This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

Remind everyone who’s coming to town with a showstopping and festive Christmas Caprese featuring a mozzarella, tomato, and basil Santa.

A festive Smiling Santa Caprese face made from tomato slices, mozzarella rounds, ham, basil leaves, and a cherry tomato nose arranged on a wooden board with pine branches and string lights in the background.
Save this recipe!
I’ll send it straight to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes weekly!

This delicious platter works well as a side salad or as a fun Christmas party appetizer served with toasted crostini or my delicious no-knead focaccia.

You can even make mini-sized Santas using bocconcini (mozzarella balls) and cherry tomatoes, so everyone gets their own.

Recipe Tip

Feel free to omit the ham if you prefer, and simply use the chopping board for Santa’s face.

❤️Why You’ll Love this Christmas Salad

  • Fun and festive.
  • Simple ingredients.
  • Easy to make.
  • Delicious side dish for any Christmas gathering.

Christmas Caprese Ingredients

Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!

  • Tomatoes: Use large round, vine tomatoes or Globe tomatoes.
  • Mozzarella: Fresh, firm mozzarella balls.
  • Ham: For the face (you can omit).
  • Olives: You’ll need two black olives for the eyes.
  • Fresh basil leaves: For the collar. Use leaves of a similar size.
  • Seasoning: Extra virgin olive oil, balsamic glaze, sea salt, and black pepper.

How to Make a Christmas Caprese

  1. Slice the tomatoes and the mozzarella. Cut out the mozzarella discs with a medium round cookie cutter. Start assembling the caprese from the top down using mozzarella and tomato slices to make Santa’s hat.
  2. Work your way down with a ham face, mozzarella beard and mustache, tomato suit, and fresh basil collar.
  3. Top the face with sliced olive and mozzarella eyes, a tomato nose, and olive smile. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze and season with sea salt and pepper.
Santa's hat arranged on chopping board using mozzarella and tomato slices.
Assembling a Christmas caprese using ham slices for the face, tomato and mozzarella slices for the hat, and a mozzarella beard.
Adding final details to a Christmas Caprese featuring mozzarella and tomato slices, ham, and fresh basil.

Recipe Tip

Chop any leftovers to add to a salad or top onto pizza or pasta.

Possible Variations

  • Tomatoes: Try cherry, grape or vine tomatoes, pomegranate arils, or strawberries.
  • Mozzarella: Halloumi, cheddar, slices of goat cheese, and other sliceable cheeses.
  • Olives: Use green olives, cherry tomatoes, pistachios, or blueberries.
  • Basil: Or fresh mint.
  • Seasoning: Chili oil, balsamic vinegar, pesto, etc.
  • Toppings: Sprinkle with chopped pistachios or roasted pine nuts for texture.

How to Store Leftovers

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy within 2 days.

FAQs

Can I make the caprese salad in advance?

Yes, you can prepare the platter a few hours in advance, and store it covered in the fridge. But wait to season and dress the caprese before serving.

I don’t have cookie cutters. Can I still make the dish?

Of course! Just slice the cheese and arrange it without shaping.

Can I serve the salad as a side dish?

It would make a delicious side at holiday parties, or serve it as an appetizer with crostini or baguette.

More Christmas Recipes

If you make this recipe or any other recipe on Foodbites, then I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave a comment and rating below.

A festive Smiling Santa Caprese face made from tomato slices, mozzarella rounds, ham, basil leaves, and a cherry tomato nose arranged on a wooden board with pine branches and string lights in the background.
Servings: 6 people

Christmas Caprese

Tomato, mozzarella, ham, and basil platter shaped like Santa.
Prep: 40 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Pin Rate Print
Save this recipe!
Share your email and I’ll send it straight to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes weekly!

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 5 large tomatoes
  • 3 balls mozzarella
  • 2 slices ham
  • 2 black olives
  • 6 fresh basil leaves
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic glaze
  • sea salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste

Instructions 

  • Slice the tomatoes and the mozzarella.
  • Use the medium round cookie cutter to shape the mozzarella discs (if you want uniform discs).
  • Arrange the top piece of mozzarella for the bobble.
  • Place the tomato slices for the red part of the hat. I did 2 in the first row, then 3, then 5.
  • Fold two pieces of ham for the face.
  • Make a row of mozzarella discs under the hat and around the face for the beard.
  • Halve a mozzarella disc to shape the mustache.
  • Shape the white part of the eyes with mozzarella and a small round cookie cutter.
  • Slice the tips of 2 olives for the pupils.
  • Use a metal straw for the mozzarella eye highlight.
  • Place an end-piece of tomato on the face for the nose.
  • Arrange tomatoes to make Santa’s suit.
  • Line the space between the suit and Santa’s beard with fresh basil.
  • Halve an olive and cut a sliver for Santa’s smile.
  • Drizzle with olive oil, balsamic glaze and a sprinkle of sea salt to serve.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 149kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 6mg, Sodium: 143mg, Potassium: 388mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 1293IU, Vitamin C: 21mg, Calcium: 20mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




4 Comments

  1. Tobias says:

    So fun to make with the kids. After, i used it to make a nice salad

    Reply
    1. Sine says:

      Yaay!

      Reply
  2. Louise says:

    Yay ๐ŸŽ‰
    Your recipes are fantastic and are easy to follow! And they taste amazing ๐Ÿฉท

    Reply
    1. Sine says:

      Just made my day! Thank you!!

      Reply