Add more cayenne pepper for more spice. Generously brush each bacon-wrapped brat bite on all sides with the glaze.
- Arrange the brat bites in a single layer on the foil-lined sheet pan. Transfer to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.
- Garnish with chives and serve with additional stone ground mustard for dipping.
