Get the App

Recipes

Find a Recipe Blue Ribbon Recipes Pinch It!™ Feed Browse All Recipes

Editorial

Food Bites & Articles Videos What is a Blue Ribbon? Meet the Test Kitchen

Community

Member Recipes Groups Sweepstakes Contests Shopping

canapés 101

frenchtutor avatar
Recipe by
Susan Feliciano
@frenchtutor
Oak Ridge, TN

Canapés are small, prepared and usually decorative foods, held in the fingers and often eaten in one bite. Buffets, cocktail parties, even children's birthday parties lend themselves to small finger foods or hors d’œuvres. I love making a beautiful tray of Canapés to take to a baby shower. The possibilities are endless now, with this easy do-it-yourself database of ideas.

yield 12 serving(s)
prep time 30 Min
method No-Cook or Other

Ingredients For canapés 101

  • COLUMN A: THE BASE
  • thin sliced bread or toast, cut in rounds or triangles, crusts removed
  • ritz or fancy crackers
  • sliced baguettes
  • crostini
  • sliced cucumber
  • sliced jicama
  • sweet pepper "boats"
  • sliced roma tomatoes
  • COLUMN B: SPREADS
  • deviled ham
  • cream cheese
  • fish or shrimp paste
  • cheese spreads
  • chicken salad
  • cooked egg yolks mashed with cream or mayo
  • nut butters
  • flavored butters
  • tapenade or pesto
  • COLUMN C: TOPPINGS
  • tiny shrimp
  • apple or pear slices
  • halved cherry tomatoes
  • chopped cucumbers
  • hard boiled egg slices
  • caviar
  • sliced olives or pickles
  • basil or spinach leaves
  • cheese slices or cubes
  • cocktail franks
  • COLUMN D: GARNISH
  • chopped herbs
  • rosemary or thyme sprigs
  • jams and jellies
  • paprika or ground black pepper
  • cinnamon or nutmeg
  • edible flower blossoms

How To Make canapés 101

  • 1
    Making a Canapé is as easy as choosing one from Column A, one from Column B, one from Column C, and one from Column D (optional).
  • 2
    Arrange your base on a pretty tray, covered with foil or paper doilies. Spread each with the spread of your choice. Top with a topping, and garnish as desired.
  • 3
    Examples: Crostini, spread with cream cheese, topped with tiny shrimp, and sprinkled with chives. Ritz crackers spread with almond butter, topped with a pear slice and sprinkled with cinnamon. A round slice of cucumber, spread with deviled ham, topped with half a tiny tomato, sprinkled with black pepper. Cut a small sweet pepper in half lengthwise, stuff with a cheese spread, top with a small dollop of hot pepper jelly. The possibilities are endless. Have fun with this!
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
ADVERTISEMENT