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This Christmas Caprese Salad features juicy tomato slices, fresh mozzarella and basil leaves arranged in the shape of a candy cane. Serve it as a holiday salad or as a simple Christmas appetizer. This fun and festive candy cane caprese is always a hit around the holidays and the best part is that it’s super easy to make and can be assembled in minutes!
Why You’ll Love This Candy Cane Caprese
Looking for a fun and super easy to make salad or appetizer this Christmas season? Then this one’s for you! Caprese salad isn’t just for summer (although I do love this delicious burrata caprese on hot summer days). It’s also naturally festive with its red, white and green colors which makes it easy to transform into a fun holiday dish by simply arranging into the shape of a candy cane.
- Quick and easy to make: It may look impressive but only requires a few simple ingredients and takes a few minutes to assemble!
- Versatile: It can be served as a festive salad or side dish alongside a holiday meal or as a Christmas appetizer with some crostini.
- Perfect for holiday entertaining: This fun and beautiful dish is always a crowd pleaser!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Only a few simple ingredients are needed to make this festive Caprese salad…
- Tomatoes: I like to use vine-ripened tomatoes since I find they are usually the best tasting ones in the winter.
- Fresh mozzarella: The logs of fresh mozzarella are easy to slice up for this. However, you can also use a ball of fresh mozzarella or large bocconcini balls.
- Fresh Basil: Adds so much delicious fresh flavor and provides the green stripe to the “candy cane”.
- Dressing: To dress the candy cane caprese, drizzle over some extra virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze (I like this balsamic glaze) followed by a sprinkle of flaky sea salt like Maldon sea salt flakes and freshly ground pepper. Dress it before serving or place each of the toppings into little bowls to allow guests to add themselves.
How To Assemble
The assembly is as easy as 1-2-3!
- Slice tomatoes and mozzarella. Slice the tomatoes into thick slices with a small serrated knife . Slice the mozzarella a similar thickness to the tomatoes.
- Assemble. Grab a serving platter or wooden board. Overlap the tomato slices, mozzarella slices and fresh basil leaves in an alternating pattern to form a candy cane shape.
- Dress it. Before serving, drizzle over some extra virgin olive oil, balsamic glaze and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
Ways To Serve It
This Christmas Caprese can be served in a variety of ways.
- Serve it as a salad or side dish: This is such a fun and festive salad to add to your holiday table. It’s also the perfect Christmas side dish especially if you make lasagna for Christmas like I do! Or alongside this fun and easy Burrata Snowman Spaghetti. It also pairs well with lots of other mains!
- Serve it as an appetizer: Turn it into a Christmas appetizer board perfect for holiday entertaining. Serve on a wooden board with crostini (toasted baguette slices) and place the olive oil and balsamic glaze in separate small bowls. Guests can then build their own caprese crostini.
Variations
Here are a few possible variations:
- Make individual servings: You could make some cute, small individual salads by using sliced cherry tomatoes and baby bocconcini. Arrange on individual salad plates!
- Drizzle on your favorite vinaigrette: Switch it up by dressing this salad with your favorite vinaigrette or dressing. This pomegranate vinaigrette would be great!
- Arrange into a Christmas wreath: Instead of arranging into a candy cane shape, you can also arrange the ingredients into the shape of a Christmas wreath.
More Festive Christmas Salads
Looking for some more fun and festive Christmas salad ideas? Then check these out!
- Christmas Wreath Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
- Smoked Salmon Wreath by It’s Not Complicated Recipes
- Chicken Cobb “Christmas Tree” Holiday Salad by Two Healthy Kitchens
- Easy Christmas Salad Recipe by Julie Blanner
And if you love Caprese Salad then make sure to also check out this delicious Burrata Caprese for a delicious twist on the classic.
Let me know if you make this Candy Cane Caprese over the Christmas season! Leave me a comment below or tag me on Instagram.
Festive Christmas Caprese Salad
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: varies
- Category: Salad, Appetizer
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Christmas Caprese Salad! Serve it as a holiday salad or as a simple Christmas appetizer. This fun and festive candy cane caprese is always a hit around the holidays and the best part is that it’s super easy to make and can be assembled in minutes!
Ingredients
- 2–3 large vine-ripened tomatoes, sliced
- 1 log fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced (see notes)
- Fresh basil leaves
- Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Balsamic glaze, for drizzling
- Flaky sea salt (like Maldon salt)
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Assemble: On a large platter or board, overlap the tomato slices, mozzarella slices and fresh basil leaves in an alternating pattern to form a candy cane shape. See the pictures in the post for a visual.
- Dress: Right before serving, drizzle over some olive oil and balsamic glaze and season with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Enjoy!
Notes
- Mozzarella: I like to use a log of fresh mozzarella since it is easy to slice up evenly. You can also slice up a ball of fresh mozzarella or large bocconcini (not baby size).
- Adjust quantity: The listed quantities will produce a Candy Cane Caprese the size shown in the photos. Use more or less tomatoes and fresh mozzarella to create the size you want. This is a super flexible recipe!
- Balsamic Glaze: You can make your own balsamic glaze or purchase one. I used the Nonna Pia’s Classic Balsamic Glaze which is delicious and made from quality ingredients. (Find it on Amazon or Well.ca)
- Make an appetizer board: Turn this salad into an easy Christmas appetizer by serving on a wooden board with crostini (toasted baguette slices) on the side and the olive oil and balsamic glaze in little bowls. Guests can then build their own caprese crostini.
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Going to make the appetizer version for a holiday party I have this weekend. Thank you for the fantastic idea!
You’re welcome! Have fun at the holiday party!
Such a creative idea, and so delicious too! Love it.
Thank you! Happy that you enjoyed it!
What a cute and festive twist on a traditional caprese salad! Can’t wait to make this for our holiday party coming up!
I’m sure it will be a hit! Have a wonderful party!
Love this caprese salad. The flavors are fantastic, and the candy cane shape is perfect for my Holiday table.
So delicious and pretty for Christmas! Thanks for leaving a comment!
How cute! I love tomato and fresh mozzarella at breakfast, so this would be an awesome Christmas breakfast treat!
Great idea! Never thought of it for breakfast but it would be great as part of a European style breakfast spread.
OMG — I love what you did with this! So festive and so smart 🙂
Thanks! Easy way to add some festive fun to the dinner table.
This is so festive!! It’s adorable. I also love how easy it is to throw together to impress!
Thanks! Always good to have a few easy things up your sleeve at this time of year:)
I can’t get over how cleaver this is. I just love it!
Thanks! Why should dessert have all the fun at Christmas?
Cute, festive idea for a Christmas table, and so simple.
Thanks! Always a bonus when something is quick and simple at this time of year!
Such a lovely, festive idea – definitely ideal for a Christmas table!
Thanks! I always love to have a little fun with food on holidays:)