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These little Ladybug Caprese appetizers are an easy way to add some pizzaz to a classic favorite! You only need a few simple ingredients, and a few minutes to assemble them. Perfect for anything from brunch, to baby shower, to birthday party or summer dinner!
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What is Caprese?
Caprese is a classic Italian salad consisting of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil. The word, "caprese" actually means, "of Capri", and is usually referring to a native or inhabitant of the Island of Capri, off the coast of Italy. In the case of this salad, it means made with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. It is fresh and light and a perfect start to any meal, or as a light lunch on its own. In this recipe, we top a baguette slice with fresh pesto and caprese in the form of a ladybug!
For another amazing Caprese Appetizer, check out my recipe for Burrata Caprese Crostini!
What You Will Need
Ingredients
These little ladybugs are just as easy as making a regular caprese crostini. What you will need is:
- Fresh French Baguette- Cut this in about ยผ" slices
- Fresh Cherry Tomatoes-These will be cut in half for our little ladybug bodies.
- Fresh Mozzarella- A delicious soft layer for ladybugs to sit on. To make this step even easier, buy fresh mozzarella that is already sliced! If you can't find it, no biggie! You can easily slice it! It is just next level ease to have it already sliced! ๐
- Fresh Basil Leaves- a ladybug needs a leaf!
- Kalamata Olives- you will only need a few of these. We will slice them and use them for the ladybug heads.
- Fresh Pesto- Use this recipe for fresh pesto. We will spread it on the baguette slice.
- Balsamic Glaze- Check out this one on Amazon. We will use this for the spots on our bugs. It adds a sweet tanginess that is just so good!
- Olive Oil-Just a little to brush onto the baguette slices.
How to Make Ladybug Caprese
- Slice Baguette- Honestly, there really isn't much to it! Cut your baguette into thin, ยผ" slices and brush them with Olive Oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake them in a 400ยฐF oven for about 12 minutes, until they start to toast. Make sure they don't get too toasty. We want a crisp outer crust and a soft center.
- Spread Pesto- Next, you will spread each slice with pesto. This adds so much good garlicky basil flavor and creates a nice sticky base for the rest of the ingredients to sit on. If you want, you can purchase fresh pesto in the refrigerated section of your grocery store. It is usually near the cheese. Otherwise, this fresh pesto recipe is really simple and so delicious. Plus, it is always nice knowing EXACTLY what is in your food, right?
- Place mozzarella-Now, place a slice of fresh mozzarella on the pesto. If you purchased the pre-sliced mozzarella, just cut each of those slices in half. That will be the perfect size for your crostini. Otherwise, just slice a thin piece about the size of the baguette round and place it on top.
- Basil leaf-Place one whole fresh basil leaf on the cheese.
- Slice tomatoes- To create the little ladybug body, slice your cherry tomatoes in half, through the part where the stem was/is. Place one half, cut side down, on the basil leaf.
- Balsamic details- Pour some of your balsamic glaze into a little ramekin. Then, use a toothpick to create a line down the middle of the tomato slice, and then several little dots on either side of the line. Think ladybug!
- Kalamata ladybug heads- Slice your kalamata olives into 4 pieces, and place one slice at one end of the tomato to create a little head.
How to Serve
That's all there is to it for these caprese ladybugs! Place them on a white platter like this one on Amazon so they show up nicely. If you would like, you can scatter a few basil leaves on the platter for a little more leafy color, and serve!
A Few Notes...
- If you want to prep ahead of time, you can do a few things in advance. Slice and toast the baguette, make the pesto, slice the cheese, and olives, and keep them wrapped up individually. Simply cut the tomatoes in half ahead of time. However, that is one step I would suggest you do when you are ready to assemble the crostini just so the tomatoes keep their shape and juiciness.
- Now, if you make the pesto ahead of time, great! It is one of those things that gets more delicious as it sits a bit. Make sure it is stored in a jar or sealed container in the fridge. When you pull it out, it may look a little dull and off color, but simply stir it around and the bright green will still be there, underneath!
- Not to worry if you don't have a balsamic glaze! You can VERY easily make some by heating one cup of balsamic vinegar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir it occasionally, and when it has reduced by about half, (about 15-20 minutes) it is done! It will thicken even a little more as it cools. If you would like it a little sweeter (and stickier for the dots), add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar as it is reducing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! If you would like to use store bought pesto, feel free! Just make sure it is a basil pesto.
No problem! You can easily make your own glaze by bringing 1 cup of balsamic vinegar to a boil in a small saucepan. Let it boil gently for about 15 minutes, until it has reduced by about half. Let it cool completely. This will create a syrup like consistency which is a balsamic glaze and perfect for these little caprese ladybugs.
Unfortunately, no. The freezer will wreak havoc on the fresh tomatoes and basil. However, you can freeze the crostini (baguette slices) in a sealed ziploc bag or snap top container, and you can freeze the pesto in an ice cube tray and freeze until you are ready to use. This way the hard part is done, then when you are ready to make these ladybugs, all you have to do is add the fresh ingredients!
More Creative Recipes
- Deviled Egg Chicks- perfect for a baby shower, Easter brunch, or just to make a classic more fun!
- Phyllo Dough wrapped Date Party Poppers- These little party poppers pop not only from the phyllo dough, but also from the pop rocks!! So much fun and oh so tasty!
- Candied Bacon Roses- Add these easy little bacon roses to a charcuterie board, brunch, or baked potato to surprise and delight your guests!
- Almond Paste Pinecones- These are so easy to make, but look so beautiful and add a very special touch to a birthday cake, coffee cake, or charcuterie board! And bonus- they are delicious!
- Lavender Simple Syrup- this is a simple way to make something very special! Add it to a cup of tea, a latte, sparkling lemonade, or add it to whipped cream to top your favorite lemon dessert! Easy to make, delicious and can be stored in the fridge until you are ready to use!
I hope you enjoy making these little Caprese Ladybugs! They add so much fun, so I have been finding all kinds of excuses to make them! I would love to hear from you in the comments below. For what type of occasion did you make yours? Thank you and thank you for visiting Mollie in Montana~*! โฅ๏ธ
๐ Recipe
Ladybug Caprese Crostini
Ingredients
- 1 French Baguette, sliced into ยผ" slices. This should be about 20-25 slices
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 13 cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 25 Fresh Basil Leaves
- ยฝ Cup Basil Pesto
- 8 ounces Fresh Mozzarella, cut into 25 slices You may have cheese left over, you just need 25 slices for the 25 crostini.
- 7 Kalamata Olives, sliced into 4 pieces each
- ยผ Cup Balsamic Glaze
Instructions
Crostini
- Place sliced baguette on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
- Brush each slice with a little Olive Oil
- Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper
- Bake in 400โ oven for 10-12 minutes- until they start to turn golden
Assembling the Ladybug Caprese
- Spread each slice of baguette with Basil Pesto
- Place one slice of mozzarella on top of the pesto
- Place a whole Basil Leaf on each mozzarella slice
- Place one half cherry tomato, cut side down on the mozzarella
- Use a toothpick to dip it in the balsamic glaze and draw a little line on the ladybug's back, and small dots on either side, so it looks like a ladybug
- Place a kalamata slice at one end of the tomato for her little head
- Place Ladybug Caprese on a platter and serve!
Notes
Notes:
- If you don't have a balsamic glaze, you can make it yourself if you have regular balsamic vinegar. Simply bring 1 cup of balsamic vinegar to a boil and then turn the heat down and simmer until it reduces by half. This should take about 15 minutes. Stir it occasionally to make sure the bottom doesn't scorch.
- Another option for a thick and sweet balsamic glaze is by bringing 1 cup of balsamic vinegar and ยผ cup of brown sugar to a boil and simmering for 15 minutes. Either method works, but the additional brown sugar does make a slightly thicker (and sweeter!) glaze.
- You can find fresh, pre-sliced mozzarella if you want to make this even easier by skipping the "slice mozzarella" step! ๐
- You can buy pesto in the grocery store, or you can make a yummy one yourself with this recipe for fresh Basil Pesto.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know! ๐