5 Tips for Making Crostini - Ultimate Guide

Avoid common mistakes by following these 5 tips for making perfect crostini appetizers your guests will love!

Finger foods are fun foods! Crostini appetizers are 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. And with good choices in gluten-free baguettes available now, your gluten-free friends can enjoy these mini bites, too.

Making crostini is easy, but there are some pitfalls to avoid.

Read on for 5 tips for making crostini to guarantee success.

5 Tips for Making Crostini

1. 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. Choose a baguette and cut slices about 1/2 inch thick. If they're too thin, they won't support the topping. If they're too thick, the appetizer becomes all about the bread and not the fabulous topping. Choose a gluten-free baguette for your gluten intolerant friends.
2. Toast them for just the right amount of time. Arrange thin slices of baguette on a baking sheet and brush them (don't just drizzle) with a little extra-virgin olive oil on both sides, then 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!
3. 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.
4. Avoid overloading the toppings so they don't fall off. Think carefully about how easy the crostini will be to 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.
5. 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 crostini topping ideas, or create your own. Click on the photos below to take you to the recipes.

10 Ideas for Delicious Crostini Appetizers

Cranberry Whipped Ricotta Crostini

These tiny toasts have a light creamy ricotta spread and they’re topped with slightly sweetened fresh cranberry-orange mixture. They’re a little bit sweet and delicately salty at the same time. Oh so good!

Honey Roasted Fig and Burrata Crostini

Find your inner Italian soul! Fresh figs and burrata cheese with a honey-balsamic drizzle give this appetizer a WOW factor!

Smoked Salmon Crostini with Whipped Goat Cheese

This Smoked Salmon Crostini with Whipped Goat Cheese is made with slightly sweet honey-lemon goat cheese and wild-caught smoked salmon. Sweet, salty and smoky, all in one bite.

 Blue Cheese and Crisp Honeyed Pear Crostini

Top thin slices of toasted baguette with whipped blue cheese, a slice or two of crisp pear, a sprinkle of lemon zest and a drizzle of honey to make these tasty Blue Cheese Crostini appetizers.

Strawberry Whipped Feta Crostini

Whip equal parts of feta cheese and light cream cheese together and spread on cooled crostini. Then top with thinly sliced strawberries, gently pressing into the cheese so they don’t fall off. Next, drizzle with a little honey and some balsamic glaze. And finally, add a fresh mint leaf. Serve and devour!

Need more crostini ideas? Here are 5 more!

 Lemon Ricotta Crostini with Honeyed Peaches

So simple, but insanely delicious! Smear some creamy lemon ricotta cheese on a thin slice of toasted baguette, top it with a slice of fresh, juicy peach, drizzle it all with honey and sprinkle with tiny thyme leaves.

Roasted Grape and Goat Cheese Crostini

Soft, sweet warm grapes, nestled into creamy goat cheese, sprinkled with toasted hazelnuts, drizzled with honey, this is one you won't forget! No grapes? Try this recipe with cherries, instead! Roasted Cherry Goat Cheese Crostini

Caramelized Onion, Apple and Cheese Crostini

Full of flavour and ooey-gooey cheese. It's an easy make-ahead appetizer that everyone loves. Not your everyday grilled cheese!

Cranberry Jalapeño Brie Crostini

A great way to use leftover cranberry sauce. This one is all dressed up in holiday colors!

And my personal favourite:  Fig and Goat Cheese Crostini

Sweet soft figs with a hint of citrus spread on a toasted crostini and topped with creamy goat cheese in this easy appetizer!

Looking for more appetizer ideas? Try these!

• Mini Cheese Balls on a Stick
• How to Make an Antipasto Platter
• Showstopper Tropical Fruit, Nut and Cheese Platter
• 20 Easy Finger Food Appetizers your friends will love
• Mini Spinach Artichoke Tarts

5 Tips for Making Crostini - Ultimate Guide

Making crostini appetizers is easy, but there are pitfalls to avoid. Tips for making perfect crostini appetizers.

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 18 minutes

Servings: 24

Calories: 33kcal

Author: Flavour & Savour

Ingredients

• 1 baguette loaf
• olive oil extra virgin
• 1 clove garlic peeled and cut in half
• salt and pepper

Instructions

• Heat oven to 375° F.
• Use a sharp knife to slice a 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. (see ideas in blog post) 

Nutrition

Calories: 33kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 11mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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