Caprese Christmas Tree

A Christmas tree made out of tomato, basil and mozzarella skewers on a wooden board.

5 from 2 votes

Bring a pop of holiday cheer to your gatherings with this Caprese Christmas Tree – a crowd-pleasing appetizer that combines the flavors of a classic caprese salad in a festive, edible arrangement.

Prep Time30

Total Time30

Course: Appetizers

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Christmas Appetizer, Healthy Appetizers

Servings: Skewers

Calories: 38kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

16 ounces small grape (or cherry) tomatoes (See Note 1)
12 ounces bocconcini (mini mozzarella balls)
35 small basil leaves (See Note 2)
Large basil leaves for garnishing
2 tablespoons store-bought balsamic glaze plus more on the side (See Note 3)
Kosher salt optional
Extra virgin olive oil on the side (optional)
Bamboo appetizer skewers

Instructions

Thread the tomatoes, bocconcini, and small basil leaves onto small appetizer skewers. I threaded them in this order: tomato, basil leaf, bocconcini, tomato.
Arrange the skewers on a serving board, forming the shape of a Christmas tree. First, arrange the skewers to form the outer “branches” of the tree. Fill in the center of the tree with extra tomatoes (not on skewers). These tomatoes will form the base to support the remaining skewers. Arrange the remaining skewers on top of the base to form the rest of the branches (see photos).
Tuck the large basil leaves around the base of the skewers to look like extra greenery on the tree. Use several tomatoes to form a star at the top of the tree and arrange several skewers at the bottom of the tree for a trunk.
Using a small spoon, drizzle the balsamic glaze over the tree. Place a bowl of balsamic glaze, along with a small spoon, on the side in case your guests want to drizzle on extra glaze.
For extra seasoning (optional), sprinkle the tree with kosher salt and serve with a bowl of extra virgin olive oil for drizzling.

Notes

Note 1: This amount of tomatoes includes the extra tomatoes used for the base (see instructions) and the star at the top of the tree.

Note 2: If you run out of small basil leaves, cut larger leaves in half lengthwise.

Note 3: There are plenty of good store-bought balsamic glazes available. However, it's also very easy to make at home. To make your balsamic glaze, simmer good-quality balsamic vinegar on low heat until it thickens to your desired consistency. Optionally, add a touch of honey, maple syrup or brown sugar for sweetness.

Note 4: The kosher salt and olive oil are not included in the nutrition information calculation.

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I provide nutritional information for my recipes as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using the LoseIt! calculator. While I attempt to provide information that is as accurate as possible, you should calculate the nutritional information independently before relying on it.

Nutrition