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Best Ever Festive Christmas Tree Caprese Skewers Recipe

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These Festive Christmas Tree Caprese Skewers with Basil Pesto are a quick, easy, and stunning appetizer perfect for holiday parties. Made with fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, basil, and a vibrant homemade pesto, they’re a crowd-pleasing bite-sized treat that looks like a tiny Christmas tree.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pint (about 300g) cherry tomatoes, preferably a mix of red and yellow
  • 8 ounces (225g) fresh mozzarella pearls, or small ciliegine mozzarella, drained
  • 1 large bunch of fresh basil leaves, washed and thoroughly dried (about 30–40 leaves)
  • Wooden toothpicks or small skewers (about 3-4 inches long)
  • 2 cups (packed, about 40g) fresh basil leaves
  • 1/3 cup (40g) grated Parmesan cheese (Parmigiano-Reggiano recommended)
  • 1/3 cup (40g) pine nuts or walnuts, lightly toasted
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) balsamic glaze, for drizzling (optional)
  • Small star-shaped pieces of yellow bell pepper or a star-shaped cracker, for the tree topper (optional)

Instructions

  1. Make the Pesto (if using homemade): Toast pine nuts or walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden. Let cool. Add basil leaves, toasted nuts, grated Parmesan, and peeled garlic cloves to a food processor. Pulse to chop. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in extra-virgin olive oil until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. If using store-bought pesto, give it a good stir.
  2. Prepare the Ingredients: Wash and thoroughly dry cherry tomatoes and basil leaves. If cherry tomatoes are large, cut them in half crosswise. Drain mozzarella pearls and pat dry with a paper towel.
  3. Assemble the Skewers: Take a wooden toothpick. Thread one basil leaf onto the toothpick, pushing it down about an inch from the bottom. Add one cherry tomato (the base). Add one mozzarella pearl. Add another basil leaf, folding if large. Add another cherry tomato. Finish with one more basil leaf and a final mozzarella pearl on top. For the tree topper, add a small star-shaped piece of yellow bell pepper or a star-shaped cracker. Repeat with remaining toothpicks.
  4. Arrange and Serve: Place finished skewers on a serving platter. Just before serving, drizzle pesto generously over the top of each skewer. Finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze, if using. Serve immediately.

Notes

For the best results, use small mozzarella pearls and cherry tomatoes for perfect one-bite skewers. Assemble within 30 minutes of serving to prevent basil from wilting. Pesto can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the fridge with a thin layer of olive oil on top. For a vegan version, use vegan mozzarella and vegan Parmesan or nutritional yeast. To keep pesto bright green, blanch basil leaves in boiling water for 10 seconds, then shock in an ice bath before making pesto.

Nutrition

Keywords: Christmas tree caprese skewers, festive appetizer, holiday appetizer, caprese skewers, basil pesto, easy appetizer, no-cook appetizer, Christmas party food

Find it online: https://ovenmila.com/best-ever-festive-christmas-tree-caprese-skewers-recipe/