Westphalian Ham Lollipops | German Ham Appetizer

Westphalian Ham Lollipops are elegant German party appetizers made with thin slices of Westphalian ham wrapped around a creamy Black Forest ham mousse flavored with rosemary, shallot, garlic, cream, butter, and German horseradish. Served chilled on lollipop sticks, these savory bites are perfect for Oktoberfest parties, holiday appetizer trays, cocktail hours, and German-inspired entertaining.

What Are Westphalian Ham Lollipops?

Westphalian Ham Lollipops are savory German-inspired appetizers made by wrapping thin slices of Westphalian ham around a creamy Black Forest ham mousse. The filling is rich, smoky, and aromatic, while the outer ham slice creates a neat bite-sized appetizer with a built-in handle.

Unlike sweet lollipops, these are elegant cold hors d’oeuvres meant for parties, buffets, cocktail hours, and Oktoberfest-style entertaining. Each portion is formed into a small ball around a lollipop stick, wrapped tightly, and chilled until firm.

The combination of Westphalian ham and Black Forest ham gives the appetizer a distinctly German character. The mousse is seasoned with rosemary and German horseradish, adding herbal depth and a gentle sharpness that balances the richness of the cream and butter.

A German Ham Appetizer with Black Forest Ham Mousse

This recipe brings together two well-known German ham styles in one creative appetizer. Westphalian ham forms the outside wrapper, while smoked and cooked Black Forest ham are blended into a mousse for the filling.

The Black Forest ham mousse is made with sautéed garlic, shallot, smoked Black Forest ham, cooked Black Forest ham, reduced cream, rosemary, horseradish, and butter. Once blended and cooled, the mousse becomes rich and spreadable, making it easy to shape inside the Westphalian ham slices.

The result is a polished appetizer that feels more special than a standard cold-cut platter. It has the flavor of a German charcuterie board, but with a refined presentation that works beautifully for entertaining.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Westphalian Ham Lollipops are memorable, flavorful, and easy for guests to pick up and enjoy. They turn familiar German deli ingredients into a playful appetizer that still feels sophisticated.

You’ll love this recipe because it:

• Highlights both Westphalian ham and Black Forest ham
• Makes an elegant German appetizer for parties
• Features a creamy ham mousse with rosemary and horseradish
• Can be made ahead and chilled before serving
• Works well for Oktoberfest, holidays, cocktail parties, and buffets
• Offers a creative alternative to a traditional charcuterie board
• Serves a crowd with about 20 portions
• Looks festive and polished on an appetizer tray

Westphalian Ham Lollipops

Westphalian ham wraps around a Black Forest ham mousse in this appetizer with a built-in handle. Recipe created for Germanfoods.org by Chef Hans Roeckenwagner.

Servings 20

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 clove garlic
• 1 shallot
• 6 ounces butter, divided at room temperature
• 5 ounces smoked German Black Forest ham finely diced
• 16 ounces cooked German Black Forest ham finely diced
• 1-1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1 sprig rosemary leaves only, minced
• 2 tablespoons German horseradish
• 20 slices German Westphalian ham

Instructions

 

For the Mousse:

• Saute chopped garlic and shallot in 1 tablespoon butter. Add smoked Black Forest ham. Brown well and add cooked Black Forest ham. Reduce cream to half, season with rosemary and horseradish. Combine cream mixture and ham mixture, and blend well. Slowly add remaining butter. Cool mousse to room temperature.

For the Lollipops:

• Lay 1 slice of Westphalian ham on a square of plastic wrap. Place 2 teaspoons mousse in center of ham and stick one lollipop stick into it. Carefully wrap ham and plastic around mousse, forming a ball. Twist tightly and place in an empty egg carton to chill, refrigerated, until firm, about 6 hours.

Notes

Why Westphalian Ham and Black Forest Ham Work Together

Westphalian ham and Black Forest ham each bring a different kind of flavor to this appetizer. Westphalian ham works well as the wrapper because thin slices are flexible, savory, and elegant. Black Forest ham gives the mousse a deeper smoked flavor and richer texture.

Using both hams makes the appetizer more layered than a simple ham roll-up. The outside slice provides structure, while the mousse inside creates a creamy, smoky filling.

The rosemary and horseradish help tie everything together. Rosemary adds fragrance, while horseradish cuts through the richness of the cream, butter, and ham.

Tips for the Best Ham Lollipops

Use thin, even slices of Westphalian ham so they wrap neatly around the mousse. If the slices are too thick, they may crack or pull apart while shaping.

Let the mousse cool before forming the lollipops. If the mousse is too warm, it will be harder to shape and may not hold around the stick.

Twist the plastic wrap tightly around each portion. This helps create a rounder shape and keeps the ham secure while the lollipops chill.

Use an empty egg carton, mini muffin tin, or small cups to hold the lollipops upright while they firm in the refrigerator.

Chill the lollipops long enough for the mousse to set. The current recipe recommends refrigerating until firm, about 6 hours.

Oktoberfest and Party Serving Ideas

Westphalian Ham Lollipops are a great fit for Oktoberfest parties because they are savory, meaty, easy to pick up, and full of German flavor. They also work well for holiday appetizer trays, wine tastings, cocktail parties, brunch buffets, and German-themed gatherings.

Serve them upright on a platter with rye bread, pretzel bites, pickles, radishes, mustard, and small cheese cubes. They can also be arranged as part of a larger charcuterie board with German cold cuts, sliced sausages, cheeses, fruit spreads, and dark bread.

For a more polished appetizer presentation, garnish the platter with fresh rosemary, parsley, cornichons, or thinly sliced radishes.

What to Serve with Westphalian Ham Lollipops

These ham lollipops are rich and savory, so they pair best with crisp, tangy, and fresh sides.

Good pairings include:

• German rye bread
• Pumpernickel
• Pretzel bites
• Pickles or gherkins
• Radishes
• German mustard
• Horseradish sauce
• Cucumber salad
• Potato salad
• Cheese cubes
• Grapes or sliced apples
• Sparkling mineral water
• Riesling
• German beer

For an Oktoberfest spread, serve them with pretzels, mustard, pickles, radishes, and beer. For a holiday appetizer tray, pair them with cheeses, fruit, crackers, and sparkling wine.

Make-Ahead Tips

Westphalian Ham Lollipops are especially useful for entertaining because they need time to chill before serving. The mousse can be prepared ahead, shaped inside the ham slices, and refrigerated until firm.

For best results, keep the lollipops wrapped while chilling so they hold their shape. Unwrap them shortly before serving and arrange them on a platter.

Because the recipe contains cream, butter, and ham, keep the finished appetizers chilled until serving time. Do not leave them at room temperature for long periods.

Easy Variations

For a sharper flavor, add a little extra German horseradish to the mousse.

For a more herb-forward version, add finely chopped parsley or chives along with the rosemary.

For a mustard note, serve the lollipops with a small bowl of Düsseldorf mustard or sweet Bavarian mustard on the side.

For a charcuterie-style platter, serve the lollipops with pickles, mustard, pumpernickel squares, rye crisps, cheese, and fruit preserves.

For smaller cocktail bites, use less mousse per slice and make mini ham lollipops for a more delicate presentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Westphalian Ham Lollipops?

Westphalian Ham Lollipops are German-style appetizers made with Westphalian ham wrapped around a creamy Black Forest ham mousse and served on lollipop sticks.

What is the filling made from?

The filling is a Black Forest ham mousse made with garlic, shallot, butter, smoked German Black Forest ham, cooked German Black Forest ham, heavy cream, rosemary, and German horseradish.

Are these served hot or cold?

They are served chilled. The lollipops are refrigerated until firm before serving.

How long do the ham lollipops need to chill?

The current recipe recommends chilling them until firm, about 6 hours.

Can I make Westphalian Ham Lollipops ahead of time?

Yes. These are a good make-ahead appetizer because they need several hours in the refrigerator to set.

What can I use to hold the lollipops while they chill?

An empty egg carton works well because it supports the wrapped lollipops while they firm up. A mini muffin tin or small cups can also work.

Are these good for Oktoberfest?

Yes. The current recipe is categorized as an appetizer and uses “Oktoberfest” as the keyword, making it a natural fit for Oktoberfest-style entertaining.

What do you serve with Westphalian Ham Lollipops?

Serve them with rye bread, pumpernickel, pretzels, pickles, radishes, mustard, horseradish sauce, cheese, grapes, Riesling, sparkling mineral water, or German beer.

Course: Appetizers

Keyword: Oktoberfest