Ham Cranberry Sliders
- Sweet and savory ham cranberry sliders with a luscious cream cheese spread.
- Perfect party finger food that’s easy to make ahead.
- Ideal for holiday gatherings, game days, or casual family meals.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 sliders 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 small slider buns (Hawaiian sweet rolls recommended)
- 12 thin slices of ham (Black Forest or honey ham preferred)
- 1/2 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry or jellied)
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
- 1/2 tsp orange zest (optional)
- 6 slices Swiss cheese, halved (optional)
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder (optional, for butter topping)
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme (optional, for butter topping)
- 1 tsp poppy seeds (optional, for topping)
- Fresh chives, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper or lightly coat with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese and cranberry sauce. Mix until well blended. Add Dijon mustard and orange zest if using.
- If using connected dinner rolls, slice horizontally through the middle, creating one large top and bottom piece. Place the bottom half in your prepared baking dish.
- Spread the cranberry cream cheese mixture evenly across the bottom half of the buns.
- Arrange ham slices evenly over the cranberry cream cheese layer, slightly overlapping each slice. Add Swiss cheese slices if using.
- Place the top half of the buns over the ham layer. Press down gently.
- In a small bowl, mix melted butter with garlic powder and dried thyme if using. Brush the tops of the buns with the butter mixture. Sprinkle with poppy seeds if desired.
- Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 2-3 minutes until tops are golden brown.
- Allow to rest for 5 minutes before cutting into individual sliders.
- Garnish with chopped fresh chives if desired and serve warm.
Notes
- For make-ahead preparation, assemble sliders up to 24 hours in advance, cover and refrigerate. Add butter topping just before baking.
- To prevent soggy bottoms, spread a thin layer of butter on the inside of the bottom buns before adding the cranberry mixture.
- Leftover sliders can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in a 325°F oven for 8-10 minutes.
- Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on ingredients used, portion sizes, and preparation methods.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 185
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 320
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 10
- Cholesterol: 25
Keywords: ham cranberry sliders, ham sliders, cranberry sauce, appetizer bites, party finger foods, holiday appetizers, game day food