6 of the best crostini recipes you’ll ever make (2024)

We’re sharing six of the best crostini recipes we’ve ever made and you can easily make them, too! Homemade crostini are the perfect bite-sized appetizer for gatherings. But portions can also easily be sized down for just one or two people, like us. Made with half-inch slices of toasted baguette, crostini toppings can be sweet or savory.

How to make crostini

Crostini, (pronounced kroh-steen-nee), is a thin slice of French baguette bread that is typically brushed with olive oil before being toasted in the oven. It’s super easy to make. Just follow the steps below:

1: Preheat the oven to 375°F
2: Slice a baguette into 1/2″ slices and arrange on a baking sheet
3: Brush baguette slices with olive oil
4: Bake for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown

You can also save a little time by toasting crostini in an air fryer. Just be sure to keep an eye on it, as it can easily burn.

PIN FOR LATER

A few of the best crostini recipes we’ve tried

We recently blogged about pulling together a Valentine’s Day celebration [HERE] with items purchased at our area grocery store, including a pre-made dinner for two. Since our Valentine’s Day dinner was mostly done, we decided to spend our time experimenting with some new crostini recipes. We enjoyed pouring a glass of wine and spending some time together in the kitchen.

There we put together and sampled some of the best crostini recipes we’ve ever had. You can find a few of our favorites below.

Blackberry Goat Cheese Crostini

For us, the best crostini recipes combine flavors to create one delicious bite. The Blackberry Goat Cheese Crostini recipe from Life As A Strawberry did just that.

This crostini started with a mixture of goat cheese and cream cheese. Then we topped it with a blackberry, rosemary-infused honey, lime zest, and fresh basil. Get the full recipe HERE.

Roasted Grape and Thyme Crostini

We’d never heard of roasting grapes before making this recipe. That said, we’re so glad we tried this one from Chris at Shared Appetite. We put this flavor-packed crostini together quickly and easily.

The roasted grapes paired well with our red wine and the sprinkle of thyme made all the difference. This recipe starts with freshly shaved parmesan cheese. Then, we topped the crostini with roasted red grapes, more parmesan, and just a pinch of fresh thyme. See the complete recipe and learn how to roast grapes HERE.

Prosciutto Crostini with Burrata and Lemon Honey Drizzle

The Charming Detroiter introduced us to this flavor-packed crostini that features a crispy slice of prosciutto. Say no more, right?

One of the best crostini recipes we’ve found, it starts with burrata cheese (or you can use fresh mozzarella). Next, top the cheese with crispy prosciutto, lemon infused honey, and then garnish with microgreens or fresh basil. Find the complete recipe HERE. And for more on prosciutto, check out this article on Carnivore Style where insight from Ann is provided.

Balsamic Strawberry Ricotta Crostini

This crostini would be a perfect summer appetizer or snack. Begin with a layer of ricotta cheese then top with balsamic strawberries. I love that this recipe adds a hint of black pepper to give it a sweet, but somewhat savory taste.

The crostini is then garnished with lemon zest and fresh mint. We found this recipe on a blog called Yay For Food. You can find the complete recipe HERE.

Brie and Fig Crostini with Toasted Pine Nuts

These last two recipes were found on the Hy-Vee website. We’ve partnered with Hy-Vee in the past on sponsored posts, but this is not one of them. We’re sharing this recipe for Brie and Fig Crostini with Toasted Pine Nuts because it is one of our favorites.

The recipe, which you can view and print HERE, calls for Brie cheese and fresh figs. Since figs are typically seasonal and only available in the summer and fall, we substituted them with a fig spread, which was also delicious. What makes this one of the best crostini recipes we’ve tried are the toasted pine nuts on top. They add a savory flavor and just the right amount of crunchy texture to take this recipe over the top.

Brie and Cranberry Crostini

While we made this crostini for Valentine’s Day, it would also be a great addition to your Christmas charcuterie board. It’s definitely eye-catching and also delicious.

This Brie and Cranberry Crostini begins with brie. Then you top it with cranberry relish mixed with finely chopped orange. Garnished with orange rind and a green apple slice, this sweet crostini is a real treat.

Any of these crostini recipes are sure to impress your family or your guests. And if you include one or more of them with a charcuterie board, like this one, you’ll really impress.

We also created a video for Hy-Vee where you can watch us assemble all six of these crostini. Just CLICK ON THE VIDEO BELOW.

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6 of the best crostini recipes you’ll ever make (2024)

FAQs

Why are my crostini so hard? ›

Toast them for just the right amount of time.

for 7 - 8 minutes, turning over halfway through until golden brown. The crostini should be crispy on top but the inside should be tender. If the oven temperature is too low, the bread slices will bake and become too hard.

What is the rule of thumb for adding crostini toppings? ›

The bread can be toasted a few hours in advance of serving. I would not recommend adding the toppings until 10-15 minutes before serving. This way, the bread won't get soggy from the toppings. If you are planning a party where guests will be arriving at different times, you can always make a crostini bar.

What is the difference between crostini and bruschetta? ›

Crostini is usually toasted because the bread is much smaller and thinner than bruschetta. Therefore, not much is required to get the bread to a crispy level. For bruschetta, the main method of choice is grilling. After all, bruschetta is derived from the Italian word meaning “to roast over coals”!

How long can you keep crostini and how do you store? ›

Follow the recipe instructions to make crostini up to 5 days ahead and store it in an airtight container at room temperature. Pop them in a toaster for a few minutes to crisp, if needed.

How do you soften too hard crostini? ›

If your crostini seem a bit too hard, put the toppings on a bit in advance. The topping will soften the crostini.

What part of the meal is crostini typically served? ›

Crostini use suggestions: canapés with toppings, for dips (especially excellent with Baked Brie), side dish for meals such as Acqua Pazza (Italian Fish in Tomato Sauce), dunking into Soups and stews! “Crostini” means “l*ttle crusts” (ie.

How do you store leftover crostini? ›

Store leftover crostini in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Enjoy!

What is the origin of crostini? ›

Crostini is believed to have originated in medieval Italy. The appetizer emerged from poverty-driven ingenuity. Italian peasants, lacking plates, utilized sliced bread to hold their food. Stale bread was salvaged by soaking it in wine or juices for palatability, illustrating resourcefulness in times of scarcity.

What is the French version of crostini? ›

A tartine is the French version of an open faced sandwich, pretty much the same thing as a crostini. All three start with a crisp slice of toasted bread. The three toppings are fresh ricotta and pickled plums, fresh goat cheese with pickled fennel, and sweet butter with chili marinated anchovies.

What is another name for crostini? ›

Toast By Any Other Name is Crostini or Bruschetta...

What bread is crostini made from? ›

Crostini is Italian for toasts. These simple toasts are generally made with sliced white bread, brushed with olive oil, and lightly toasted until crisp. Once toasted, crostini are ready to top with all kinds of fresh, grilled, or roasted vegetables, creamy spreads, cheese, fruit, sliced meats, and more.

Is olive oil brushed on the bread before or after toasting Why? ›

Drizzle or brush the bread with olive oil before toasting or grilling. It adds richness and helps achieve a crispy texture.

Can you reheat crostini? ›

Reheat: To warm up previously stored crostini, pop them into preheated to 250 F – 300 F oven for a few minutes. Do not bake too long because they will dry out.

What's the meaning of crostini? ›

cros·​ti·​ni krȯ-ˈstē-nē : small slices of usually toasted bread topped with a spread or other food.

How do you make hard bread not hard? ›

In the oven: Preheat oven to 200° or Warm setting. Wrap the bread in a damp (not soaking) towel, place on a baking sheet, and pop it in the oven for 5-10 minutes. In the microwave: Wrap the bread in a damp (not soaking) towel, place it on a microwave-safe dish, and microwave on high for 10 seconds.

Is bruschetta supposed to be hard? ›

Bread used for bruschetta can be either hard or soft. Some people like their bruschetta crunchy, and at any rate the toppings tend to soften the bread slices somewhat.

Is there a way to soften hard French bread? ›

Heat it.

Put the bread in a cold oven, then turn the heat to 300° F. Let the loaf slowly heat up for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the density and dryness of the bread. Start checking the bread after 10 minutes. Here's what's happening: The water turns into steam, which is trapped by the wrapping.

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