Caprese Skewers with Balsamic Drizzle are a quick, healthy, fresh, and fabulous appetizer recipe! Easy to assemble, and perfectly poppable.
Got a party, potluck, holiday, or book club meeting on the calendar? Trust me when I tell you that Caprese Skewers with Balsamic Drizzle are going to be the hit of your get together!
Mini mozzarella cheese balls are skewered with fragrant basil leaves and juicy cherry tomatoes then drizzled with tangy-sweet balsamic reduction to create this perfectly poppable appetizer. They will FLY off the platter.
You know I am a dip girl through and through, but it’s sometimes nice to have a light and healthy option when you’re entertaining, or have been asked to bring a dish to share. These one-bite skewers definitely check the box!
Watch How to Make Them
Easy, Healthy Appetizer Recipe
I first created this healthy appetizer recipe in 2012 and they’ve been a smash hit ever since. The Caprese Skewers needed a photo upgrade though to reflect how truly gorgeous they are.
Over the years you’ve loved making platters of Caprese salad on a stick as a festive addition to a holiday food table, while others make them over and over again each summer as cherry tomato plants take off.
Btw, I am not lying when I tell you my Mom recently dropped a 5lb bag of cherry tomatoes on my porch and ran. I will be eating them until Halloween!
These fresh, healthy, easy, and elegant bites also pair extremely well with a cold glass of vino and a great friend or two. Just saying!
Caprese Skewer Ingredients
- Cherry Tomatoes: I very much prefer cherry over grape tomatoes for these skewers, especially in the summertime, because they’re so sweet. That said, if you’re assembling them in the dead of winter, and grape tomatoes look best at that time, then go for grape.
- Ciliegine Mozzarella Cheese: These are the “cherry” size mozzarella cheese balls, and I like the BelGioso brand. If you can’t find them, buy a ball of fresh mozzarella then chop it into pieces that are the same size as the cherry tomatoes. Look for either option at the specialty cheese counter in your grocery store.
- Fresh Basil: Snag a handful off your plant, or buy a clamshell from the store. If the leaves are large, fold them in half or into quarters before skewering. Alternatively you can drizzle the skewers with Homemade Pesto.
- Salt and pepper: I sprinkle the skewers with salt and pepper just before serving to make the flavor of each ingredient pop.
- Balsamic Vinegar: My favorite part of the Caprese Skewers is the luscious, sweet and sticky balsamic reduction that’s drizzled on top. Balsamic reduction is just boiled vinegar. It’s super easy to make, though I will say using store bought balsamic reduction is very easy and convenient too! I’ll share a couple options below.
Can I Make These Ahead of Time?
This is the most common question I get about Caprese Skewers! Feel free to assemble the skewers up to 12 hours ahead of time then store in an airtight container in the fridge. Save the salt, pepper, and balsamic reduction drizzle for just before serving.
If you make/refrigerate the skewers too far ahead of time the basil can wilt.
Either way, these Caprese Skewers take minutes to put together, and if you’ve got kids, they’re fun and easy for them to assemble too. Now let’s get to work!
How to Make Caprese Skewers
Step 1: Make the balsamic reduction.
Again, you can buy pre-made balsamic reduction at the store (Trader Joe’s has one, and I also really like Alessi brand balsamic reduction) but it’s a cinch to make at home.
Pour balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan over high heat then bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to medium then simmer until the vinegar has reached a thin maple syrup consistency. It will continue to thicken as it cools, FYI.
The best way to tell if it’s done is to scrape a spatula down the center of the pan. If you can see the bottom for a second or two, you’re set!
Pour the balsamic reduction into a small serving bowl then set aside. This can be made then refrigerated up to 5 days ahead of time.
Step 2: Assemble the Caprese Skewers.
Start by threading a mini mozzarella cheese ball onto a toothpick. If it’s for a group of friends or the holidays, I’ll pick up some pretty, specialty toothpicks, but regular ol’ toothpicks are just fine too.
Next add a fresh basil leaf, folded in half or into quarters if large, followed by a cherry tomato.
So cute, right?!
Continue to build your skewers using the rest of the ingredients.
Step 3: Season the skewers.
When you’re ready to serve, sprinkle the skewers with salt and pepper. If you’ve got fancy maldon finishing salt flakes — YES.
Step 4: Drizzle with balsamic reduction.
I usually go light handed with the balsamic reduction so it doesn’t look sloppy on the platter, but then include a small bowl of it with a serving spoon on the side so people can add more because it REALLY makes the skewers!
That’s all she wrote! Whether you’re trying this recipe for the first time or the 10th, I hope you love each and every bite of these fresh and flavor-packed Caprese Skewers with Balsamic Drizzle! Enjoy!
More Quick & Easy Appetizers
- Crock Pot Reuben Dip
- Boursin Bruschetta Dip
- Dirty Martini Dip
- Herb and Garlic Marinated Olives
- Fig & Prosciutto Goat Cheese Dip
- Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Dip
- Loaded Deviled Eggs
- The Best Fruit Dip
- Roasted Garlic and Prosciutto Cream Cheese Dip with Hot Honey
Ingredients
- 2 cups balsamic vinegar
- 10 oz cherry tomatoes
- 8 oz Ciliegine mozzarella cheese, also called "cherry" size, I like Belgioso
- .8 oz fresh basil leaves
- salt and pepper
- toothpicks
Directions
For the balsamic drizzle:
- Add balsamic vinegar to a small saucepan over high heat then bring to a boil. Turn heat down to medium then simmer until vinegar is the consistency of thin maple syrup, 20 minutes. You'll know it's done when you can see the bottom of the pan for a second or two after scraping a spatula across. Pour balsamic reduction into a small bowl then set aside to cool. Can be made then refrigerated up to 5 days ahead of time. Alternatively you could use store bought balsamic reduction (see notes).
For the skewers:
- Thread a cheese ball onto a toothpick, followed by a basil leaf - fold in half or into quarters if large. Finish with a cherry tomato then place onto a serving platter. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Just before serving, sprinkle skewers with salt and pepper then drizzle with cooled balsamic reduction. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Feel free to use store bought balsamic reduction to save time! I like Alessi brand.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Recipe photos by Ashley McLaughlin
I would like to bring these to Thanksgiving dinner. We travel about an hour, should I drizzle before we go or wait and drizzle when we arrive? They’d be set out immediately as an appetizer. Thank you!
So easy and absolutely delicious! Definitely will make again. There wasn’t one left on the platter and received several compliments on how delicious they were. Thanks for sharing the idea and recipe!!
Such a great bite! What is the dusting on the actual picture? Garlic powder?
Freshly ground pepper! :)
Make this for my husband as an appetizer today, 7-3-2019, and he LOVE it. Definitely will be making it again and again and again and again….
Awww, love to hear that, Jeri! Thanks for your feedback and recipe review!
Can they be made a day before?
I think you could assemble the mozzarella ball and tomato a day ahead, but I’d wait to add the basil until day of.
Can this be made ahead of time??
I made these for a big family dinner on Thanksgiving and they we a hit!
I used the assorted tiny tomatoes (red, orange and purple). I put the whole tomato on the toothpick and drizzled the balsamic reduction over all of them. They were so easy to make and looked fantastic on the plate!
Great recipe
I made this last year for a party and going to make them again this year. Any tips on the drizzle? When I tried to do it before, it never turned thick, no matter how much I cooked it. Is there a special kind/brand of balsamic to get?
Hmmm, I would maybe see if your balsamic vinegar has preservatives or extras in it? I usually use Alessi brand balsamic vinegar (though I have tried reducing a bunch of brands) and have never had an issue. A lot of stores sell balsamic reduction in a bottle now too, FYI!
You can find balsamic reduction in most grocery stores.
How long in advance can you make these? Any tips for storing prior to eating?
I made a special trip for mini mozzarella balls! They will definitely be making an appearance at Easter too! (And since I’m back in low-carb mode, these are just what I need!! Along with the chicken bruchetta, minus the pasta)
AMAZING. They were dubbed “summer on a stick” by my work colleague!
You can make as many or as few as you want depending on how many tomatoes and mozzarella balls you have – you can tear the basil leaves to accommodate!
Thank you for this recipe!! I made these for a large crowd Christmas party and they were a hit. Everyone loved that they tasted great and they could eat as many as they wanted guilt free. I will definitely be making these again in the future!!