Ladybug Caprese Crostini
With only a few ingredients, these little Caprese Ladybugs are an easy way to add some pizzaz to a classic favorite!
Ingredients
- 1 French Baguette, sliced into ¼" slices. This should be about 20-25 slices
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 13 cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 25 Fresh Basil Leaves
- ½ 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
- ¼ 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 400℉ 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 ¼ 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! :)
- You can buy pesto in the grocery store, or you can make a yummy one yourself with this recipe for fresh Basil Pesto.
Nutrition
Calories: 89kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 184mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 230IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 0.5mg