Who doesn't love little party food? Here are some fancy canapé recipes that will definitely impress your party guests. We love a little pass-around appetizer tray. These recipes feature easy-to-eat party food - many are one or two-bite nibbles.
If you're hosting a fancy cocktail party, wedding shower, holiday party, or Oscars party - you'll want to serve substantial food that looks good, tastes great and is easy to eat.
This list doesn't include things like dips or anything that would require using a full plate. None of these canapés are cumbersome to eat.
These hors d'oeuvres can all be plated or they can be served pass-around style on trays. And, we're only sharing the chicest of recipes - no old-school shrimp cocktail here!
Watermelon Radish Bites
These watermelon radish bites with spicy tuna are a great little appetizer. They're perfect for a canapés party or whenever you need a small, hand-held appetizer.
Crispy Mushroom Caps with Cream Cheese and Lox
These crunchy, delicious little mushroom caps are super easy to pull off.
Fruit and Cheese Kabobs
These delightful fruit and cheese kabobs are an easy appetizer or snack. Serve them with a small bowl of honey or some whipped cream for an elevated small bite.
Burrata Tarts
Burrata Tarts are crazy scrumptious and are quick and easy puff pastry appetizers! Burrata cheese with four different complementary flavors to showcase fresh seasonal produce and gooey decadent Burrata cheese.
Gorgonzola Grapes
The gorgonzola grapes are rich and pack a surprisingly juicy little punch. Little appetizer bites are little bits of yum. I know you’ll love these hors d'oeuvres.
Devilled Eggs with Caviar
Devilled eggs with caviar make a fine luxury appetizer or party nibble. This recipe is easy to make and the caviar adds a burst of visual excitement and an extra pop of texture and flavor to this classic dish.
Cranberry Orange Brie Tarts
These Cranberry Orange Brie Tarts are the perfect appetizer for the holidays and are kicked up a bit with a pinch of cayenne pepper. The sweet, spicy, orange filling is nestled in a crunchy phyllo shell with creamy brie cheese.
Cheddar Cups with Avocado Feta Mousse
These Cheddar Cups with Avocado Feta Mousse are the best ever party appetizer. The cheese cups require one ingredient and the entire appetizer is so easy to put together!
Radish Puff Appetizer
These mini puff pastry tarts with goat's cheese, radishes, and microgreens are delicious, peppery, and delightfully rich.
Dark Chocolate Figs with Gorgonzola Cheese
Whether these Dark Chocolate Figs with Gorgonzola Cheese are served as an appetizer or dessert, your guests will fall in love. The ingredients are simple, but they all work so well together.
Hemp Avocado Deviled Eggs
A unique twist on the classic party favorite, these Hemp & Avocado Deviled Eggs are a high protein, Keto-friendly, mayo-free, wholesome snack.
Gruyere and Bacon Potato Bites
Bacon and cheese, crispy and potato - these little appetizer bites will fly off the plate. Gruyere cheese is mild, a little salty. It’s versatile and doesn’t compete or overpower the other flavors in your dish.
Cranberry Horseradish Brie Bites
Gluten-free crackers are topped with creamy brie cheese, zesty and sweet cranberry horseradish, crumbled pecans, a little thyme, and lemon zest.
Best of all, they take just a few minutes to make, so you won’t miss any time with your guests.
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
When done right, Bacon Wrapped Shrimp are one of the easiest, most delicious appetizers you can make.
Potato & Cheese Croquettes
Potato & cheese croquettes with fresh tomato sauce and basil oil. A delicious appetizer or multiply for a simple yet impressive vegetarian starter.
Spinach and Feta Puffs
These spinach puffs pack a salty little feta punch - they make a perfect appetizer! They are a delicious little bite and perfect for a party.
Prosciutto Melon Skewers
Light, refreshing prosciutto melon skewers are elevated in extra flavor from pesto, balsamic glaze, and mozzarella – it’s the perfect healthy appetizer!
Italian Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Italian Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms topped with an Italian seasoned bread crumb! These are totally the perfect appetizer, game day food, barbecue food, easy snack.
Easy Spanokopita Bites
Traditional Greek flavors of the classic phyllo, spinach, and feta pie in a portable hand-held cup. Easy Spanokopita Bites come together so quickly with the help of ready-made phyllo cups, and taste like you worked on them all day.
Prosciutto Pears with Arugula Salad
The perfect no-cook appetizer for your next holiday party or get-together, these healthy Whole30 Prosciutto Pears with Arugula Salad are deliciously sweet and savory – plus they’re Paleo & Gluten-Free!
Smoked Salmon Tartare
Smoked Salmon Tartare: an elegant appetizer that everyone loves, in ten minutes.
Roasted Grape Crostinis
Roasted grapes have a wonderful sweet flavor! Paired with homemade ricotta on a crostini, they a delicious little bite.
Blistered Shishito Peppers Recipe
You're going to love this blistered shishito peppers recipe! Shishitos are sweet peppers that can occasionally be mildly spicy but are always deeply flavorful. They make a wonderful little bite
What's the difference between canapés and appetizers?
The difference between canapés (or hors d'oeuvres) and appetizers is that appetizers are usually the first course of a meal, while canapés are small, one- or two-bite items that are often passed around on trays or served at a standing reception.
You can think of canapés more as finger food - you don't want to serve small bites that require large plates or are cumbersome to eat.
Canapés and hors d'oeuvres are essentially the same, although you can think of a hors d'oeuvres as a slightly more substantial canapé. Hors d'oeuvres might have a dressing or an extra layer of sauce.
How many canapés should you have per person?
If you are hosting a standing cocktail party or a reception where only canapés will be served, you'll want at least 8 to 10 savory items per person and 2 to 3 sweet items per person. This assumes no other food will be served.
If you're having a cocktail hour and then a dinner party, you'll only need 2 to 4 items per person.
How to serve canapés?
Pass around canapés served by wait staff is obviously so elegant, but if you're just doing a smaller dinner party or hosting a shower, you can plate each item on a large serving tray.
Multi-tiered trays look great, with one type of canapé per tier. I recommend a three-tiered cake stand if you want something more timeless. If you're going for more modern, I suggest a white, rectangular plate.
What are the best dishes for canapés?
If you want to have plates for your guests to use for their canapés, we recommend something small that can be held in one hand.
Typically, someone will also be holding a drink, so it's ideally small enough that it can be set down easily on an end table as well. You could use a tapas plate or an appetizer plate for this.
Delicious Canapé Recipes - Watermelon Radish Bites
These delicious canapés are great at any party! Try our watermelon radish, tuna, and mayo bites for a crisp, flavorful app.
Ingredients
- 1 watermelon radish
- 1 can tuna, drained
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon sriracha
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- pinch of paprika
- 2 tablespoons microgreens
Instructions
- Slice the watermelon radish into ⅛ inch rounds.
- Combine the tuna, mayonnaise, and salt in a small bowl and stir till combined.
- Add a dollop of the tuna to each of the radish slices. Then sprinkle on a dash of paprika over each tuna and radish bite. Top with microgreens.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 59Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 283mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 5g
What are your favorite canapé recipes? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
Jane Saunders says
This is a lovely collection of recipes and so informative too on how to serve canapes. They are fun, but over or under catering is my usual mistake in the past.