I love sharing quick and easy appetizers, especially when I’m hosting friends or just want a simple snack. Crostini are perfect for this because they’re so versatile and come together in minutes.
Today, I’m excited to bring you two fantastic crostini recipes that are sure to be a hit. These ideas are simple, straightforward, and packed with great flavors you’ll truly enjoy making and sharing.
Jump to Recipe:
Goat Cheese Cranberry Crostini: A Sweet & Creamy Appetizer
This crostini offers a delightful mix of tangy goat cheese and sweet cranberry sauce on a crispy bread base. It’s a quick appetizer that always gets compliments when I serve it.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Cranberry Crostini
- Choose Your Goat Cheese: Use a fresh, good quality goat cheese. Softening it slightly at room temperature makes it much easier to spread.
- Cranberry Sauce Matters: Both homemade and store-bought cranberry sauce work. If your sauce is very thick, you can warm it a little so it spreads smoothly.
- Perfect Crostini Base: Slice your baguette thinly, about half an inch. This ensures a crisp texture that won’t be too heavy with the toppings.
What You Need for Goat Cheese Crostini
- 1 baguette, sliced into ½-inch rounds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 oz log goat cheese, softened
- ½ cup cranberry sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- Fresh rosemary sprigs, for garnish (optional)
⏱️ Time: 15 minutes🍽️ Yields: 18-20 crostini
How to Make Goat Cheese & Cranberry Crostini
Step 1: Prepare the Crostini Base
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet. Lightly brush each slice with olive oil. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until they are lightly golden and crisp. Let them cool completely on a wire rack.
Step 2: Assemble Your Crostini
Once the crostini are cool, spread a generous amount of softened goat cheese onto each one. Follow this with a small spoonful of cranberry sauce on top of the goat cheese.
Step 3: Garnish and Serve
If you like, add a tiny sprig of fresh rosemary to each crostini for a pretty touch and a hint of herb flavor. Serve your goat cheese cranberry crostini right away.
📝 Final Note
For the best crunch, serve these crostini shortly after you assemble them. If you need to make them ahead, keep the components separate and put them together just before guests arrive.
Fig and Blue Cheese Crostini: A Sweet & Salty Delight
These crostini bring together the sweetness of fresh figs with the distinct, salty taste of blue cheese. A drizzle of honey makes them a truly memorable bite for any occasion.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Fig Crostini
- Blue Cheese Options: If you’re new to blue cheese, try a milder one like gorgonzola. For a stronger taste, choose Roquefort or a sharp Danish blue.
- Fresh Figs are Best: Look for ripe, slightly soft fresh figs. If they’re out of season, a good quality fig jam can be a fine substitute.
- The Honey Drizzle: A light drizzle of honey helps to balance the strong cheese flavor and brings out the natural sweetness of the figs.
What You Need for Fig & Blue Cheese Crostini
- 1 baguette, sliced into ½-inch rounds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 oz blue cheese, crumbled
- 4-5 fresh figs, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons honey, for drizzling
- ¼ cup toasted walnuts or pecans, chopped (optional)
⏱️ Time: 18 minutes🍽️ Yields: 18-20 crostini
How to Make Fig & Blue Cheese Crostini
Step 1: Prepare the Crostini
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush them lightly with olive oil. Bake for 8-10 minutes until they are golden and crispy. Let them cool.
Step 2: Build Your Crostini Topping
Evenly scatter crumbled blue cheese over each toasted crostini. Then, arrange a few thin slices of fresh fig on top of the blue cheese.
Step 3: Finish with Drizzle & Serve
Drizzle a little honey over each crostini. If you’re using them, sprinkle with chopped toasted walnuts or pecans for extra crunch. Serve immediately.
📝 Final Note
For a slightly warm cheese, you can pop the crostini with the blue cheese on top back into the oven for 1-2 minutes until the cheese just begins to soften before adding the figs and honey.