Name: Mini Caprese Skewers Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 36 Cherry tomatoes; 18 Mini mozzarella balls, (also called Bocconcini, drain and pat dry); 18 Basil leaves, chopped; 2-3 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil; 1-2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar; pinch Sea Salt; pinch Freshly ground black pepper; 2 tbsp Sun-Dried Tomatoes, packed in oil, (roughly chopped, optional)

Mini Caprese Skewers are a bite-sized taste of Italian summer!

This is a great appetizer to pull together when you are limited on time or oven space because there is hardly any prep time and zero cook time! 15-minutes is all you need. You can make mini Caprese skewers ahead of time, refrigerate and drizzle the olive oil and balsamic right before serving.

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What are Caprese Skewers?

Caprese skewers are a take-off of Italian style Caprese Salad. The salad is overlapping pieces of tomatoes and mozzarella, sprinkled with basil and dressed with a little extra virgin olive oil and balsamic.

I love Caprese Salad, but these are easier to eat if you have a crowd because they are finger food. I like to use a 3.5″ wooden skewer, or a sprig of rosemary, but you can adjust based on what is available in your area. In a pinch just use a toothpick and make them a bit smaller.

Bright pops of color from the basil and tomato will add needed color to any appetizer menu, game day party or BBQ buffet. Christmas buffets are perfect for these little nibbles because of the green and red colors.

caprese skewers — **Rosemary sprigs are a great for Caprese Skewers**

Fresh ingredients are the key:

These colorful skewers do have one requirement: every ingredient should be super fresh! You taste the freshness in every bite of these little morsels, so don’t skimp on the quality here.

Fresh Cherry Tomatoes — **Cherry tomatoes fresh from the garden**

Here is what you need for Caprese Skewers:

Short wooden skewers – 3.5″ is the ideal size or Rosemary Sprigs
Cherry tomatoes
Mini mozzarella balls (also called Bocconcini) – find these packed in water in the cheese section of your market
Basil leaves
Extra virgin olive oil
Balsamic vinegar – choose the best quality
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper – to taste
Sun-Dried tomatoes, packed in oil, optional for drizzle

How to make Mini Caprese Skewers:

Assemble each skewer in this order:

If using rosemary skewers, clean, strip of needles, and cut to size (see below for details)
Cherry tomato
One bocconcini
Another cherry tomato
Repeat with each skewer
Arrange on a shallow but large platter
Sprinkle with chopped basil (alternately you can thread a basil leaf on the skewer)
Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
If desired, top with a few tablespoons of roughly chopped sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil. This addition will give the platter an added punch of flavor and color.

Make ahead for easy entertaining

Mini Caprese Skewers are a great make-ahead. Just assemble fully, up to 12 hours ahead of time, cover and refrigerate. When ready to serve add basil, olive oil, balsamic, salt, pepper, and sun dried tomatoes.

How to make rosemary skewers:

Rosemary skewers add such a whimsical touch to any skewer and they are super simple to make:

Cut single stems of rosemary with fluffy tops
Wash very well and pat dry
Remove all of the needles except for the fluffy top
Cut to size. Cut the bottom of the sprig on an angle so you can easily thread the tomatoes and mozzarella onto the skewers

Rosemary sprigs — Rosemary Skewers before and after

3 Stripped Rosemary Sprigs — Rosemary Skewers before and after

Looking for other great appetizers?

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5 from 5 votes