Quick Christmas Tree Caprese Skewers with Pesto: Easy Appetizer
These festive caprese skewers are stacked like little Christmas trees with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and pesto. They’re quick, easy, and perfect for holiday gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 10-12 skewers 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine size)
- 1/2 cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- Fresh basil leaves (small to medium)
- Toothpicks or short skewers
- Optional: balsamic glaze for drizzling
- Optional: pine nuts or chopped pistachios for garnish
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients (5 minutes): Take mozzarella balls out of the fridge and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. Wash and thoroughly dry cherry tomatoes. Pat each dry with a paper towel. Halve any tomatoes larger than a quarter.
- Set up your assembly station (2 minutes): Lay out toothpicks on a clean surface. Spoon pesto into a small bowl. Arrange basil leaves nearby.
- Build the tree base (2 minutes per skewer): Thread one cherry tomato onto a toothpick, pushing it about halfway down.
- Add the first cheese layer (1 minute per skewer): Slide a mozzarella ball onto the toothpick above the tomato.
- Layer in the basil (30 seconds per skewer): Fold a small basil leaf in half and slide it onto the toothpick between the mozzarella and next tomato, folded edge inward.
- Repeat the pattern (3 minutes per skewer): Add another tomato, another mozzarella ball, and another folded basil leaf. Repeat for a total of three layers, ending with a slightly smaller tomato on top.
- Finish with the tree topper (30 seconds per skewer): Tuck a small basil leaf or tiny rosemary sprig into the top tomato tip.
- Drizzle with pesto (1 minute for whole batch): Arrange skewers on a platter. Drizzle a small amount of pesto over each, or serve pesto on the side for dipping.
- Optional balsamic finish (1 minute): Drizzle balsamic glaze in a zigzag pattern over the platter.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate (0-30 minutes): Best served within 30 minutes. If making ahead, cover and refrigerate up to 2 hours. Let sit at room temperature 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
For best texture, let mozzarella come to room temperature before assembling. Pat tomatoes and mozzarella dry so pesto sticks. Don’t overload toothpicks—three layers is the sweet spot. If basil leaves are large, tear in half instead of folding. For dairy-free, use vegan mozzarella and dairy-free pesto. For nut-free, skip pine nut garnish and check pesto label.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 skewers
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 6
Keywords: Christmas tree caprese skewers, holiday appetizer, easy caprese skewers, pesto skewers, festive appetizer, no-cook appetizer