This Candy Cane Caprese Board from The BakerMama’s Beautiful Boards cookbook is such a simple and stunning way to serve an appetizer during the holidays.
The Original Candy Cane Caprese!
My Candy Cane Caprese Board appetizer requires just a few ingredients and comes together in a matter of minutes so you can spend more time with your loved ones this holiday season. Slices of fresh mozzarella and vine-ripe tomatoes layered in a candy cane shape with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of sea salt makes for a healthy and festive addition to your holiday spread.
Along with fresh basil, a balsamic glaze and toasted baguette slices, it’s such a simple way to impress your guests around Christmas.
Simple and Stunning
I adore the stunning simplicity of this board. It takes minutes to build with minimal ingredients yet makes for such a beautiful and delicious dish to serve at a holiday gathering. It’s a must make this holiday season! My Caprese Wreath is another gorgeous way to serve this classic combo for the holidays.
When I first created this Candy Cane Caprese Board in January of 2019 for my Beautiful Boards cookbook, I could hardly wait for the Christmas season to get here so I could make it again and again. I’ve already made it for several parties and plan to make it again on Christmas Eve with my family and then again for Christmas dinner with my in-laws. I know everyone will love it!
Be sure to get a copy of my Beautiful Boards cookbook! It includes this beautiful board inspiration along with 50 total boards for every occasion. It’s a must have for easy entertaining and creative ways to feed your family delicious food. It also makes for a great holiday gift, hostess gift, birthday gift or just because gift!
Watch Me Build at Candy Cane Caprese Board
Step into the kitchen with me to build this stunning and delicious holiday caprese board!
Ingredients and Supplies
(see recipe card at the bottom of this post for measurements and details)
Ingredients:
- Pre-sliced mozzarella: If you don’t have fresh mozzarella, you can swap in deli-sliced mozzarella — just ask for it to be sliced thick so it’s closer in size to the tomato slices and still gives you that pretty striped look. You could also use sliced burrata (firmer portions), provolone, or a plant-based mozzarella for dietary needs.
- Large fresh tomatoes: Use heirloom tomato slices or vine-ripe tomato slices as long as they match the mozzarella diameter. You can use cherry tomatoes, but they’ll take a bit more arranging and nudging to keep them in place between the mozzarella slices if you want that really clean, even candy cane look.
- Fresh basil leaves: Replace basil with baby arugula or spinach if you want a milder flavor or have basil shortages.
- Balsamic glaze: Swap balsamic glaze for pesto drizzle or a sun-dried tomato spread.
- Olive oil
- Flaky sea salt
- Toasted baguette, or crostini for serving
Supplies:
Quick Tips!
- Start by shopping for the mozzarella first. Look for pre-sliced fresh mozzarella (the kind that comes in a log). It keeps every slice the same thickness and size — which makes the candy cane stripes look clean and consistent. Once you have your mozzarella, choose tomatoes that match the diameter of the slices. This is the key to getting that perfect, even red-and-white stripe pattern.
- Pat the mozzarella dry before layering so the board stays neat and the slices don’t slide.
- Create a loose outline first (with a faint trail of basil leaves) to keep the candy cane shape consistent from the start.
- Drizzle last! Add olive oil and sprinkling of sea salt right before serving so it stays glossy and fresh.
- For the balsamic glaze, check the salad dressing aisle of most grocery stores as there’s usually a great pre-made balsamic glaze that’s perfect for drizzling.
How to Build a Candy Cane Caprese Board
I use an 18’x12″ wood board to build the Candy Cane Caprese Board on, but you could certainly use any size board or platter that will fit the size of the candy cane you wish to serve.
- Start at the top end of the candy cane shape and alternate layering a slice of fresh mozzarella with a slice of tomato until you get a big candy cane shape.
- Place fresh basil leaves around the board and a small serving bowl with the balsamic glaze.
- Just before serving, drizzle the mozzarella and tomatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Serve with additional olive oil and sea salt, as well as toasted baguette slices.
Serving Ideas
- Serve with crostini or toasted baguette slices so guests can build their own little caprese toasts.
- Add a small bowl of pesto or sun-dried tomato spread on the side for extra flavor and dipping.
- Pair it with other festive appetizers, like I do in my Christmas Eve Snacks Spread on page 225 of my Spectacular Spreads cookbook, to make it a more hearty holiday spread.
- Add salami, prosciutto ribbons or marinated olives around the candy cane shape for a heartier appetizer board.
- For a crowd, make a double candy cane by repeating the pattern side-by-side on a larger board, or build it next to one of my Caprese Wreaths for the ultimate festive appetizer display.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Tomatoes: Slice tomatoes up to 12 hours ahead, wrap tightly, and store on paper towels in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This keeps them from getting watery.
- Mozzarella: Slice up to a day in advance, pat dry, and store in the refrigerator between layers of paper towels so it stays firm and stackable.
- Assembly: You can arrange the full candy cane up to 4 hours before serving. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
- Finish just before serving: Add olive oil, balsamic glaze, and salt right at serving time so everything stays fresh and vibrant.
Fun & Festive Holiday Boards
Celebrate the magic of the season with Fun and Festive Holiday Boards that you and your loved ones are sure to enjoy! From sweet treats to healthy snacks, there’s a little something for everyone!
If you make my Candy Cane Caprese Board, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me @thebakermama on Instagram so I can see. If you’re on Facebook, be sure to join my Friends of The BakerMama group to connect and share all the fun and yummy recipes of mine that you make! 😍 I just love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the ideas I share. Enjoy!
Happy Holidays!
xoxo,
Candy Cane Caprese Board
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 people
Description
This Candy Cane Caprese Board from The BakerMama’s Beautiful Boards cookbook is such a simple and stunning way to serve an appetizer during the holidays.
Ingredients
- 16 ounce log of fresh pre-sliced mozzarella
- 3 large fresh tomatoes, sliced 1/4 thick into about 12 slices
- fresh basil leaves, for garnishing
- 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
- olive oil, for drizzling
- flaky sea salt, for sprinkling
- toasted baguette, for serving
Instructions
- Start at the top end of the candy cane shape and alternate layering a slice of fresh mozzarella with a slice of tomato until you get a big candy cane shape.
- Place fresh basil leaves around the board and a small serving bowl with the balsamic glaze.
- Just before serving, drizzle the mozzarella and tomatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Serve with additional olive oil and sea salt, as well as toasted baguette slices.
Made a mini version tonight with soup for dinner-so yummy and cute! #TheBakerMamaRecipeChallenge
Hi, Alison! Oh yay! I hope you share a picture with us on Facebook.
How do you eat this? Serving utensils?
Hi Leslie! I would recommend serving the board with a large serving fork for the tomato and cheese slices and then a little spoon for the balsamic glaze. Make sure everyone has an appetizer plate and/or cocktail napkins and let them build their own caprese with the crostini, mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and balsamic glaze to enjoy with their fingers or you could give them serveware if they have a place to sit and eat it. We just enjoy ours with our fingers. Hope this helps. Enjoy!
Has anyone made this ahead of time? How did that go?
Hi Kit! I’ve made it a few hours in advance and just wait to drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt until just before serving. If the tomatoes are juicy, I would recommend placing a few paper towels around them to absorb any moisture and also cover with plastic wrap to store in the refrigerator. Hope this helps. Enjoy!
Amazing Appetizers I making this for all my holiday gatherings now ! I love the wreath idea as well!
Love the idea looks great
Family loved this! So delicious, festive & simple to make.