Easy Christmas canapé recipes (2024)

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (1)

Starting to plan your own Christmas party celebrations? Top of the list should be some delicious Christmas canapés to keep hunger at bay.

For Christmas is a time to spend with loved ones, to exchange gifts, get in the merry spirit and most of all, to put on a delicious festive spread, have a drinks party and embrace ingredients that make this time of year so darn great. Cheeses, spices, meats, need we say more?

And when it comes to catering for Christmas parties, we've long been fans of mini food: toad in the holes, Yorkshire puddings, fish and chips.

But the one problem with the Christmas party season (other than our diamond shoes perhaps being half a size too tight) is that it can be difficult to get a proper meal. That by the time you've hovered by the kitchen, hoping to be first at the canapé tray, but then realised that it's only fair to give other guests a chance, you can often leave with a pang of hunger, the thought of a bowl of cereal on the sofa when you get home.

So when you're hosting a party, have a think about what it is you'd like to eat. The sort of Christmas canapés that are filling and satisfying, but also easy for you to make. Simple party recipes that won't keep you in the kitchen for hours.

Whether for dinner parties or as a pre-meal taster, these canapés recipes range from the traditional and warming to vegetarian and worldly. We've also included some winners from the titans of Christmas cooking Mary Berry and Gordon Ramsey, and a couple of other familiar names in there as well.

There's something to satisfy every taste and every time frame so, tuck in.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

1

Cranberry Christmas Crackers

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (3)

A whimsical and sweet Christmas canape, filo pastry encasing cranberries and goat's cheese. Simple to make, and so fun to look at.

Trt this Cranberry Christmas Crackers recipe here

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

2

Moroccan Chicken Puffs

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (5)

Inject some north African flavour into your Christmas day feasting, with these delectable little pastry bites. The mixture of chicken, preserved lemon with soothing spices like cinnamon, ginger and coriander - is to die for.

Try this Morrocan chicken puffs recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

3

Parmigiano Reggiano And Rosemary Shortbread

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (7)

A savoury twist on the classic sweet shortbread, these parmesan and salt-sprinkled biscuits are the perfect Christmas party food. They look beautiful on a wooden serving board, especially washed down with some mulled wine.

Try this rosemary shortbread recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

4

Goat's Cheese, Beetroot And Papaya Chutney Tartlets

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (9)

Vegetarians will love this canape. Salty goat's cheese marries perfectly with sweet beetroot and papaya chutney. For even more of a festive flavour, replace goat's cheese with creamy brie and sprinkle with walnuts.

Try this goat's cheese tartlets recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

5

Artichoke Tartlets

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (11)

Earthy, salty and bursting with flavour, artichokes seem to be the perfect accompanyment to soft and buttery pastry. Just bigger then bite-size, guests will love these and being very quick to make? You will too.

Try the recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

6

Mediterranean Vegetable Crostini

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (13)

A flavour-packed Mediterranean take on the crostini, we love this idea as a pre-meal nibble.

Try this Mediterranean vegetable crostini recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

7

Pip McCormac's Sausage Pinwheels

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (15)

These are a very modern version of that old party food classic, the sausage roll. They look a lot prettier, and the apple and chutney make them taste a lot fruitier, but there is a certain comfort in their warmth and buttery meatiness, and in the familiarity of this Christmas recipe. Serve them warm and they’ll be gone in seconds.

Try Pip McCormac's sausage pinwheels recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

8

Mini banana cream pancakes

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (17)

Pudding canapés are the best canapés. Try this little cream and caramalised banana-stuffed pancakes.

Try this mini banana cream pancakes recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

9

Parma Ham and Parmesan Palmiersom

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (19)

These tasty crisp little puff pastry canapés are a savoury version of the French sweet pastries of the same name. They are also good as an accompaniment to vegetable soups.

Try these parma ham and Parmesan palmiers

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

10

Lisa Faulkner's Smoked Salmon Pate

This super quick and easy salmon paté makes a great canapé for a drinks party. Serve up with melba toasts for a charming retro feel.

Try Lisa Faulkner’s smoked salmon pate recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

11

Soft Boiled Quails Eggs with a Smoked Dipper

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (23)

These quails eggs will be sure to delight your guests, especially with an added drizzle of rich truffle oil. The dipper is just a delicious salty mix in which to roll the eggs – a simple yet very satisfying canapé.

Try the soft boiled quails eggs recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

12

Pigs in Blankets with Sage

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (25)

Christmas isn’t complete without some classic pigs in blankets. These juicy, bite-size sausages wrapped in bacon will get the party going.

Try this pigs in blankets with sage recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

13

Toasted Herby Nuts

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (27)

A great way to get through any lingering Christmas nuts, this simple recipe transforms them into a real treat.

Try this toasted herby nuts recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

14

Blueberry and Stilton Blinis

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (29)

Put your Christmas cheese platter classics to good use with this light starter. The salsa that tops these blinis not only tastes good with Stilton but with cheeses including Brie, Camembert and Leicester.

Try this blueberry and stilton blinis recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

15

Beef, red onion and horseradish crème fraîche crostini

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (31)

Serve this crostini hot or cold, although the beef needs to be slightly rare to truly enjoy it at its tender, succulent best.

Try this beef, red onion and horseradish crème fraîche crostini recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

16

Mark Hix's Vegetable Crisps

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (33)

Even crisps can be festive and a little bit special. These homemade parsnip, celery and beetroot crisps have an amazing flavour that beats any you can buy from the shops.

Try Mark Hix’s vegetable crisps recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

17

Mary Berry's Asparagus Goat's Cheese and Parma Ham Filo Rolls

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (35)

Impress your Christmas party guests with these quick and easy canapes from Mary Berry. Our top tips are to buy the goat’s cheese in a tub (not a roll) and use vacuum-packed Parma ham, as you need evenly cut slices.

Try Mary Berry’s asparagus goat’s cheese and parma ham filo rolls recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

18

Emmental Goujeres

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (37)

Light and cheesy, these tasty French goujeres make a perfect pre-dinner snack or will fill a party platter for the Christmas work do.

Try this emmental goujeres recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

19

Gordon Ramsay's Chilli Beef Lettuce Wraps

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (39)

Swapping a tortilla wrap for a large lettuce leaf transforms this spicy beef wrap from Gordon Ramsay into a light snack or Christmas party appetiser.

Try Gordon Ramsay's chilli beef lettuce wraps recipe

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

20

Pork scratchings

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (41)

Pork scratchings are a British staple and this simple recipe will keep you crunching throughout the festive season.

Try this pork scratching recipe

Easy Christmas canapé recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the tip to making the best canapés? ›

How to make and serve perfect canapés
  • Always serve your canapés at room temperature.
  • Don't ever leave a single canapé on a tray. Ensure your trays look bountiful.
  • There is elegance in simplicity. ...
  • Odd numbers always look best on a tray.
  • Get creative with your canapés, from beautiful toppings to chic and seasonal trays.
Nov 24, 2022

What makes a successful canapé? ›

Balancing colour, flavour, and texture

These three elements are paramount to creating canapés that are memorable and look inviting. Texture is an important one to think about – a successful canapé is one that contrasts several different textures to create an enjoyable eating experience.

When should canapés be prepared? ›

A lot of canapés need last-minute preparation, so organisation is key to a successful party; take advantage of the many recipes that can be made well in advance, then simply reheated or given a final bake in the oven before being served.

What should a canapé always have? ›

There are 4 distinctive elements of a canapé – the base, spread, a topping & a garnish. Canape base ingredients are usually bread, puff pastry or crackers, allowing a solid foundation for the rest of the canapé. Then there is spread followed by the topping.

What are the 7 guidelines for assembling canapés? ›

Guidelines for Assembling Canapés
  • Good mise en place is essential. ...
  • Assemble as close as possible to serving time. ...
  • Select harmonious flavor combinations in spreads and garnish. ...
  • Be sure that at least one of the ingredients is spicy or pronounced in flavor. ...
  • Use high-quality ingredients. ...
  • Keep it simple.

What are the four main parts of a canapé? ›

The composition of a canapé consists of a base (e.g., the bread or pancake), a spread, a main item, and a garnish. The spread is traditionally either a compound butter, made by creaming butter with other ingredients such as ham or lobster, or a flavored cream cheese. Mayonnaise salads can also be prepared as spreads.

How many canapés should you allow per person? ›

We would normally recommend around 4-5 canapés per person for the first hour followed by 2-3 canapés per person for each subsequent hour. Therefore a private party at home where no other food is being served we would suggest a minimum 10 canapés per person for a standard 4 hour party.

How many canapés do I need for 20 guests? ›

How many canapés should I order? For a one-hour drinks reception, order four to six canapés per person. If it's before a grand dinner, four should be plenty. For longer events, add another two to four pieces per hour.

What are the most popular finger foods? ›

Easy Finger Food Recipes to Make Ahead
  • Fried Mac and Cheese Rolls. Guests of any age will appreciate mac and cheese bites — especially when they're fried! ...
  • Deviled Eggs. ...
  • Honey Garlic Meatballs. ...
  • Garlic Breadsticks. ...
  • Salted Soft Pretzels. ...
  • Whipped Ricotta Crostini. ...
  • Vietnamese Spring Rolls. ...
  • Deli Pinwheels.
Jan 10, 2024

What's the difference between canapés and hors d oeuvres? ›

Canapés are typically made with an edible base – crackers, blinis, bread or pastry, and served cold. Hors d'oeuvres are small bites of something tasty and can be both savoury or sweet, and served hot or cold.

What is a canapé buffet? ›

Canapés are small, decorative, and mouthwatering hors d'oeuvres typically served on bread or a base, topped with various savoury or sweet toppings. These bite-sized delicacies offer a burst of flavour and an enticing visual appeal.

What makes a good finger buffet? ›

Finger Buffet Menu No. 1
  • A Selection of Finger Sandwiches. Served on mixed breads with various fillings.
  • A Selection of Savouries. Sausage rolls, mini pork pie pieces, picnic eggs, mixed quiche pieces & co*cktail sausages.
  • Pickles. Gherkins, silverskins, olives & cherry tomatoes.

Are canapés enough for dinner? ›

Lunch or dinner event

When catering a meal time event, where finger food will constitute the entire meal, we recommend serving 8-12 savoury canapés per person. Ideally this selection will include 2-4 of the larger finger food options - such as bao buns, roast beef dinner rolls or fish tacos.

What are the steps in preparing canapés? ›

How to make canapes two ways
  1. Preheat oven to 180ºC. Spray mini muffin pans with olive oil spray to lightly grease. ...
  2. Bake for 6-8 minutes or until crisp and golden. Set aside in pans for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool. ...
  3. Spoon homemade or bought dip among the canapé cups.

How to avoid the bead to become soggy when preparing canapés? ›

Answer: Spread something on the bases to protect them from a topping if it is on the 'damp' side. A pretty obvious thing anyway - we all spread butter or marg (or cream cheese, or mayo) on our bread to prevent it getting soggy from a damp filling. So the same approach works just as well with canape-toast bases.

Why do you spread the best of your bread when you make canapés? ›

Answer: The spread adds moisture and flavor while also forming a barrier so that the spread underneath doesn't become soggy. It also server as a sort of glue, so that the toppings are less likely to slide off the base...

How many canapés per person for 1 hour? ›

We would normally recommend around 4-5 canapés per person for the first hour followed by 2-3 canapés per person for each subsequent hour. Therefore a private party at home where no other food is being served we would suggest a minimum 10 canapés per person for a standard 4 hour party.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ray Christiansen

Last Updated:

Views: 5478

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ray Christiansen

Birthday: 1998-05-04

Address: Apt. 814 34339 Sauer Islands, Hirtheville, GA 02446-8771

Phone: +337636892828

Job: Lead Hospitality Designer

Hobby: Urban exploration, Tai chi, Lockpicking, Fashion, Gunsmithing, Pottery, Geocaching

Introduction: My name is Ray Christiansen, I am a fair, good, cute, gentle, vast, glamorous, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.