20-Minute Black Cat Canapés
Whimsical Halloween appetizers featuring cat-shaped toasted bread rounds paired with a savory Mediterranean tapenade. The rich, briny kalamata olives combined with garlic and lemon create an elegant spread that contrasts beautifully with crispy golden bread. Perfect for Halloween parties, autumn gatherings, or any occasion where you want to add playful charm to your appetizer spread. The cat shapes make these especially delightful for children while the sophisticated olive tapenade appeals to adult palates.
Ingredients
- 30 slices white, rye or pumpernickel bread, 1/2 inch thick
- olive oil cooking spray
- 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1 cup pitted kalamata olives, drained, patted dry, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- 1
Heat oven to 400°F and line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or foil
- 2
Cut 30 cat shapes from bread using 2 1/2- to 3-inch cat-shaped cookie cutter
- 3
Place bread cats on cookie sheets and spray both sides with cooking spray
- 4
Bake 3 to 4 minutes, turning once, until light golden brown
- 5
Cool for 5 minutes
- 6
Meanwhile, mix garlic, olives, olive oil, lemon juice and pepper in medium bowl
- 7
Serve toasted bread with olive tapenade
Tips
Save bread scraps for breadcrumbs or croutons to minimize waste
Pat olives completely dry before chopping to prevent soggy tapenade
Make tapenade up to 2 days ahead and store covered in refrigerator
Good to Know
Store leftover tapenade covered in refrigerator up to 1 week
Make tapenade up to 2 days ahead; toast bread day of serving
Serve immediately while bread is crispy
Common Mistakes
Pat olives completely dry to avoid soggy tapenade
Don't overbake bread to avoid bitter taste
Substitutions
Gluten-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I use different shaped cookie cutters?
Yes, any 2 1/2 to 3-inch cookie cutter works perfectly for this recipe.
How long will leftover tapenade keep?
Store covered in refrigerator up to 1 week for best quality and flavor.
Can I make the bread ahead of time?
Toast bread day of serving for best crispness, but tapenade can be made 2 days ahead.