8 quick and easy‑to‑make finger food recipes

This holiday season, there’s nothing better than an easy and quick appetizer to kick off the festivities in style! Whether you’re looking for time‑saving finger food recipes for an impromptu party or you’re looking for appetizers you can make the night before, this blog post is for you! Here are 8 appetizer recipes I love and will surely delight your guests. Reminder: these finger foods are as convenient as they are delicious and will become must‑have recipes for family parties and celebrations with friends!

Pastry appetizers

I love all appetizer recipes that include pastry. Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, these delicious bites are always a big hit, whatever the occasion. Here are two easy‑to‑prepare pastry appetizer recipes. They offer the perfect combination of simplicity and flavour and will impress your guests without requiring hours in the kitchen.

Leek and cheese treats

Salty sweets? Absolutely! This appetizer recipe is incredibly simple to make. The combination of leeks and cheese, paired with the sweetness of dried cranberries, is truly divine. With their crunchy texture and unique flavours, these little appetizer bites are sure to vanish quickly. Prepare them ahead of time and freeze any leftovers, although I must admit that’s quite unlikely because they’re so delicious! 😉

Leek turnovers

I love this finger food recipe for its creamy cream cheese sauce and delicious fillings of leek, bacon and cheese inside the puff pastry. As Valérie, General Manager at Les Cultures de chez nous, said in my interview with her, “Leeks and cheese are a perfect match!”

Appetizers on a bread crouton

You can make lots of appetizer recipes with baguette bread — the possibilities are nearly endless! Among my favourites are two recipes on the Complètement poireau website. I particularly like them because they include cheese au gratin on top (and hold a good amount of tasty sliced leeks 😊).

Leek butter canapés

This appetizer recipe is one of the easiest and quickest I know! Just thinking about the ingredients makes my mouth water: toasted bread, a melty leek filling with butter and mustard, and a touch of cheese au gratin 🤤. Louis‑Marie, president and founder of Les Cultures de chez nous farm, even told me during our interview that this was his favourite recipe and could become more popular than the famous and classic garlic bread 😉.

Tomato and leek bruschetta

Regardless of how you pronounce bruschetta, one thing’s for sure: it’s a must‑have appetizer this holiday season! Its toasted bread base topped with fresh tomatoes and savoury leeks is even more heavenly with melted cheese. Choose between Parmesan, mozzarella, and Swiss, or combine all three for even more flavours 😉!

Spreadable appetizers

I love cold or hot appetizer recipes that involve dipping tortilla or pita chips or spreading them over toasted bread. These recipes gather everyone around the kitchen island and are great for sharing with family and friends!

Brie fondant with leeks and dried fruits

I’m a big cheese aficionado. So, when my mother‑in‑law made this leek and brie fondant appetizer recipe for the first time, I was the happiest leek around! My in‑laws love to spread it on homemade tortilla chips. You can even prep the leek and dried fruit filling the day before to save time 😊.

Leek mousse with asparagus tips

When it’s harvest time for Quebec’s vegetables, I often freeze or blanch them to have them on hand year-long. The same goes for green asparagus. There are many asparagus recipes for freezing or canning, but the one I like best is this leek mousse with asparagus tips, which can be made with blanched plain asparagus. It’s an easy appetizer to prepare, and it’s perfect to spread on Italian spices and Parmesan-seasoned bread!

Drinkable appetizers

A drinkable appetizer? Absolutely! Every Christmas dinner at my mother‑in‑law’s starts with shooters… of soup! It’s a great way to kick off a meal without sitting at the table 😉. On top of that, you can easily prepare soup the day before and heat it up in a saucepan once guests arrive.

Beetroot and leek soup

When it comes to cold appetizers, this beet and leek soup is hard to... beet 😉. Add a dash of colour to your holiday party and delight everyone with its delicious taste!

Squash and leek soup

I love this easy‑to‑make appetizer’s mild spice kick from the ginger and curry powder. It’s comforting and it brims with flavours! Plus, this soup really highlights the leeks and butternut squash — two vegetables that grow in the fields at Les Cultures de chez nous 😊.

Other finger food recipes to share

For me, food is more than just a meal. It’s at the heart of family gatherings and parties with friends. Where I’m from, food brings people together, and it’s always sharing tasty meals and good wine with the people I love is always enjoyable! To spread the holiday magic and get you inspired, I invite you to discover these festive appetizers and dishes to share:

• 5 appetizers to share with friends or family
• 10 perfect appetizers to eat with your hands for Christmas
• 10 vegan recipes for Christmas
• 10 festive recipes in classic, vegetarian or vegan versions

The holiday season is also a time for sharing. If you’re ever looking for last‑minute gifts to give your colleagues, friends, or family, check out my list of the 7 perfect cookbooks to give as Christmas presents. There are some real gems in there!

Happy Holidays!

— Serge