Caprese Ghost Crostini (An Easy Halloween Appetizer!)

Are you looking for the ultimate cute, spooky, and unbelievably easy appetizer for your next Halloween party? A fun, no-bake (mostly!) treat that is perfect to make with your kids and takes just minutes to whip up? This incredible, super-easy Caprese Crostini Ghosts recipe is that perfect festive bite! We’re talking all the fresh, classic, and delicious flavors of a Caprese salad, deconstructed and transformed into an adorable, spooky ghost that will have all your guests howling with delight.

This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a guide to your new favorite Halloween edible craft. We’ll show you the simple but crucial secret to cutting perfect shapes out of fresh mozzarella, creating a stunning, from-scratch-tasting appetizer that is perfect for a Halloween party, a fun lunch for the kids, or a festive snack. They are a guaranteed, crowd-pleasing hit that is as fun to make as they are to eat!

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Cute & Spooky Halloween Appetizer

What makes these Caprese Crostini Ghosts so spectacularly fun is their brilliant, easy-to-make design and their classic, fresh flavor. This recipe is a masterpiece of festive simplicity. The base is a classic, crispy, and golden-brown crostini, made from a toasted baguette. This is topped with a layer of vibrant, herbaceous basil pesto and a slice of a sweet, juicy tomato. The true star of the show, however, is the adorable, spooky “ghost,” which is made by using a cookie cutter to cut a ghost shape out of a slice of fresh, creamy mozzarella cheese. The final, perfect touch is a tiny face, dotted on with a rich and tangy balsamic glaze.

Metric	Time / Level
Total Time	30 minutes
Active Prep Time	20 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy
Servings	12-16 crostini

The Ghostly Kitchen: The Essential Ingredients & Tools

This iconic party treat uses just a handful of smart shortcuts and fresh ingredients to create its signature spooky look and delicious flavor.

• The Mozzarella Ghosts (The Star of the Show!):
  • Fresh Mozzarella: For the best, most authentic flavor and the perfect texture for cutting, it is essential to use a high-quality, fresh, whole-milk mozzarella. The kind that is sold in a log or a large ball (not the pre-shredded, low-moisture kind) is what you’ll need.
  • The Freezing Trick: This is the number one, non-negotiable secret to getting beautiful, clean, and perfect shapes out of soft, fresh mozzarella! By placing the mozzarella in the freezer for just 10 minutes, you are firming it up just enough so that you can easily slice it and press a cookie cutter through it without the cheese squishing or tearing.
  • The Cookie Cutter: A small, simple, ghost-shaped cookie cutter is the key tool for this recipe.
• The Crostini Base: A fresh, high-quality baguette is the perfect choice for creating a crispy, yet slightly chewy, crostini that is sturdy enough to hold all the delicious toppings.
• The “Caprese” Flavors: The classic and unbeatable combination of fresh, creamy mozzarella, sweet Campari or Roma tomatoes, and the fragrant, herbaceous flavor of basil (from the store-bought pesto).

Step-by-Step to the Best Caprese Crostini Ghosts

This fun and festive treat is incredibly simple to prepare.

Step 1: Make the Crispy Crostini and Prepare the Ghosts

Step 1: First, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

Step 2: Place your 16 ounces of fresh mozzarella in the freezer to let it firm up for 10 minutes.

Step 3: While the mozzarella is chilling, slice your baguette diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Spread the slices evenly on a baking sheet, drizzle them with olive oil, and toss to coat.

Step 4: Bake for 8 to 9 minutes, until the crostini are golden and crisp. Let them cool completely.

Step 5: Remove the mozzarella from the freezer. Slice it lengthwise into six, 1/4-inch-thick planks. Use your ghost-shaped cookie cutter to cut the slices into your spooky ghost pieces. Roughly chop all the remaining mozzarella scraps.

Part 2: Assemble Your Spooky Bites

Step 1: Spread about 1 teaspoon of your pesto on each of the cooled crostini.

Step 2: Top 6 of the crostini with a few of your thin tomato slices, and then place one of your mozzarella ghosts on top.

Step 3 (The Fun Part!): Pour your 1 teaspoon of balsamic glaze into a small bowl. Use a chopstick or the flat end of a wooden skewer to dot the ghosts with two little eyes and a spooky mouth.

Step 4: Top your remaining crostini with one slice of tomato and a tablespoon of your chopped mozzarella scraps. Drizzle these non-ghost crostini with some more of the balsamic glaze.

Transfer the ghost crostini to a small plate to make them the star of the show, and arrange the rest of the crostini on a larger platter. Serve immediately!

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Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

These Caprese Crostini Ghosts are the perfect make-ahead party food!

• Make-Ahead: For a super-fast and impressive party snack, you can prepare all your individual components up to a day in advance. The crostini can be toasted, the mozzarella can be cut into ghosts, and your tomatoes can be sliced. Store everything in separate, airtight containers in the refrigerator.
• Storage: For the absolute best, crispiest result, it is highly recommended to assemble the crostini just before you plan to serve them.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)