When you've got friends arriving at short notice and you need some easy canapés and appetizers, we have plenty of ideas to sate your hungry guests. Many of them can be made in advance then frozen and kept in the freezer on standby for guests who drop in, or whipped up in 30 minutes flat.

Take the stress out of hosting with an easy three-ingredient canapé. Ripe figs are baked with tangy goats' cheese and honey for a sweet and savory combination. They'll be at their best straight out of the oven, so bake when guests arrive.

Get the recipe for goats' cheese and honey figs here

Chunks of squash are roasted with honey, fennel seeds and chili flakes, then skewered with manchego, crispy sage and slices of Parma Ham. It's super straightforward to make and incredibly delicious – what more do you want from a canapé?

Get the recipe for Parma Ham and butternut squash skewers here

These little tarts are filled with a creamy mixture of mascarpone, wafer-thin ham and Stilton. Buy ready-made shortcrust pastry to save on time and, to guarantee a stress-free evening, make and bake your tartlets 24 hours ahead – just reheat them in a hot oven for about 15 minutes before serving. If you don't have any Stilton to hand, you can use any blue cheese you like, or even swap it for a mature Cheddar.

Get the recipe for ham and stilton tartlets here

Two ingredients are all you need for crispy, flaky cheese straws. Take one pack of ready-rolled puff pastry, scatter over Parmesan and fold in half. Roll out the pastry block to your desired thickness and cut into strips. Grate over more Parmesan (and sesame seeds if desired) then bake for around 10 minutes in a preheated oven at 430°F/220°C.

Falafel are easy and quick to make for an appetizer or canapé. Whiz up an onion, a clove of garlic, a 400g (14oz) can of drained chickpeas, 1tsp each of ground cumin and cilantro, a handful of parsley and an egg. With damp hands, form into balls or patties then shallow-fry until crisp and golden. Serve with lemon wedges and a yogurt dip. You can prepare them the day before, then reheat in the oven before serving.

Always a winner, guacamole can be rustled up in just 15 minutes. Better than anything you could buy from a store, this simple recipe makes use of extra-ripe avocados, plus fresh cilantro, lime, chili and tomatoes for extra zing. Serve with tortilla chips, toasted pitta or bread sticks for a casual pre-dinner snack.

Get the recipe for guacamole here

Garnished with dill, red onion and capers, store-bought gravadlax (salmon cured with dill) on rye bread makes for a straightforward but impressive appetizer. It takes all of 10 minutes to assemble, and you could do a similar version using smoked salmon if you like.

Get the recipe for gravadlax on rye here

It's the combination of sweet figs, salty ham and halloumi cheese that makes this snack so moreish. You can serve them as a canapé with drinks, or add a few salad leaves for a simple appetizer ready in under 30 minutes.

Get the recipe for baked figs with halloumi, prosciutto and basil here

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Very quick to prep, only 15 minutes, this favorite British snack is given a twist with a layer of salty-sweet Parma Ham, plus sausagemeat packed with garlic, fennel seeds, chili flakes and dried oregano. This recipe makes 16 sausage rolls, so depending on how hungry your guests are, you can pop a few in the freezer for another day.

Get the recipe for Parma Ham sausage rolls here

If you have a sandwich toaster, mini toasties are an ideal accompaniment to a drink or two. Just make them as you normally would, then carefully cut into small triangles with a very sharp knife. The trick is to butter the bread on the outside before toasting, so you get that lovely, crunchy exterior. Spread a little mustard on the inside to add an extra kick too.

Get the recipe for grilled cheese and chutney sandwiches here

While you can make blinis from scratch, they're easy to find in the grocery store – just remember to bake them in the oven before serving so that they crisp up nicely. Top with smoked salmon, cream cheese or crème fraîche, and some snipped chives to garnish.

These little veggie parcels can be made 24 hours ahead, stored in the refrigerator then cooked in the oven when you need them. Slices of eggplant are baked, then filled with tomato, oregano and halloumi, and held together neatly with a cocktail stick. Serve with fresh tomato salsa for dipping, or with salad leaves as an appetizer.

Get the recipe for eggplant and halloumi wraps here

Bowls of hummus make an easy appetizer – they're super simple to make and will keep for a few days in the refrigerator too. Add beetroot, green vegetables or red peppers for added flavor, and serve with sesame flatbreads, tortilla chips or toasted pitta.

Check out our hummus recipes here

A popular way to serve shucked oysters, the shellfish are grilled with chopped bacon and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Or, for an even easier appetizer, arrange oysters on the shell with wedges of lemon and a bottle of Tabasco, and let everyone help themselves.

Get the recipe for oysters Kilpatrick here

Tapenade – a black olive paste that originates from Provence – makes for a quick and easy snack to be eaten with drinks. It's best when served on little toasts: slice a baguette and brush the rounds with oil, then bake in a hot oven until crisp. Tapenade will keep for up to four days in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Get the recipe for tapenade here

Wedges of Spanish tortilla make a great appetizer, especially when served with a salsa or salad. Tortilla doesn't take too long to make and you can add different ingredients, such as chorizo or zucchini, to the base for extra flavor. To save time on the night, make it the day before then heat in the oven just before serving.

Get the recipe for Spanish tortilla here

Soft goats' cheese on crostini or bruschetta is quick to assemble for an appetizer. The salty cheese pairs well with the sweet beetroot, and you could even drizzle over some pesto or runny honey. To make it extra impressive, crumble over some homemade honeycomb, which you can make in advance and store in an airtight container.

Get the recipe for goats' curd crostini with honeycomb here

Juicy dates stuffed with cheese and nuts make an instant canapé or snack. Simply cut down the center of the date and remove the stone, then gently stuff the dates with cheese and top with a nut. We recommend goats' cheese with almonds, or a soft blue cheese with walnuts – allow around 75g (3oz) cheese for 12 dates.

Cheese gougères are savory bites of choux pastry. They are easy to make and, best of all, you can freeze them then bake from frozen. Use our recipe for choux pastry below then, at the end, add salt, a pinch of paprika and 55g (2oz) strong grated Cheddar. Pipe or spoon the mixture into rounds, then scatter more grated cheese over the top. Open-freeze them on a tray, then pack into bags once they are solid. Bake in a hot oven until well risen and golden, which should take around 30 minutes.

Get the recipe for choux pastry here

Muffins aren't just a sweet treat – they make for super satisfying savory snacks too. These feta and dill delights take very little time to prep and cook, plus you can freeze them once baked and reheat them in a warm oven. Serve as a warming snack or as an appetizer with smoked salmon and cream cheese.

Get the recipe for feta and dill muffins here

Colorful dips served with chips or crudités are an almost instant appetizer. The recipe for this beetroot dip can be sped up by buying cooked, vacuum-packed beetroot. It makes use of low-fat quark, but you can just as easily substitute it for cream cheese.

Get the recipe for beetroot and thyme dip here

Probably one of the quickest canapés you can throw together, these olive, anchovy and pickled pepper skewers will go down a treat with a cold beer or sparkling wine. They’re called gilda, a tapas-style snack from northern Spain’s Basque Country. The key is to use the best-quality pitted olives, anchovies (preferably ones that come packed in oil) and peppers (such as guindilla peppers), then layer on a skewer.

Utterly moreish and simple to whip up, these rich, cheesy biscuits are great washed down with a few festive drinks. To make the dough, whiz up 225g (8oz) all-purpose flour, butter, strong grated cheese, salt and pepper, plus a pinch of cayenne pepper, dried mustard and an egg. Pulse briefly until combined, then roll into a cylinder in plastic wrap and freeze. To serve, slice 0.5cm (one-quarter inch) rounds or shapes, then bake at 375°F/190°C for about 10 minutes.

Guests will love these sweet and salty nuts, so be sure to make plenty. Toast 400g (14oz) of mixed unsalted nuts (macadamias, pecans, almonds and peanuts are all great options) at 350°F/180°C for five minutes. Meanwhile, put 1tbsp brown sugar, 1tbsp sea salt, 1tsp smoked paprika and 1tbsp chopped rosemary into a large bowl. Add the hot nuts and toss to coat.

These little paneer (an Indian hard cheese) and spinach bites are a great veggie appetizer. Chili and ginger give the bites a delightful kick, while korma paste and fresh cilantro packs in extra flavor. You can make them the day before, then reheat in a hot oven to serve with a yogurt and mint dip or a spicy chutney.

Get the recipe for spicy paneer and spinach bites here

Spicy potato wedges always go down a storm and they're very simple to prepare too. Cut unpeeled potatoes into wedges, then place in a large bowl. Toss in oil, smoked paprika and salt. Add a few tablespoons of cornmeal or polenta to coat, then spread on a sheet pan and bake in a hot oven until browned and cooked through. Serve with tomato salsa or chili mayo.

These comforting mini sausage rolls are filled with beef and mushrooms, plus grain mustard and Worcestershire sauce to add a bit of zing. The recipe makes 30 and they freeze brilliantly, so it's worth having a stash ready to bake or reheat for those last-minute arrivals.

Get the recipe for Wellington sausage rolls here

It's time to bring back the vol au vent. This 1970s favorite still goes down a treat and, to save time, you can buy the cases and bake them, then fill as you like. You could try mayonnaise with avocado and shrimp, or keep the retro theme going and fill yours with a classic shrimp cocktail mix.

Get the recipe for shrimp cocktail here

Homemade smoked salmon pâté takes only minutes to rustle up. Just whiz together 150g (5oz) smoked salmon (you can use smoked salmon trimmings for this too), 200g (7oz) cream cheese, the juice of a lemon and a generous handful of fresh dill or chives. You could also try using smoked trout or mackerel instead. Serve on circles of rye bread or wholemeal toast for an easy but delicious treat.

The irresistible combination of sweet Parma Ham, tangy sundried tomato paste and salty Parmesan means these savory palmiers will be gone in minutes. Using ready-rolled puff pastry, this is an easy snack to prepare too.

Get the recipe for Parma Ham palmiers here

You'll need to make lots of these, as guests always come back for more. The recipe is basically a thick white sauce flavored with basil and goats' cheese, made into balls then coated and deep-fried. Serve as a canapé or make them into an appetizer served with a leafy salad.

Get the recipe for goats' cheese fritters here

The ultimate retro canapé, the deviled egg is back in style. In its simplest form, hard-boiled egg yolks are mashed with mayonnaise and seasoning, then piped back into the egg and topped with paprika, caviar or anchovies. If you fancy something different, check out this great Middle Eastern twist on the classic recipe, with yogurt, tahini and za'atar. You can prepare the filling the day before, if you like, though it's fast enough to make from scratch on the day.

Get the recipe for deviled eggs with tahini and za'atar here