Canapés and cocktails
Our nifty nibbles and classy cocktails will get any party started in no time. Whether you’re handing out pigs in blankets, a crab toastie or some retro devilled eggs, or a (miso twist), everyone will feel thoroughly indulged by our best party food ideas.
It’s not all about savoury – try a sweet bite like orange curd mini tarts. And take your pick of the drinks – how about a spicy martini or espresso martini for a crowd or your Galentine’s bash? Our jalapeño mezcal marg will add some spice to your life, as will our spicy martini.
Discover more canapé recipes for any occasion.
Showing 1-16 of 94 recipes
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New Year's Eve recipes
Thai basil gimlets
Ravinder Bhogal's Thai basil gimlets are the perfect pre-dinner cocktail for New Year's Eve or another special occasion.
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Easy
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Canapés and cocktails
Rosemary negroni
Rosemary brings out the herbaceous notes of vermouth and Campari in this festive negroni. The perfect bottled cocktail to store in fridge.
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Easy
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Christmas cocktails
Mince-pie old fashioned
This Christmas cocktail recipe makes a fabulous drink, as well as a flavoured butter for baking and an extra-boozy mincemeat for mince pies.
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Easy
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Canapés and cocktails
Santa’s sidecar cocktail
Like an upside-down Santa hat, this tangy, citrus-forward sidecar cocktail is balanced by the warming complexity of cognac.
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Easy
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Dinner party starters
Paul Ainsworth’s The Mariners taramasalata on toast
Taramasalata on toast makes a winning dinner party starter or snack. “There’s no comparison to the homemade stuff," says chef Paul Ainsworth.
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Medium
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Trout
Smoked trout with potato rösti and beetroot cream
Crunchy-yet-soft rösti are great for parties.. Top with smoked trout and crème fraîche swirled with beetroot, for a Scandi-style canapé.
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Easy
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Christmas air fryer recipes
Air fryer potato and smoked salmon canapés
These salmon-topped canapés use tinned potatoes, a great budget standby. Made in an air fryer, they quickly become crispy little superstars.
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Easy
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Halloween drinks
Corpse Reviver No.2 cocktail
This corpse reviver cocktail is a hangover cure from pre-Prohibition times. Try it as a Halloween cocktail or pleasing aperitif before dinner.
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Easy
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Cocktails
Bicicletta cocktail
Perfect for aperitivo hour in the garden, a bicicletta cocktail is easy to make. The bitter bite from the Campari is delightfully refreshing.
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Easy
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Meatballs
Mondeghili (fried breaded beef and pork meatballs)
These crunchy meatballs – a Milanese mainstay – may have begun as a way to use up leftover meat, but they’re now a popular aperitivo snack.
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Easy
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Christmas cocktails
Santa’s spritz punch
Cranberry spritz makes for a crowdpleasing Christmas punch. The ice ring is studded with garnishes, which gently release into the punch.
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Easy
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Budget Christmas party food
Gochujang devilled eggs
Is it really a party without devilled eggs? This timeless canapé gets an on-trend glow-up by way of the savoury warmth of Korean gochujang.
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Easy
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Nuts
Chilli, honey and soy roast nuts and seeds
These easy salty, sweet and spicy roast nuts and seeds from River Cottage's Gelf Alderson are everything you could want in a snack.
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Easy
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Trout
Trout cocktail boats
Impress your guests with these retro trout cocktail boats. The lettuce boats are loaded with homemade triple-citrus cured trout.
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Medium
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Blue cheese
Blue cheese gougères
Bake a batch of these blue cheese gougères and watch them get hoovered up in seconds. Pillowy, cheesy, crisp and creamy all at the same time.
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Easy
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Spicy recipes
Jalapeño mezcal margarita
Are you partial to a margarita? This is the best version of the cocktail we’ve come across. Wait until you try it!
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Easy
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