This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
I love caprese salad so I thought, why not put it on a piece of crusty bread and make canapés? These went quickly between my hubby and I. Of course my son loved them too, there is, after all, melted cheese on top.
Caprese crostini are an easy and tasty appetizer to serve at parties. They only take about 10 minutes to assemble, but they look fancy and taste great. The marinated basil topping makes this taste like authentic caprese salad.
Ingredients for Caprese Crostini:
1 long baguette, sliced into 1/2″ thick rings
Olive oil, to brush the baguette
2-3 roma tomatoes, sliced into 1/4″ thick rings
8 oz Fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into 1/4″ thick slices (buy cheese the width of your baguette)
Fresh basil, thinly sliced
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Salt and black pepper, to taste
How To Make Caprese Crostini (Canapés):
1. Slice bread and brush both sides lightly with extra virgin olive oil. Bake 5 minutes at 350˚F to lightly toast it (toasting the bread keeps the bread from getting moist from the cheese).
2. Top with a slice of mozzarella then sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Add a slice of tomato and sprinkle the tops with salt and pepper again. Did I mention these are homegrown tomatoes? So so good! Bake at 350˚F for 5-7 minutes or until cheese is lightly melted.
3. A few minutes before the crostini are finished baking, in a small ramekin, mix together 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar and 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil until well combined. Toss in the sliced fresh basil and stir gently. Top each crostini with the marinated basil.
Caprese Crostini (Canapes)
Ingredients
- 1 long baguette, sliced into 1/2" thick rings
- Olive oil, to brush the baguette
- 2-3 roma tomatoes, sliced into 1/4" thick rings
- Fresh mozarella cheese, sliced into 1/4" thick (buy cheese the width of your baguette)
- Fresh basil, thinly sliced
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Slice bread and brush both sides lightly with extra virgin olive oil. Bake 5 minutes at 350˚F to lightly toast it (toasting the bread keeps the bread from getting moist from the cheese).
- Top with a slice of mozzarella and a slice of tomato. Sprinkle the tops with salt and pepper and bake at 350˚F for 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- A few minutes before the crostini are finished baking, in a small ramekin, mix together 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar and 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil until well combined. Toss in the sliced fresh basil and stir gently. Top each crostini with the marinated basil.
Do you have a go-to, quick and easy party appetizer?
Can I serve cold? I plan to toast the french bread in the oven, top with fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil without re-heating. Serving at a friend’s house pool-side. So a cold appetizer is best.
Hi Lisa, you could – I mean they will still be edible but they are best fresh. If you do serve them later, don’t drizzle on the syrup until ready to serve so the bread doesn’t get soggy.
You need to be a part of a contest for one of the highest quality websites on the internet. I most certainly will recommend this site!
Aww you’re so nice! Thank you for that wonderful compliment Julius!
Can I put them in an some type of pan i.e. aluminum pan and put so many and then put on the party tray itself???
Hi Benita, you are more than welcome to display this as you please! Sounds like you have a good plan there. I hope you love these!
Hi there Natasha being really business… I made
Caprese Crostini let me tell you they were very I mean very delicious… Thank you so much for sharing with me your recipe… Everyone enjoyed them and I will be sending you a picture… Again thank you for sharing and responding back to me…
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Sandra!
I.m having a party Wednesday, for all of my colleagues… I will like to know can I put these in a insulated warmer bag or shall I say will the bread get hard??? Can I use my air fryer as optional???
Thanks Natasha
Benita
Hi Benita, it isn’t necessary to keep this in an insulated bag. I wouldn’t keep them insulated because of the cheese. If making these ahead, I would drizzle the olive oil and add the basil topping just before serving.
Can you eat them a few hrs after? if they’re cold?
Hi Masha, you could – I mean they will still be edible but they are best fresh. These are the best for making ahead but if you do, don’t drizzle on the syrup until ready to serve so the bread doesn’t get soggy.
thanks for those easy canapés ! I love it and my teachers love it too ☺ I use them tho, and I got higher grades !!👍👍👍
Rizzalie, thank you for the great review and you are welcome :D.
Soooooooo gooooood! I made them as appetizers for a potluck and suddenly started wondering if I should share so kindly with everyone….whew! Somehow, I did share…
😉 I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks Viktoriya!
They were so good..Thank you for the wonderful recipes!
I’m so happy you enjoyed them!! Thank you for the great review 🙂
I love caprese anything, these are perfect for summer entertaining!
Thank you Laura! Me too! I crave caprese anything this time of year with all the fresh tomatoes coming from my Mom’s house 🙂
These look great! I have been eating my tomato basil salad non stop)) You know, trying to enjoy my basil before it dies lol
How is your basil doing? 🙂 It’s nice to have basil at home, isn’t it?
Well, these would last about 5 minutes around here! Even less if my husband were home…tee hee. Jk I would never eat an entire baguette alone! Fine, only when in France.
The last time we made them, we only made half of the amount and my hubby, son and I downed them all! 🙂
I love the idea of these little canapés. My hubs and I would devour them in seconds. Beautiful.
Thank you Norma, that’s exactly what happened :).
Yummm! These look delicious!
Thanks so much Olga 🙂
I just came on your site today looking for appetizer ideas 😉 These look beautiful, and I’m sure they taste just as good!
Thanks Olviya! They are quite a treat! Are you throwing a party?