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These Christmas Caprese Skewers are such a cute and festive appetizer for the holidays. Made with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil, each skewer is assembled to look like a little Grinch wearing a Santa hat.
“They’re easy to make with just a few simple ingredients and are perfect for Christmas parties, holiday gatherings, or even a Grinch movie night.”
-Becky
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These fun Grinch Caprese Skewers are an easy way to add something festive to your holiday appetizer table. There’s no cooking required, they can be partially prepped ahead of time, and the combination of tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic gives you all those classic Caprese flavors in an adorable Christmas appetizer.
If you love this recipe, try my festive Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board, easy Baked Brie, savory Cheesy Stuffed Mushrooms, creamy Fruit Dip, or fun Christmas Rice Krispie Treats.
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Will Need
- Cherry tomatoes: Juicy cherry tomatoes create both the Grinch bodies and the festive red Santa hats.
- Fresh mozzarella pearls: These are the perfect size for making the Grinch faces and the little pom-poms on top of the hats.
- String cheese: Thin slices create the white trim around each Santa hat.
- Fresh basil: Small basil leaves add fresh Caprese flavor while giving each Grinch his signature green color.
- Appetizer toothpicks: Use longer appetizer toothpicks so there’s plenty of room to layer all of the ingredients and create the Grinch shape.
The full list of ingredients and instructions is in the recipe card below.
Variations
- Add olive oil: Serve the skewers with a small dish of olive oil along with the balsamic glaze.
- Use balsamic vinegar: Swap the balsamic glaze for balsamic vinegar if that’s what you have on hand.
- Change the cheese: Small fresh mozzarella balls work best for creating the Grinch faces, but you can use another similar-sized fresh mozzarella if needed.
How to Make Christmas Caprese Skewers
- Make the Santa hats by cutting 12 cherry tomatoes in half horizontally.
- Cut the remaining 12 cherry tomatoes in half vertically to create the Grinch bodies.
- Cut six mozzarella pearls into quarters to make the small pom-poms for the tops of the hats.
- Slice both string cheese sticks into thin rounds for the white trim around the Santa hats.
- Begin assembling each skewer by threading one vertically cut cherry tomato half onto an appetizer toothpick.
- Wrap a small basil leaf around the front of one whole mozzarella pearl to create the Grinch face. Pierce the toothpick through the bottom of the basil leaf and mozzarella, keeping the basil wrapped around the front, and slide it down until it rests against the tomato body.
- Add one round slice of string cheese above the mozzarella to create the white trim on the hat.
- Slide one horizontally cut tomato half onto the toothpick with the flat side against the string cheese and the rounded side facing up.
- Finish the Santa hat with one quartered piece of mozzarella on top for the pom-pom. Continue assembling the remaining ingredients until you have 24 skewers.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve, then enjoy with salt, pepper, and balsamic glaze on the side.
Tips
- Use small basil leaves: Smaller leaves are easier to wrap around the mozzarella pearls and give the Grinch faces a better shape.
- Dry everything well: Pat the tomatoes and mozzarella dry before assembling the skewers to help keep them from becoming watery.
- Choose similar-sized tomatoes: Using tomatoes that are close in size will help all of your Grinch skewers look more uniform.
- Make them the same day: For the freshest basil and best presentation, assemble the skewers no more than about four hours before serving.
- Prep ahead: Cut the tomatoes and cheeses the day before and store them separately in the refrigerator. You can also add the tomato bodies to the toothpicks ahead of time and finish assembling the faces and hats the day you serve them.
FAQs
Yes. You can assemble them up to four hours before serving and keep them refrigerated. If you need to prep earlier, cut the tomatoes and cheeses the day before and assemble the skewers the following day. The basil will look best when the skewers are assembled close to serving time.
Serve them with balsamic glaze for dipping or drizzling, along with a little salt and pepper. You can also offer olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the side.
Yes. Because these skewers contain fresh mozzarella, keep them refrigerated until you’re ready to serve them and return any leftovers to the refrigerator promptly.
Storage
Store leftover Christmas Caprese Skewers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. The basil may begin to wilt and darken as it sits, so the skewers will look and taste their freshest within the first day or two.
More Easy Christmas Recipes
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Christmas Caprese Skewers
Equipment
- Appetizer toothpicks
- Cutting Board
- Knife
Ingredients
- 24 Cherry tomatoes, one pint, rinsed and dried
- 30 Fresh mozzarella pearls, drained
- 2 sticks String cheese
- 24 basil leaves, small leaves work best
Optional: Salt, pepper, and Balsamic glaze for serving
Instructions
- Make the Santa hats by cutting 12 cherry tomatoes in half horizontally.
- Cut the remaining 12 cherry tomatoes in half vertically to create the Grinch bodies.
- Cut six mozzarella pearls into quarters to make the small pom-poms for the tops of the hats.
- Slice both string cheese sticks into thin rounds for the white trim around the Santa hats.
- Begin assembling each skewer by threading one vertically cut cherry tomato half onto an appetizer toothpick.
- Wrap a small basil leaf around the front of one whole mozzarella pearl to create the Grinch face. Pierce the toothpick through the bottom of the basil leaf and mozzarella, keeping the basil wrapped around the front, and slide it down until it rests against the tomato body.
- Add one round slice of string cheese above the mozzarella to create the white trim on the hat.
- Slide one horizontally cut tomato half onto the toothpick with the flat side against the string cheese and the rounded side facing up.
- Finish the Santa hat with one quartered piece of mozzarella on top for the pom-pom. Continue assembling the remaining ingredients until you have 24 skewers.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve, then enjoy with salt, pepper, and balsamic glaze on the side.
Notes
- Use small basil leaves: Smaller leaves are easier to wrap around the mozzarella pearls and give the Grinch faces a better shape.
- Dry everything well: Pat the tomatoes and mozzarella dry before assembling the skewers to help keep them from becoming watery.
- Choose similar-sized tomatoes: Using tomatoes that are close in size will help all of your Grinch skewers look more uniform.
- Make them the same day: For the freshest basil and best presentation, assemble the skewers no more than about four hours before serving.
- Prep ahead: Cut the tomatoes and cheeses the day before and store them separately in the refrigerator. You can also add the tomato bodies to the toothpicks ahead of time and finish assembling the faces and hats the day you serve them.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These are such an easy appetizer for any party! Or just a simple snack.