Christmas is the best time to impress your guests with Christmas canapés. Whether you're hosting the whole family or just a few friends, these bite-sized appetizers will add elegance to Christmas parties. Here are some irresistible party food ideas to inspire your holiday menu!
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Pigs in blankets
Mini sausages are wrapped in crescent roll pastry and then baked in the oven for the best texture and taste. The canapés are ready in less than 40 minutes, so I don't recommend making them in advance. However, it is best to use frozen pastry dough to make this pigs in blankets canapé recipe quickly.
Add some extra flavor to the snack with mozzarella cheese or salami!
Butterflied prawns
Butterflied prawns are one of the easiest Christmas canapé ideas for a party buffet. Shrimp is dipped in a seasoned batter, covered in breadcrumbs, and fried until crispy. This recipe has a subtle spicy flavour, but other seasonings can be used.
Chicken and Mushroom Vol-au-Vents
Chicken and mushroom vol-au-vents are a French-inspired canapé recipe featuring flaky puff pastry filled with a creamy mixture of tender chicken and earthy mushrooms. The filling is made even better by its decadent cream sauce that is beautifully seasoned.
This elegant and tasty finger food will surely get the party started!
Caprese skewers
Easy canapés are the best way to prepare for the festive season. These caprese skewers take only a few minutes to assemble and don't require cooking. Skewer cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil for a refreshing appetizer.
It's a quick, but delicious bite-sized snack to make for your next party.
Mini Salmon Rissoles with Sour Cream and Caviar
Christmas Day is the time for Christmas canapé recipes. Fresh salmon is mixed with mashed potatoes and then fried until crispy. The crisp rissole is made for decadent by its main topping: caviar! The caviar brings a lot of saltiness and umami flavour to the rissoles.
Thai Turkey Meatballs
Traditional meatballs are amazing, but this Thai twist will have everyone excited for Christmas dinner! Thai turkey meatballs are mixed with ginger, fish sauce, garlic, and plenty of coriander for endless boosts of flavour!
Serve the Christmas nibbles with sweet chili sauce or a chili yoghurt dip.
Crab Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
Every festive party needs an easy finger food to enjoy while celebrating. Bright red cherry tomatoes are stuffed with a creamy mix of crab meat and mayonnaise. It's acidic, rich, and has a subtle sweetness from the crab. It's a great idea for a Christmas party as the tomato's red color fits right into the festive season.
Bacon Wrapped Dates
Bacon-wrapped dates are an amazing sweet and savoury appetizer to have at your next dinner party. Dates are filled with cream cheese and then wrapped in bacon for a wonderful mix of texture and taste.
If you want to prepare a slightly fancier version of this starter, use pancetta instead of bacon.
Parmesan Arancini
Entertaining guests can be tough, but these parmesan arancini balls are the perfect snacks to eat before Christmas dinner. The fried rice balls are wonderfully crisp on the outside, and rich and soft inside. The parmesan gives the arancini a sharp taste that is simply addictive.
It's yummy on its own, but I recommend you enjoy this party food with a spicy dip!
Parmesan Crisps
Parmesan crisps are some of the best easy canapés to make during Christmas. The salty and crispy wafers are delicious and easy to make. Simply grate the parmesan cheese then place it in the oven until it's golden and crisp.
The best part of this canapé recipe has to be the topping. Serve the crisps with whipped cream cheese and a tangy pomegranate salsa.
Tomato and Parma Ham Bruschetta
This classic Italian starter will fit any dinner party! Each slice of crunchy toast is topped with fresh and tart tomatoes and salty Parma Ham. The crunchy bread soaks up all the juices from the tomatoes along with the zing of balsamic vinaigrette.
It's one of the most delicious and easy cold canapés to enjoy on Christmas day!
Hoisin and Honey Glazed Chipolatas
Chipolatas are cooked in a sweet, savory, and sticky glaze. The hoisin sauce adds a deep richness that pairs wonderfully with sweet honey. They're the perfect Christmas party food! Guests can enjoy them as is, or you can serve the chipolatas with a light salad.
Smoked Salmon Pate
Christmas parties are the perfect time for canapés that are ripe for sharing. Smoked salmon is mixed with double cream and fresh lemon juice to make the best combo of saltiness and acidity. It's best to serve the creamy smoked salmon pate on a cracker or toasted bread.
These retro nibbles are perfect for entertaining your guests, and you don't need a long shopping list either! If you want to make these canapés extra fancy, top them with capers.
Camembert with cranberry chutney
Camembert cheese with cranberry chutney is one of the best canapé recipes to make ahead of time. The dip is the best balance of sweet fruit with savory spices. Serve the creamy cheese and chutney with simple crackers for the best combo.
Devilled eggs
What's a Christmas party without devilled eggs? These classic canapés are a great way to get the party started! The egg is taken to the next level with a hint of chipotle to give it that extra kick and spice. Once everyone gets a taste of these nibbles, they won't be able to get enough!
What is the difference between canapés and hors d'oeuvres?
Canapés tend to have a bread or cracker base, while hors d'oeuvres can have a wide variety of bases and ingredients.
How do you stop Christmas canapés from going soggy?
Be mindful when making canapés with sauces and toppings. If you make ahead these canapés, then they could get soggy quickly. Try to make them fresh if you can.
How many Christmas canapés should you serve per person?
A Christmas meal can be quite heavy, so it's best to keep things light. However, one canapé is not enough! I would say around 3 canapés each works best.
Can you freeze Christmas canapés?
Depending on the recipe, you can freeze them. Most of the recipes on this list cannot be made in advance, but some dips and fillings can be prepared before the big date.
Which Christmas canapés go best with champagne?
Mini salmon rissoles and salmon pate are amazing canapés to enjoy with a glass of champagne or other sparkling drinks.
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