Canapés are ideal finger food: easy to nibble while holding a glass of wine or pop into your mouth and relish in a single bite. Learn to make these small open-faced treats for your next dinner party.


Canapé Recipe and 11 Types of Canapés to Try

A canapé is a small open-faced sandwich (or cracker) topped with complementary flavors and textures. Like mini tartines or toasts, they are an effortless vehicle for your favorite nibbles: cheeses, meats, vegetables—anything that you can slice up small and assemble quickly for a crowd. Their name comes from the French word for “elegant sofa”—a fitting reference to the relaxed, lounging atmosphere these tempting morsels inspire. 
Here are some ideas for easy canapés that make elegant yet impressive-looking party food.

1. __<a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-avocado-toast' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-avocado-toast","linkCopy":"Avocado toast","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>Avocado toast</a>, canapé-style__: Smashed avocado—with plenty of fresh lemon juice to prevent the avocado from oxidizing—translates into the perfect finger food when spread on seeded crackers.
2. __Baked canapé__: Use a cookie cutter to form small, even pieces of puff pastry. Bake the pastry rounds and top them with ricotta cheese and cranberry preserves.
3. __Brunch crostini__: Crostini are slices of grilled or toasted bread brushed with olive oil. For brunch, try a breakfast sandwich–style canapé, like a crostini topped with a slather of goat’s cheese, a sliver of bacon, and a fried quail egg. (Use kitchen shears to slice the bacon strips, so they don’t crumble.)
4. __Bruschetta, with a twist__: Bruschetta is a classic Italian appetizer consisting of grilled bread rubbed with garlic and finished with a drizzle of olive oil. (In Italy, “[bruschetta](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-bruschetta)” refers to the grilled bread, but in other parts of the world, it refers to the topping on the grilled bread.) Mix [sun-dried tomatoes](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-sun-dried-tomatoes-how-to-make-sun-dried-tomatoes-at-home-in-6-easy-steps) with fresh tomatoes, red onions, parsley, extra-virgin olive oil, and red wine vinegar for a twist on the classic. Place the mozzarella slices onto crostini, and spoon the tomato mixture over them. Top each one with a crispy fried caper. 
5. __Canapés fit for an omnivore__: Thinly slice a baguette on the bias to maximize the surface area. Add [lemon aioli](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/lemon-aioli) or Dijon mustard, a slice of roast beef, and fresh herbs.
6. __Decadent caviar__: Top a salty potato chip with a swipe of yogurt, <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-sour-cream' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-sour-cream","linkCopy":"sour cream","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>sour cream</a>, or crème fraîche and a dollop of caviar for a celebratory canapé. (If you’re unsure of which fish eggs to get, learn the difference between [roe vs. caviar](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/roe-vs-caviar-explained).)
7. __Ham and cheese canapé__: For a savory treat, simply slice Gruyère and ham, and drape them over onion jam–topped bread slices or crackers. Learn more about [Gruyère cheese](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/gruyere-cheese).
8. __Prawn toast canapé__: Originating in Hong Kong, prawn toasts are a dim sum delicacy that is great for parties. Slice sandwich bread into small triangles, coat them in shrimp paste, then deep-fry or bake them.
9. __Salmon canapé__: This canapé works just as well at a fancy brunch as at a cocktail party. Spread cream cheese on pumpernickel toasts, then top with smoked salmon, a squeeze of lemon juice, and chives. 
10. __Vegan canapé__: Top your favorite crackers with hummus, shaved raw vegetables, and toasted sunflower seeds for a satisfying vegan canapé.
11. __Vegetarian canapé__: Feta, beetroot, and pickled shallot on slices of sourdough make for a tangy and flavorful combination.

“Hors d’oeuvre” generally refers to any premeal nibbles enjoyed while entertaining or before a meal begins. “Canapé” often gets used interchangeably with hors d’oeuvre. A canapé, though, is a *type* of hors d’oeuvre—one that, more specifically, involves a starchy base (bread, cracker, et cetera) and a topping. 
Canapés are ideal finger food: easy to nibble while holding a glass of wine or pop into your mouth and relish in a single bite. Learn to make these small open-faced treats for your next dinner party.

A canapé is a small open-faced sandwich (or cracker) topped with complementary flavors and textures. Like mini tartines or toasts, they are an effortless vehicle for your favorite nibbles: cheeses, meats, vegetables—anything that you can slice up small and assemble quickly for a crowd. Their name comes from the French word for “elegant sofa”—a fitting reference to the relaxed, lounging atmosphere these tempting morsels inspire.

What Is a Canapé?

Here are some ideas for easy canapés that make elegant yet impressive-looking party food.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-avocado-toast' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-avocado-toast","linkCopy":"Avocado toast","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>Avocado toast</a>, canapé-style: Smashed avocado—with plenty of fresh lemon juice to prevent the avocado from oxidizing—translates into the perfect finger food when spread on seeded crackers. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Baked canapé: Use a cookie cutter to form small, even pieces of puff pastry. Bake the pastry rounds and top them with ricotta cheese and cranberry preserves. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Brunch crostini: Crostini are slices of grilled or toasted bread brushed with olive oil. For brunch, try a breakfast sandwich–style canapé, like a crostini topped with a slather of goat’s cheese, a sliver of bacon, and a fried quail egg. (Use kitchen shears to slice the bacon strips, so they don’t crumble.) </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Bruschetta, with a twist: Bruschetta is a classic Italian appetizer consisting of grilled bread rubbed with garlic and finished with a drizzle of olive oil. (In Italy, “<a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-bruschetta' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-bruschetta","linkCopy":"bruschetta","category":null}'>bruschetta</a>” refers to the grilled bread, but in other parts of the world, it refers to the topping on the grilled bread.) Mix <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-sun-dried-tomatoes-how-to-make-sun-dried-tomatoes-at-home-in-6-easy-steps' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-sun-dried-tomatoes-how-to-make-sun-dried-tomatoes-at-home-in-6-easy-steps","linkCopy":"sun-dried tomatoes","category":null}'>sun-dried tomatoes</a> with fresh tomatoes, red onions, parsley, extra-virgin olive oil, and red wine vinegar for a twist on the classic. Place the mozzarella slices onto crostini, and spoon the tomato mixture over them. Top each one with a crispy fried caper. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Canapés fit for an omnivore: Thinly slice a baguette on the bias to maximize the surface area. Add <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/lemon-aioli' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/lemon-aioli","linkCopy":"lemon aioli","category":null}'>lemon aioli</a> or Dijon mustard, a slice of roast beef, and fresh herbs. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Decadent caviar: Top a salty potato chip with a swipe of yogurt, <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-sour-cream' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-sour-cream","linkCopy":"sour cream","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>sour cream</a>, or crème fraîche and a dollop of caviar for a celebratory canapé. (If you’re unsure of which fish eggs to get, learn the difference between <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/roe-vs-caviar-explained' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/roe-vs-caviar-explained","linkCopy":"roe vs. caviar","category":null}'>roe vs. caviar</a>.) </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 7. Ham and cheese canapé: For a savory treat, simply slice Gruyère and ham, and drape them over onion jam–topped bread slices or crackers. Learn more about <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/gruyere-cheese' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/gruyere-cheese","linkCopy":"Gruyère cheese","category":null}'>Gruyère cheese</a>. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 8. Prawn toast canapé: Originating in Hong Kong, prawn toasts are a dim sum delicacy that is great for parties. Slice sandwich bread into small triangles, coat them in shrimp paste, then deep-fry or bake them. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 9. Salmon canapé: This canapé works just as well at a fancy brunch as at a cocktail party. Spread cream cheese on pumpernickel toasts, then top with smoked salmon, a squeeze of lemon juice, and chives. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 10. Vegan canapé: Top your favorite crackers with hummus, shaved raw vegetables, and toasted sunflower seeds for a satisfying vegan canapé. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 11. Vegetarian canapé: Feta, beetroot, and pickled shallot on slices of sourdough make for a tangy and flavorful combination. </li></ol>

11 Canapé Recipe Ideas

“Hors d’oeuvre” generally refers to any premeal nibbles enjoyed while entertaining or before a meal begins. “Canapé” often gets used interchangeably with hors d’oeuvre. A canapé, though, is a type of hors d’oeuvre—one that, more specifically, involves a starchy base (bread, cracker, et cetera) and a topping.

What Is the Difference Between Canapés and Hors d’Oeuvres?

Mushroom Canapé Recipe

Canapés are ideal finger food: easy to nibble while holding a glass of wine or pop into your mouth and relish in a single bite. Learn to make these small open-faced treats for your next dinner party.