By Becky Hardin
Updated Aug 7, 2025
Light, crispy, delicious Mini Caprese Tarts are an incredibly delicious appetizer or light snack. I absolutely love these crispy little bites as they have the perfect flavor combo—fresh tomatoes, creamy mozzarella cheese, and crisp, buttery pastry.
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5-Star Review
“Simple, easy, fresh-tasting summer appetizer! -Erica
Easy Caprese Tarts Recipe
Easy peasy caprese! These little, fluffy pillows of cheesy puff pastry make for a great appetizer or party snack. They come together quickly and only need a handful of ingredients. Topped with fresh basil, they are utterly addictive, so make a big batch!
If you’ve never had a caprese salad before, let me introduce you—it’s one of my all-time favorites. It’s a simple combo of fresh mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and fragrant basil, and it originally comes from Capri, Italy. I took those classic flavors and turned them into these little tarts, and I have to say, they’re just as refreshing and even more fun to eat!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 17 oz. package puff pastry dough
- ▢ 5-6 Roma tomatoes sliced into 18 thin slices, or any tomato works
- ▢ 6 oz. fresh whole milk mozzarella cubed into 1-inch blocks
- ▢ 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar for drizzling
- ▢ ½ cup chopped fresh basil leaves don’t substitute with dried
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or coat with nonstick spray.
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface. 17 oz. package puff pastry dough
- Using the top of a wine glass (or a biscuit cutter), cut out 9 circles per sheet of puff pastry.
- Place the dough circles on the prepared baking sheet.
- Using a paring knife, score an inner circle into each puff pastry, about ¼ of an inch in. Use the tip of the knife to prick the center of each circle 2-3 times.
- Add a slice of tomato on each circle and then drizzle 3 or 4 drops of balsamic vinegar onto each tomato slice. 5-6 Roma tomatoes, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Top each tomato slice with some chopped basil. ½ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
- Add a cube of mozzarella cheese to each tart. 6 oz. fresh whole milk mozzarella
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until puff pastry is fully cooked and golden brown.
- Remove from the oven to a tray and serve.
Becky’s Tips
- Fresh mozzarella can contain a lot of liquid, so to prevent the pastry from becoming soggy when the tarts bake, it’s best to dry the mozzarella using a paper towel .
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Mini Caprese Tarts Step by Step
Get the oven going and prepare a baking sheet : Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or coat with nonstick spray.
Roll the dough: Roll out the dough, cut it into circles, and place them on a baking sheet.
Score the dough: Lightly score the dough with a knife, making a circle about a half inch inside the edge of the dough.
Top the dough : Top each circle with tomato, 3 or 4 drops of vinegar, basil, and a cube of mozzarella.
Bake the tarts: Bake until the dough is golden brown and enjoy!
How to Store
These mini caprese tarts keep well at room temperature for a few hours but can also be made 1-2 days ahead of time and stored in the fridge (in an airtight container). Serve them at room temperature or reheated in the oven for 5-10 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
more fun appetizers to try
Creamy Garlic Mushrooms Recipe
Homemade Baked Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
Soft Pretzel Bites
Hoagie Dip
Mini Caprese Tarts
Ingredients
- 17 oz. package puff pastry dough
- 5-6 Roma tomatoes sliced into 18 thin slices, or any tomato works
- 6 oz. fresh whole milk mozzarella cubed into 1-inch blocks
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar for drizzling
- ½ cup chopped fresh basil leaves don’t substitute with dried
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or coat with nonstick spray.
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface. 17 oz. package puff pastry dough
- Using the top of a wine glass (or a biscuit cutter), cut out 9 circles per sheet of puff pastry.
- Place the dough circles on the prepared baking sheet.
- Using a paring knife, score an inner circle into each puff pastry, about ¼ of an inch in. Use the tip of the knife to prick the center of each circle 2-3 times.
- Add a slice of tomato on each circle and then drizzle 3 or 4 drops of balsamic vinegar onto each tomato slice. 5-6 Roma tomatoes, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Top each tomato slice with some chopped basil. ½ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
- Add a cube of mozzarella cheese to each tart. 6 oz. fresh whole milk mozzarella
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until puff pastry is fully cooked and golden brown.
- Remove from the oven to a tray and serve.
Notes
- Fresh mozzarella can contain a lot of liquid, so to prevent the pastry from becoming soggy when the tarts bake, it’s best to dry the mozzarella using a paper towel .
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
