The best of our canapé recipes
Whatever you call them – canapés, appetisers, picky tea, or finger food – there's one thing we can all agree on: no coronation, street party, Christmas or New Year's celebration is quite complete without a selection of tasty morsels and Champagne to get the party started!
That's exactly why we've collected all of our favourite Good Housekeeping canapé recipes for every special occasion, as well as our top tips for serving, too.
How to serve canapés:
• Size: Make sure your canapés are easy for your guests to eat by serving in mouth-sized portions.
• Taste: Since it's only a mouthful, it needs to be full of flavour and well-seasoned. Many of our recipes are served with an accompanying dipping sauce for extra hosting points.
• Base: Make sure your canapé is on a sturdy base in order to make it easy for your guests to eat (serve messier canapés with cocktail sticks and ensure there's a good supply of napkins for your guests).
• Appearance: Canapés should be visually pleasing. A herb garnish, edible flower, or even a sprinkle of cracked black pepper goes a long way!
• Preparation: Aim to prepare the elements of your canapés in advance so that you can assemble them quickly and enjoy the company of your guests.
Celebrate in style with our crowd-pleasing canapé ideas. We have every occasion covered – from summer gatherings to Christmas parties – with plenty of tasty choices for vegetarians, vegans, pescatarians, and meat eaters, too.
It's time to get the champagne on ice, get a playlist sorted and plan the ultimate party menu...
Crispy gnocchi, olive and chorizo skewers
We're obsessed with crispy fried gnocchi so we decided to pop them onto a skewer with salty chorizo and briny olive for an addictive snack in every bite.
Recipe: Crispy gnocchi, olive and chorizo skewers
Hot honey halloumi fingers
These oven baked halloumi fingers are served with an addictive chilli-infused honey to drizzle on top. Perfect with a refreshing cocktail.
Recipe: Hot honey halloumi fingers
Ploughman’s Nibbles
An easy assembly job that can be adapted to use your favourite cheese and chutney.
Recipe: Ploughman’s Nibbles
Hoisin duck cucumber bites
These hoisin duck bites couldn't be easier to make, only needing five ingredients and 15 mins to put together but you wouldn't think it as they're incredibly delicious.
Recipe: Hoisin duck cucumber bites
Venison and Black Pudding Scotch Quail Eggs
These take a little patience, but are well worth it. You can buy cooked and peeled quail’s eggs if you want to cut out the first step. Venison mince is becoming more widely available, with larger Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Ocado stocking it.
Recipe: Venison and Black Pudding Scotch Quail Eggs
Chicken Katsu Bites with Tangy Mayo Dip
These chicken bites get an extra flavour dimension from a Japanese seasoning called shichimi, which contains chilli, citrus and sesame. You could also use togarashi – also sold as Japanese 7 Spice. Both are available in Waitrose, Ocado, or online. If you can’t get them, use mild chilli powder instead.
Recipe: Chicken Katsu Bites with Tangy Mayo Dip
Crispy Sushi Rice ‘Cakes’ with Seared Tuna
When preparing sushi, you would normally wash the rice multiple times to remove starch, however for these cakes you want to retain most of it, as it’s the ‘glue’ that binds them together.
Recipe: Crispy Sushi Rice ‘Cakes’ with Seared Tuna
Teriyaki Mushroom Maki Roll
Be sure to use teriyaki sauce (the thickened kind) here, rather than teriyaki marinade (both are sold in supermarkets). We used Blue Dragon.
Recipe: Teriyaki Mushroom Maki Roll
Chicken Shawarma Pastries
Full of flavour and easier than they look as we’ve used ready-rolled shortcrust pastry rather than making an authentic Levantine dough.
Recipe: Chicken Shawarma Pastries
Halloumi and Pistachio Baklava
These sweet and salty savoury baklava bites are sure to intrigue and wow.
Recipe: Halloumi and Pistachio Baklava
Baba Ghanoush with Za’atar Flatbreads
This super easy version of baba ghanoush is sure to become a favourite, especially when served with these impressive, but easy flatbreads.
Recipe: Baba Ghanoush with Za’atar Flatbreads
Hot Smoked Salmon Rye Breads
Use plain or honey roast hot smoked salmon, or swap for hot smoked mackerel, if you like. If rye bread isn’t your thing, slices of seeded or sourdough bread would be just as nice.
Recipe: Hot Smoked Salmon Rye Breads
Rye and Danish Blue Cracker Bites
We’ve served our cracker bites with whipped Danish blue cheese and pear, but feel free swap out for your favourite fruit and cheese combination - apple and cream cheese, or goat’s cheese and grape would work well.
Recipe: Rye and Danish Blue Cracker Bites
Pea and Ham Hock Croustades
If cooking for vegetarians, simply leave out the ham hock and replace with a little suitable goat’s cheese.
Recipe: Pea and Ham Hock Croustades
Swedish Meatballs with Lingonberry Sauce
If you can’t get hold of lingonberry jam (we used Felix Rarorda Lingon from Ocado), swap for cranberry sauce instead.
Recipe: Swedish Meatballs with Lingonberry Sauce
Pastrami Bagel Quarters
Quick to assemble and packed with flavour. If you don’t like Jarlsberg, you can use any sliced hard cheese.
Recipe: Pastrami Bagel Quarters
Potato croquettes with ham hock
This croquette recipe is a fuss free canapé. Leave out the ham if you want these to be vegetarian.
Recipe: Potato croquettes with ham hock
Green gazpacho
This zingy and refreshing chilled soup is a great entrée and can be made ahead to free up time on the day of serving.
Recipe: Green gazpacho
Quails Eggs with Asparagus & Hollandaise
These delicious and elegant quails egg morsels will be a huge hit at your next party.
Recipe: Quails Eggs with Asparagus & Hollandaise
Whipped Beetroot and Feta Dip with Caramelised Onion Crackers
If canapés seem a little fiddly for you then this feta based dip with beetroot is more like it. Don't be fooled, the crackers are easy to make.
Recipe: Whipped Beetroot and Feta Dip with Caramelised Onion Crackers
Bombay Spiced Cashews and Chickpeas
We can't get enough of this sweet and salty snack mix which pairs perfectly with a glass of white wine.
Recipe: Bombay Spiced Cashews and Chickpeas
Coronation Chicken Pies
Guests will love these individual pies with a mellow curried filling. Be as creative as you like with the decoration, we’ve gone with pastry crowns, or keep them plain, if pushed for time.
Recipe: Coronation Chicken Pies
Pineapple and Cheese Hedgehog
We’ve given this retro classic a modern makeover. The perfect thing to serve at a cocktail party or as a starter at a dinner party.
Recipe: Pineapple and Cheese Hedgehog
Asparagus Straws with Cheat’s Hollandaise
These stylish canapés are super simple and equally delicious served hot or at room temperature. Use regular rather than fine asparagus spears, so that they hold their shape during cooking.
Recipe: Asparagus Straws with Cheat’s Hollandaise
Herby Devilled Eggs
If you’ve never tried a devilled egg before, now’s the time to embrace this retro classic. We’ve given 2 garnish options - a bacon shard and cheese crisp. Use either, both, or simply finish the eggs with a sprinkle of herbs and paprika instead.
Recipe: Herby Devilled Eggs
Roasted Grape and Goat’s Cheese Toasts
Orange adds a zesty, seasonal note to this easy yet impressive starter. If you don’t have a griddle pan, toast your bread in the toaster instead (without oil), then brush with oil while warm.
Recipe: Roasted Grape and Goat’s Cheese Toasts
Rip-a-stick pancetta bread
This tear-and-share bread is perfect for drinks parties and soaking up champagne.
Recipe: Rip-a-stick pancetta bread
Whipped Blue Cheese and Pear Crostini
Beating the cheeses together adds air, making the mixture easier to spread. You can sprinkle some chopped walnuts over at the end for extra crunch, if you like.
Recipe: Whipped Blue Cheese and Pear Crostini
Pea and Mint Croustades
Crisp croustade cases make a great base for these veggie canapés, but you could use crackers or toasted baguette slices instead. For meat lovers, garnish with shards of crispy Parma ham.
Recipe: Pea and Mint Croustades
Mini Chilli and Crab Doughnuts
If you can’t get fresh crab meat for these canapés, tinned works, too, just be sure to drain it thoroughly. For a vegetarian version, swap the crab for mashed hard-boiled eggs.
Recipe: Mini Chilli and Crab Doughnuts
Prosecco and Maple-Glazed Pigs in Blankets
Always popular, people seem to hover near the oven when they know these sticky sausages are almost ready!
Recipe: Prosecco and Maple-Glazed Pigs in Blankets
Celeriac Remoulade with Chorizo
You can also serve the toasts beside bowls of the remoulade and fried chorizo and let people help themselves as a DIY canapé idea.
Recipe: Celeriac Remoulade with Chorizo
Easy Beetroot, Walnut and Stilton Blinis
If you’re short on time, you can buy ready-made blinis instead to make these vibrant beetroot party bites.
Recipe: Easy Beetroot, Walnut and Stilton Blinis
Stuffed Cheese and Pistachio Dates
More of an assembly job than a recipe, but oh-so tasty. To serve warm, once stuffed with cheese mixture arrange on a baking tray and pop into an oven preheated to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4 for 5min.
Recipe: Stuffed Cheese and Pistachio Dates
Ham and cheese straws with aioli
Made in minutes and they look so impressive. Buy garlic mayo if you want to save even more time!
Recipe: Ham and cheese straws with aioli
Marmite Cheese Straws
Exceptionally moreish, these simple snacks are tasty enough to tempt even the Marmite-phobes.
Recipe: Marmite Cheese Straws
Pink Pickled Quail's Eggs
Beetroot gives these mini eggs a lovely sweet and earthy pickled flavour as well dyeing them spectacularly. Serve as they are, or with a little horseradish mayo and a sprinkle of chopped dill or crispy bacon.
Recipe: Pink Pickled Quail's Eggs
Sesame Prawn Balls
Your takeaway favourite prawn toasts in bitesized form. Best enjoyed warm with sweet chilli dipping sauce.
Recipe: Sesame Prawn Balls
Pancetta Breakfast Cups
Serve up breakfast for dinner with these tasty little party frittatas. Swap the brown sauce for ketchup, if you prefer.
Recipe: Pancetta Breakfast Cups
Spiced Tortilla Chips with Festive Houmous
An easy canapé to prepare ahead, as both elements keep well.
Recipe: Spiced Tortilla Chips with Festive Houmous
Fried Stuffed Olives
We've given the amounts to stuff with either anchovy or sun-dried tomatoes in these salty, crunchy morsels. But you can use 1/2 of both for a filling surprise. Halloumi also works well.
Recipe: Fried Stuffed Olives
Whole aubergine baba ghanoush
Who says a dip has to be served in a bowl? Our take on baba ganoush uses grilled whole aubergines which yields a soft and smokey flesh for a superb self-contained dip.
Recipe: Baba ghanoush
Pea and mint fritters
These are also fabulous for brunch if you make them twice the size, served with a poached egg on top. Veggies, just change the toppings to suit you!
Recipe: Pea and mint fritters
Meatball dippers
Light and tangy with ricotta and lemon, these tender pork meatballs are great on their own, but are even better with a choice of two deliciously different sauces in which to dip them.
Recipe: Meatball dippers
Lemon meringue pots
These are a joy to eat. Decorate with sugar sprinkles, if you like, and for more crunch, use gingersnaps instead of shortbread biscuits.
Recipe: Lemon meringue pots
DIY marshmallow bar
This fun way to serve marshmallows allows everyone to get stuck in and dip and sprinkle them as they like. Try experimenting with different extracts, essences and colourings.
Recipe: DIY marshmallow bar
Prawn and mango skewers
These simple prawn skewers are easy to make and packed with fresh, tangy flavours.
Recipe: Prawn and mango skewers
Cheese straws
These crispy cheese straws are perfect for dipping in a soup or as a snack at a drinks party.
Recipe: Cheese straws
Seared beef crunchy rolls
Make quality fillet steak go further with these elegant, party-sized rolls. Your guests will love them.
Recipe: Seared beef crunchy rolls
Roasted grape and goat's cheese digestives
Home-made digestives make this canapé extra special and add a hint of sweetness, too. If you’re short of time, use shop-bought mini oatcakes.
Recipe: Roasted grape and goat's cheese digestives
Beetroot and horseradish bites
These no-cook bites are easy to put together. Swap mackerel for goats’ cheese to make a veggie version.
Recipe: Beetroot and horseradish bites
Curry rarebit bites
If you like things on the spicy side, add extra chilli powder or hot sauce to taste.
Recipe: Curry rarebit bites
Mini rarebit crumpets
These cheesy bites are flavoured with anchovy. Not a fan? Feel free to leave them out or replace with chopped sundried tomatoes for another umami hit.
Recipe: Mini rarebit crumpets
Pecan shortbreads with blue cheese cream
A melt-in-your-mouth canapé, filled with a moreish blue cheese cream.
Recipe: Pecan shortbreads with blue cheese cream
Spiced Baked Nuts
A wonderful mix of spice and crunch, this is a canapé recipe to repeat time and time again.
Recipe: Spiced Baked Nuts
Sticky bourbon pork belly bites
Sweet, sticky and oh-so moreish, you'll never settle for shopbought canapés again!
Recipe: Sticky bourbon pork belly bites
Chicken taco bites
These taco bites are packed with flavour and perfect for any party.
Recipe: Chicken taco bites
Cream of tomato cups with cheese shortbreads
Comforting and creamy, this tomato soup with buttery cheese shortbread is guaranteed to impress your guests.
Recipe: Cream of tomato cups with cheese shortbreads
Pork scratchings, ale apple dip and black pudding crumb
Moreish pork scratchings paired with a tangy apple dip make an ideal dinner party canapé. Serve with our spiced mulled cider.
Recipe: Pork Scratchings
Mini meatball subs
These mini meatball subs will delight your guests – especially the little ones!
Recipe: Mini meatball subs
Sticky Teriyaki Prawns
These prawn canapés are deliciously sticky with teriyaki sauce and crunchy spring onions.
Recipe: Sticky Teriyaki Prawns
Ham and blue cheese straws
Blue cheese always receives a warm reception at Christmas time - these easy baked straws will certainly get the party started!
Recipe: Ham and blue cheese straws
Doughnut dippers
An easy doughnut recipe, perfect for chocolate dipping! Little kids (and big kids) will love them.
Recipe: Doughnut dippers
Fondue bread bowl
This cheesy Swiss classic fondue is a fun way to feed guests this Christmas.
Recipe: Fondue bread bowl
Christmas cake bites
Pairing a crumbly white cheese such as Wensleydale with deep rich fruit cake is a classic Christmas tradition in Yorkshire. This easy-to-make canapé is not to be missed! Lancashire cheese also works very well.
Recipe: Christmas cake bites
Bloody Mary prawn shots
Sweet, succulent prawns are the perfect match for the spicy Bloody Mary shot. We like to serve these for a boozy Boxing Day brunch.
Recipe: Bloody Mary shots
Goat's cheese balls
These no-fuss cheese bites look gorgeous, and can easily be made a day ahead.
Recipe: Goat's cheese truffles
Mac 'n' cheese bites
You'll definitely want to eat more than one of these indulgently cheesy canapés...
Recipe: Mac 'n' cheese bites
Mini chicken poppadoms
Light, fresh and full of flavour, these chicken bites will add a touch of Indian spice to your party.
Recipe: Mini chicken poppadoms
Date and Walnut Scones with Fig and Gorgonzola
Strong cheese and fruity chutney make for a seriously moreish nibble! Swap the Gorgonzola for a vintage mature Cheddar, if you prefer.
Recipe: Date and walnut scones
Steak and Béarnaise Profiteroles
Everyone loves mini roast beef and Yorkshire puddings, and this year we’ve added a chef-worthy twist to this party staple with sirloin steak and Béarnaise sauce.
Recipe: Steak and Béarnaise profiteroles
Parma ham swizzle sticks
Hosting a party? Impress your guests with these gorgeous little nibbles filled with crispy Italian ham.
Recipe: Parma ham swizzle sticks
Polenta and fig bites
Polenta is a very versatile base for a canapé - next time, why not try it topped with pesto and mozzarella, or red onion marmalade and goat's cheese? If you don't like figs, use a piece of fresh peeled pear instead.
Recipe: Polenta and fig bites
Crisp parsnip rolls
This popular recipe also works well with asparagus spears when in season.
Recipe: Crisp parsnip rolls
Stilton and grape bites
A sophisticated nibble with just two ingredients - what's not to love?
Recipe: Stilton and grape bites
Sticky pigs in blankets
Jazz up this perennial favourite with homemade marmalade or apricot jam.
Recipe: Sticky pigs in blankets
Smoked salmon pate
A little stirring is all that's required to make this delicious seafood party canapé.
Recipe: Smoked salmon pâté
Spicy crab squares
Kick off party proceedings with these easy, lightly-spiced crab squares. Everyone will be requesting the recipe!
Recipe: Spicy crab squares
Scotch quails' eggs
These beauties are a real show-stopper, especially as part of a Boxing Day spread. Make sure you have enough to satisfy demand and serve with quality chutney.
Recipe: Scotch quails’ eggs
Broad bean, ricotta and mint bruschetta
Treat your guests to this light and simple bruschetta recipe - perfect for summer parties.
Recipe: Broad bean, ricotta and mint bruschetta
Baby smoked salmon potato cakes
A classic for a reason. These smoked salmon potato cakes make a sophisticated Christmas party canapé.
Recipe: Baby smoked salmon potato cakes
Mango chicken skewers with basil raita
This recipe is a low fat favourite - add a little chopped chilli to the mango chutney for an extra kick!
Recipe: Mango chicken skewers with basil raita
Harissa chicken balls with yogurt dip
The harissa gives these chicken balls a unique flavour – but you can try them with Thai curry paste or pesto if you prefer.
Recipe: Harissa chicken balls with yogurt dip
Pumpernickel bites
Smoked salmon is always a hit, but if you're cooking for vegetarians, cubed beetroot works just as well for this recipe.
Recipe: Pumpernickel bites
Mini bacon and cheese muffins
These savoury treats are not only delicious, but they look amazing and can be prepared ahead, too! Win, win.
Recipe: Mini bacon and cheese muffins
Avocado scoops
A simple, crowd-pleasing canapé that no party should be without.
Recipe: Avocado scoops
Stuffed chicken thighs
These stuffed chicken thighs are more substantial than most party canapés and make a great dinner party starter, too.
Recipe: Stuffed chicken thighs
Mini jacket potatoes
Use your favourite potato fillings in miniature to make these bite-sized beauties.
Recipe: Mini jacket potatoes
Mini eggs benedict
These impressive Brunch-inspired bites will be the talk of the party.
Recipes: Mini eggs benedict
Cheese and bacon puffs
Simple, tasty little bites for your party platter. Try serving with cranberry sauce at Christmas.
Recipe: Cheese and bacon puffs
Oriental prawn and squid fish cakes
These scrumptious fishcakes are accompanied with a punchy Vietnamese-style dressing, perfect for parties.
Recipe: Oriental prawn and squid fish cakes
Poppadom scoops
These Indian-style poppadom scoops are light, tangy, and full of vibrant flavours.
Recipe: Poppadom scoops
Easiest-ever canapés
These jewel-like rolls are made by spreading strips of courgette, smoked salmon and Parma ham with various fillings, then arranging them military-style on a platter to make simple and impressive party food!
Recipe: Easiest-ever canapes
Fig and scallop skewers
Seek out smaller scallops where possible so they are in perfect ratio with the ripe figs.
Recipe: Fig and scalllop skewers
Mini mushroom wellingtons
A bit of effort is required to make these oozy mushroom, kale and cheese pastries, but we promise that even the most hardened meat eaters will fall for their charms. Easy to cook from frozen to impress veggie visitors, too.
Recipe: Mini mushroom wellingtons
Spicy nuts
These tasty nuts make a great gift to bring the host this party season.
Recipe: Spicy nuts
Mini salmon oatcakes
A delicious festive canape, our homemade oatcakes are topped with smoked salmon and classic crème fraîche.
Recipe: Mini salmon oatcakes
Prawn cocktail skewers
Go easy on the Tabasco – or serve alongside – to allow your guests to choose their spice level.
Recipe: Prawn cocktail skewers
Smoked salmon swirls
These salmon swirls add tasty flair to your dinner party platter.
Recipe: Smoked salmon swirls
Egg and cress on rye
Peeling shells off quail eggs is quite a fiddly task, so buy them pre-cooked and peeled to save time.
Recipe: Egg and cress on rye
Pork, Stilton and Walnut Sausage Rolls
Let's call these pork and stilton sausage rolls a hearty canapé to serve to guests. If you haven't got the patience to present perfectly formed mini canapés (and who could blame you?), these sausage rolls are more rustic and easy to make. Oh, and delicious with a glass of fizz.
Recipe: Pork, Stilton and Walnut Sausage Rolls
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