Crostini 4 Ways for the Holidays

For the holiday season this year, we are obsessed with creating a collection of crostini for the whole family to enjoy. Each of these recipes packs a punch in a small bite-sized appetizer. The fun thing about creating your own version of this delicious appetizer is that you can customize it however you like. Our four recipes below focus on the classic, savory, sweet, and spicy. But, you can be as creative as you like!

When building a crostini, we recommend starting with a soft white bread like a French baguette. The move onto your base cheese. Brie, goat cheese, and ricotta all make for an easy solution. Then you can build on top of your cheese spread with fruit, olives, or a meat option. You can also top with fruit spreads, nuts, honey, and fresh herds. 

So, what makes this appetizer different than a traditional bruschetta? Well, typically bruschetta is made with whole, wide slices of a rustic Italian or sourdough type bread. Whereas crostini are made with toasted baguette slices that are a bit smaller, softer, and rounder. 

Let your taste buds take the lead when building these delicious appetizers. In the meantime, check out the four crostini recipes below for a little inspiration. 

	Brie, Proscuitto, and Arugula Crostini A total classic and perfect for beginners. Combining sweet with savory, the Brie cheese blends it all together nicely. With a touch of balsamic glaze at the end, these truly are a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
	Mediterranean Crostini A bit lighter in taste, this crostini starts with a base of ricotta or feta cheese. You then top it with fresh olives and sundried tomatoes. If you are looking to kick it up a notch, add some crushed red pepper or a Mediterranean herb mix.
	Spicy Pomegranate Crostini This bright appetizer has proven to be the overall favorite and probably the most festive looking. The bright red color of the pomegranate seeds is complemented by the green of the cilantro. We love that the crushed red pepper adds the perfect amount of spice to this recipe.
	Cinnamon Sautéed Pear Crostini Easily crossing over into the dessert category, this Cinnamon Sautéed Pear appetizer blends the sweet flavors of the pear with the strong flavor of blue cheese. If blue cheese isn’t your thing, then try this crostini with Brie Cheese or melted gouda.