Serve up holiday cheer with a Caprese Candy Cane charcuterie board—simple, delicious, and a show-stopping appetiser for any party!
servings
6 people
total time
20 mins
great for
Entertaining
suitable for
Vegetarian
servings
6 people
total time
20 mins
great for
Entertaining
suitable for
Vegetarian
A caprese salad is always a winner in our homes. And that red, white, and green combo is just calling out for a Christmas twist, isn’t it?!
This super simple show-stopper of a dish is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. It works just as well as a Christmas meal starter, light meal just on its own, or party dish at the buffet table. And it’s ready in a matter of minutes. What’s not to love?!
Plus, it’s multi-seasonal! A refreshing change from the heavier dishes of a winter Christmas, or fun festive salad for a summer Christmas or Christmas in July!
This is not really a recipe – it’s an assembly job. And an easy one at that! The trick to this dish’s success is in the quality of the ingredients. You’ll want to hunt out the freshest, sweetest tomatoes, creamiest mozzarella and richest, most treacle-like balsamic vinegar you can find.
Here’s our top tips to help make this caprese candy cane salad a winner:
- Pick tomatoes that are similar in size to the mozzarella slices to give the neatest candy cane shape. Use the slices from the middle of the tomato and find another use for the smaller end pieces.
- We just LOVE fresh, organic mozzarella balls – best for creamy flavour in our humble opinion. But you may prefer to use a mozzarella block / log for easier slicing and a more consistent shape.
- Use the best quality extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar you can find. Trust us, it makes all the difference. Our absolutely favourite is Belazu Organic Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. It’s thick, sweet, and utterly delicious. And its consistency means it leaves a beautiful pattern as it drizzles. (No affiliate, we just love it!)
- The candy cane caprese is best served on a rectangular board. If you can’t find one, try using a large square dish instead and work on the diagonal to maximise the space. As an alternative, you could layer some greaseproof paper on a baking tray.
- We love serving our Christmas caprese salad with pieces of crackerbread. But regular crackers or toasted slices of baguette are great options too.
Candy Cane Caprese Charcuterie Board
Looking for more Christmas food inspiration? Click here to see our other recipes.
Caprese Candy Cane Recipe
Christmas Caprese Candy Cane
Ingredients
- 2-3 balls mozzarella approx. 400g
- 4-5 large, ripe tomatoes
- 1 small bunch basil
- extra virgin olive oil drizzle
- balsamic vinegar drizzle
- sea salt
- freshly cracked black pepper
- [optional] crackerbread or equivalent to serve
Instructions
- Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella balls into pieces around 0.5cm thick. Remove the smaller end pieces, leaving slices of approximately equal size.
- On a large board, layer slices of tomato and mozzarella in turn to create the shape of a candy cane.
- Slot basil leaves in between the mozzarella and tomato slices to create the tricolour caprese salad effect.
- Drizzle with good quality extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
- Sprinkle over a pinch of sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Serve with pieces of crackerbread or equivalent.
Notes
- Try to pick tomatoes that are a similar size to the mozzarella balls for a neat candy cane shape.
- We prefer using good quality, fresh mozzarella balls (best for flavour in our opinion). But you can use a block / log of mozzarella for a consistently-sized, easier slice.
- Use the best quality extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar you can find. We love a sweet, thick balsamic vinegar such as Belazu Organic Balsamic Vinegar of Modena - as well as tasting great, it looks beautiful on the board. (not an affiliate, just our favourite!)
- If you can't find a rectangular board, use a square one and work on the diagonal.
- We love using pieces of crackerbread but slices of toasted baguette or round crackers would work well too.
A little note: Our recipes are based on our own experiences and shared for inspiration and enjoyment. Results may vary. Please check ingredients and allergens, follow appropriate food safety guidance and use your own judgement when preparing them. For more information, please see our Disclaimer.
Christmas Caprese Salad Candy Cane
More Recipe Ideas:
If you enjoyed this Christmas Caprese Candy Cane recipe, you might like these too:
- Winter Salad With Apples & Cranberries
- Festive Guacamole: The Perfect Party Dip!
- A Sweet Alternative: Strawberry & Banana Candy Cane
And be sure to check out our Complete Christmas Party Library for food ideas, games, free playlists, and much more!
