Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      Kick-start your day by making habits out of these mood-boosting tips. Read More
    • Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      It's one of your favorite fruits, but does it belong on the counter or in the refrigerator? Read More
    • This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      A few easy-to-find ingredients are all you need to create a powerful formula that squashes weeds. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    Show your love of country by displaying these varieties on America's birthday.
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    Make gathering with loved ones a priority.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We asked the experts to weigh in on this popular home design concept.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    Confused about when to do what to your favorite flowering shrubs? We have you covered.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Wash Pillows

    How to Wash Pillows

    They're an essential element of a comfortable bed, so keep yours fresh and in their best shape ever with these expert-approved tips.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Get the traditional rules for who pays for the wedding details.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    Our easy melt-and-pour method saves the last bit of this home essential.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    This buzzy ingredient is a star player in many new-age hair care products.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Food & Cooking
  3. Recipes
  4. Appetizers
  5. Party Appetizers & Snacks
  6. Our Favorite Hors d'Oeuvres Recipes for Cocktail Parties and Other Special Celebrations

Our Favorite Hors d'Oeuvres Recipes for Cocktail Parties and Other Special Celebrations

ellen-morrissey-0414-msl-0131-d111183.jpg
By Ellen Morrissey Updated September 10, 2021
Skip gallery slides
Pin
burrata bites
Credit: Bryan Gardner

Pass a platter loaded with these elegant small savory bites next time you entertain.

Start Slideshow

1 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
Japanese Shrimp Toasts
Credit: Con Poulos

Some parties call for starters that go beyond your basic everyday snacks. When you want to pull out all the stops (or at least a few of them) and let your guests know that this is no ordinary occasion, consider the collection of hors d'oeuvres recipes that follows. These tasty, savory bites take more time to put together than simply setting out chips and dip, but the time spent is well worth it. The proof lies in every single bite.

Hors d'oeuvres are savory bites, a food served in small portions. Many of these hors d'oeuvres recipes create one-bite delights, and the rest can be enjoyed in two or three bites, tops. Arrange them on your nicest platters and trays, or better yet, pass them around the room while guests mingle and mix.

Canapés are a classic category of hors d'oeuvres, defined as any small cracker or bread with a savory topping. They may sound fussy, but they're remarkably easy to prepare and even more fun to eat. The Japanese Shrimp Toast pictured here are a good example of the category. Our recipe is a riff on a dim sum classic, updated with Japanese flavors, and we think it makes a delicious case in point.

Another reason why we like these small appetizers for entertaining? Hors d'oeuvres can be held in one hand while you hold a festive cocktail in the other. All of the recipes in this collection share a retro appeal—cheese straws, crab cakes, caviar-topped potatoes, croquettes, shrimp toasts, and that all-time classic, the deviled egg—but we've taken a modern approach with each, updating the ingredients, techniques, garnishes, and flavors. They are all party-worthy, Instagram-worthy, and absolutely delicious. Cheers!

1 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Gruyère, Anchovy, and Olive Straws

gruyere anchovy and olive straws within glass vase
Credit: Paola + Murray
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You've probably had cheese straws, but you may not know just how easy they are to make. Puff pastry straws make any get-together feel instantly more festive, and they also take well to adaptation of kinds.  See for yourself with these three super savory variations—gruyère, anchovy, and olive.

2 of 16

3 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Lobster Salad Tostones

lobster salad with tostones served on a cutting board
Credit: Chris Simpson
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A coastal Maine favorite meets the flavors of the Caribbean in this light, bright take on the lobster roll. We used fried tostones in place of the usual soft sandwich rolls (which means that they're gluten-free) and mixed the salad with chiles, cilantro, lime, and a little olive oil (no mayo here). Avocado rounds out the tropical character of the bite-size delights.

3 of 16

Advertisement

4 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

"Twice Baked" Baby Potatoes with Caviar

"Twice Baked" Baby Potatoes with Caviar recipe
Credit: Con Poulos
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Potatoes may be considered humble, but nothing says fancy like caviar and Champagne. Here, twice-baked baby reds serve as beds for sour cream and caviar.

4 of 16

5 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Potato-Chip-and-Pimiento Mini Crab Cakes

Potato-Chip-and-Pimiento Mini Crab Cakes recipe
Credit: Con Poulos
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

The great state of Maryland is the home of crab cakes, a party favorite that soon made its way across the U.S. around the middle of the 20th century. It's also home to a much less known regional specialty: crab-flavored potato chips. Here, the two are combined to create one very tasty party morsel, topped with mayo that's flavored with one more local favorite (available in supermarkets nationwide): Old Bay seasoning.

5 of 16

6 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Smoky Shrimp-and-Sausage Gravy

bayou la batre shrimp-and-sausage gravy served on a black plate
Credit: Con Poulos
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Beyond finger foods lay hors d'oeuvres presented in individual serving dishes, like this shrimp specialty from celebrated Southern chef Scott Peacock. Use the prettiest small cups you have on hand—ramekins, demitasse, or custard cups—and don't skip the biscuits and pickled vegetables on the side. All three components deliver out of this world flavors.

6 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Feta-Stuffed Shishitos in Phyllo

feta stuffed shishitos in phyllo
Credit: Justin Walker
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Each of these little golden bundles boasts layers of flavor in each bite: cheese, peppers, flaky pastry, and sesame seeds. The best part? They can be formed ahead and frozen up to two weeks ahead, then baked just before the party.

7 of 16

8 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Gooey Gouda Puff-Pastry Bites

Gooey Gouda Puff-Pastry Bites recipe
Credit: Con Poulos
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Inspired by brie en croute (classic party fare from the 1970s and '80s and a favorite from Martha's catering days), we created these gooey, cheesy, flaky, slightly sharp (from the mustard), and irresistible bites.

8 of 16

9 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Fried Macaroni-and-Cheese Bites

mini-mac-and-cheese-4021-d111358-0815.jpg
Credit: David Malosh
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

How do you take a comfort food classic and turn it into an easy-to-serve finger food that's sure to please any and all crowds? Find a way to cut it into squares and then deep fry it, as we did with an easy stovetop mac and cheese. This is one hors d'oeuvres that'll help you earn the title of "most popular host in town."

9 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Tomato Burrata Bites

burrata bites
Credit: Bryan Gardner
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Honey, I shrunk the Caprese! All the best flavors and textures the classic summertime salad are here, but in miniature, one-bite form.

10 of 16

11 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Prosciutto-Wrapped Fig Hearts

Prosciutto-Wrapped Fig Hearts
Credit: Addie Juell
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Love at first bite: Our little skewers of sweet, salty, and creamy manage to check all the flavor and texture boxes—salty, sweet, creamy, chewy—all in one heart-shaped package. Serve with a bottle of bubbly.

11 of 16

12 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pimiento-Cornmeal Croquettes

pimiento cornmeal croquettes
Credit: Justin Walker
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Croquettes have their origins in France, but similar breaded and fried snacks are beloved all over the world. Our update on the classic features a cornmeal base flavored with pimiento cheese and breaded with panko rather than the usual breadcrumbs.

12 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Roasted-Spring-Onion and Goat-Cheese Eggs

roasted spring onion and goat cheese eggs
Credit: Anson Smart
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

For an hors d'oeuvres that is the essence of easy elegance, combine equal amounts goat cheese and cream cheese to make a soft, rich, incredibly creamy mixture, then form into balls or other shapes, like the egg shapes pictured. Garnish with pretty toppings and serve with crackers or crudités.

13 of 16

14 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Smoked Trout and Avocado Mousse in Endive

endive avocado mousse smoked trout
Credit: Burcu Avsar
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Don't let the word "mousse" fool you into thinking this is highbrow French fare. The term is used loosely to describe ingredients that are whipped until airy and light; though mousse often has cream or gelatin, this one is nothing more than avocado and lemon juice that are quickly pulsed to combine in a food processor.

14 of 16

15 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Smoked Salmon-Radish Deviled Eggs

smoked-salmon-radish-deviled-eggs-1127-d111028.jpg
Credit: Mike Krautter
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Deviled eggs have multiple personalities. They can be right at home served at a backyard barbecue and at the swankiest soirée. Here, they lean into their more elegant side. Smoked salmon is mixed into the egg-yolk filling and used again as a garnish along with paper-thin radish slices and teeny tiny herbs.

15 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Polenta Squares with Wild Mushrooms and Fontina

appetizers-book-093-stew-9780307954626-art-r1.jpg
Credit: David Malosh
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Once it's cooled, polenta sets into a firm base that's crisp on the outside yet still creamy inside. It's easy to cut into squares, as with these savory bites, topped with a mix of mushrooms and Italian fontina, and then roasted to party-ready perfection.

16 of 16

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Ellen Morrissey

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 16
    2 of 16 Gruyère, Anchovy, and Olive Straws
    3 of 16 Lobster Salad Tostones
    4 of 16 "Twice Baked" Baby Potatoes with Caviar
    5 of 16 Potato-Chip-and-Pimiento Mini Crab Cakes
    6 of 16 Smoky Shrimp-and-Sausage Gravy
    7 of 16 Feta-Stuffed Shishitos in Phyllo
    8 of 16 Gooey Gouda Puff-Pastry Bites
    9 of 16 Fried Macaroni-and-Cheese Bites
    10 of 16 Tomato Burrata Bites
    11 of 16 Prosciutto-Wrapped Fig Hearts
    12 of 16 Pimiento-Cornmeal Croquettes
    13 of 16 Roasted-Spring-Onion and Goat-Cheese Eggs
    14 of 16 Smoked Trout and Avocado Mousse in Endive
    15 of 16 Smoked Salmon-Radish Deviled Eggs
    16 of 16 Polenta Squares with Wild Mushrooms and Fontina

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Our Favorite Hors d'Oeuvres Recipes for Cocktail Parties and Other Special Celebrations
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.