17 Pretty Canapé Recipes for Last-Minute Holiday Parties

Some people have the menus for their holiday parties planned months in advance, complete with Christmas cookie recipes and perhaps even boozy hot chocolate recipes. And then there's the rest of us. If you've put off planning your Christmas party appetizers, you might be scrambling to find some OH-SO pretty, low-maintenance eats that your guests will swoon over. Enter canapés. Canapés are cute, finger-friendly foods that run the gamut from sweet to savory. These 17 canapé ideas will be *perfect* for serving as hors d'oeuvres at your party this year.

Pancetta Crisps With Goat Cheese and Figs

Though they look super elegant, these canapés are actually decidedly low-maintenance. Here’s a canapé hack for you: Instead of buying a whole bag of arugula, head over to the deli salad bar to get a more appropriately sized portion. (via Taming of the Spoon)

Caramelized Onion and Feta Tartlets

These cute little tartlets are super simple to make, and they involve ingredients you probably already have on hand. Think onions, eggs and honey. You’ll also need some puff pastry, so this is a great way to finish that up if you used some of it in another recipe. (via The Wimpy Vegetarian)

Salted Chocolate Dipped Mandarin Slices

If you thought canapés only referred to pretty toppings on a slice of bread or cracker, think again! The term really applies to anything cute that can be eaten as a finger food. Case in point: these delicious, semi-healthy and VERY pretty dipped mandarin slices. (via Deliciously Yum)

Cranberry and Brie Bites

It’s incredible to think you can make something *so* pretty so quickly. It literally takes just 20 minutes (total) to make these, and they only require five ingredients: puff pastry, eggs, Brie, cranberry sauce and thyme. (via Kitchen Sanctuary)

Mini Mushroom and Gorgonzola Bites

Bite-sized yumminess coming your way. These cute little canapés only take two minutes to bake in the oven. You’ll also use not one, but TWO kinds of ‘shrooms in this recipe: shiitake and crimini. (via Cookin Canuck)

Cranberry Brie and Prosciutto Crostini

This elegant recipe boasts flavors not only of Brie and prosciutto, but also orange and lime zest. As a bonus, you have the option to add chopped walnuts on top — but that call is yours to make. (Hint: We think you should go with the walnuts.) (via The Brunette Baker)

Mini Meringue Sandwiches

For all you sprinkle lovers out there, these sweet canapés could also double as dessert. They’re ridiculously easy to make too: Just pick up some mini meringues, melt some baker’s chocolate, sandwich them together and roll them in rainbow sprinkles. (via Tesco)

Bite Sized Burgers

Use these tiny and adorable hamburgers as inspo for your own appetizer tray. Tiny servings of ground beef will be super-quick to cook up, then mini buns, melted cheese and a tomato pull the whole thing together. (via Kitchen Sanctuary)

Cucumber-Dill Canapés

These fresh-tasting treats are essentially cucumbers atop a layer of bread, filled with a cream cheese-dill cream. They’ll give a little bit of British style to your holiday gathering and also happen to be delicious with a cup of Christmas tea. (via Cooking on the Weekends)

Goats’ Cheesecake Recipe With Red Onion Jam

If you thought this cheesecake recipe was going to satisfy your sweet tooth, you’d be mistaken — it’s actually savory cheesecake! It showcases the flavors of onion, garlic, juniper, thyme and goat cheese, making for an incredibly savory canapé. (via Great British Chefs)

Prosciutto Wrapped Pears With Blue Cheese

This classic Christmastime appetizer features the flavors of seasonal pears, as well as meaty prosciutto and tangy blue cheese. Bonus points for serving these with an elegant decorative silver spike in lieu of a toothpick. (via Recipe Runner)

Dried Apricot and Blue Cheese Canapés

Move over cranberry, apricot is the front-and-center fruit of this super delish recipe. Pro tip: If you can’t find spreadable blue cheese, sub in a mixture of half-blue cheese, half-cream cheese instead. (via Tidy Mom)

Sweet Potato + Avocado Bites

These healthy, Paleo-friendly bites will be perfect for all the health nuts at your party. As a bonus, they’re also 100-percent vegan — but we promise the carnivores will love them too. (via Blissful Basil)

Cucumber and Feta Rolls

These pretty *and* healthy rolls are perfect for popping before dinner. They’re made with sundried tomatoes and feta cheese, all rolled up into one delicious little app. (via Tesco)

Cajun Shrimp Guacamole Bites

Speaking of healthy canapés, these uber-flavorful shrimp bites are about as healthy as it gets. They’re also POPPING with flavor — the flavors of paprika, cumin, chipotle powder, avocado and cilantro, to be exact. (via Joyful Healthy Eats)

Beet Bruschetta With Goat Cheese and Basil

Looking for a fresh take on bruschetta? Look no further than these bite-sized, beet-topped toasts. Beets are similarly sweet and colorful to tomatoes, and they also happen to go *perfectly* with goat cheese. (via Feasting at Home)

Arancini With Aioli

If you’ve never heard of arancini, you’re missing out. These Italian-inspired canapés are essentially deep-fried risotto balls. Serve them with an aioli dipping sauce and prepare to have your mind blown. (via The Pretty Blog)