Easy RITZ Cracker Canapés ~ celebrate the return of warmer weather with a collection of colorfully topped RITZ crackers…layer them up and watch them disappear!
*This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mondelez International Group. All opinions are entirely my own.
These fun bite sized canapés are perfect for whatever shindig you’ve got going this season. At the first sign of spring we bring the food outdoors ~ there’s nothing better than eating outside after being cooped up all winter long. These colorful crackers are guaranteed to bring the family together ~ you can make them as elegant or as kid friendly as you want, depending on your toppings…fancy them up or simplify for the kiddos. These crackers actually include all the food groups, so I won’t judge if you decide to make a meal out of them…just add iced tea!
Making these RITZ Cracker canapés is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
Step 1 ~ Head to your local Kroger, or Kroger banner store (Jay C Market, City Market, or Gerbes) and pick up a few essentials like sliced deli meats, cooked shrimp, cheeses, plus condiments like mustards and flavored mayos ~ don’t forget some fresh herbs for garnishing.
Step 2 ~ Lay out a make your own canapé bar, and let friends and family stack up their own unique RITZ Cracker creations.
Step 3 ~ Sit back and relax with your RITZ Cracker!!
One of my favorite spots in my local Ralph’s supermarket is the deli counter. I’m always blown away by the quality and variety of meats and cheeses, and since they’ll form the base of my canapés, this was my first stop. I had trouble choosing, but I ended up with a smoked Black Forest ham, some maple glazed turkey, and a spicy salami. I found the most gorgeous blue marbled Monterey Jack, a dilled Havarti, and a pepper jack cheese. They have great flavor and they provide visual interest too. I cut out the meats and cheeses with my 1 1/2 inch circle cutter ~ it’s the perfect size to decorate the RITZ Crackers with.
TIP: Get the kids involved! Set them up with a few small cookie cutters and let them get creative. This is fun for everything from birthday parties to after school snacks, or any time you’re looking for some #familyRITZpiration.
I also picked up a handful of small cooked shrimp from the fish department, and a little bit of smoked salmon to round out the protein for my creatons. I grabbed some radishes, a cuke, and some fresh herbs, and then augmented what I already have in my pantry with some interesting mustards.
Everybody loves RITZ Crackers, so plan accordingly and stock up. RITZ Crackers make the ideal foundation for these canapés ~ they’re not too big, or too small, for the perfect one bite. The texture is crisp, buttery, and easy to eat…no embarrassing cracker shards flying everywhere when you’re trying to socialize. And the flavor adds a rich delicious background without competing with your toppings.
TIP: To make quick work of these canapés, stack your meats and cheeses so you can cut through several layers at once, then peel apart the layers and mix and match cheeses and meats on your crackers.
Want more #FamilyRITZpiration? Visit www.FamilyRITZpiration.com!
Ingredients
- 1 package RITZ Original Fresh Stacks
- 1/4 lb sliced smoked turkey
- 1/4 lb sliced Black Forest ham
- 1/4 lb sliced salami
- 1/4 lb small cooked shrimp
- 1/4 lb smoked salmon
- 1/4 lb sliced cheese, your choice
- hard boiled egg, sliced
- cream cheese, whipped or regular
- herbed cheese spread
- crumbled blue cheese
- hummus
- olive tapenade
- sun dried tomato tapenade
- guacamole
- wasabi sauce
- your favorite mustards
- tiny cherry tomatoes
- gherkins
- cocktail onions
- capers
- pink peppercorns
- basil leaves
- fresh dill
- radishes
- Marcona almonds
- sliced stuffed olives
- chopped pistachios
- crumbled bacon
- chives
- sesame seeds
- paprika
- hot pepper flakes
- edible flowers
Instructions
- Cut your meats and cheeses into 1 1/2 inch rounds using a small cookie or biscuit cutter. If you don't have a cutter you can cut small squares to fit on the RITZ Crackers.
- Layer your canapés in any order that you like, and add garnishes to make lots of different combinations. Finish each with a fresh herb or sprinkle of spice or nuts to add visual interest.
- Alternately you can lay out everything for your family and friends to create their own RITZ canapés.
- Serve your canapés right away.
Notes:
- Don’t assemble your canapés too far in advance or the crackers can soften from the moisture in the toppings. You can prep the ingredients ahead of time, just store them under damp paper towels (wrap in plastic) in the refrigerator to keep them fresh. Then assemble just before you need them.
Don’t forget to pin it!
57 Comments
Mary Simpson
May 9, 2017 at 7:25 pmI thought I saw a link here to Amazon for butterfly and other fancy cutters. I looked again and didn’t see it. If you still have a link, could you please provide it. The cutters were very pretty.
Sue
May 9, 2017 at 7:34 pmThere are a couple of links in the text above, Mary, but they can be easy to miss ~ here’s a link to the ones I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000VLOYK?ie=UTF8
Karen
May 3, 2017 at 10:17 amI love all these ideas!
Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
April 10, 2017 at 5:16 pmThese are so pretty and fun!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
April 9, 2017 at 6:28 pmYou have come up with so many options that my head is spinning. I want to try them all.
Karen | Desert Chica
April 9, 2017 at 1:28 pmThese look delicious and beautiful! What a great idea for a party!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking
April 9, 2017 at 11:56 amIt’s been way too long since I’ve had a Ritz cracker! Going to pick some up soon. :) And I love what you did with them! I’m more than happy with just a bit of cheese. :D
Sue
April 9, 2017 at 5:06 pmIt’s most often peanut butter for me!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
April 9, 2017 at 11:44 amI”m going to have to look for the blue marbled Monterey Jack cheese, I’ve not seen it before. Love all your cute canapés, I’ve pinned them.
Sue
April 9, 2017 at 4:21 pmIt’s Boar’s Head, Karen.
carrian cheney
April 8, 2017 at 2:22 pmYou are such an artist! These are absolutely beautiful!
Sue
April 8, 2017 at 5:21 pmAwww thanks so much Carrian :)
Gina @Running to the Kitchen
April 8, 2017 at 11:26 amThese are the perfect snack or appetizer! Yum! I wouldn’t be able to stop eating them!
Sue
April 8, 2017 at 11:37 amMe too, Gina ~ and I also couldn’t stop making them ~ I had such fun with all the garnishes :)
Lea Ann (Cooking on The Ranch)
April 8, 2017 at 4:15 amCongratulations on the new design Sue. Always satisfying to make changes for the better. And you’ve made these little Ritz canapes look so snazzy! Great idea to let people build their own. Happy Saturday to you.
Sue
April 8, 2017 at 7:09 amThanks so much Lea Ann <3 Have a wonderful weekend.
Robyn Gleason
April 7, 2017 at 4:58 pmPS. Every time I land on your page these days, I’m blown away by your new theme. Looks great!
Robyn Gleason
April 7, 2017 at 4:56 pmWow, Sue! Fantastic photos, fun video and great canape recipes! Such a great read and eye-popping images. Love your imagination in the kitchen! Shared :)
Laura | Tutti Dolci
April 7, 2017 at 2:38 pmThese are so pretty for spring entertaining – love those butterfly cutouts too!
Sue
April 7, 2017 at 3:29 pmI’d love to do a real garden party theme and use all kinds of flower and butterfly cutters, plus edible flowers! What a pretty idea for a wedding or baby shower, or even Easter.
Alexandra
April 7, 2017 at 1:28 pmNever thought that so many different shapes and colors could balance so well on such a little cracker! Great styling Sue! So many options piled up!
Sue
April 7, 2017 at 2:00 pmThanks Alexandra <3
cheri
April 7, 2017 at 6:05 amWow! these are gorgeous Sue, you certainly pulled out all the stops on these canapes, the edible flowers are a nice touch.
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
April 7, 2017 at 5:30 amSo pretty and so creative! Love the video, too :)
Patty @ Spoonabilities
April 6, 2017 at 6:57 pmWhat a great party food. I love how you used the cookie cutters for the cheese!
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 7:00 pmAnd there are so many great small cutters out there, you could customize it to any theme…
Milena | Craft Beering
April 6, 2017 at 6:31 pmI love the cheese butterflies! I can see how these canapes will make a craft beer tasting that much better with all the different options you created.
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 6:56 pmThese totally go with craft beer :)
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C
April 6, 2017 at 5:53 pmYour photos just scream spring! I love the idea of using cookie cutters to make cute shapes out of the cheese. This is a great post with so many ideas!
Shelby
April 6, 2017 at 4:04 pmI love these! I would be so happy to see someone bring these to a party…of course, I wouldn’t be averse to making them myself either!
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 4:14 pmI admit it, I love to see guests bearing goodies, but in this case, these canapés are so easy, I don’t mind being the head chef.
jenny
April 6, 2017 at 3:44 pmThese are soooo cute! I love that marbled cheese, its so pretty! They look perfect for a spring party
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 3:48 pmThanks jenny ~ and who knew you could get sliced blue cheese at the deli counter?
Janette@CulinaryGinger.com
April 6, 2017 at 1:35 pmIt’s always a good time for Ritz cracker, on their own or dressed-up like this. Great post.
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 1:42 pmThanks Jeanette!
JWT
April 6, 2017 at 1:32 pmI’ve done canapes like this before, but on little pieces of bread, and now that I think about it, the Ritz crackers seem like a much better idea, i think they’d hold up better and keep their crunch, thanks!
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 1:33 pmYes, exactly, bread goes stale really quickly.
Brandi Crawford
April 6, 2017 at 1:18 pmGreat idea. I may have to use these for a bridal shower this month!
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 1:28 pmThis is such a perfect idea for a shower, I want to throw one just to serve these :)
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ
April 6, 2017 at 10:08 amSuch a cute idea! I love all the options you have for these and the creative little shapes you made. Perfect for entertaining!
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 10:11 amThanks Stephanie, I’m still dreaming up new combos ~ I can’t get these little crackers out of my head, they’re addictive!
Gerlinde @Sunnycovechef
April 6, 2017 at 10:05 amThey are so cute and so tasty, I love little snacks like this. Using cookie cutters is a great idea.
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 10:12 amI collect little cutters, and use them with fruit, too, for summer desserts, etc.
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings
April 6, 2017 at 9:42 amI love how cute these are girl. Cutting out your cheese in those little shapes really steps it up!
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 9:52 amI’ve always been a sucker for cute little shapes…;)
Sandi G
April 6, 2017 at 8:46 amWhat a pretty idea for a party tray. It would be hard to choose which to eat first.
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 8:54 amThat’s why God gave us two hands Sandi :)
Silvia @ Garden in the Kitchen
April 6, 2017 at 8:41 amOh my… so many delicious topping, its hard to choose one! Spring is coming in a little slow on us here in New England, however I am eager to get outside and these are the perfect little snack to munch on while I work on my garden
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 8:44 amThese would be such fun for a garden party or shower! I miss spring in New England, Silvia ~ it comes and goes a little too quickly here in Los Angeles :) Thanks for stopping by!
Luci's Morsels
April 6, 2017 at 8:18 amYummy! All of these look so delicious! I didn’t realize how many options there were with Ritz. These would be perfect for any party spread. Thanks for sharing!
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 8:29 amYup ~ you can do just about anything with a RITZ!
Guy23
April 6, 2017 at 7:46 amWhat fun! Great video. And that music’s a total earworm.
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 7:47 amHaha! I love the music too :)
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert
April 6, 2017 at 4:49 amWOW Sue – your video is fantastic and so are all these delicious appetizers! I could make a complete meal out of these amazing crackers. Great post :) Sharing and pinning!
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 7:30 amYou can bet we did make a meal out of these, it’s my favorite way to eat :) Thanks Tricia <3
Angie@Angie's Recipes
April 6, 2017 at 3:23 amThese are for sure the prettiest and tastiest canapes I have ever seen! Those marbled cheese slices are really gorgeous.
Sue
April 6, 2017 at 7:31 amThese are such fun to make, Angie, and I agree, that cheese is my new obsession!