39 Christmas canapé recipes
Every good party needs tasty finger food and elegant canapés to serve alongside the fizz, and whether you want chilli chicken wings or Welsh rarebit croquetas we've got you covered with our top recipes.
Try our easy Christmas canapés recipes and Christmas nibbles for the best Christmas party food. Plus we've got plenty more quick and easy canapé recipes to choose from. For effortless festive entertaining, check out our no-cook Christmas entertaining ideas.
If you’re planning a Christmas party this year we’ve got some quick finger food ideas to serve with your Christmas drinks (check out our festive recipes). Our Christmas nibble recipes are easy to make, from turkey sausage puff pastry tarts to sticky pork belly skewers. We also have some fun twists on Welsh rarebit, spring rolls and croquettes.
Christmas canapé ideas
Mini sausage rolls
Serve a plate of these irresistible sausage rolls, with an extra buttery and flaky pastry, as a canapé for your next festive get-together.
Chicken tenders with garlic parmesan
Try these chicken tenders for a finger food option at your festive gathering – serve with cute cocktail sticks for spearing.
Jalapeño poppers
Perfect for feeding a crowd, these quick and easy three-ingredient jalapeño poppers make 30 irresistible bites – ideal for any gathering.
Tear and share sausage roll
Perk up your party buffet with our epic sausage roll and camembert wheel.
Popcorn mussels
Serve these crispy breaded mussels as a canapé at your next party, with sriracha mayo, hot honey vinegar and ranch dressing for dipping.
Bloody mary prawn lettuce scoops
Serve this simple and speedy prawn cocktail alternative on a large platter in the middle of the table and let everyone dig in.
Chopped egg salad on salt and vinegar crisps
Get inventive with your party food and try this easy all-in-one egg salad and crisps canapé, great for vegetarian guests.
Scampi with soured cream dip
This is a really easy way to offer people a bite with drinks without going to too much effort. You can swap the soured cream for mayo, if you prefer.
Gin and tonic traybake squares
Treat your guests to these mini boozy squares at your next drinks party – sweet canapés make a thoughtful extra touch.
Pickled beetroot tacos with goat’s cheese
Kick off a festive party with these easy vegetarian canapés perfect for fuss-free hosting.
Sage and anchovy fritti
These crispy little fried anchovy bites with sage leaves would go down a treat at your next drinks get-together.
Deep-fried olives stuffed with ricotta and Guindilla chilli
Stuffed with fiery spiced ricotta, rolled in panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried until golden, these moreish bites are the perfect party treat. Serve with beer and lemon wedges.
Maple-glazed sausage blinis
Kick off a festive party with these easy canapés, turning cocktail sausages into impressive bitesize party food.
Chilli-and-marmalade-glazed pork belly squares
Kick off a festive party with our easy canapés. These sticky-sweet bites can be partly prepared ahead for fuss-free entertaining.
Bread sauce and stuffing croquettes
These crispy balls are easy to make and perfect at keeping a hungry crowd happy over the festive season.
Duck samosas
Check out our impressive samosa recipe packed with tender duck, wrapped in super flaky pastry and served with a fresh coriander chutney – perfect for entertaining over the festive season.
Chilli chicken wings
These juicy wings are spiced with paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper and fresh oregano, serve with a light yogurt sauce to feed a hungry horde over the festive season.
Smoked black pudding croquettes with apple sauce
Looking for impressive Christmas canapés to serve guests over the festive season? These indulgent croquettes are packed with smoked black pudding and creamy blue cheese.
Mini lobster rolls
Proper posh Christmas party food! These mini lobster rolls are easy to make but look impressive – perfect for hassle-free entertaining at a Christmas party. Check out our lobster recipes here
Devilled coronation eggs
Need an easy canapé to serve this Christmas? Try our coronation chicken devilled eggs – a retro canapé combined with a simple classic British sandwich – perfect party food. More quick and easy canapés here
Turkey, stuffing and cranberry sausage puffs
Try these crispy turkey, stuffing and cranberry sausage puffs for an easy festive canapé. This recipe makes 15 and can be made well in advance, meaning you'll be ready for all those Christmas parties.
Tajín cauliflower bites
Jazz up your veggie canapés this Christmas with tajín, a classic Mexican seasoning made from lime, chilli and salt.
Mini quiches with salmon and courgette
These little wonders look striking, are gorgeously crunchy and easy to put together. Great for an easy addition to any festive buffet.
Vegan BBQ jackfruit sliders with mustard slaw
Change up pulled pork buns with jackfruit for an easy yet moreish Christmas nibble idea to serve your vegan friends this Christmas.
Christmas party tartines
In need of really quick and easy cold canapés to make? Try our simple party tartines for fuss-free festive party food that's a bit more substantial than canapés.
Carrot, halloumi and dill balls
How can you make halloumi even better? Sabrina Ghayour says: combine it with carrot and dill, and deep fry. And we agree. Perfect with drinks.
Avocado and prawn cocktail toasts
This canapé recipe is great for Christmas party food. It's your classic prawn cocktail with a twist. Pass them around your Christmas party for an easy Christmas nibble. Try our traditional prawn cocktail recipe here.
Rarebit and pickled onion croquetas
These Christmas canapés have a crunchy exterior, a melty inner and a satisfyingly tangy edge. They're a definite crowd pleaser and a great way to use up leftover cheese over the Christmas period.
Fig and goat’s cheese filo parcels
Looking for a vegetarian Christmas canapé recipe? These crunchy filo-baked fresh figs make an awesome Christmas nibble or starter that is easy to make. Plenty more fig recipes here.
Spiced cod fritters with harissa honey dip
Mix up the Christmas canapés this year with these crunchy fish fritters with sweet and spicy dip from Persian cooking guru Sabrina Ghayour. They're a great idea for a middle-Eastern dinner party spread or Christmas party.
Pork belly skewers with Vietnamese caramel sauce
These pork belly skewers with Vietnamese caramel sauce make easy but impressive canapés for the festive season.
Lamb kofta puffs with tahini and tomato sauce
This recipe from Persian cook Sabrina Ghayour for flakey puff pastry wrapped around tender lamb koftas is sure to be a hit with your dinner party guests over the Christmas period.
Mar hor Christmas nibble recipe (Galloping Horse)
This is a meat-free version of a classic Thai recipe and is an easy canapé to have with drinks at any festive dinner party. Try our other Thai recipes here.
Mini buck rarebits
A Welsh rarebit topped with an egg is called a buck rarebit. This version is beautifully bite-sized, perfect for sharing over the Christmas period for finger food.
Mozzarella sticks with spicy dipping sauce
Want to please a crowd this Christmas? Try our gooey mozzarella sticks with a punchy dipping sauce. These are best cooked from frozen, so they are a perfect make ahead Christmas nibble over the festive season. Check out our best cheese recipes here
Curried chicken nuggets with curry leaf mayo
Chicken nuggets are quick and easy to whip up thanks to mayonnaise, which is also used to make a punchy dip flavoured with curry leaf and mustard seeds.
Mini chorizo and tomato frittatas
These easy canapés can be made ahead then reheated in a warm oven to serve at a festive dinner party.
Duck and mango rice paper rolls
Ready in just half an hour, these are great cold canapés to make if you're looking for a fresh festive snack.
Fig and goat’s cheese puffs
The easiest Christmas party finger food with just four ingredients and ready in half an hour. This simple puff pastry canapé serves 16 so great for a crowd.
Blinis toppings
These blinis are a perfect canapé for festive gatherings, as they’re simple to prepare and versatile. Try topping with sweet charred leeks and whipped ricotta for a vegetarian option.
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