Valentines Appetizer
on Feb 12, 2022, Updated Jan 30, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
The Perfect Valentines Appetizer. Valentine’s Day 💘 isn’t just about celebrating the love between you and your significant other. It’s also about celebrating all kinds of love – self-love, love for your family, love for your friends, and anyone else who holds a special place in your heart. And what better way to celebrate than with some cute and easy antipasti cheesy love skewers? These little bites of love 💖 are not only fun to make, but they’re also delicious and perfect for sharing with anyone who deserves a little extra love on Valentine’s Day.
Why You’ll Love Valentines Appetizer
These little bites of heaven are not only easy to make, but they’re also packed with 🌿 flavor and texture. You’ve got the juicy sweetness of cherry 🍅 tomatoes, the creamy smoothness of fresh mozzarella, and the fresh aroma of basil, all drizzled with balsamic glaze. And let’s not forget about the texture – the soft cheese and the firm but juicy tomatoes that burst with sweetness in your mouth.
How to Prepare Valentines Appetizer
🔪 Cut cherry tomatoes on an angle to create a diagonal cut.
🍅 Rotate each tomato piece to assemble the hearts. Use small skewers to pierce the hearts lengthwise, adding a mini Bocconcini cheese in the middle and another heart on each skewer.
🧀 Stack three round slices of provolone cheese and use mini heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out small hearts. Save any cheese scraps for later.
🌿 Arrange the skewers on a small plate, placing the cheese hearts around them. Add basil or parsley for presentation.
🔥 For the glaze, either use store-bought or make your own by boiling balsamic vinegar in a pan until it thickens and reduces (approximately 8 minutes on low heat). Add a touch of salt and olive oil.
❤️ Drizzle the homemade glaze on the Valentines Appetizer skewers. Enjoy your heart-shaped appetizers!
Nonna’s Tip
You can get creative and use different ingredients like olives, pepperoncini, salami or anything you like!
Variations and Substitutions for Valentines Appetizer
Feel free to mix and match these suggestions for this 💝 Valentines Appetizer based on your preferences and dietary requirements.
- Infuse the balsamic glaze with 🌿 herbs such as rosemary or thyme. For a touch of sweetness, mix in 🍯 honey or maple syrup.
- For the garnish, feel free to use different herbs like mint or cilantro in addition to or instead of basil.
- Add some cooked and cooled 🍤 shrimp or grilled chicken pieces to this Valentines Appetizer for a protein boost.
Other Valentines Recipes
Best Served With
- Crackers or fresh bread like my No Knead Peasant Bread
- A glass of white wine, prosecco, or your favorite sparkling beverage
Common Questions
You could include a protein source such as grilled chicken or shrimp that has cooled. Or you could add additional vegetables like cucumber or roasted red peppers.
Yes, you can use store-bought balsamic glaze as a time-saving alternative.
You can find the heart cookie cutters on my Amazon storefront.
Use dairy-free mozzarella or another plant-based cheese alternative in place of Bocconcini. There are various brands available that offer vegan cheese in mini-ball or cube forms.
Yes, you can certainly make this the night before. I would drizzle the balsamic glaze immediately before serving though.
Cheese scraps can be saved in the fridge for other recipes or used as a snack.
Valentines Appetizer
Ingredients
- 22 cherry tomatoes , oval
- 11 Bocconcini, mini
- 6 slices Provolone cheese
- basil , for garnish
- salt , to taste
- drizzle of olive oil
- ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar , or buy balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Start by cutting the cherry tomatoes on an angle. They should be placed on a board length wise. You have to make a diagonal cut so that they can make the perfect heart shape. If you need to test it with a few tomatoes until you get it right please do so. Once you have the cherry tomatoes cut rotate each piece so that it makes a heart.
- Take any small skewers of choice and poke the skewer through the heart lengthwise. Add one piece of mini Bocconcini cheese in the middle and then skewer on another heart. Repeat this step for each one.
- You can now take the provolone cheese slices and stack three round slices on top of each other. Take mini heart shaped cookie cutters and cut out little heart shapes. Any cheese scraps can go back in the fridge for recipes or as a snack. Cut out as many hearts as you desire.
- Arrange the skewers in a small plate and place the cheese hearts all around. Add some basil for presentation, you can use some parsley as well.
- Now for the glaze, you can simply use store bought but if you don’t have any on hand you can make your own. Just add balsamic vinegar to a small pan or a small pot on the stove and bring it to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low as soon as it starts to boil and let it simmer until it has fully thickened and reduced. Mine took about 8 minutes. Take it off the heat.
- Add a touch of salt and olive oil to your antipasti heart sticks and drizzle on that beautiful glaze. Enjoy.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
