Caprese Ghost Crostini (Easy Halloween Appetizer!)
A simple and elegant Halloween-themed appetizer that transforms a classic Caprese crostini into a spooky treat. This recipe features slices of baguette that are drizzled with olive oil and toasted until crisp. The crostini are then spread with pesto and topped with a slice of fresh tomato and a piece of fresh mozzarella that has been cut into a ghost shape using a cookie cutter. The ghost’s face is created by dotting on eyes and a mouth with balsamic glaze.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces fresh whole-milk mozzarella
- 1 fresh baguette
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- 1/2 cup pesto
- 12 ounces Campari tomatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon balsamic glaze, plus more for drizzling
Instructions
- Special Equipment: You will need a ghost-shaped cookie cutter (about 2 inches tall).
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the mozzarella in the freezer for 10 minutes to firm it up.
- Slice the baguette diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Spread them on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, toss to coat, and bake for 8 to 9 minutes, until golden and crisp. Let the crostini cool.
- Slice the firmed-up mozzarella into 1/4-inch-thick planks. Use the cookie cutter to cut out ghost shapes. Roughly chop the remaining mozzarella scraps.
- Assemble the Crostini: Spread about 1 teaspoon of pesto on each cooled crostini.
- Top 6 of the crostini with a few tomato slices and a mozzarella ghost. Use a wooden skewer or chopstick to dot the ghosts with balsamic glaze to create eyes and a mouth.
- Top the remaining crostini with a slice of tomato and a tablespoon of the chopped mozzarella scraps. Drizzle these with balsamic glaze.
- Arrange the ‘ghost’ crostini on a small plate to highlight them, and place the rest on a larger platter. Serve immediately.
Notes
- This is a very quick and easy appetizer that relies on the creative use of a cookie cutter for its Halloween theme.
- Briefly freezing the fresh mozzarella is a key tip that makes it much easier to cut clean shapes with a cookie cutter.
- Serving the ghost-themed crostini on a separate plate is a great presentation tip to make them the star of the show.
Find it online: https://cookupjoy.com/caprese-ghost-crostini/