Marvellous Morsels: 6 Of The Best Recipes For Christmas Canapes

Bowls of crisps and nuts are all very well but it’s easier than you think to elevate the tone of cocktail hour at Christmas – and your guests will be endlessly grateful if you do. As Jamie Oliver puts it: ‘If there’s one thing the festive season needs it’s a good snack selection. Little mouthfuls of flavour perfection that will have everyone coming back for more.’

Here, we share festive canape recipes from the nation’s favourite cooks.

Crispy Smashed Potato With Smoked Salmon, Crème Fraiche & Caviar

Desert Island Dishes



Over the past few months, Margie Nomura has been entertaining her followers with 100 recipes and how pleased we are to have found this easy to make canape (no. 87 of 100). It's a refreshingly different way to serve smoked salmon, smashing new potatoes and frying until crisp, dressing crème fraiche and chives and topping with smoked salmon and a little bit of caviar if you want to push the boat out. Find the recipe here

Devils On Horseback

Jamie Oliver

You’d be hard pushed ever to find a carnivore who doesn’t like devils on horseback. Jamie Oliver’s super-easy recipe includes whole salted almonds for a satisfying crunch and dose of protein. Find the recipe here.

Cheese Stars

Nigella

If you’ve watched any of Nigella’s TV shows, you’ll know how well she gives a party. These cheese stars are typical of her thoughtful, elegant and spoiling approach to entertaining. Of course, the moreish cheesy biscuits can be cut into any shape but the stars are so festive and charming. Find the recipe here.

Mini Squash And Chive Dumplings

Anna Jones

Anna Jones, queen of modern vegetarian cooking, says: ‘I am that person at a party, desperately following the one tray of vegetarian canapes around, trying to sneak a second mouthful before I get noticed. I can’t count the number of parties I have left a little bleary because there just wasn’t anything to eat. As far as I am concerned, where there’s drink, there should be food – for everyone.’ Hear hear. Find the recipe here.
Photograph: Issy Croker/The Guardian

Smoked Salmon And Cream Cheese Blinis

Red Magazine

Smoked salmon always gets the party started, and it seems very generous, too. You can make your own blinis, but as this recipe shows, a good shop-bought cracker does just as well. The optional addition of cod’s roe or caviar is the crowning glory. Find the recipe here.

Apple And Stilton Puffs

Nigel Slater



Few things say Christmas like stilton does. Combining it here with apples in little puffs of pastry, Slater has worked his typical festive magic. Find the recipe here.

Genevieve Harris



Here is another gem found on Instagram, by Genevie Harris, aka Mrs Truffle Pig. Our favourite of the three canapes in the reel is dried fig and goat's cheese wrapped in Parma ham. As Genevieve says, a little child could make these. Find the recipe here.