It’s amazing what you can do with toasted bread and a few toppings. These four bruschetta recipes, or crostini recipes if you prefer, will get you through anything the holidays throw at you.
During this time of holiday merriment, hustle, and bustle, it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of being social and saying yes to everything. Even things that you don’t technically have time for. So when you say yes to that last minute weeknight party invite or when you run into old friends at the mall and get so caught up in the holiday excitement that you invite them over for drinks that night – turn to these quick recipes to make it look like you’ve got it all together when all you really did was pop in to the grocery store on the way home.
“Toasts” are the hot thing lately, and who can argue? Crostini, bruschetta, toasts, whatever you call them, they are easy to make and the presentation is beautiful. Always a favorite. Although the avocado toast craze really baffles me. You needed someone to tell you that avocado tastes good on bread? And you needed someone to show you how to spread avocado on a piece of bread? And you’ll pay $14 for it at a restaurant because it’s just too hard to do it yourself? Really? Okay.
This isn’t rocket-science or a revolution in recipe development here, people. Coming up with bruschetta recipes is nothing new. But sometimes your brains are so scrambled at the holidays that you just need someone to remind you that simple can be tasty. So I am doing that for you. Be it savory or sweet, there is a crostini recipe here to save you. Just add some fresh herbs and a drizzle of something to a few store-bought staples and Voila! You’re practically Martha Stewart.
You can use all that time you saved to pick out, and put on, your party slippers.
Happy Holidays!
Related recipes: Other party faves include Creamy Romesco Dip, Candied Hazelnuts, Parmesan-Rosemary Gougéres with Goat Cheese Filling, Spiced Nuts.
Bruschetta Recipes
Sun Dried Tomato Mascarpone with Basil; Goat Cheese with Olive Tapenade and Thyme; Hummus with Gremolata; Sweet Whipped Ricotta with Figs and Balsamic Glaze
All of these bruschetta recipes will require a baguette or other crusty bread of your choice. Baguette is readily sliced into individual portions, but if you have a boule or a sourdough loaf in the freezer, use it! You can slice these into strips for serving as I did in the photos above.
Preparing the bread:
Turn broiler on. (You could also use a toaster oven if you have one. I don’t, so you’re on your own with that set of toasting instructions… )
Slice baguette or other bread into 1/4 inch slices (further divide into smaller bite-sized portions if using a larger loaf.)
Place slices on a baking sheet and drizzle both sides with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt.
Place under the broiler and toast lightly. Then flip slices and toast on the other side.
Place under the broiler and toast lightly. Then flip slices and toast on the other side.
Broiling note: This will happen VERY quickly. Be sure to leave the oven door open slightly and to monitor the bread as it toasts. Do NOT walk away.
Once bread is toasted and ready, go ahead with any of the recipes below.
Sun Dried Tomato Mascarpone with Basil Bruschetta Recipe
8 oz Mascarpone cheese, softened
1/2 cup oil-packed sun dried tomatoes
1 tbsp oil from jar of tomatoes
Pinch of salt
Fresh basil, cut into thin strips (chiffonade) – roll basil leaves from tip to stem and cut cross-wise
Drain oil from tomatoes and dice. Add diced tomatoes, salt, and tomato oil to softened mascarpone. Stir until combined. Spread onto bread and top with basil strips.
Goat Cheese with Olive Tapenade and Fresh Thyme Bruschetta Recipe (This is the easiest one!)
Log of spreadable goat cheese such as chevre, softened
Jar of olive tapenade
Fresh thyme
Spread softened goat cheese onto bread, top with tapenade and sprigs of thyme leaves.
Hummus with Gremolata Bruschetta Recipe
Don’t be afraid of the Italian word… It’s mostly parsley
Plain hummus
Gremolata: 1/2 cup parsley, chopped, 1 clove garlic, finely minced, about 2 tsp lemon zest
Olive oil, for drizzling
Mix parsley, garlic and lemon zest in a bowl. Spread hummus onto bread. Top with gremolata and drizzle a bit of olive oil on top
Sweet Whipped Ricotta with Figs and Balsamic Glaze Bruschetta Recipe
15 0z whole-milk ricotta
1 tbsp honey, plus more for drizzling
Dried figs sliced into small wedges
Balsamic glaze
Place ricotta and 1 tbsp honey in food processor. Pulse until smooth and blended. (If you don’t have a food processor, just stir the honey into the ricotta. The texture will be different, but it will still taste delicious.)
Spread ricotta onto bread. Top with figs. Drizzle honey over the top and dot with balsamic glaze.
Bruschetta for the Holidays - Four Ways
These four bruschetta recipes will have you ready for a party in minutes. Just swing by the store to pick up some ready-made toppings, toast the bread, and you're ready for guests!
Ingredients
Sun Dried Tomato Mascarpone with Basil Bruschetta Recipe
- 8 oz mascarpone cheese
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
- 1 tbsp oil from jar of sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- fresh basil cut into thin strips (chiffonade)
Hummus with Gremolata Bruschetta Recipe
- 8 oz huumus
- 1/2 cup parsley chopped
- 1 clove garlic finely minced
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- olive oil for drizzling
Sweet Whipped Ricotta with Figs and Balsamic Glaze Bruschetta Recipe
- 15 oz whole-milk ricotta
- 1 tbsp honey plus more for drizzling
- dried figs sliced into small wedges
- balsamic glaze for drizzling
- kosher salt and cracked pepper to taste
Goat Cheese with Olive Tapenade and Fresh Thyme Bruschetta Recipe
- 1 log goat cheese spreadable, such as chevre
- 1 jar olive tapenads
- fresh thyme
Toasted Baguette
- 1 baguette sliced into 1/4 inch slices
- olive oil
- kosher salt
Instructions
Toasted Baguette
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Turn broiler on. Slice baguette or other bread into 1/4 inch slices (further divide into smaller bite-sized portions if using a larger loaf.) Place slices on a baking sheet and drizzle both sides with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
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Place under the broiler and toast lightly. Then flip slices and toast on the other side. Broiling note: This will happen VERY quickly. Be sure to leave the oven door open slightly and to monitor the bread as it toasts. Do NOT walk away. Once bread is toasted and ready, go ahead with any of the recipes for toppings.
Sun Dried Tomato Mascarpone with Basil
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Drain oil from tomatoes and dice. Add diced tomatoes, salt, and tomato oil to softened mascarpone. Stir until combined. Spread onto bread and top with basil strips.
Hummus with Gremolata
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Mix parsley, garlic and lemon zest in a bowl. Spread hummus onto bread. Top with gremolata and drizzle a bit of olive oil on top
Sweet Whipped Ricotta with Figs and Balsamic Glaze
-
Place ricotta and 1 tbsp honey in food processor. Pulse until smooth and blended. (If you don’t have a food processor, just stir the honey into the ricotta. The texture will be different, but it will still taste delicious.) Spread ricotta onto bread. Top with figs. Drizzle honey over the top and dot with balsamic glaze.
Goat Cheese with Olive Tapenade and Fresh Thyme
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Spread softened goat cheese onto bread, top with tapenade and sprigs of thyme leaves.
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