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Caprese Sticks

By: Cassie Johnston / Updated: August 11, 2023 / Posted: May 7, 2018

Side angle shot of Caprese Sticks on a white plate

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I seriously adore caprese salad. It is everything I love about good, healthy food—simple, colorful, flavorful, fresh. The only way to improve on a classic like caprese salad? Make it mini and bite-sized!

These caprese sticks are one of my go-to healthy summer snacks. They also make an excellent backyard barbecue appetizer! They take just a few minutes to assemble, and my guests always seem to gobble them up (especially if you can get your hands on some homegrown cherry tomatoes—so much sweet flavor in those babies).

Overhead shot of Caprese Sticks on a white plate

This “recipe” is actually so incredibly easy that I feel a little guilty posting it. But hey, a good snack should be incredibly easy, right? Quite honestly, I could write the entire recipe in one sentence: place a cherry tomato on a toothpick, give it a basil leaf hat, add on a ball of fresh mozzarella, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Boom. Done.

If you’re feeling really fancy, you can drizzle a little bit of good balsamic vinegar and olive oil on top, but that’s only if you’re really in the mood. They absolutely don’t need it.

Side angle shot of Caprese Sticks lined up on a grey background

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These little mini balls of fresh mozzarella are probably in the refrigerated deli case at your local supermarket. Many times, they also sell marinated ones that add an even bigger punch of flavor to the sticks!

I like to keep a container of them on hand in the summer so I can make caprese sticks whenever the tomatoes and basil are ready to harvest. Sometimes just a big pile of these sticks is my favorite summertime lunch! Enjoy.

Want more easy summer snacks?

 

Side angle shot of Caprese Sticks on a white plate

Caprese Sticks

These light and fresh Caprese Sticks are a quick protein-packed snack! They’re colorful, flavorful and ready for summer.
4.62 from 13 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Snacks
Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 53kcal
Author: Cassie Johnston

Equipment

  • 24 long toothpicks

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces fresh Ciliegine mozzarella balls
  • 24 cherry tomatoes about 1 pint
  • 12 large basil leaves cut in half (or 24 small leaves)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Thread a mozzarella ball, basil leaf (cut in half if large), and a cherry tomato onto a toothpick. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
  • Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Notes

Serve with a drizzle of olive oil or balsamic reduction for an easy and fresh appetizer platter.

Nutrition

Serving: 2sticks | Calories: 53kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 17mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 187IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 0.2mg
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Cassie is a holistic nutritionist, cookbook author, and all-around food lover. She grew up cooking dinner with her parents every evening, and her passion for home cooking has been strong ever since. Cassie is the author of two published cookbooks (Cooking with Greek Yogurt and Chia, Quinoa, Kale, Oh My!) and dozens of recipes published in major magazines and newspapers. Cassie has been sharing her award-winning recipes on Wholefully since 2010. She loves dark chocolate, homegrown tomatoes, motorsports, and anything that sparkles. She lives in Indiana with her family on a small homestead.

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4.62 from 13 votes (13 ratings without comment)

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17 Comments

  3. These look adorable and yummy can’t wait to try! Great idea for my hubby’s lunch-you could even dip them in balsamic dressing!

    Reply

  4. What a GREAT idea! I never thought to make ’em up that way. Portable easy to make and would be great snack food at a Super Bowl party! Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply

    1. No problem! My only recommendation would be to leave the salt off until right before you serve. The salt brings out the delicious juices of the tomatoes, but can make for a messy plate.

      Reply

  5. YUM! These look great! And you’re right, they would make great appetizers.I will definitely be putting these on my list of things to try out. Lately I’ve been on a edamame kick.They sell a box of little microwaveable bags at Costco. 150 calories per bag but you get a lot for that(you could easily share with someone) and edamame is really good for you.

    Reply