Caprese Skewers

Caprese Skewers are the perfect easy appetizer to make for a crowd this holiday season! Crusty ciabatta bread serves as the base. Grape tomatoes, small mozzarella balls and fresh basil are layered onto the bread, then skewered with a festive toothpick. To finish the dish, drizzle reduced balsamic vinegar on top, and enjoy! Red and green, these simple but delicious Caprese Skewers are sure to be a winner at parties this season… and any season!

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Caprese salad is just one of those dishes that’s perfect year-round. But to fancy it up for the holiday season, I’ve made a slight twist on the classic.

Instead of plating this salad in layers like you normally would… I’m stacking them on skewers to make them the ultimate finger food.

Because finger foods are an absolute necessity (and so stinking cute!) for the holidays.

The best part about these Caprese Skewers? They’re easy.

In fact, the only cooking you have to do is to reduce that balsamic vinegar. In fact, this step is totally optional, though I highly recommend it.

Additionally, you can make the skewers in advance and refrigerate them until it’s time to party. And this is a great recipe to ask for help from your kids, who will enjoy the skewering process. (Assuming your children aren’t terrors with toothpicks and will be able to handle them without hurting themselves of others.)

I meaaaaaaan… there’s something fun about skewering a tomato and the mozzarella and cheese and basil and bread together. And there’s something satisfying about seeing the work you did, lined up all pretty for your guests, when all is said and done.

And while I might not have had a ton of guests to enjoy these skewers with me when I made and photographed them, I can assure you that they were gobbled up just as quickly as if there had been multiple hungry partygoers.

Yep. They’re that satisfying. And I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that your party guests will adore them this season, too. You know, assuming they’re into tomatoes, mozzarella, bread and basil.

Erin’s Recommended Tools/Products for Caprese Skewers

• Must-haves: Saucepan. Toothpicks.
• Get the look!: Threshold Porcelain Rectangular Platter in White. 4 oz. mason jar. Oneida Countess Servingware. Frilly toothpicks.

This recipe is featured in the pages of this month’s Justine Magazine as a New Year’s Eve appetizer, along with my Cranberry Sparkler Mocktail. This appetizer is a quick, easy, delicious bite to serve to guests anytime this holiday season.

Be sure to pick up a copy of their December/January edition to see these recipes and more. 🙂

Now who’s ready to make some SKEWERS for their holiday party?

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Yield: 54 skewers

Caprese Skewers

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Caprese Skewers are the perfect easy appetizer to make for a crowd this holiday season! Crusty ciabatta bread serves as the base. Grape tomatoes, small mozzarella balls and fresh basil are layered onto the bread, then skewered with a festive toothpick. To finish the dish, drizzle reduced balsamic vinegar on top, and enjoy! Red and green, these simple but delicious Caprese Skewers are sure to be a winner at parties this season... and any season!

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Ingredients

Caprese Skewers

• 1 lb. cherry tomatoes tomatoes
• 18-1 oz. packages mozzarella balls
• 1 large bunch fresh basil
• 1 loaf crusty Ciabatta bread

Balsamic Reduction

• ½ cup balsamic vinegar

Instructions

Make the Balsamic Reduction

1. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over low heat, heat the balsamic vinegar.
2. Stirring occasionally, cook down the vinegar.
3. When the vinegar has reduced by half, remove from the heat, and cool.
4. This can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, so it can be made in advance.

Make the Skewers

1. Cut the Ciabatta bread into bite-sized pieces. You’ll want to use pieces that have crust so that it can serve as an anchor for these skewers. The crustless pieces of bread do not have enough heft to hold the weight of the grape and mozzarella otherwise.
2. Wash and dry the grape tomatoes. Set aside.
3. Unwrap the mozzarella balls. Set aside.
4. Wash and separate the basil leaves. Pat dry. Set aside.
5. Using a long, decorative toothpick, skewer the basil, mozzarella and tomato in that order. (You’ll want the basil to be at the top of the skewers, so be sure to put those on first, followed by the mozzarella and tomatoes.)
6. Choose a sturdy piece of bread and skewer it on the bottom so it can serve as the base.
7. Repeat until all the skewers have been made.
8. Enjoy immediately, or refrigerate until time to serve. These can be made a few hours in advance and stored in the fridge!
9. When serving, drizzle the skewers with a little bit of the balsamic reduction, and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

54 skewer

Serving Size:

1 skewer
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 55Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 102mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 3g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.

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What appetizers will you be making for holiday guests?