Caprese Ladybug Appetizer
These adorable ladybug appetizers are the perfect bite-sized treat, made with simple ingredients like crackers, cheese, and veggies.
Caprese Ladybugs
Add a touch of whimsy to your next get-together with these adorable ladybug appetizers – perfect for a backyard barbecue or fresh lunch for spring or summer.
These bite-sized wonders are a breeze to make, and the best part? You can totally customize them!
Cherry tomatoes make the ladybug bodies, black olives make perfect heads, and for the spots, unleash your inner artist! Black sesame seeds or even finely chopped olives work great. Chives, fennel sprigs, or cilantro make awesome antennae (we used thinly sliced cucumber – it’s surprisingly realistic!). Let your imagination run wild with this nature-inspired treat!
These are also the components of a classic caprese salad: tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil. It’s one of my favorite flavor combinations! Especially with a touch of balsamic vinegar!
This is a fun recipe to get the kids involved – they’ll have a blast coming up with all sorts of fun ladybug designs! Prep everything ahead of time, then assemble right before serving for maximum freshness and crunch.
Related: For another fun ladybug snack, check out our Strawberry Ladybugs recipe too!
Ingredients
- 1/4 of a cucumber
- 1 bunch fresh basil
- 12 Ritz crackers
- 6 slices mozzarella cheese
- 1 tsp. balsamic glaze
- 1 tsp. black sesame seeds
- 10 black olives
- 6 cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Place mozzarella cheese on a clean cutting board or countertop and cut out circles that match the size of your crackers. A shot glass or small round cookie cutter could work for this. Place one slice of cheese between two crackers, then one more slice of cheese on top, to form the base of the appetizer.
- Cut cherry tomatoes in half and drain or gently squeeze out any excess juice. Place one basil leaf on top of each cracker base and then one tomato half on top of the basil.
- Cut the black olives in half. Use the halves without the hole to make the ladybug’s head. Cut each of these halves so that they have a flat base to sit on the cracker, and the top is still round. Slice the remaining olives into thin strips and use those to separate the wings of the ladybug. Sprinkle the tops of the tomatoes with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with black sesame seeds, to make the ladybug’s spots.
- Peel the cucumbers so that you have strips of peel to use for the antennae of the ladybugs. Slice the peel part of the cucumber into straws. Slice the rest of the cucumber into semi-circles and place them on a platter to serve the appetizer. Sprinkle the cucumbers with coarse salt and black sesame seeds and place them on the serving platter in between the ladybugs, as edible greenery.
Prep Tips
- Yield – The recipe as written makes 6 servings, just to give you an example. However, you can easily increase the amount you make by using more of each ingredient.
- Crackers – You really can use any kind of cracker for this recipe! We used a round butter cracker (like a Ritz cracker) but you can use square crackers too, such as saltines or Triscuits.
- Cheese – Like the crackers, you can customize this recipe with your favorite type of cheese, even cream cheese spread. You can also go dairy-free and use hummus or another similar type of spread.
- Herbs – We have lots of fresh Thai basil in the garden right now (it loves hot weather!), but you can use another type of fresh herb that you prefer or have on hand, such as mint, parsley or cilantro.
- Storage – This appetizer is best enjoyed immediately. If stored, the crackers will soften and lose their crunchy texture.
More Easy & Fresh Appetizer Recipes To Try
- Italian Sandwich Pinwheels
- Fresh Corn Hush Puppies
- Cowboy Caviar
- Roasted Beet Hummus
- Stuffed Pepper “Carrots”
Ladybug Appetizer Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)
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Caprese Ladybug Appetizer
Ingredients
- 1/4 of a cucumber
- 1 bunch fresh basil
- 12 Ritz crackers
- 6 slices mozzarella cheese
- 1 tsp. balsamic glaze
- 1 tsp. black sesame seeds
- 10 black olives
- 6 cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Place mozzarella cheese on a clean cutting board or countertop and cut out circles that match the size of your crackers. A shot glass or small round cookie cutter could work for this. Place one slice of cheese between two crackers, then one more slice of cheese on top, to form the base of the appetizer.
- Cut cherry tomatoes in half and drain or gently squeeze out any excess juice. Place one basil leaf on top of each cracker base and then one tomato half on top of the basil.
- Cut the black olives in half. Use the halves without the hole to make the ladybug's head. Cut each of these halves so that they have a flat base to sit on the cracker, and the top is still round. Slice the remaining olives into thin strips and use those to separate the wings of the ladybug. Sprinkle the tops of the tomatoes with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with black sesame seeds, to make the ladybug's spots.
- Peel the cucumbers so that you have strips of peel to use for the antennae of the ladybugs. Slice the peel part of the cucumber into straws. Slice the rest of the cucumber into semi-circles and place them on a platter to serve the appetizer. Sprinkle the cucumbers with coarse salt and black sesame seeds and place them on the serving platter in between the ladybugs, as edible greenery.
Notes
Nutrition
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