Christmas and New Year is a time for catching up with family and friends, and most of us have our calendars packed with organised get-togethers by November. But it’s the unexpected guests who can catch us off guard — the neighbour who pops in for a “quick” cup of tea, or the cousin who drops by on their way somewhere else.
To help you out, we’ve put together our easiest ever festive canapé and drink ideas for unexpected guests who arrive during the Christmas and New Year period. With a well-stocked cupboard and a few freezer tricks up your sleeve, you’ll always be ready to welcome whoever walks through the door.
Jump to:
- [Stock Up](#stock-up)
- [Make the Most of the Freezer](#freezer)
- [11 Quick Festive Canapé Ideas](#canapes)
- [3 Quick Festive Drink Ideas](#drinks)
- [FAQs](#faqs)
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Stock Up
The secret to being ready for unexpected guests is having a well-stocked cupboard, fridge and freezer. Here’s what’s worth keeping in over the festive season.
Festive Non-Perishable Items
- Cocktail sticks
- Festive napkins
- Preserved vegetables such as sun-dried tomatoes, olives, artichokes, peppers, mushrooms, pickles, baby onions and lemons
- Frozen pastry (filo, puff and shortcrust)
- Cinnamon sticks
- Vanilla pods
- Cloves
- Allspice
Festive Perishable Items
- A selection of crackers
- Cheese
- Cured meats
- Flour tortillas
- Crisps, nuts and nachos
- Part-baked bread rolls (these freeze well too)
- Cream
- Custard
Festive Drinks Items
- Ice
- Lemons, limes and oranges
- Cocktail napkins
- Straws
- Mixers (ginger ale, tonic, lemonade, cola, fruit squash)
- Frozen fruit
- Fruit juices (apple, orange, cranberry, elderflower)
- Alcoholic mixers (grenadine, cherry and orange liqueur, crème de cassis)
- Coconut milk
Festive Store Cupboard Treats
- Mince pies
- Chutneys
- Festive relishes
- Chocolate truffles
- Festive biscuits
Being prepared this way means you can whip up delicious canapés and drinks in minutes, whenever guests arrive.
You may also enjoy — Top Tips to Save Time on Christmas Dinner
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Make the Most of the Freezer
Once Halloween is out of the way, it’s worth clearing some freezer space for festive treats. Whether you bake your own canapés or buy them ready-made, freezing them in advance means you’ll always have something to bake off for unexpected callers.
One tip: buy a few extra boxes. Once the family spots what’s coming out of the shopping bags, some of it may never make it as far as the freezer!
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11 Quick Festive Canapé Ideas
With just a few essentials from your store cupboard, you can have these 11 festive canapés on the table in no time.
1. Cheese, olives and carrots make great festive penguins.
2. Cucumber, carrot and a cracker make a festive tree canapé.
3. Cream cheese and Oreo truffles dipped in chocolate make the perfect sweet festive canapé — and they can be made ahead of time and frozen.
4. Fresh figs, quartered and wrapped in parma ham or prosciutto, with a little crumble of blue cheese.
5. Layer nachos with salsa, jalapeño peppers and grated cheddar — repeat three times in an ovenproof dish and bake until the cheese melts. Serve with sour cream or natural yoghurt for dipping.
6. Whisk together smoked mackerel, crème fraîche, a squeeze of lemon juice and some capers for a quick, tasty fish dip. Serve with vegetable crudités, crackers, or freshly baked bread rolls from the freezer.
7. Cubed mozzarella or feta, skewered with sun-dried tomato, preserved pepper, baby onion and an olive, is ready in seconds and always goes down well.
8. Make cheese straws in minutes by mixing your favourite grating cheese, or blue cheese, with some butter. Spread onto defrosted or frozen puff pastry, cut into thin strips with a sharp knife, and bake until golden. Twist the strips before baking if the pastry is defrosted.
9. A spoon of peanut butter and a slice of banana on a cracker makes a quick, sweet treat canapé.
10. This quesadilla recipe can hold a host of fillings for a super quick, impressive canapé. For a festive twist, add goats’ cheese with cranberry sauce or mincemeat instead of a tart.
11. For a goats’ cheese truffle canapé, mix goats’ cheese with half the amount of cream cheese and chill for 20 minutes. Roll into balls and coat with chopped nuts, dried herbs, chopped cranberries, crushed peppercorns, toasted seeds or grated beetroot. Serve with crackers.
You may also enjoy — 10 Easy, Tasty Topping Ideas for Crackers
<img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-129018″ src=”https://www.mykidstime.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/festive-canapes-egg-nog.jpg” alt=”festive canape and drinks ideas for Christmas and New Year Egg Nog” width=”1021″ height=”640″ />
3 Quick Festive Drink Ideas
Hot Port
A good festive drink for adults, hot port is made in minutes using a lemon, cloves, honey and port. Warm your glasses, add a measure (or two!) of port, stir in a spoon of honey or brown sugar, top up with boiled water, and finish with a lemon slice studded with cloves. It’s ready to enjoy in minutes and will fill the house with the scent of Christmas.
Eggnog
For the ultimate nostalgic treat, try eggnog. It can be made with or without alcohol, and any leftovers make a lovely soaking liquid for festive French toast.
The version with alcohol can be made a few days in advance, as the alcohol helps preserve the eggs and milk — just whip the cream in when you’re ready to serve.
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Festive Prosecco
Prosecco is lovely served chilled on its own, or with a dash of crème de cassis for the perfect Kir Royale. A simple garnish — a twist of orange peel or a few frozen berries — is all it takes to make guests feel a little bit special.
FAQs
What’s the easiest way to be ready for unexpected guests over Christmas?
Keep a small stock of festive non-perishables, crackers, cheese and cured meats in the cupboard and fridge, and a few homemade or shop-bought canapés in the freezer. That way you can put something together in minutes without a special shopping trip.
Can festive canapés be made in advance and frozen?
Yes — many of the ideas above, such as cheese straws, quesadillas and truffle-style bites, can be prepared ahead and frozen. Simply defrost or bake from frozen when guests arrive.
Do I need alcohol to make festive drinks for guests?
Not at all. Eggnog can be made alcohol-free, and mixers, fruit juices and sparkling options work well for guests who aren’t drinking, including children and designated drivers.
What are good non-alcoholic options for unexpected guests?
A warm mixer drink (like alcohol-free mulled apple juice), sparkling lemonade with fresh fruit, or a simple hot chocolate all feel festive without needing any last-minute prep.
You Might Also Like
- Top Tips to Save Time on Christmas Dinner
- 10 Easy, Tasty Topping Ideas for Crackers
- Best Festive Eggnog Recipe
- Quick and Tasty Oreo Truffles Recipe
Save These Ideas for Later
Not expecting anyone just yet? Bookmark this page or pin your favourite canapé ideas so you’ve got them ready to go the moment the doorbell rings this Christmas.
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