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.
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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:
Pick your favorite crostini topping from these store-bought ideas!
We'll use some of these in the crostini recipes below, but mix up a few ideas of your own to make something new.
- Dips like hummus or artichoke dip.
- Spreadable cheeses: goat cheese, boursin, ricotta, even soft brie.
- Fresh soft herbs like basil, tarragon, thyme and parsley.
- Olives, sun dried tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts.
- Dried fruit, chopped nuts.
- Balsamic reduction, honey, or maple syrup.
Ingredients you'll need
- 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.
How to make crostini
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.
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.
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 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
(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
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
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.
FAQ
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.
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.
More party snack 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 Easy Crostini Recipes
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 tapenade
- fresh thyme
Toasted Baguette
- 1 baguette sliced into ¼ inch slices
- olive oil
- kosher salt
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.
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