The perfect Valentine’s appetizer: caprese-style cheesy love skewers. Valentine’s Day is about celebrating every kind of love—self-love, family, friends, and partners. These cute, easy antipasti skewers are fun to assemble, delicious to eat, and ideal for sharing with anyone you want to spoil a little on Valentine’s Day.
Why You’ll Love This Valentine’s Appetizer
These small bites are simple to prepare and full of bright flavor and varied texture. Cherry tomatoes bring a juicy sweetness, fresh Bocconcini or mozzarella adds creamy richness, and fresh basil lends a fragrant finish. A drizzle of reduced balsamic ties everything together for a presentation that’s as tasty as it is charming.
How to Prepare the Skewers
1. Cut cherry tomatoes on a diagonal to create two matching halves. Rotate the two halves and press them together to form a heart shape.
2. Thread a small skewer lengthwise through one tomato heart, add a mini Bocconcini cheese in the middle, then finish with another tomato heart. Repeat for each skewer.
3. Stack three thin provolone slices and use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cheese hearts. Save any scraps for snacks or other recipes.
4. Arrange the skewers on a small plate and scatter cheese hearts around them. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley for color and aroma.
5. For the glaze, use store-bought balsamic glaze or make a simple reduction: simmer balsamic vinegar over low heat until it reduces and thickens, about 6–10 minutes, then remove from heat and add a small pinch of salt and a drizzle of olive oil.
6. Drizzle the balsamic glaze over the skewers just before serving. Enjoy your heart-shaped antipasti!
Nonna’s Tip
Get creative: add olives, pepperoncini, salami, or other favorites to customize the skewers.
Variations and Substitutions
Adapt the recipe to suit tastes or dietary needs:
- Infuse the balsamic reduction with fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme, or add honey or maple syrup for extra sweetness.
- Swap or combine herbs for garnish—mint or cilantro can be interesting alternatives to basil.
- Add protein like cooked shrimp or grilled chicken for a heartier appetizer.
Other Valentines Recipes
Heart Shaped Pizza
20 mins
Valentines Appetizer
15 mins
Pink Pasta
15 mins
Pink Blender Cake
55 mins
Best Served With
- Crackers or fresh bread such as no-knead peasant bread
- A glass of chilled white wine, prosecco, or your favorite sparkling beverage
Common Questions
Try grilled chicken, cooked shrimp, cucumber slices, roasted red peppers, olives, or thin salami for more variety.
Yes. Store-bought balsamic glaze is a convenient time-saver.
Use dairy-free mozzarella or another plant-based cheese alternative. Many brands offer vegan mini balls or cubes that work well on skewers.
You can assemble the skewers ahead of time, but wait to drizzle the balsamic glaze until just before serving for the best texture.
Save cheese scraps in the refrigerator for snacking or to use in other dishes.
Valentines Appetizer
Ingredients
- 22 oval cherry tomatoes
- 11 mini Bocconcini (or mini mozzarella balls)
- 6 slices provolone cheese
- Fresh basil for garnish
- Salt, to taste
- A drizzle of olive oil
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar (or store-bought balsamic glaze)
Instructions
- Place each cherry tomato lengthwise on a cutting board and slice on a diagonal. Rotate the two halves so their pointed ends meet to form a heart shape.
- Thread a small skewer through a tomato heart lengthwise, add a mini Bocconcini in the center, then top with another tomato heart. Repeat for all skewers.
- Stack three provolone slices, use a small heart-shaped cutter to cut out cheese hearts, and reserve scraps for later.
- Arrange the skewers on a small plate and scatter the cheese hearts around. Garnish with basil or parsley.
- To make the glaze, bring balsamic vinegar to a boil in a small pan, then reduce heat to low and simmer until thickened (about 6–10 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in a pinch of salt and a little olive oil.
- Drizzle the glaze over the skewers just before serving.
My Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an approximation.