Halloween Eyeball Caprese Bites
These spooky yet delicious appetizers feature mini mozzarella balls topped with cherry tomato halves to resemble eyeballs, decorated with balsamic glaze and black pepper pupils. They are assembled raw, with the mozzarella and tomato providing a fresh, juicy texture and a playful, eerie appearance perfect for Halloween parties. The combination of creamy cheese, tangy tomatoes, and sweet balsamic creates a fun, visually striking bite that’s quick to prepare.
Equipment
- Small sharp knife
- Toothpicks or small skewers
- Baking sheet or platter
- Small spoon or squeeze bottle
Ingredients
- 16 pieces mini mozzarella balls preferably fresh and soft
- 8 pieces cherry tomatoes firm and shiny
- 8 small fresh basil leaves optional, for hair or decoration
- 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze for drizzling
- to taste olive oil optional, for drizzling
- a pinch sea salt for seasoning
- a pinch black pepper or poppy seeds for pupils
Instructions
- Arrange the mini mozzarella balls on your workspace, and gently flatten or reshape them into round, eyeball-like shapes if needed using your fingers or a small knife.
- Cut the cherry tomatoes in half with a small sharp knife, keeping the flat side down to help them sit stable. Reserve the rounded side for the eyeball appearance.
- Place a small basil leaf behind each mozzarella, like hair sprouting from the eyeball, or tuck it inside for a more detailed iris look.
- Position each tomato half on top of the mozzarella, aligning the cut sides to resemble an eyeball. Use a toothpick to gently secure if needed, but avoid piercing too deeply.
- Using a small spoon or squeeze bottle, drizzle balsamic glaze over each eyeball, aiming for a central spot to mimic the pupil. Dot with black pepper or poppy seeds for the pupils.
- Add a tiny pinch of sea salt and a light drizzle of olive oil if desired to enhance flavor. Arrange the finished bites on a platter for serving.
- Chill the assembled bites in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to let flavors meld and the balsamic set slightly. Serve chilled for the best visual and flavor impact.
Notes
For extra spooky effects, add small plastic spider rings or edible googly eyes as decoration. Adjust the amount of balsamic glaze for your preferred level of sweetness and stickiness.