Easy No-Mess Caprese Skewer Cups
A fresh, vibrant, and mess-free take on the classic Caprese salad, served in individual skewer cups perfect for easy entertaining and grab-and-go enjoyment.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 20–25 cherry tomatoes, washed and halved if large
- 20–25 fresh mozzarella pearls (bocconcini), drained
- 20 large fresh basil leaves, washed and patted dry
- 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt to taste (preferably flaky sea salt)
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 20–25 mini skewers or toothpicks
- 20–25 small clear cups or shot glasses
Instructions
- Rinse cherry tomatoes and basil leaves thoroughly. Halve the larger tomatoes to bite-size pieces. Drain mozzarella pearls and pat them dry on paper towels.
- In a mixing bowl, gently combine tomatoes and mozzarella with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Toss lightly to coat.
- Thread one cherry tomato (or half if large), followed by a folded basil leaf, and then a mozzarella pearl onto each mini skewer. Repeat until all ingredients are used.
- Stand 3–4 skewers upright in each small cup to serve.
- Drizzle about half a teaspoon of balsamic glaze over each cup’s contents using a squeeze bottle or small spoon.
- Optionally, sprinkle a few red pepper flakes for heat and add a pinch of garlic powder to the olive oil mix for extra flavor.
Notes
Pat mozzarella and basil dry to avoid excess moisture. Assemble skewers ahead and refrigerate without balsamic glaze; drizzle glaze just before serving to keep basil fresh. Use firm cherry or grape tomatoes to prevent sogginess. Toothpicks can substitute mini skewers if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup with 3 skewers
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
Keywords: Caprese, appetizer, skewers, no-mess, easy entertaining, fresh, mozzarella, basil, cherry tomatoes, balsamic glaze