While they are, as we've established, officially a topping on a base, canapés have evolved somewhat over the years and we now tend to use the term as a catch-all for finger foods at parties. Nowadays, canapés can vary wildly, so long as they can be eaten with a drink in hand and ideally in one bite (though two or even three at a push is also acceptable). They simply need to be able to be grabbed from a passing tray and consumed with the minimum of faff.
As well as things on toast/bread/crackers, canapés encompass food on skewers – mini sticks of satay or king prawns, for example – and kid-friendly bites like fish goujons or sliders, as well as small dishes like mozzarella wrapped in Parma ham, pastries like cheese straws or quiches, and falafels or koftas.
And lest we forget the sweet stuff – mini cakes, small pots of cheesecake, mini chocolate mousses or bite-sized doughnuts are all up there with perfect canapés to complete any party or gathering.