Looking for a quick and fresh appetizer option? This Caprese Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze is a crowd-pleaser year-round.
The classic combo of tomato, basil, and mozzarella makes Caprese recipes so flavorful (see this Caprese Asparagus next!). With the perfect balance of sweet and salty, the fresh ingredients bring delicious taste to every bite.
And the melty cheese? Well, that’s just the cherry on top! But what may surprise you is that there is one ingredient that doesn’t necessarily have to be fresh—the bread!
As a multitasking mom with a preference for really good food, I live for delicious recipes like this that come together in under 20 minutes!
Caprese Bruschetta Ingredients
A French baguette will give you the perfect-sized bites for crostini! However, you can really serve this over any bread. In fact, it’s a great way to revive stale bread! If your bread is stale, add just a few drops of water on the baking sheet around your bread as it toasts in the oven.
You can grab the pre-sliced kind, or you can slice it on your own. Fresh high-moisture mozzarella is recommended over shredded mozzarella in this recipe, but both can be used!
Heirloom, beefsteak, or vine ripe, sliced thin, are the best options here. I love the extra flavor and crunch red onion brings to this, but for a more minimalist recipe you can leave it out.
Fresh ingredients like fresh basil instead of dried basil and fresh garlic instead of garlic powder go a long way in this Caprese Bruschetta.
Balsamic glaze is just balsamic vinegar reduced to have less water content, making it much thicker. You can reduce balsamic vinaigrette to make your own balsamic glaze at home by heating on the stove, stirring occasionally until it thickens.
Caprese Bruschetta Tips and Tricks
Bruschetta Vs. Caprese
Bruschetta is a slice of toasted Italian or French baguette topped with a chopped fresh tomato and basil mixture. Caprese refers to a salad that is made up primarily of tomato, mozzarella, and basil.
Joining the two forces together, this Caprese Bruschetta is a slice of toasted baguette with melted mozzarella, then topped with a fresh tomato and basil mixture that is accompanied by other complementary flavors.
The best way to serve bruschetta is with the toasted bread nice and warm, but the tomato-based topping is fresh and cold.
How to Make Caprese Bruschetta Appetizer
On a large baking sheet, add your sliced bread and neatly lay the mozzarella on top.
Toast in the oven just until the cheese melts and the bread gets toasty. This usually only takes about 5 minutes on the top rack of the oven.
We really want the tomato, onion, garlic, and basil to be present in every bite! To achieve this, chop your fresh ingredients finely and stir them all up together.
Add your fresh ingredients to a large mixing bowl with salt, pepper, and olive oil and mix to combine.
It will all sit and marinate together for a few minutes while your bread and cheese are toasting in the oven.
Add a heaping teaspoon of your bruschetta mixture on top of each toast with melted mozzarella. Option to add an extra piece of fresh basil on top of each crostini.
How I Store & Reheat Leftover Caprese Bruschetta
If you have leftover bruschetta topping (the fresh tomato mixture), save it! It will last in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days if you cover it.
You can make more bruschetta with it, add it to a pasta salad, or even add it to some smashed avocado for quick guacamole!
If you have fully dressed pieces of bread left over, it’s best to scrape the topping off and store it separately in the fridge. Toast your leftover cheesy bread in the preheated oven at 400°F for about 5 minutes and then add the toppings back on again!
15-Minute Caprese Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze
SAVE RECIPE TO COLLECTION PIN PRINT RATEIngredients
- 1 large Baguette
- 16 ounces fresh Mozzarella, sliced
- 2 large tomatoes (heirloom, beefsteak, or vine ripe)
- ½ ounce basil (about 2 large sprigs)
- ½ large red onion (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Slice your baguette into roughly 2-inch-thick pieces, and line them up flat on a large baking sheet. Slice your mozzarella and place it on each piece of bread. Toast your bread in the oven for about 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasty.1 large Baguette, 16 ounces fresh Mozzarella, sliced
- Meanwhile, finely chop your tomato, onion, basil, and garlic and add to a large mixing bowl with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix and set aside.2 large tomatoes, ½ ounce basil, ½ large red onion, 2 cloves garlic, 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Remove the bread from the oven and top with a heaping tablespoon of bruschetta mixture and finish with balsamic glaze. Enjoy!2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
Pro Tips
- If your bread is stale, just put a few drops of water on the baking sheet around your bread as it toasts in the oven.
- You can use balsamic vinegar in place of balsamic glaze, but it’s generally a little less sweet and more liquid.
- You can also opt to make your own balsamic glaze by reducing balsamic vinegar. Just heat a couple of tablespoons in a small pot over medium heat for about 20 minutes and allow to cool before drizzling over your bruschetta.
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1 thought on “Crispy Caprese Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze”
When it says “ toast in the oven” it means to broil it.