Skip the frozen food aisle and serve up some tasty morsels to feed the masses at your next party.
What is a canapé?
The dictionary definition of a canapé is “a small piece of bread or pastry with a savoury topping, served with drinks at receptions or formal parties.”
What are the 3 components of canapés?
The base of a canapé is usually either bread, puff pastry or crackers, which acts as a solid foundation for the rest of the canapé. Followed by the topping and, lastly, finished off with a garnish.
How many canapés per person?
For a one-hour drinks reception, you should be aiming to order around four to six canapés per person. But for longer events, add another two to four pieces per hour.
Best canapé recipes
For anyone lacking a little inspiration, here are BHG’s best canape recipes to serve up before the main meal. From crispy arancini to a nostalgic Jatz cracker, we’ve got your sorted.
1. Beef, fig and pistachio sausage pies

Put a twist on the classic sausage roll with dried figs and pistachios. Triangular in shape, these can be made ahead and defrosted on the day. Click here for the recipe.
2. Crispy cheesy arancini

3. Caramelised onion tarts

The sweetness of caramelised onions alongside crumbled goat’s cheese makes these mini tartlets a delicious moreish bite that you need to serve at your next party. Click here for the recipe.
4. Lamb, macadamia and mint sausage rolls

Homemade sausage rolls? Don’t worry, you can use puff pastry. It’s all about the filling for these bite-sized beauties. Made with Aussie lamb mince and macadamias, you just sauté, mix, fill, roll and bake. Click here for the recipe.
5. Green sesame falafel with tahini sauce

Falafel is the ultimate Middle Eastern street food, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Karen’s version is made with peas as well as chickpeas, to add a bit of lightness. Click here for the recipe.
6. Four retro Jatz canape recipes

They’re a cinch to make, are a touch retro and with four variations on offer, you’ll please the fussiest guest. Click here for the recipe.
7. Karen Martini’s sausage rolls

These golden-crusted pastry rolls are packed full of hidden vegetables, so they not only taste delicious, but will add some fibre to your diet. Click here for the recipe.
8. Mini spiced lamb loin on pita crisps

Bring Moroccan flair to your barbecued backstrap by serving it on flatbread topped with eggplant, yoghurt sauce and pomegranate arils. Click here for the recipe.
9. Cheese poppers

Crumbed and deep-fried potato balls with camembert centres, anyone? Yes, please! They’re party perfect or seriously snack worthy. Click here for the recipe.
10. Lamb, mint and rosemary pies

For those who love their lamb with mint jelly, this mini pie will soon become a family-favourite. Click here for the recipe.
11. Smoked trout blini

These blinis are perfect for your next party or afternoon tea at home. They may look tricky to make but thanks to the store-bought blinis they can be made in a pinch. Click here for the recipe.
12. Mini quiche puffs

With only five ingredients, these bite-sized quiche puffs are a cinch to make and they’re perfect for an afternoon tea at home. Click here for the recipe.
13. Salmon croustades

No celebration is complete with a generous spread of delicious morsels to graze on, and these croustades, meaning ‘little cups’, look fancy but are easy to make. You just bake discs of white bread and fill with yum! There are only a few ingredients, making life easy! Click here for the recipe.
14. Sausage rolls with sage, apple and pistachio

Nothing gets a party started like sausage rolls, especially these flavour bites by Karen Martini. Made with pork and beef mince, herbs, spices and two types of cheese, you’ll never go for store-bought again. Click here for the recipe.
15. Olive and goat’s cheese bites

Use delicious Australian cheeses and a generous hint of spice to entertain the vegetarian way. Arranged on rye crisps and garnish with a piece of dill, these hors d’oeuvres are a little bit fancy and will certainly impress your guests. Click here for the recipe.
16. Spinach, feta and lemon pasties

These middle Eastern-inspired nibbles are vegetarian friendly and you can never go wrong with the flavour combination of spinach and feta. Get the recipe here.
17. Mini Yorkshire puddings with rare beef and horseradish

Everyone’s favourite addition to a classic British Sunday roast now comes in mini form. Get the recipe here.
18. Mini cream cheese tarts

These mini cream cheese tarts are simple and require only a few ingredients, making them an excellent choice for a quick dessert or a party treat. Click here for the recipe.
19. Lemon curd tartlets

20. Chocolate caramel cups

Sweet, sticky and a little bit salty. There’s nothing like choc-caramel to up your afternoon game. Using mini muffin trays, make these delectable caramel cups and try not to eat them all at once. Get the recipe here.
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