Picnic Caprese Skewers (Printable)

Fresh cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil on skewers finished with a sweet balsamic drizzle.

# Ingredient List:

→ Skewers

01 - 24 cherry tomatoes
02 - 24 mini mozzarella balls (bocconcini or ciliegine)
03 - 24 fresh basil leaves
04 - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
05 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Balsamic Drizzle

07 - 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey

# Directions:

01 - In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine balsamic vinegar and honey. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is reduced by half and thickened. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
02 - On each 6-inch cocktail skewer, thread one cherry tomato, one mozzarella ball, and one basil leaf in sequence. Repeat this pattern to fill the skewer, finishing with a cherry tomato.
03 - Arrange the assembled skewers on a serving platter. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and season evenly with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
04 - Just before serving, lightly drizzle the cooled balsamic reduction over the skewers, or serve it on the side for dipping.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get to feel like you spent hours in the kitchen when the whole thing takes less time than a coffee break.
  • No oven, no stove anxiety, just fresh ingredients doing what they were meant to do together.
  • These travel beautifully to picnics, potlucks, or impromptu gatherings without falling apart.
02 -
  • Don't skip the step of reducing the balsamic—a thin vinegar drizzle tastes bitter and slides right off, but a syrupy glaze sticks around and tastes like dessert.
  • If your tomatoes are watery or your mozzarella is cold from the fridge, pat them dry before assembling so your skewers don't get soggy.
03 -
  • Buy mozzarella from a good source if you can—the difference between grocery store balls and ones from an Italian market is the difference between okay and memorable.
  • If you're making the balsamic reduction ahead, store it in a small jar and gently warm it for ten seconds before drizzling so it flows beautifully instead of sitting thick on top.
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