Balsamic vinegar is a tart sauce you can use to drizzle on cracker or bread appetizers.
Balsamic vinegar brings the flavors of meat, cheese, herbs, and spices for a savory appetizer flavoring.
Balsamic vinegar is a sharp flavor, whereas balsamic reduction is a sweeter flavoring. You can use them almost interchangeably, depending on your taste preferences.
Prosciutto Brie Appetizer
Arrange a few artisan crackers on a serving plate. Top the specialty crackers with a slice of brie cheese, fresh basil, prosciutto, and arugula.
Once you’re ready to serve the appetizer, top with a drizzle of honey and balsamic vinegar for a sweet finish.
Roasted Cherry Tomato Bruschetta
Roasted cherry tomato bruschetta is served warm, made on crispy garlic crostini’s.
The roasted tomatoes are tossed with fresh basil leaves, and then placed on top of the crostini’s that have been rubbed with garlic.
The bruschetta topped with a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese, and a drizzle balsamic vinegar.
Strawberry Bruschetta with Cream Cheese
Strawberry bruschetta with cream cheese is a sweet balsamic appetizer.
Cream cheese is mixed with vanilla extract and a bit of sugar.
A baguette is sliced into thin pieces, and toasted to create the bottom layer of the bruschetta.
To assemble the bruschetta, a thin layer of vanilla cream cheese is spread on the freshly toasted baguette slice.
The cream cheese will melt a little from the warmed bread.
Sliced strawberries are added on top of the cream cheese, with a couple strips of basil leaves.
Strawberry bruschetta is finished off with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
Watermelon Feta Bites
Watermelon feta bites are a refreshing appetizer you can serve at a summertime BBQ.
Watermelon is cut with a round cookie cutter, and then it hollowed out with a melon baller.
Dice a bit more watermelon to mix with cucumber and feta cheese. The mixture is tossed with a bit of red wine vinegar and olive oil.
The mixture is placed into the center of the hollowed out round watermelon pieces for vibrant, juicy, creamy appetizer.
You can drizzle a little balsamic vinegar on top for a complimentary flavor with watermelon.
Peach Prosciutto Skewer
Prosciutto peach skewer uses fresh peaches wrapped in prosciutto.
Fresh mozzarella is added to the skewer for a creamy, cheesy addition to the juicy peaches.
Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and honey to finish off this delicious tangy appetizer.
Caprese Pesto Crostini
Caprese pesto crostini’s are made by marinating cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella with dried basil leaves and olive oil.
Once you’ve made your crostini’s and they have cooled, fresh pesto is spread on the crostini.
Mozzarella slices and cherry tomatoes are placed on top of the layer of pesto.
Finally, the pesto appetizer is topped with freshly chopped basil leaves, parmesan cheese, and balsamic vinegar.
Raw Apple Crostini
Raw apple appetizer is made by adding a layer of fig jam on top of a freshly prepared crostini.
A fresh leaf of basil is added on top of the fig jam.
A thin slice of apple is added to the crostini along with a strip of prosciutto.
The prosciutto appetizer is finished off with the balsamic vinegar drizzled on top.
Roasted Grape Crostini
Roasted grape crostini is a warm crostini appetizer bursting with grape flavor.
The grapes are roasted in the oven with a bit of olive oil, thyme, salt and pepper until they burst in the oven and release their juices.
After the grapes come out of the oven, they are drizzled with balsamic vinegar for a bit of an acidic finish.
The crostini is assembled by putting a thin layer of goat cheese on top of the crostini, a layer of roasted grapes, and then topping with chopped up walnuts.
Honey is drizzled on top of the crostini for a sweeter finish.
Peach Caprese Appetizer
Peach caprese appetizer uses slices of peaches to create a sandwich.
In between the layers of peaches is a slice of mozzarella.
On the top layer of peach, add a single leaf of basil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
Place a toothpick through the sandwich so it can easily be eaten without it falling apart.
Prosciutto Havarti Crostini
Prosciutto Havarti crostini is made by adding a thin layer of red pepper jelly on top of a freshly baked crostini.
A layer of Havarti cheese is placed on top of the red pepper jelly.
Arugula leaves are added on top of the Havarti.
Prosciutto is layered on top of the arugula, and then is topped with balsamic vinegar for this colorful and flavorful crostini appetizer.
Peach Flatbread
Flatbread is a delicious crispy, warm peach appetizer. Flatbread can be cut into small pieces so it’s easily eaten.
Peach flatbread is made by simply brushing olive oil on the edges of the flatbread dough.
Add pizza sauce on the dough, and arrange fresh mozzarella on top of the pizza sauce.
Place folded pieces of prosciutto all over the flatbread. Slice peaches and dry off excess water. You don’t want too much leaking into your flatbread or it won’t crisp up.
Bake the flatbread, and add fresh leaves of basil once it comes out of the oven, along with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
Oil and Vinegar
One of the most classic appetizers to use balsamic vinegar is to use it as a dipping sauce for bread.
You can use your favorite focaccia bread recipe, and then dip it in extra virgin olive oil, with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar on top of the olive oil.
The combination of oil and tart balsamic is a savory appetizer when paired with warm focaccia bread.
