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    Home » Recipes » Four Easy Crostini Recipes

    Four Easy Crostini Recipes

    Published: Dec 14, 2015 · Modified: Feb 5, 2022 · by Debra with Leave a Comment · 1354 words. About 7 minutes to read this article. · This post contains affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    It's amazing what you can do with toasted bread and a few toppings. These four easy crostini recipes all use store-bought ingredients and take only a few minutes to make.

    Four slices of crostini with various toppings.

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy here. 

    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.

    Like when you say yes to that last minute weeknight party invite or when you run into old friends and get so caught up in the excitement that you invite them over for drinks that night - turn to these quick crostini 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.

    This isn't rocket-science or a revolution in recipe development here, people. Coming up with crostini toppings is nothing new. But sometimes you're so busy, 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 topping 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.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe
    Four different crostini recipes displayed on a cutting board, with goat cheese, hummus, olive tapenade and other ingredients.

    Ingredients

    • Crusty bread: All of these crostini 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.
    • Sun dried tomatoes, mascarpone cheese, basil: This is a little twist on cream cheese, the mascarpone is softer and easily mixed with all sorts of ingredients. Using the sun dried tomatoes and basil gives you a taste of summer.
    • Goat cheese, olive tapenade and fresh thyme: Tangy, creamy goat cheese provides a great canvas for the briny tapenade. The thyme gives it a boost of freshness.
    • Hummus, gremolata: Gremolata is just chopped parsley with garlic and lemon zest. Don't be afraid of the fancy word.
    • Whipped ricotta, dried figs, balsamic glaze: Ricotta takes on a light, creamy texture when you whip it in the food processor. These are a little bit sweet, but they stay savory enough to remain in the appetizer category, not dessert.

    Instructions

    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 ¼ 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.

    Baguette slices drizzled with olive oil on a baking sheet.

    Place under the broiler and toast lightly. Then flip slices and toast on the other side.

    Toasted baguette slices on a baking sheet.

    Place under the broiler and toast lightly. Then flip slices and toast on the other side.

    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 crostini toppings below.

    Crostini with sun dried tomato mascarpone topped with fresh basil on a white plate.

    Crostini with Sun Dried Tomato Mascarpone and Basil

    Fresh basil, cut into thin strips (chiffonade) - roll basil leaves from tip to stem and cut cross-wise

    Drain oil from a jar of sun-dried tomatoes and dice them. Reserve a bit of the oil.

    Add diced tomatoes, salt, and tomato oil to softened mascarpone.

    Stir until combined.  Spread onto bread and top with basil strips.

    Crostini with goat cheese, olive tapenade and fresh thyme on a white plate.

    Crostini with Goat Cheese, Olive Tapenade and Fresh Thyme

    (This is the easiest one!)

    Soften a log of goat cheese, spread onto bread, top with tapenade and sprigs of thyme leaves.

    Crostini with hummus and gremolata on a white plate.

    Crostini with Hummus and Gremolata

    Don't be afraid of the Italian word... It's mostly parsley

    To make gremolata, you just mix chopped parsley, garlic and lemon zest in a bowl.

    To make these crostinis, spread hummus onto bread. Top with gremolata and drizzle a bit of olive oil on top

    Crostini with whipped goat cheese, figs and balsamic glaze on a white plate.

    Sweet Crostini with Whipped Ricotta, Figs and Balsamic Glaze

    Place ricotta and 1 tablespoon 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.

    FAQs

    What kind of bread should you use for crostini?

    Something smaller, like a baguette or ciabatta, is best because it's already an individual hand-held size. But you can also slice larger loaves into strips, and toast those. You'll just have less of that crispy crust around the outside.

    Can you make crostini ahead of time?

    You can toast the bread slices and store in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days. Then just add the crostini toppings before your guests arrive.

    Related Recipes

    • This Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Dip also uses store-bought ingredients and takes less than 5 minutes to make!
    • You can't go wrong with a classic like Radishes with Radish Leaf Butter.
    • Spiced Nuts are a family favorite, you'll want to make a double batch.

    Recipe

    Four crostini with different toppings on a wooden cutting board.

    Four Easy Crostini Recipes

    It's amazing what you can do with toasted bread and a few toppings. These four easy crostini recipes using store-bought ingredients will help you get appetizers on the table in no time.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizers
    Cuisine: Italian
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Keyword: Crostini toppings
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes
    Total Time: 23 minutes
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories:

    Equipment

    • chef's knife
    • baking sheet
    • food processor
    • silicone spatula

    Ingredients

    Crostini with Sun Dried Tomato Mascarpone and Basil

    • 8 oz mascarpone cheese
    • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
    • 1 tablespoon oil from jar of sun-dried tomatoes
    • 1 pinch kosher salt
    • fresh basil cut into thin strips (chiffonade)

    Crostini with Hummus and Gremolata

    • 8 oz hummus
    • ½ cup parsley chopped
    • 1 clove garlic finely minced
    • 2 teaspoon lemon zest
    • olive oil for drizzling

    Crostini with Sweet Whipped Ricotta, Figs and Balsamic Glaze

    • 15 oz whole-milk ricotta
    • 1 tablespoon honey plus more for drizzling
    • dried figs sliced into small wedges
    • balsamic glaze for drizzling
    • kosher salt and cracked pepper to taste

    Crostini with Goat Cheese, Olive Tapenade and Fresh Thyme

    • 1 log goat cheese spreadable, such as chevre
    • 1 jar olive tapenads
    • fresh thyme

    Toasted Baguette

    • 1 baguette sliced into ¼ inch slices
    • olive oil
    • kosher salt
    US Customary - Metric
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    Instructions

    Toasted Baguette

    • Turn broiler on. Slice baguette or other bread into ¼ 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.
    • 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

    • Reserve 1 tablespoon of sun dried tomato oil and set aside, then drain the tomatoes and dice. Combine diced tomatoes, salt, and tomato oil to softened mascarpone. Stir until fully incorporated. Spread onto bread and top with basil strips.

    Hummus with Gremolata

    • Mix chopped 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 tablespoon 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

    • Spread softened goat cheese onto bread, top with tapenade and sprigs of thyme leaves.

    Notes

    • Do ahead: You can toast the bread for the crostini ahead of time. They will keep in an airtight storage container for up to three days. 
     
    This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase products through my links, I may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy here. 
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    Hi, I'm Debra! I love to cook and eat and travel, and cook the things I eat when I travel! I'm a detail-oriented Virgo, so it's my jam to simplify recipes and break them down into easy to follow steps. I help you bring the world to your table!

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