These maple glazed cocktail sausages are the perfect blend of sweet, salty, and seriously addictive. These lil bites get coated in a sticky glaze made from maple syrup, soy sauce, and toasted sesame oil, creating deep umami flavor with a pop of sweetness that’ll be the star of any appetizer spread. Topped with toasted sesame seeds for an extra pop of flavor, they’re party-season gold!
Nothing says party season more than spoiling your dinner on appetizers! And honestly, why do we even bother with main dishes during the holidays? Everything should be snack-sized, and there’s no more perfect snack than the cocktail weenie. After years of making flavor-forward recipes, I’ve learned that the secret to incredible appetizers is layering flavor at every step, and these sausages absolutely nail that brief.
Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering, need a quick game day snack, or just feel like having appetizers for dinner, these cocktail wieners are winners! Serve them alongside a cheese board or other party favorite appetizers like marinated mozzarella salad or crostini crackers and cheese dip. Extra points if you’re including those iconic and nostalgic toothpicks with the colorful frills on top! 😛
👀 the secret sauce…
✨ the flavor: This recipe hits The Oomph and The Balancing Act, playing up perfectly paired notes of sweet, salty, and satisfying!
🎯 the method: Mix the sauce, toss the sausages, and bake for 25-30 minutes. The oven does all the work, turning separate ingredients into a cohesive, sticky coating.
🏆 the win: These are ridiculously easy to make. Perfect for party prep or girl dinner. Since cocktail sausages are pre-cooked, you’re just heating them through while the magic happens in the oven.
🛒 ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 how to cook glazed cocktail sausages
1: Remove sausages from packaging and dry well with paper towels.
2: Mix together sesame oil, soy sauce, and maple syrup.
3: Add cocktail sausages and stir well to coat.
4: Transfer to a parchment-lined sheet pan.
5: Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
6: Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and serve immediately!
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💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ how to serve your cocktail weenies
These are the absolute perfect dish for game days, gatherings, or even just snacking! Here are a couple of my favorite ways to serve these sticky mini sausages:
- cocktail hour – place next to a cheeseboard and a tray of other appetizers and a punch bowl cocktail for the ultimate party spread!
- get saucy – pair these super dippable sausages with a variety of sauces for extra boosts of flavor. I love using honey mustard, smoky ketchup, or hot honey sauce to play up the mix of flavors!
- girl dinner – perfect alongside Caesar salads, french fries, and a classic espresso martini or spritz cocktail for a traditional girl dinner!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- sauce is too thin – if your sauce is too thin and not thickening up, you can heat it separately in a saucepan on the stovetop to help thicken in. The sauce will also thicken as it cools, so if it looks thin at first, give it a few minutes outside the oven to thicken up!
- rubbery or dry sausages – be sure to only cook your sausages for a max of 30 minutes. Overcooking can lead to dry or rubbery cocktail franks!
♻️ customize your mini sausages
- swap the sweetener – swap maple syrup for honey or agave for a different sweetness profile.
- switch up the seasoning– try everything bagel seasoning for a savory twist. Need to switch out the soy sauce? Use tamari for gluten-free or coconut aminos for a soy-free version!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 how to store leftover sausages
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a small saucepan on the stovetop until heated through, or in a toaster oven. I prefer these methods to the actual oven because the sausages can become overcooked, dry, and rubbery if cooked for too long.
💬 q+a
Do I need to cook cocktail sausages?
Technically, most brands are precooked, but check your packaging. In general though, you do need to heat the cocktail sausages so they reach a certain internal temperature just to play it safe.
Can I prep this ahead of time?
You can totally make the sauce and combine it with the sausages ahead of time! Bake and serve on the same day for the best flavor.
Maple Soy Glazed Cocktail Sausages (Easy Lil Smokies Recipe)
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Equipment
- 1 sheet pan rimmed, for baking sausages
- 1 parchment paper for lining baking sheet
- 1 mixing bowl for combining ingredients
- 1 spatula or spoon
Ingredients
- 2 packages cocktail sausages (lil smokies) About 14 oz each package
- 20 g toasted sesame oil 1.5 tablespoons
- 23 g soy sauce 1.5 tablespoons
- 50 g maple syrup 4 tablespoons
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds For garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven. Preheat Oven to 400ºF.
- Prep sausages. Remove mini sausages from the packages and dry well with paper towels. This will help the sauces stick!2 packages cocktail sausages
- Mix ingredients. Mix together the sesame oil, soy sauce, and maple syrup.20 g toasted sesame oil, 23 g soy sauce, 50 g maple syrup
- Coat sausages. Add cocktail sausages and stir well to coat the sausages.
- Prepare pan. Transfer the sausages to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
- Bake. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through baking to help evenly coat the sausages.
- Garnish + quickly cool. Once baked, sprinkle the sausages with toasted sesame seeds to garnish. Allow them to sit for 5 minutes to let the sauce firm up and become extra sticky!1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- Serve. Transfer the sausages to a serving dish and serve immediately.
Notes
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- sauce is too thin – if your sauce is too thin and not thickening up, you can heat it separately in a saucepan on the stovetop to help thicken in. The sauce will also thicken as it cools, so if it looks thin at first, give it a few minutes outside the oven to thicken up!
- rubbery or dry sausages – be sure to only cook your sausages for a max of 30 minutes. Overcooking can lead to dry or rubbery cocktail franks!
🍽️ how to serve your cocktail weenies
- get saucy – place next to a cheeseboard and a platter of dipping sauces for the ultimate party spread. I love using a variety of sauces for extra boosts of flavor. I love using honey mustard, smoky ketchup, or hot honey sauce to play up the mix of flavors!
- girl dinner – perfect alongside Caesar salads and french fries for a classic girl dinner!
♻️ how to customize your mini sausages
- swap the sweetener – swap for honey or agave for a different sweetness profile.
- switch up the seasoning– try everything bagel seasoning for a savory twist. Need to switch out the soy sauce? Use tamari for gluten-free or coconut aminos for a soy-free version!
