These Mini Caprese Tarts are filled with seasoned cream cheese, fresh mozzarella, tomato and topped with basil. These tarts are the perfect end of summer appetizer or side dish!
There is nothing that says summer more than fresh Caprese inspired recipes! If you want even more, you need to try this Caprese Pasta Salad. It’s perfect all summer long!
I was looking back through my blog earlier, and I’m noticing a theme over the past few weeks. Lots of little bites – not a whole lot of hearty meals. I guess that is to blame on summer, right?? I’ve posted a few soups, and there was a salad and a quesadilla thrown in, but really, I’ve been making a whole lot of appetizers served as dinner, or we’ve been having multiple side dishes for dinner. You get the heat that zaps any motivation to be in the kitchen for very long, combined with all of the great in-season produce that makes for a perfect side dish, and you get light summer dinners. So I apologize if you’ve been wanting something more substantial – I do have a few things coming up!!
But for now, I am still making my way through piles of vegetables that are sitting on my counter. Not wanting anything to go to waste, I have been making great use of lots of tomato recipes these last few days. Seriously – I could do a whole tomato week, but I’ll spare you since I already focused on peaches and corn!!! (But you will be getting almost all tomato recipes this week!)
These Mini Caprese Tartlets are another winning recipe from Melissa D’Arabian from $10 Dinners. After not loving the first recipe that I made of hers, I’m glad I didn’t give up on her, because everything I’ve made since has been divine. And these little tartlets are no exception. I loved that the shells are made out of plain old white bread. And the flavored cream cheese was so good that I wanted to just eat it by the spoonful! This was such a great spin on a caprese sandwich – and it’s one that I would definitely do again! These Mini Caprese Tartlets would be perfect for a party, or as a side dish – or do what we did and just eat them for dinner!!
More Caprese Inspiration
Open Face Caprese Steak Sandwich
Caprese Pizza
Caprese Mac and Cheese
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Mini Caprese Tarts
Ingredients
- 8 slices white bread
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- salt and pepper
- 2 Roma tomatoes thinly sliced
- 4 ounces fresh mozzarella thinly sliced
- balsamic vinegar for drizzling
- 8 fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375Fº.
- Remove the crusts from the bread. Using a rolling pin, flatten each slice of bread. Brush both sides with olive oil and press into a muffin tin. (Tip: cut a small slit diagonally down one corner to make it easy to fit into the cup.) Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese with the garlic powder, dried basil, salt and pepper. Mix together until smooth and creamy. Drop about a teaspoon into each cup. Bake the tartlets in the preheated oven until browned, about 12-13 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and place a slice of mozzarella in each cup. (I returned mine to the oven again for a minute or two to soften and melt the mozzarella slightly.) Top with a tomato.
- Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and a small drizzle of remaining olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Chiffonade the basil for garnish. Serve warm.
Betty says
With the heat we’ve been having and the plentiful summer veggies, this is the type of meal we’ve been subsisting on as well. This would be a quick and easy dinner for hubby and me! 🙂
The Cake says
These look DELICIOUS! I will be making them for an appetizer at my Labor Day dinner party. Thanks!
fittingbackin says
These look wonderful! I love the little tartlets!
newlywed says
I remember seeing this episode and being so curious about those crusts! Then I forgot to try the recipe — I am so grateful to you for sharing! You know we always eat appetizers for dinner … I would just have a few of these and a salad and still feel good about myself 🙂
Kristy says
These look fabulous! I have all of the ingredients too. I was planning to make caprese sandwiches on Wednesday for dinner, but I may change it up a bit now!
Tara @ The Butter Dish says
Oh Deborah! Being positively addicted to perfect portions this is such a great idea! What a perfect snack or a side as well.
Joanne says
You know, I actually love having tapas-style meals with lots of appetizers so this has been so much fun! Caprese is my favorite flavor of summer…these look fantastic!
Fresh and Foodie says
I love these! What an awesome party appetizer idea. So beautiful, too. Great idea.
Katrina says
Mmm so tasty looking!
Tasha says
I’m actually loving all the little bites/appetizers you’ve been sharing. Summer is the perfect time for them. And this recipe is possibly my favorite one yet!
Kacy says
Yum! I made these for New Years last year in Australia and we devoured them! Seriously good eats…thanks for refreshing my memory, I may have to make these for lunch now!
Maria says
Love this recipe! So fun!
Bev Weidner says
A) These are so cute I could pinch them.
B) I love fingery bitey bites. They make feel dainty.
C) I’m going to pick myself up from the floor after fainting and make these!
Rosa says
Those must be delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa
Jacqueline says
I love the little bites too! These look fabulous and I agree, cream cheese makes everything fabulous!
kelley says
How can you go wrong with cream cheese? I love eating little bites as meals. It’s definitely because of summer!