Combine an easy-to-make fig compote with whipped goat cheese on a thin slice of toasted baguette to make this popular fig jam and goat cheese crostini appetizer.
❤️ Why you'll love this fig appetizer recipe
- So simple to make. This Fig and Goat Cheese Crostini is simiply uncomplicated goodness on a tiny piece of toast.
- So delicious! This goat cheese crostini with fig compote is made with sweet dried figs with a hint of orange, thinly spread over a warm toasted baguette, on top of a smear of fresh goat cheese and a sprinkle of chives or green onions.
- Always popular year round. This recipe has been my "go-to" appetizer for years. It's always a hit! I've made this many times, and it is good at any time of the year. It gets rave reviews just as much at summer barbecues as it does at winter holiday parties or game day parties.
🛒 Ingredients for Fig and Goat Cheese Crostini Appetizers
Here's what you'll need to make this delicious finger food:
- dried figs: choose those that are plump with no bruises.
- orange juice: freshly squeezed from one large orange
- orange zest: remember to zest the orange before you juice it.
- sea salt: just a pinch.
- orange liqueur: like Triple Sec or Gran Marnier (optional)
- goat cheese: a soft creamy variety
- a baguette: sourdough, whole-grain, wheat, or gluten-free
- olive oil: for brushing on the baguette slices
- green onions or chives: for garnish
🔪 Instructions
You'll find complete instructions with ingredient quantities in the recipe card below. Here's a summary of what you'll do to make this popular appetizer.
- Make the fig compote by simmering dried figs with orange juice. Once it's cool you can add a little orange-flavored liqueur if you'd like. Give it a whir in the blender or food processor to make a smooth paste.
- Toast the baguette slices.
- Assemble. Spread the fig paste on the crostini, top with soft creamy goat cheese, (or the other way around), and garnish with green onions or chives. That's it!
👍🏼 Helpful Tips
The easiest way to cut dried figs is to snip them with kitchen shears. If you find they get sticky, run the scissors under hot water. You can also do the same with a sharp kitchen knife.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
You can make crostini from any type of baguette: whole-grain, sourdough or gluten-free. You can also serve this fig and goat cheese appetizer on a gluten-free cracker.
This orange-fig compote is delicious on a thin slice of firm pear too. Make sure the pear is thick enough to support all that yummy figgy/Gran Marnier/goat cheese goodness on top.
Reader's Questions
Yes! You can make the fig jam or fig compote well in advance. Store it in the fridge in a sealed container where it will stay fresh for a week or two. Spread just before serving.
Yes, dried figs make a healthy snack. Half a dozen dried figs will give you about 125 calories. They're rich in magnesium, potassium, calcium, and iron.
If you love that sweet and salty ying/yang as much as I do, you'll probably like this Roasted Grape and Goat Cheese Crostini too. Check out my other crostini recipes.
When you make this fig crostini, please leave a comment and a star rating below. Thanks in advance! Subscribe to my newsletter and have new recipes delivered straight to your inbox once a week.
📖 Recipe
Fig and Goat Cheese Crostini
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup (12) dried figs, stems removed and quartered
- ¾ cup orange juice
- ½ cup water
- 2 teaspoons orange zest, finely grated
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 tablespoon orange liqueur, such as Gran Marnier or Triple Sec (optional)
- 8 ounces fresh goat cheese , at room temperature
- 2 teaspoon honey
- 24 ½-inch slices baguette, sliced on a sharp diagonal
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, extra version
- 1 green onion, scallion, or chives, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Place the chopped dried figs, orange juice, water, orange zest and salt in a saucepan. Simmer over low heat until the figs are soft and only about 2 tablespoons of the liquid remains, 20 to 30 minutes. If the mixture gets dry, add water to keep it moist.
- Cool the mixture, add a little orange liqueur and purée the mixture in a blender or food processor to make a paste, or jam. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush the baguette slices with a little olive oil. Toast the baguette slices for about 7 minutes until they are beginning to crisp, but are still soft in the center. Remove from the oven to cool slightly.
- Whip the goat cheese with a teaspoon of honey in a mini food processor or by hand.
- Spread the fig paste on the crostini, then top with about ½ tablespoon goat cheese. OR add a smear of whipped goat cheese to the crostini, then top with a teaspoon of fig jam. Sprinkle with freshly chopped green onions or chives or orange zest and serve.
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