This caprese wreath is made with three simple, fresh, and flavorful ingredients: basil, mozzarella, and NautureSweet Cherubs® tomatoes. Arrange the ingredients in the shape of a wreath and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then serve as an appetizer or snack. It’s an easy, eye-catching, and edible centerpiece that’s perfect for Christmas dinner!

At The Produce Moms, we’re known for our love of produce — select it, store it, serve it … we’re all about using fresh ingredients. 

And since the holiday season is usually filled with desserts and sweet treats, we try even harder to offer you easy-to-make, nutritious, produce-filled recipes. It’s a great way to balance all of the fun foods we’re all enjoying. 

This Caprese Wreath is sponsored by NatureSweet®.

There is a variety of red and green fruits and vegetables to choose from, so it was easy to create this caprese wreath for a holiday twist on a classic snack. 

You’ll use the same traditional caprese ingredients like basil, mozzarella, and tomatoes. But this time, you’ll arrange them in the shape of a wreath for a fresh, festive appetizer that looks gorgeous on your Christmas dinner table.

Looking for more Christmas dinner recipe ideas? Be sure to check out some of our favorites at the end of this blog. 

Related: Easy and Festive Holiday Recipes

Let’s get started by making sure you have all the ingredients to make your caprese wreath.

Fresh Caprese Ingredients

You’ll need the three basic caprese salad ingredients. The key to the best caprese wreath that looks and tastes great is in the quality of the ingredients. So be sure your produce is super fresh for the most juicy, sweet, and slightly peppery marriage of flavors.

Basil

You’ll need lots and lots of peppery basil. Look for basil that is vibrant green and free of any dark spots. Keep in mind that basil is a delicate herb and bruises very easily, especially when it’s washed too harshly. Store your basil in the fridge or in a vase of water on the counter to keep your leaves green. So the leaves stay bright green for your beautiful dinner focal point, wait to wash the basil until just before making your caprese wreath.

Mozzarella 

There is a variety of sizes of mozzarella pearls (officially called bocconcini balls). It’s best to use the ones that are similar in size to your Cherubs® tomatoes for a cohesive caprese wreath. Each pop of red looks like an edible ornament. They usually come in a soft plastic container, in a brine solution for guaranteed freshness. Look for the mozzarella pearls in the cheese section of your local grocery store.

Tomatoes

NatureSweet Cherubs® tomatoes are full of natural, sweet, tangy flavor and are one of our favorite additions to any salad recipe. Cherubs® are grown in greenhouses and picked at peak freshness, so we always know they have fresh, juicy, vibrant flavor, every time. In fact, they are the sweetest tomato you can buy and the #1 selling tomato in the world! You’ll want to make sure you grab a large package from the produce aisle.

Related: Behind the Tomatoes, NatureSweet® Is Doing What’s Right 

How to Make a Caprese Wreath Centerpiece

Now that you’ve got all your traditional caprese ingredients, let’s turn them into a wreath!

Step 1: Arrange the basil.

Place a medium-sized bowl in the middle of your 12’” circular serving tray. Add a full amount of basil around the wide edge of the bowl, near the edge of the serving platter, to create the green, leafy base of your caprese wreath. When you’re done arranging your basil, lift the bowl for an effortless wreath design.

Step 2: Add whole Cherubs® tomatoes.

Gently rinse your Cherubs® tomatoes under running water and place them around your basil wreath. We prefer to add quite a few since we love our produce, but you can decide how many you will add to your wreath. Remember, we will add the mozzarella pearls and halved tomatoes as well!

Step 3: Place the mozzarella pearls around the wreath.

Open the package of mozzarella pearls, drain the brine in the sink, and pat the mozzarella pearls dry with a paper towel. This will help your basil stay fresh and crisp. Then place them around the caprese wreath with the whole Cherubs®.

Step 4: Sprinkle the halved tomatoes.

Use your knife to halve the rest of your Cherubs® and sprinkle them around your caprese wreath for a little extra decorative element.

Step 5: Drizzle with olive oil and season.

Last, drizzle your caprese wreath with a high-quality, extra-virgin olive oil for a layer of earthy flavor, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve! 

Why We Love NatureSweet®

We are happy to partner with NatureSweet® because of their commitment to growing the sweetest tomatoes, the right way. As moms ourselves, we’re passionate about the quality of the food we give our kids. At NatureSweet, they believe the harder they work, the sweeter their tomatoes are … and that’s why they produce the sweetest tomatoes in the industry. You can always count on their Cherubs® tomatoes to be fresh, sweet, and delicious. 

Look for the NatureSweet® label in the produce section when shopping for your caprese wreath ingredients. 

More Festive Recipes to Try

• Burrata and Roasted Tomatoes –  soul-warming, Italian-inspired appetizer 
• Tomato, Herb, and Ricotta Bruschetta Board – whip the ricotta and add lots of earthy herbs
• Snowman Vegetable Tray – kid-friendly veggie tray
• Roasted Tomatoes – ready in 25 minutes, great mixed with other veggies, too!