Easy Christmas Canapes

We’re hitting the party season of the year and it’s time to bring out the canapes! Here I’ve got three really simple ones which are perfect last-minute nibbles for any party. Of course vol-au-vents and palmiers are classic go-tos, but as not everyone has the time or energy to make them we have these. If the word ‘cooking’ strikes fear into your heart this is perfect for you as it’s essentially just assembling.

Pigs in Blankets

Also a favourite on the Christmas table, these work really well as canapes at a party. Just wrap them up, cook them off and stick them with a cocktail stick.

Recipe

Serves 18

Time: 5 minutes plus cooking time

Ingredients

• 18 Mini Sausages
• 9 Rashers of bacon, cut in half

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180˚C.
2. Take one of the sausages and wrap it in the halved bacon rasher.
3. Put this onto a lined baking sheet, with the bacon join on the bottom to stop it from unravelling.
4. Repeat for all the sausages and then cook in the oven for 10-15 minutes until cooked through and so that the bacon is crispy.
5. Take out the oven, stick cocktail sticks into them and serve warm!

 

Bruschetta

This is an Italian classic,  usually served as a starter, but when downsized can also act as a great canape!

Recipe

Serves 18

Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 Thin baguette
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 Garlic clove, crushed
• 3 Plum tomatoes
• 1 Handful basil
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• 2 tsp Balsamic vinegar

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180˚C.
2. Take the baguette and slice about 2cm thick into 18 slices. If the slices are too big for a one-bite canape you can halve them. Put these slices onto a lined baking tray and drizzle with the oil. Put into the oven for 8-10 minutes and bake until crisp.
3. Roughly chop the tomatoes into chunks and the basil into pieces. Put these and the garlic into a bowl and mix until combined. Season and set to one side until the bread is ready.
4. Spoon this mixture onto the bread crostini.
5. Drizzle these with the balsamic just before you serve!

 

Cream Cheese and Salmon

For me these are the quintessential Christmas party canape. Quick, simple, delicious and decadent they’re everything you need for a snazzy drinks party.

Recipe

Serves 18

Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 18 Small biscuits ( I used poppyseed ones).
• 4 tbsp Cream cheese
• 200g Smoked salmon
• A little cress or dill to garnish

Method

1. Take one of the biscuits and spread with a little of the cream cheese.
2. Take some of the smoked salmon, curl it up and pop it onto one of the biscuits.
3. Garnish with the cress or dill and then repeat with the rest of the biscuits.
4. Serve!

Thanks for reading!

Emma x