4 Mini Appetizers for Your Next Party

Tomato, mozzarella, and buttery puff pastry give these appetizers their appeal. Choose birthday-buffet pizzas, muffin-shaped bites, or filled pastries to suit your gathering.

Mini pizzas pair tomato and mozzarella in small bites scented with oregano. A staple of birthday buffets, they're made for eating with your hands. Their familiar pizza flavors bring something classic to the appetizer spread.

Pro tip: you can make larger pizzas, about 3.5 inches across, for a batch of roughly 18.

Pizza Muffins give tomato-and-mozzarella pizza the playful shape of a muffin. Made with pizza dough, these bites are designed for serving with drinks. Oregano adds its distinctive herbal note to the familiar pairing.

Pro tip: if you use fresh mozzarella, drain and squeeze it carefully after cutting it into cubes.

Savory croissants, puff pastry snacks with assorted fillings, offer a rich counterpoint to the pizza bites. They come together quickly, making them a useful choice for last-minute entertaining. Pancetta and Edam or smoked salmon and robiola give the pastries two distinct savory personalities.

Pro tip: keep your puff pastry refrigerated until you're ready to use it so it stays easier to handle.

Rustici leccesi (Puff pastry with mozzarella and tomato) tuck a creamy tomato-and-mozzarella filling inside puff pastry discs. This specialty from Salento offers an individually portioned addition to a party spread. Béchamel adds a silky layer beneath the pastry.

Pro tip: you can add ham to the filling for a variation.