Whatever the celebration, we've selected the best canapé recipes for fun finger food and sophisticated snacks.
Bite-size party food should be a pleasure to look at and easy for guests to eat while they have a drink in hand. These are our favourite canapé recipes, from savoury pastries and delicious dips to mini cakes and desserts.
Apricot jam and stilton canapés
It takes about 30 minutes to make 45 stilton canapés with this recipe by Alison Clarkson. It's pretty simple, using puff pastry, stilton cheese, apricot jam and chopped walnuts, plus beaten egg to brush the pastry before baking. Perfect for the festive season.
Thai-spiced fishcakes
Try to use sustainable white fish like pollock, whiting or gurnard for these delicious little thai-spiced bites. Scatter with crushed roasted peanuts to serve.
Feta pastry cigars
Sabrina Ghayour's individual cigar-shaped Turkish pastries are stuffed with feta cheese, Greek yoghurt and a hint of dried mint. The recipe makes 24 pastries, which are scattered with nigella seeds.
Creamy beetroot and thyme dip
A wonderfully rich dip that's perfect for crudites. This beetroot, garlic and thyme dip has a creamy texture – although it's fat free – and a beautiful rich colour that's sure to impress.
Tom Aikens' mini pumpkin and ricotta tarts with spiced honey
You could use pumpkin or butternut squash (Tom recommends organic) for these mouthwatering mini tarts. The recipe includes a step-by-step for making your own spiced honey, which needs a day to infuse with spices including star anise, cinnamon and cloves, plus fennel, cumin and coriander seeds.
Avocado and salmon canapés
These canapés should be made immediately before the party, to keep them fresh. You'll need salmon, a ripe avocado, wholemeal bread, fresh chives or parsley and parmesan – and around 10 minutes for preparation.
Spicy paneer and spinach bites
These vegetarian bite-sized party snacks are packed with Indian flavours and spice from the ginger, chilli and coriander. Paneer, a type of fresh, mild cheese, is fairly easy to make at home, or you can buy it from most supermarkets.
Nadiya Hussain's Wellington sausage rolls
Sausage rolls might not be the most sophisticated canapé, but these are golden and flaky and have a bit of added heat from a hint of English mustard. Great British Bake Off star Nadiya Hussain adds finely chopped mushrooms to the sausage meat to make the filling darker and more luxurious.
Goat's curd crostini with honey roasted beetroot and honeycomb
You'll need a sugar thermometer to make the homemade honeycomb in this recipe (it's worth going to the trouble – and you can store it in an airtight container until needed). If you can't get hold of goat's curd, then just replace it with a good soft goat's cheese.
Lorraine Pascale's mini toad in the hole
Looking to go traditional? Try a great British classic in miniature. The delicious homemade batter in this recipe is flavoured with mustard, sage and cider.
Mini calzones
Reto Frei of the Tibits restaurant chain suggests mini calzones as the perfect party food. The vegetarian filling is made with onion, cloves, mushrooms, red peppers, green chillies, tomato pesto, parmesan and herbs.
Goat's cheese dip in tulip petals
Tulip petals are edible (unless they've been treated with chemicals) and make an impressive alternative to lettuce leaves or spoons. Try serving them with this homemade goat's cheese dip.
Mini fig and walnut cakes with mascarpone
This modern Middle Eastern recipe from Michael Rantissi and Kristy Frawley makes eight delicious mini cakes. To top, break the figs in half by hand and drizzle with honey.
Mini blueberry cheesecakes
These heart-shaped mini blueberry cheesecakes are great for parties. Chill the base and cheesecake mixture overnight so it's easier to loosen them from the moulds – or just pop them in the freezer for 30 minutes.
Mini orange and almond friands
Friands – which originated in France – are typically baked in small tins. In this recipe, Jo Wheatley drizzles them with a finger-lickingly sticky icing infused with orange blossom water.
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