Heart Caprese Skewers are the perfect easy Valentine appetizer. They're made with just two ingredients, marinated fresh mozzarella balls (bococcini) and grape tomatoes. This no-cook appetizer recipe is ready in just five minutes!
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Valentine’s Day spreads are often filled with decadent baked goods, but let's make room for savory heart-shaped appetizers, too!
Looking for easy appetizers for a crowd? These heart shaped Caprese skewers showcase the classic combination of tomatoes and mozzarella and ready in a flash for a party or "party of two".
These Valentines caprese salad skewers are similar to my Tomato and Mozzarella Skewers, except they feature grape tomatoes cut diagonally to form a heart and you don't have to marinate the fresh mozzarella balls.
This heart-shaped grape tomato mozzarella skewers recipe comes together quickly, so making a large batch of this appetizer for Valentine’s Day or a snack for National Heart Month doesn’t take much time.
Give your guests options! This Mozzarella Tomato Basil Salad also shares the same fresh flavors as caprese on skewers, you just eat it with a fork!
See? There are savory options whether you’re preparing homemade food for a romantic date, Galentine’s Day, or celebrating with your family. These no-cook, last-minute snacks are a great way to say "I love you".
Caprese Skewers Ingredients
Only 2 ingredients are needed but I give you plenty of options in the Substitutions section to use what you have or tailor the flavor to your liking.
Scroll down to printable recipe for exact ingredient quantities.
Tomatoes – Grape or mini Marzano tomatoes are the best choice for this recipe. They have a slightly longer shape, making the heart more noticeable when cut and assembled. They also hold their shape better than softer tomatoes.
Marinated Mozzarella Balls – The chopping and measuring for the marinade is already done for you. You can buy a couple different brands in 8 and 12 ounce containers at Walmart and Trader Joe's. For a crowd, you can find it at Costco and Sam's.
Fresh Basil Sprigs (Optional) – Even if the mozzarella is already marinated with basil, a little fresh basil on the platter can add a splash of green color to complete the Italian colors of Caprese.
How to Make Heart Caprese Skewers
These marinated caprese mini skewers couldn't be any easier!
Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe with detailed instructions.
- Cut the grape tomatoes in half at an angle, flip one side, and press them back together to create heart shapes.
Tip: Pat the cut side of the tomatoes with paper towels before pressing them back together to form the heart shape. This helps them hold together better and less messy.
- Thread the heart shaped tomatoes onto skewers, alternately, with marinated mozzarella balls.
That's it! It's that easy!
Pro Tips
Use longer grape tomatoes for better heart shapes. The longer the tomato, the more pronounced the heart shape will be once cut and assembled. If you can find mini Marzano tomatoes, they work even better since they’re extra long. Grape tomatoes are the second best tomatoes to use.
Save the mozzarella marinade for a quick dressing. Don’t throw away that flavorful oil! It makes a delicious salad dressing or a drizzle for toasted bread.
Substitutions & Variations
Make your own marinated mozzarella – If you can’t find pre-marinated mozzarella balls, you can marinate plain ones yourself. Just toss them in olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, and a pinch of salt (or Italian salad dressing), then let them sit for at least an hour.
Try smaller mozzarella pearls – If bocconcini feels too big for your skewers, smaller mozzarella pearls are a good alternative.
Use different tomato varieties – Swap out classic red grape tomatoes for yellow, orange, or even heirloom cherry tomatoes. Who wouldn’t love a fun pop of color in their Valentine’s spread?
Caprese skewers with salami – Fan fold a small slice of salami or other cured meat and thread it onto the skewer along with the mozzarella and tomatoes.
You can also cut up mozzarella into cubes and marinate them in a good Italian salad dressing if you can't find fresh mozzarella balls or want to make appetizers for a crowd and want to save money.
Helpful information
A Caprese usually includes tomatoes, olive oil, basil, fresh mozzarella and a sprinkle of salt. Some versions also add balsamic glaze for extra flavor.
How to serve
Serve these two-ingredient Caprese skewers alongside other delicious snacks. Make them a part of your Jarcuterie or serve on a charcuterie board.
Another idea is to arrange them in a wreath shape to make the presentation even more special. Instead of just laying them out in rows, forming a circle on a serving board or charcuterie board makes them look even prettier.
Two to four skewers are enough for a romantic dinner appetizer or you can plan ahead and make a big batch for a Galentine’s Day or Valentines party with friends and family.
How to store
Store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container, then transfer them to a serving plate or board before serving. In case the mozzarella looks a little dry, just drizzle a bit of the marinade to bring back its irresistible flavor before serving.
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Heart Caprese Skewers
SAVE THIS RECIPE
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 grape or mini Marzano tomatoes (about 1 cup)
- 1 (12-ounce) container marinated mozzarella balls (bocconcini) (23 to 24 balls in container)
- Fresh basil sprigs, optional
Instructions
- Cut each grape tomato in half diagonally.
- Pat the tomatoes dry. Use a paper towel to soak up excess juice, helping the two halves stay together.
- Flip one half upside down and press it together with the other half to form a heart shape.
- Drain the mozzarella balls. Don’t discard the marinade—it makes a flavorful salad dressing!
- Thread a marinated mozzarella ball onto a skewer, followed by a heart-shaped tomato, then another mozzarella ball. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
- Place the skewers on a platter and add fresh basil.
- 1 dozen heart caprese skewers
Notes
- If your skewers are too long, they may feel unbalanced or tricky to eat. Use 4 to 5-inch picks for easy grabbing and serving.
- This recipe makes an even dozen appetizers but easily doubles to make easy appetizers for a crowd.
- Mozzarella pearls are smaller than mini mozzarella balls but can be used to stretch the dollar.
- In a pinch and to save money, you can cut a block of mozzarella cheese into small cubes and marinate them in an Italian salad dressing.
Nutrition
Nutrition analysis on GritsAndGouda.com recipes are mostly calculated on an online nutrition calculator. I am not a dietitian and nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on products used.
Scott p
Very clever idea!
Kathleen
Thank you! I'm all about a 2 ingredient recipe! I love the hearts, too!