Ladybugs on a Stick Tasty Dish

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Transform snack time into a whimsical culinary adventure with "Ladybugs on a Stick"! This adorable, no-cook recipe combines juicy cherry tomatoes, creamy cheese, and fresh basil leaves to create a playful appetizer that doubles as edible art. Each "ladybug" is crafted with vibrant tomato halves for wings, a black olive head, and edible food coloring for spots, all neatly arranged on mini skewers for easy serving. Perfect for kids' parties, garden-themed events, or simply adding charm to your table, this dish offers a delightful balance of fresh, savory flavors with a touch of creativity. Ready in just 15 minutes and irresistibly fun to make, "Ladybugs on a Stick" is a show-stopping snack that’s almost too cute to eat!

Recipe Information

• Prep Time: 15 min
• Cook Time: N/A
• Total Time: 15 min
• Servings: 6 servings
• Difficulty: Medium

🥘 Ingredients

8 items

• 12 pieces Cherry tomatoes
• 6 pieces Black olives (pitted)
• 6 pieces Fresh basil leaves
• 4 tablespoons Cream cheese
• 1 tube Edible food coloring (black or dark brown)
• 6 pieces Mini skewers or toothpicks
• 0.25 teaspoons Salt
• 0.25 teaspoons Freshly cracked black pepper

📝 Instructions

10 steps

1. Slice each cherry tomato in half lengthwise. These will create the 'wings' for the ladybugs.

2. Cut the black olives in half across their width. These will serve as the ladybug's heads.

3. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese directly onto the flat side of each cherry tomato half. This helps the decorations adhere and adds a creamy flavor.

4. Place one fresh basil leaf on top of the cream cheese layer on one of the cherry tomato halves.

5. Position the two tomato halves (cream cheese side up) together on a mini skewer or toothpick, with a small gap at the rounded edge to represent open ladybug wings.

6. Attach one half of the black olive onto the skewer at the slightly open end of the tomato halves to form the ladybug’s head.

7. Using the edible food coloring, carefully dot dark 'spots' on the surface of the cherry tomato halves to complete the ladybug look.

8. Season the assembled ladybugs lightly with salt and freshly cracked black pepper for a savory finish.

9. Repeat the previous steps with the remaining ingredients to create six sticks.

10. Serve the ladybugs on a decorative plate or vase for a whimsical presentation. Enjoy immediately for the freshest flavor!

Nutrition Facts

1 serving (51.6g)

Calories		45
% Daily Value*
Total Fat		3.9 g	5%
	Saturated Fat	2.0 g	10%
	Polyunsaturated Fat	0.0 g
Cholesterol		10 mg	3%
Sodium		160 mg	7%
Total Carbohydrate		1.9 g	1%
	Dietary Fiber	0.6 g	2%
	Total Sugars	1.2 g
Protein		1.0 g	2%
Vitamin D		0.0 mcg	0%
Calcium		17 mg	1%
Iron		0.3 mg	1%
Potassium		97 mg	2%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 208 cal (75.0%%)

Protein: 23 cal (8.3%%)

Carbs: 46 cal (16.7%%)