Crostini are so versatile and easy to put together, they are a sure way to impress even the most stubborn of guests. Crostini is made up of toasted breads, usually some type of spread or cheese, and then topped with a topping.
As you'll discover here, they can be sweet, savory, or a combination of both! Here is a round up of 33 wonderful crostini recipes and toppings that will inspire your next gathering.
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Bruschetta vs. Crostini
Many people get bruschetta and crostini confused. They are similar in that they are both toasted bread.
However, the TYPE of bread used and HOW it is toasted is what differentiates them. Bruschetta is typically longer bread that is more airy. It is also traditionally roasted over coals vs. baked in the oven.
How To Make Crostini
Crostini is an easy canapé that simply are crispy, toasted bread topped with anything you want. They are the perfect appetizer for any party. Making crostini is not difficult but there are a few things you need to make sure you do.
- Use small slices of bread. Crostini should be easy to eat and small enough to eat in a few bites. Crostini means "little crusts" in Italian. So make sure you toast up your bread nicely.
- Add flavor by brushing your crostini with olive oil, rubbing it with garlic or season with salt and pepper.
Then add any toppings you prefer!
Here is a post that shows you how to make your crostini base.
Catering your party? Here is a list of appetizers perfect for catering!
Crostini Recipe Variations
I love how versatile crostini can be! There are no rules or limitations so have fun and experiment with different flavors and toppings.
Here are some fun and delicious crostini ideas that are both savory and sweet. Serve them as a pre-dinner appetizer or after-dinner dessert.
If you love serving mini appetizers that are finger food friendly! If you want fancier apps, check out my Ultimate Guide To Serving Hors d'oeuvres!
Goat Cheese & Fig Jam Crostini w/ Caramelized Onions
This crostini is one of my favorites! It is made with just four ingredients and hits every flavor profile and texture. Crispy, creamy, tangy, sweet and savory all in one delicious bite.
Warm Brie Crostini with Cranberry Chutney
This first crostini recipe is perfect for the holiday season with the combination of cranberry and brie. Sweet and Savory all in one! You can serve these as a pre-dinner appetizer or alongside of your turkey.
Steak and Crab Crostini Appetizer (Filet Oscar)
If you're wanting to serve a hearty Crostini, this fun take on the classic Filet Oscar dish is sure to get some attention. This recipe is perfect for your next cocktail party or dinner.
Up next is a magical Crostini that combines cheese, nuts, and apple! What can go wrong with that combo? In this Crostini your guests will enjoy a textural bliss as well as some sweet and savory flavors.
Grape and Goat Cheese Crostini
In this take on the delightful appetizer, why not pair grapes and goat cheese? This Crostini recipe is sure to get a grin from those hungry mouths in just one bite.
Leftover Turkey Breast Crostini with Brie and Cranberry Sauce
With a big American holiday approaching, here is a Crostini made entirely of left overs! Don't worry, they are so yummy, no one will ever know!
Have any bacon lovers in your life? Be sure to introduce them to this brilliant Crostini that highlights bacon jam in an oh so wonderful way.
Sweet Potato Crostini with Avocado
These beautiful mini crostini are made with all whole-food ingredients like baked sweet potato slices, mashed avocado, two types of lime (including Caviar lime!), pomegranate, and cilantro. They are a wonderful combination of flavor and texture, and perfect for holiday entertaining.
Beautiful Pesto Ricotta Crostini
This crostini recipe is just breathtaking. Its as beautiful as it is delicious. Perfect for a summer party, or the appetizer to your next dinner party! Perfect little canapes.
Crostini with Balsamic Strawberries & Ricotta
Crostini are not only great for cocktail hour or dinner parties, but can also be quite the hit at bridal showers, and Mother's Day brunches. This recipe bring a fresh flare to Crostini recipes and is sure to delight your guests, no matter the setting.
All the flavor of deviled eggs on a crunchy slice of baguette? Sign me up! Not only are these deviled-egg crostini super easy to make, but they're also 100% vegan. Firm tofu creates the right texture, while the kala namak offers the perfect eggy flavor. Plus--no peeling a bunch of eggs and making a mess of everything!
Tomato and Onion Crostini with Burrata
Looking for a fresh, inviting, YUMMY, burrata appetizer for your next dinner party? Look no further! These caramelized tomato and onion bruschetta with burrata is the best part of tomato season right in one bite!Â
This Crusty Herbed Crostini Appetizer recipe is a crusty baguette, comforting goat cheese & a blend of herbs and red pepper – perfection!
Buttery Caramelized Onion-Tomato Jam Crostini w/ Brie
These crostini are a delicious hand-held appetizers sure to be popular at any holiday gathering. The appetizer recipe which features rich buttery homemade tomato onion jam is also meatless, adding to it’s wide appeal among guests.
Pistachio Feta and Pomegranate Crostini
Need an easy Christmas appetizer? Look no further than these colorful Pistachio, Feta and Pomegranate Crostini! Think roasted nutty pistachios, salted feta and sweet ruby red pomegranate seeds and crusty baked bread. A delicious combination!
Butternut Squash Mushroom Bruschetta
Butternut Squash Mushroom Bruschetta is the perfect bruschetta for any gathering or for a night in. Made in less than 30 minutes, this vegan crostini will be your new favorite!
Mixed Olive Tapenade Crostini with Grilled Bread
Savory, salty, umami flavor with fresh herbs and hints of heat and acidity make this easy Mixed Olive Tapenade Crostini with Grilled Bread perfect for a casual game day snack or elegant enough to serve as an appetizer for your special occasion menu!
Havarti, Ham and Pear Crostini
This simple flavor combination makes a delicious appetizer recipe. Havarti cheese, ham, and pear layered on a lightly toasted crostini. The Havarti is much milder than the blue cheese we used with the fig so it didn’t over power the fresh, light taste of the pear. The ham added just the right amount of saltiness to the whole thing and honey the just amount of sweetness!
Blue Cheese, Fig and Pancetta Crostini
This Blue Cheese, Fig, and Pancetta Crostini is an easy appetizer recipe with the sharp taste of blue cheese combined with fresh fig and the salty pancetta layered on a toasted baguette.
Crostini w/ Edible Flowers and Garden Herbs
This spring garden crostini is a spectacular easy appetizer, perfect for a tea, garden party, wedding shower, or ladies luncheon. The baguette slices are brushed with good olive oil, and grilled until the bread has a golden crisp crunch. Each bite of crostini with the cream cheese herb topping is perfectly crisp, pretty, and delightful!
Healthy ricotta crostini are made two ways with less than 6 ingredients and take less than 20 minutes to make. You are going to love these little healthy ricotta crostini as they are made with nutty and delicious Pepperidge Farm® Harvest Blends bread and simple but delicious fresh ingredients.
These festive vegan mushroom crostini recipe is an easy and impressive appetizer perfect for holidays. Crunchy baguette with grilled vegan mozzarella topped with sweet caramelized onions and mushrooms with a hint of balsamic and Dijon mustard will surely be a show stopper.
Egg and Avocado Breakfast Crostini
This Egg and Avocado Breakfast Crostini recipe is my happy morning secret. Well, that and a cup of coffee or two. It takes breakfast up a notch by blending all the best flavors in one fancy bite.
These garlic Caprese crostini melts are a crowd-pleasing appetizer with the classic Caprese flavors of mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. These bad boys are finished off with a tangy balsamic drizzle!
Winter Crostini w/ Broccoli, Mushrooms and Hominy
This luxurious appetizer, while quick and easy to make with inexpensive ingredients, is sophisticated and divine with mushrooms, broccoli, and hominy kernels, cooked in wine, garlic, and butter. Piled on crusty crostini toast, this Winter Crostini with Mushrooms, Broccoli, and Hominy recipe is the perfect touch to add to any holiday spread.
This Holiday Crostini is simple and delicious, and has something for everyone! There’s shrimp and avocado for the seafood lovers, prosciutto and provolone for the meat-eaters, and mushrooms with herbed mascarpone for a vegetarian option.
Spicy Avocado Crostini Appetizer
Quick and healthy, the spicy avocado crostini will have you craving more! Enjoy these crostinis this summer either alone or with good company.
Grilled Peach, Lemon Ricotta Crostini
Grilled peach & lemon ricotta crostini is an elegant, but simple appetizer! The grill infuses just the right amount of smokiness to this dish. It’s an ideal dish for entertaining because it comes together so quickly & effortlessly!
Whipped Feta, Corn, & Zucchini Crostini
These easy crostini are piled high with whipped feta cheese, grilled corn, zucchini, and flavor! Perfect as a snack or an appetizer.
Balsamic Roasted Strawberries Recipe
Balsamic roasted strawberries have a balance of tang and sweet. I serve balsamic roasted strawberries on a goat cheese crostini. Another fabulous option is to pour balsamic roasted strawberries over ice cream.You will be shocked at how quickly this appetizer comes together.
Mushroom Duxelle Crostini w/ Goat Cheese
This recipe is based on a mushroom duxelle which is a mixture of minced mushrooms with shallots or onions and herbs. In this duxelle, I have paired minced portobello mushrooms with shallots. I usually prefer shallots because they give a less potent but still onion-esque flavor to dishes. They were perfect for this dish because they allow the earthy flavor of the portobellos to shine.
Roast Beef Crostini w/ Horseradish Cream
Delicious and savory roast beef crostini with a creamy horseradish sauce – served two ways! These simple roast beef crostini with horseradish cream appetizer is perfect for holiday entertaining or your next dinner party.
Holiday Crostini 8 Different Ways!
From smoked salmon to shrimp to roast beef, Nagi from Recipe Tin Eats presents 8 different crostini topping ideas you will love! Mix and match the recipes to give your guests a tasty selection of flavors!
Roasted Red Pepper Crostini (with Ricotta)
This last crostini recipe is one you can make well in advance of your serving time. With its creamy cheese and smokey peppers it is sure to tickle the taste buds of your friends and family. SEE FULL RECIPE BELOW!
Final Crostini Tips
The most important thing regarding crostini is the bread. Make sure you choose the right bread and that you toast it properly. If you make the right bread choice and make sure they are crispy and seasoned, your appetizers will hit it out of the park!
Other appetizers you might like:
22 Mini Sandwich Ideas (Party Appetizer Sliders)
Baked Greek Shrimp Saganaki with Feta and Ouzo
Love Make Appetizers in Advance?
I have an Ebook I created with my top make-ahead appetizers you'll LOVE! Get it here!
📖 Recipe
33 Crostini Appetizers To Make For Guests
Ingredients
- 1 long Italian baguette
- 16 oz. Fresh Ricotta Cheese
- 1 12 oz. Jar Roasted Red Peppers
- 1 Large Garlic Clove
- ½ Cup Good Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 Tbsp. Chopped Fresh Basil Leaves
- ¼ Tsp. Salt
- Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
Instructions
- Cut your baguette into ½" slices using a GOOD serrated knife. You don't want squished slices!
- Lay your slices onto a baking sheet and brush both sides with olive oil. I like to pour the olive oil into a small bowl for this. (Brushing is easier and more effective than drizzling in my opinion.)
- Bake at 375°F for 8-9 minutes flipping halfway through. You want your crostini to be lightly browned, not too dark!
- In the meantime, chop up your roasted red peppers and peal your garlic clove. And add the salt to your ricotta cheese and set aside.
- When the crostini are done, lightly rub the garlic clove onto one side. Do this while still warm! Just a few rubs across each piece are enough.
- Add a dollop of ricotta onto each slice followed by a spoonful of the red peppers.
- Finish with a few cracks of freshly ground black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Garnish with basil.
Recipe Notes
- Crostini are best served within an hour of topping.
- This recipe is all about the ingredients so don't buy the cheapest ingredients! Get the best bread, ricotta and olive oil you can find.
- Do not refrigerate or pre-bake your crostini the night before. If your planning on preparing this recipe somewhere else, bake your crostini and allow to cool completely before placing in an air tight bag. OR cut the slices ahead of time and pop in the oven when you get there! Then top with the cheese and peppers right before serving.
Lynn
Hello Aleka,
Love all your appetizer recipes! I am particularly interested in your recipe for Pistascio Feta and Pomegranate Crostini, yet I don’t see the recipe details listed. Could you share that recipe? Thank you so much.
Lynn
Aleka Shunk
Hi Lynn, That crostini is actually not mine. The link was missing but I just added it back!! Sorry about that 🙂