Caprese Bites

Caprese Bites make an easy appetizer that’s ready in minutes. Fresh basil, mozzarella cheese, ripe tomatoes and a drizzle of balsamic glaze top toasted bread slices for the perfect bite. If you love caprese flavors, then this simple snack was made for you!

**july 2018 update! this recipe was originally posted in august 2014. i decided that the photos desperately needed updating, so i reshot the recipe (but still kept the ingredient list and directions the same). i also kept the original post/story below that i wrote four years ago!**

I’m mildly obsessed with anything involving caprese ingredients. Mozzarella, basil, tomatoes….that’s just about the perfect combination in my book.

Whether it’s in the form of a salad, sandwich, or bruschetta, it reminds me of summer.

Panera Bread used to make a delicious caprese salad. It was only available in the summer, and whenever it came out, I promptly went there to devour the salad.

I haven’t seen it at Panera for the past few years, but I always think about the delicious ingredients during the summer. Of course, other places offer caprese dishes, too. And when I’m in the mood, those dishes often appear on my plate, and are gone in a flash.

So it was no surprise that I was thinking of creamy mozzarella, fresh basil, and juicy tomatoes last weekend. Summer staples, right? But instead of putting those ingredients into a salad, I went with a different option. Caprese Bites!

Caprese Bites make an easy appetizer that’s ready in minutes. Fresh basil, mozzarella cheese, ripe tomatoes and a drizzle of balsamic glaze top toasted bread slices for the perfect bite. If you love caprese flavors, then this simple snack was made for you!

The ingredients for these Caprese Bites are fairly simple. French bread, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves, tomatoes, and olive oil. I chose to first toast the bread with a touch of olive oil before I layered the ingredients. I then added a slice of fresh mozzarella, diced tomatoes, and chopped basil leaves. Pop it in the oven for about ten minutes and voila! Caprese heaven!

One bite and I was sold. The fresh basil, combined with the mozzarella and tomatoes reminded me of eating my favorite salad at Panera. Feel free to drizzle with some balsamic vinegar for a bruschetta taste.

Looking for more caprese recipes? I’ve got you covered!

• Caprese Pasta Salad
• Toasted Caprese Garlic Bread
• Caprese Grilled Cheese

Yields About 20-25 bites

Caprese Bites

Caprese Bites make an easy appetizer that's ready in minutes. Fresh basil, mozzarella cheese, ripe tomatoes and a drizzle of balsamic glaze top toasted bread slices for the perfect bite. If you love caprese flavors, then this simple snack was made for you!

10 minPrep Time

15 minCook Time

25 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

• 1 French baguette, cut into 20-25 slices, 1/2 inch thick
• 2 tablespoona olive oil
• 5 campari (or Roma, plum, etc.) tomatoes, sliced and then each slice cut in half
• About 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped or cut in half, depending on the size
• 12 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into 20-25 thin discs
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Balsamic glaze for topping, if desired (I found a prepared glaze near the cooking vinegar section of my grocery store)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to medium broil and position oven rack near top.
2. Brush olive oil over tops of bread slices and place onto a large baking pan.
3. Place in the oven and broil 2-3 minutes, until the tops of the bread are just starting to turn golden. Remove from oven. Set oven to 400F.
4. Place one mozzarella slice, basil leave, and two tomato slices onto top of bread. (See note below)
5. Repeat with remaining ingredients until bread slices are prepared.
6. Sprinkle salt and pepper over each baguette slice.
7. Place into oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
8. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Drizzle with balsamic glaze, if desired.
9. Serve immediately.
10. Enjoy!

Notes

Alternatively, you can toast bread and then top with mozzarella cheese and bake until melted. Then, top with basil and tomatoes with cooking, if desired.

Bites are best served immediately.

Caprese bites will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

7.8.1.2

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https://www.pumpkinnspice.com/caprese-bites/