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A delicious appetizer that's quick and easy to put together, this Caprese Crostini Recipe is always a crowd pleaser!
Full of fresh ingredients, this easy summer appetizer recipe is fun to make when your garden and/or farmer's market is in full swing! I love using the tomatoes and basil I've grown to create something tasty for my friends and family.
We're skipping the melted cheese in favor of a more classic caprese salad taste. Fresh basil, ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella are served up on a piece of crusty bread that's infused with garlic and garnished with a little balsamic drizzle. This recipe tastes like a fresh caprese salad served up on little toasts!
Serve this elegant appetizer with a glass of wine or a crisp, tart cocktail like a classic Bee's Knees or Cosmopolitan.
What's in Caprese Crostini
- Garlic - A peeled garlic clove can impart flavor in lots of ways. Here we’re using it for a subtle, fresh garlic flavor on the bread.
- Tomatoes - Choose your favorite fresh tomatoes or what looks best in the store (or growing in your garden!). Roma tomatoes slice up nicely to fill the whole piece of crostini. Grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, cut in half, work great too.
- Fresh Basil - There’s no substitution for fresh basil in a caprese recipe.
- Mozzarella Cheese - Slices of fresh mozzarella cheese are a classic caprese ingredient. Substitute slices of burrata cheese if you can’t find fresh mozzarella cheese.
- Balsamic Glaze - Find this in your local grocery store near the vinegars. Prefer to make your own balsamic glaze? Create a balsamic reduction by bring a half cup of balsamic vinegar to a simmer and cook until it’s reduced by half and coats the back of a spoon. Let it cool completely (it will thicken as it cools) before using.
How to Make Caprese Crostini Appetizers
Make the Crostini
Make your crostini according to the directions on my simple crostini recipe page.
Once the second side of the bread has toasted, rub one side of each piece of warm crostini with a peeled garlic clove before assembling.
Assemble to Crostini
Place a slice of mozzarella cheese on a piece of crostini.
Top with a slice of tomato or a cherry tomato, cut in half.
Repeat with remaining crostini.
Sprinkle salt on top of tomatoes.
Drizzle the crostinis with balsamic glaze.
Roughly chop or tear the fresh basil. Sprinkle generously over crostini.
Serve immediately.
Enjoy!
How Can I Make This Caprese Appetizer Ahead of Time?
You can do the prep for this mozzarella, tomato, basil appetizer ahead of time. The crostini can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored at room temperature in an airtight container or zip top bag. Save more time by buying sliced, fresh mozzarella. Then just assemble the crostini right before serving.
Make it Caprese Pesto Crostini
Not a fan of balsamic vinegar? Mix 1 tablespoon of olive oil into 2 tablespoons of basil pesto together, then drizzle the mixture on top of your caprese crostini in place of the tangy balsamic glaze.
Looking for Another Great Appetizer Recipe?
Some of my favorite recipes are for appetizers! Try my saucy Italian Meatball appetizer easily made with frozen meatballs, Apple, Bacon and Goat Cheese Crostini with fresh sage, Smoked Salmon Bites with Cucumber, SUPER easy Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels, or these Whipped Feta Bruschetta with crunchy pistachios.
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Easy Caprese Crostini Appetizer Recipe
Ingredients
- Half of a French baguette
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 12 cherry tomatoes
- 12 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
- 12 fresh basil leaves
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt
- 3 tablespoons balsamic drizzle
Instructions
Make the Crostini
- Slice the French bread into rounds.
- Brush both sides of the bread with olive oil and place in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Place under the broiler or in a toaster oven and toast until the top side is golden brown.
- Remove, flip crostini over, and return to the broiler to brown the other side.
- Once the second side has toasted, remove the bread slices from the oven and rub one side of each piece with a peeled garlic clove.
Assemble to Crostini
- On a piece of crostini, place a slice of mozzarella cheese, a slice of tomato (or a cherry tomato, cut in half). Repeat with remaining crostini.
- Sprinkle salt on top of tomatoes.
- Drizzle the crostinis with balsamic glaze.
- Roughly chop or tear the fresh basil. Sprinkle generously over crostini.
- Serve immediately.
Kristi says
Love these! Served at a party and were gone in minutes!
Katy McAvoy says
Love hearing this!