These colorful cheese and grape skewers are the perfect finger food for your next party! Juicy grapes, salty prosciutto, nutty gouda, and peppery arugula are perfectly balanced for a sweet-salty bite. Drizzle them with balsamic glaze for a mouth-puckering pop of flavor and a stunning color contrast. Great appetizers for summer gatherings, the holidays, and beyond!
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Cheese and Grape Skewers
I love coming up with colorful and flavorful appetizers, especially ones that are super easy to assemble. Don’t get me wrong – I love a warm, creamy baked brie or spinach and artichoke dip just as much as the next girl.
But these little grape cheese skewers are one of my favorite snacks because they take less than 15 minutes to put together and have the perfect balance of protein and fiber! They make it so easy to sneak in some fresh fruit (and even some greens).
Plus, they’re beautiful and have crowd-pleasing flavors everyone will enjoy!
Looking for more ways to use up those grapes? Try this Grape Quinoa Salad or Chicken Salad with Grapes and Almonds!
Why We Love This Grape Skewers Recipe
- Perfect balance of sweet, salty, tangy, and umami flavors
- Easy snack recipe to make before a dinner party or brunch
- Great for healthy eating around the holidays (or anytime of year)
- A fun twist on the traditional charcuterie board or cheese plate
- The skewers make a beautiful presentation on wooden cutting boards or serving trays
- Customizable with different types of seasonal fruits and cheeses
Ingredient Notes
- Grapes: For these skewers, you’ll need both red seedless grapes and green seedless grapes. Look for ones that are on the firmer side (not soft or mushy) and that are free of blemishes for the best presentation.
- Arugula leaves: Remove the end of the stem and leave just the leaf.
- Gouda cheese: Make cheese cubes for easy serving. Feel free to use your favorite cheese instead! Mini mozzarella cheese balls are great for summer, but I also like sharp cheddar, fontina cheese, or aged Italian cheeses.
- Prosciutto slices: Cut these into quarters to make it easier to thread onto the skewers.
- Wooden appetizer toothpicks: I can usually find these appetizer-sized bamboo skewers at my local grocery store, but you may need to order these online. They should be 4-5 inches long.
- Balsamic glaze (optional, but recommended): You can make your own by simmering balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan until it is reduced to a thick, syrupy liquid.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Wash the grapes and gently pat them dry. Thread one red grape onto a skewer so that there’s a bit of space left at the top of the toothpick.
- Next, fold 1-2 pieces of arugula in half and thread them on the skewer beneath the red grape.
- Skewer one cube of cheese and slide it underneath the arugula.
- Fold one small piece of prosciutto and slide it onto the skewer beneath the cheese cube.
- Finally, slide on a green grape beneath the prosciutto.
- Repeat pattern with the remaining skewers. Before serving, drizzle with a bit of balsamic glaze, if desired.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Recipe Tips:
- If you can’t find the wooden skewers in store near you, they are pretty easy to find online.
- Feel free to replace the grapes with other seasonal fruits! For the winter, they’re great with pear and apple cubes, but you can also use pitted cherries, dried apricots, cherry tomatoes, and more.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! These grape and cheese appetizers are an easy, quick bite to prepare before a dinner party or special meal, although the presentation is typically best when served within a few hours of preparing. If you’re pressed for time, you can assemble the skewers the day before, pop them in an airtight container, and place them on your serving dish the next day.
Grapes pair well with almost every type of cheese! I love to match them with cheeses that have a nutty flavor, like gouda, sharp cheddar, provolone, manchego, etc., but grapes also pair wonderfully with a nice soft cheese, like brie, camembert, washed rind goat cheese, blue cheese, and more.
Nope. They’re the perfect size to thread onto the skewer, and this will save you some effort, too. That being said, if serving these skewers to young children, you may wish to quarter the grapes lengthwise before they eat them.
Storage Guidelines
The grape and cheese skewers will have the best flavor at room temperature. If you refrigerate the leftovers within 2 hours, they can be eaten again later, but they should be disposed of after 4 hours.
Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Serving Suggestions
These little one-bite skewers are intended to be served as an appetizer before a special meal, but they also make the perfect healthy snack for any time! I like to pair them with these healthy appetizer recipes before dinner parties, potlucks, or holiday meals:
- Goat Cheese Cucumber Appetizer
- Healthy Apple Nachos
- Mediterranean Bruschetta
- Rainbow Fruit Tray
- Spicy Garlic Hummus Recipe
- Cinnamon Honey Roasted Almonds
Recipe Variations
- Change the fruit: Pears or apples would also taste great on these skewers. Try replacing the grapes with cherry tomatoes, dried apricots, or even cured olives!
- Make longer skewers: Instead of one quick bite, repeat the pattern of grape, cheese, and arugula on the skewer for a larger snack.
- Try different cheeses: Use 1-2 other types of cheese to play around with the flavors, like sharp cheddar or provolone. You can also try using flavored cheeses, like gouda with black pepper, smoked cheddar, aged gouda, etc.
More Delicious Appetizers
- Berry Caprese Skewers
- Cranberry Chicken Meatballs
- Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Caramel Apple Skewers
- Mini Roasted Pineapples
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Cheese and Grape Skewers
Video
Ingredients
- 12 red seedless grapes
- 12 green seedless grapes
- 12-24 arugula leaves (end of stem removed)
- 12 1/2 inch cubes of Gouda cheese (or sub in preferred cheese)
- 3 slices of prosciutto, cut into quarters
- 4-5 inch long wooden appetizer toothpicks
Optional
- Balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Wash the grapes and gently pat them dry. Thread one red grape onto a skewer so that there’s a bit of space left at the top of the toothpick.
- Next, fold 1-2 pieces of arugula in half and thread them on the skewer beneath the red grape.
- Skewer one cube of cheese and slide it underneath the arugula.
- Folder one small piece of prosciutto and slide it onto the skewer beneath the cheese cube.
- Finally, slide on a green grape beneath the prosciutto.
- Repeat pattern with the remaining skewers. Before serving, drizzle with a bit of balsamic glaze, if desired.
Notes
- If you can’t find the wooden skewers in store near you, they are pretty easy to find online.
- Feel free to replace the grapes with other seasonal fruits! For the winter, they’re great with pear and apple cubes, but you can also use pitted cherries, dried apricots, cherry tomatoes, and more.
Nutrition
A version of this recipe was originally posted in October 2015 and was updated in July 2024 to include adapted ingredients, updated photos and helpful tips.
Looks quite plush. I love it. Haven’t tasted it but I could imagine what it is like.
Pinned to my entertaining board, I love these little skewers, they are so cute!
Aw thanks Sara!
These look super yummy!
Her Heartland Soul
http://herheartlandsoul.com
Thank you Erin! I appreciate you stopping by :)