Avoid common mistakes by following these 5 tips for making perfect crostini appetizers your guests will love!.
Finger foods are fun foods. They’re a perfect solution for entertaining, particularly when you are not sure of your guests likes and dislikes. You can easily provide a variety of appetizers from which your friends can choose. Making crostini is easy, but there are some pitfalls to avoid. Here are 5 tips for making crostini to guarantee success.
5 Tips for Making Crostini
- Use a quality bakery bread. Avoid heavy dense breads that might be difficult to chew. Crostini appetizers are best on bread with a light texture. Slice it about 1/2 inch thick. If it’s too thin, it won’t support the topping. If it’s too thick, the appetizer becomes all about the bread and not the fabulous topping.
- Toast them for just the right amount of time. Spread them out on a baking sheet and brush them (don’t just drizzle) with a little extra-virgin olive oil on both sides and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 375°F for 7 – 8 minutes, turning over halfway through until golden brown. The crostini should be slightly crispy on top but the inside should be tender. If the oven temperature is too low, the bread slices will bake and become hard. Too hard to bite politely!
- Season! Rub with a cut garlic clove or a cut lemon or orange. This step may seem insignificant but it increases the depth of flavour in the finished appetizer.
- Avoid overloading the toppings so they don’t fall off. Think carefully about how easy it will be too eat, particularly if your guests are not seated. A crostini needs a base of some sort, like cheese, a spread, or guacamole to hold the toppings.
- Prevent soggy bread by adding the toppings just before serving. The crostini toasts can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and stored in an airtight container, but toppings that may turn soggy, like tomatoes or fruit, should be added as close to serving time as possible.
Try these flavour combinations, or create your own.
- Crab and Avocado. Spread crostini with my quick homemade guacamole, top with fresh crab, a slice of pickled ginger and a squeeze of fresh lime. Yum!
2. Med- Bites. Spread crostini with creamy goat cheese, top with oven-roasted cherry tomatoes (just drizzle with olive oil and minced garlic and roast for 15 minutes) sliced quality olives and a sprinkle of fresh thyme. All the flavours of the sunny Mediterranean on one little crust of bread.
3. Tex-Mex. Spread crostini with homemade guacamole, top with crispy smoked chorizo sausage, finely chopped red bell pepper and a sprig of parsley.
See my other crostini appetizer recipes for lots more ideas too. Click on the photos below for the complete recipes and instructions.
4. Honey Roasted Fig and Burrata Crostini
5. Blue Cheese and Crisp Honeyed Pear Crostini
6. Peach and Lemon Ricotta with Honeyed Peaches
7. Roasted Grape and Goat Cheese Crostini
8. Caramelized Onion, Apple and Cheese Crostini
9. Cranberry Jalapeño Brie Crostini
Avoid common mistakes by following these 5 tips for making crostini appetizers. Ideal for holiday parties, deck parties or casual get-togethers.
- 1 fresh baguette loaf
- extra-virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 1 clove garlic, peeled and cut in half
- Heat oven to 375°F.
- Use a sharp knife to slice the baguette into 1/2 inch thick slices. Cut slightly on the diagonal.
- Brush lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Space on a baking sheet and place in pre-heated oven. Bake for 7 - 8 minutes or until golden brown, flipping once halfway through. Crostini should be lightly browned, lightly toasted but still "springy" in the middle.
- Remove from oven and rub with a cut garlic clove.
- Add your choice of toppings.
- Spread with guacamole, top with fresh crab, a slice of pickled ginger and a squeeze of lime juice.
- Spread with goat cheese, top with roasted cherry tomatoes, sliced olives, sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves.
- Spread with guacamole, top with smoked chorizo sausage, finely chopped red bell pepper and fresh parsley.
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