Good canapes + drinks = a great event – and so easy to do at home.

Step 1:

Send the invites

Step 2:

Make ahead and freeze everything you can.

Step 3:

Make ahead the rest

Step 4:

Make room, hang lights, organise platters and glasses

Step 5:

Final assembly

Step 6:

Welcome guests, pour drinks, pass around canapes

Savoury ideas

Dill scones with smoked salmon dip, cucumber, aioli, smoked salmon and dill

Cinnamon and brown sugar pear, blue cheese dip, date, walnut pikelets

Cinnamon and brown sugar roast sweet potato slices with hummus and olive

Roasted potato slices with roasted carrot and cummin dip and semi dried tomatoes

Baby pea and feta cheese pikelets with sour cream and sweet chilli sauce for dipping

Sweet corn chorizo and cheese mini-muffins

Red curry, broccoli and coconut soup (originally made with carrot but great with any vegetable)

Couscous, pumpkin, chickpea, date salad (for something more filling)

Spanish potato frittata

Pinwheel smoked oyster, cream cheese and cumin sandwiches

Crumbled mince pie Christmas ice-creams

Mini trifles

Cheesecake marble brownies

Coffee almond meringues

For more recipes go to:

Finger food ideas