We absolutely adore the simple elegance of a classic Caprese salad. The beautiful combination of sweet tomatoes, milky mozzarella, and aromatic basil is a true taste of Italy. But what if we could capture that same magic in a hot, cheesy, and utterly irresistible dip? Allow us to introduce our definitive Caprese Dip Recipe. We’ve reimagined the beloved salad, transforming its fresh flavours into a warm, bubbly appetiser perfect for sharing. Just picture dipping a piece of crusty bread into a glorious bake of melted cheese, sun-blushed tomatoes, and fresh basil. It’s the ultimate in comforting, elegant, and flavourful food.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It transforms the classic, fresh taste of a Caprese salad into a warm, gooey, and comforting dip that is simply divine.
• This gorgeous appetiser is remarkably straightforward to put together, requiring minimal effort and common ingredients for a quick result.
• We love that it uses simple, quality ingredients like ripe cherry tomatoes, fragrant basil, and luscious mozzarella for a treat that feels both indulgent and fresh.
• It’s wonderfully adaptable, serving beautifully as a party nibble, a cosy family snack, or even a light meal with some fresh salad on the side.

The Secret to a Perfect Dip: Our Key Ingredients

Before we get to the cooking, let’s have a chat about the ingredients that make this caprese dip so wonderfully delicious. The true beauty of this dish is in the quality of its parts. Though the list is brief, every single ingredient has an important role to play. We use a luscious, creamy foundation, a duo of mozzarellas for that perfect cheesy stretch, and fresh components to deliver that authentic Italian taste.

• Tomatoes: Our choice is cherry or baby plum tomatoes. Roasting them coaxes out their inherent sweetness, which creates delightful little bursts of jammy flavour all through the dip. A high-quality tomato is essential for the best taste.
• Cheese: This is a real treat for any cheese enthusiast! We build our dip on a base of full-fat cream cheese for a luxurious, tangy texture. Grated low-moisture mozzarella ensures it melts perfectly, while fresh mozzarella pearls provide those creamy, milky pockets on top. We finish it with a sprinkle of Parmesan for a savoury, nutty note.
• Basil: Using fresh basil is an absolute must. That distinctive sweet and slightly peppery fragrance is the very essence of the Caprese flavour profile. We mix some into the dip itself and reserve a good amount to garnish with at the end for a fresh flourish.
• Garlic & Seasoning: A couple of minced garlic cloves offer a lovely savoury depth, while a simple seasoning of salt and freshly cracked black pepper helps to enhance all the other wonderful flavours.
• Balsamic Glaze: For the finishing touch, a drizzle of a thick, sweet balsamic glaze provides a delightful sharpness that cuts through the richness of the cheese, tying everything together perfectly.

Ingredients

• 225g full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 200g cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus extra for seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for seasoning
• 150g grated low-moisture mozzarella cheese
• 75g freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 125g fresh mozzarella pearls, or one ball torn into small pieces
• 20g fresh basil leaves, chopped, plus extra whole leaves for garnish
• 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze, for drizzling
• Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
• Crusty bread, crostini, or crackers, for serving

Instructions

1. To begin, let’s get the tomatoes ready. Start by preheating your oven to 200°C (180°C Fan / Gas Mark 6). In a small bowl, toss the halved cherry tomatoes with the olive oil, half of the minced garlic, and a little salt and pepper. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking tray and pop them in the oven to roast for about 10-15 minutes. You’re looking for them to become soft and just starting to burst, which really intensifies their lovely sweetness.
2. As the tomatoes are roasting, you can make the creamy cheese base. Take a medium bowl and add the softened cream cheese, the grated mozzarella, grated Parmesan, the other half of the minced garlic, the chopped basil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. If you fancy a little warmth, now is the time to add the red pepper flakes. Give it all a good stir until it is thoroughly combined and has a creamy consistency.
3. Take a small, oven-safe dish or skillet (around 20-23cm works best) and spread the cheese mixture evenly across the bottom. You want a layer that’s roughly an inch deep, as this will be the rich base for our delicious dip.
4. When the tomatoes have finished roasting, take them out of the oven. Carefully spoon the softened tomatoes, along with any of the delicious juices from the tray, over the cream cheese layer in your dish.
5. Next, scatter the fresh mozzarella pearls or torn pieces of fresh mozzarella evenly over the top of the tomatoes. It’s this delightful marriage of melted grated cheese in the base and the creamy pools of fresh mozzarella on top that makes this appetiser so irresistible.
6. Place the dip into your preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. It’s ready when the edges are bubbling merrily and the cheese on top has completely melted and is starting to turn a pale golden-brown. For a more browned finish, you can switch the oven to a hot grill for the final minute or two, but do keep a very close eye on it to make sure it doesn’t catch.
7. Very carefully take the dish out of the oven. We recommend letting it sit for five minutes before serving, as it will be piping hot. Just before you’re ready to dive in, drizzle the balsamic glaze all over the top and garnish with a generous scattering of fresh basil leaves.
8. Serve hot with your choice of dippers. We love toasted baguette slices, robust crackers, breadsticks, or even fresh vegetable batons like carrots and peppers. Enjoy!

Our Top Tips and Creative Twists

We’re passionate about making sure your Caprese Dip turns out perfectly every time. Here are a handful of our best suggestions:

• Soften the Cream Cheese: It’s really important to let your cream cheese come to room temperature before you start. This simple step makes it much easier to mix and guarantees a perfectly smooth, creamy texture without any lumps.
• Roast Your Tomatoes: You could technically use raw tomatoes, but roasting them first makes a world of difference to the flavour. It deepens their sweetness and stops the dip from becoming watery.
• Choose Quality Ingredients: Because this recipe has so few components, the quality of each one truly matters. Opt for a nice olive oil, fresh mozzarella that comes in water, and always grate your own Parmesan for the very best taste.

If you’re feeling adventurous, this dip provides a wonderful base for experimentation. To enhance the basil flavour, try stirring a spoonful of pesto into the cream cheese mixture. If you want to turn this into a more substantial appetizer, you could add some cooked, shredded chicken or crumbled Italian sausage to the cheese layer. It would sit beautifully alongside other crowd-pleasers, such as our Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders, for a fantastic party spread.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Final Thought on Our Cheesy Caprese Dip

This warm and cheesy Caprese Dip is, in our opinion, the perfect appetiser. It brings together all the bright, fresh tastes of Italy in a wonderfully comforting dish that’s made for sharing and is always the first thing to vanish at a gathering. It’s a testament to how simple, quality ingredients can be used to create something truly special. So, for your next party, family meal, or even just a quiet evening in, we do hope you’ll give this recipe a try. It’s a wonderful dish that brings everyone together, one scoop at a time. And if you need a perfect sweet finish, we highly recommend our simple and scrumptious Biscoff Truffles. We always love to hear from you, so please do leave a comment or tag us in your photos online!

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Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 225g full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 200g cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus extra for seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for seasoning
• 150g grated low-moisture mozzarella cheese
• 75g freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 125g fresh mozzarella pearls, or one ball torn into small pieces
• 20g fresh basil leaves, chopped, plus extra whole leaves for garnish
• 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze, for drizzling
• Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
• Crusty bread, crostini, or crackers, for serving

Instructions

1. To begin, let’s get the tomatoes ready. Start by preheating your oven to 200°C (180°C Fan / Gas Mark 6). In a small bowl, toss the halved cherry tomatoes with the olive oil, half of the minced garlic, and a little salt and pepper. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking tray and pop them in the oven to roast for about 10-15 minutes. You’re looking for them to become soft and just starting to burst, which really intensifies their lovely sweetness.
2. As the tomatoes are roasting, you can make the creamy cheese base. Take a medium bowl and add the softened cream cheese, the grated mozzarella, grated Parmesan, the other half of the minced garlic, the chopped basil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. If you fancy a little warmth, now is the time to add the red pepper flakes. Give it all a good stir until it is thoroughly combined and has a creamy consistency.
3. Take a small, oven-safe dish or skillet (around 20-23cm works best) and spread the cheese mixture evenly across the bottom. You want a layer that’s roughly an inch deep, as this will be the rich base for our delicious dip.
4. When the tomatoes have finished roasting, take them out of the oven. Carefully spoon the softened tomatoes, along with any of the delicious juices from the tray, over the cream cheese layer in your dish.
5. Next, scatter the fresh mozzarella pearls or torn pieces of fresh mozzarella evenly over the top of the tomatoes. It’s this delightful marriage of melted grated cheese in the base and the creamy pools of fresh mozzarella on top that makes this appetiser so irresistible.
6. Place the dip into your preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. It’s ready when the edges are bubbling merrily and the cheese on top has completely melted and is starting to turn a pale golden-brown. For a more browned finish, you can switch the oven to a hot grill for the final minute or two, but do keep a very close eye on it to make sure it doesn’t catch.
7. Very carefully take the dish out of the oven. We recommend letting it sit for five minutes before serving, as it will be piping hot. Just before you’re ready to dive in, drizzle the balsamic glaze all over the top and garnish with a generous scattering of fresh basil leaves.
8. Serve hot with your choice of dippers. We love toasted baguette slices, robust crackers, breadsticks, or even fresh vegetable batons like carrots and peppers. Enjoy!

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