Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Ahh crostini!!! 😍 It literally is my favorite appetizer to serve guests when entertaining. It's versatile, simple (but can be fancy) and usually satisfies your guests hungry belly quickly. But there's a few things to know before making crostini at home. Keep reading to make the best crostini!

Watch How To Pick The Best Crostini Bread

Jump to:

Watch How To Pick The Best Crostini Bread
First, The Crostini Bread
Slicing Your Crostini
Seasoning Your Crostini
Take Your Crostini To The Next Level
Baking Your Crostini
Crostini Bake Time
Grilling Your Crostini
Topping Your Crostini
Fun Fact
Storing Crostini
Crostini Ideas
What's the difference between crostini and bruschetta?
Bruschetta-Type Crostini
Crostini Tips
Recent Posts To Check Out!
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

First, The Crostini Bread

Like bruschetta, the best crostini starts with the best bread. Period. So let's talk bread.

There's a LOT of bread out there. Sourdough, white, challah, ciabatta, rye, focaccia, brioche, multigrain, pumpernickle, baguettes, oh my!

I would use brioche for french toast but it would be AWFUL for crostini.

So instead, we need to stick with the BAGUETTE!

Baguettes are the best texture for crostini because they're studier in general. They have a crusty exterior and are airy on the inside. They provide a structured base for any topping.

And NO, you do not need a stale baguette or stale bread to make the best crostini.

Any of these baguettes below would work!

Different types of baguettes for crostini.

Slicing Your Crostini

Don't underestimate this part. The thickness of your crostini makes a difference!

If you slice it too thick, the bread to topping ratio won't be right. If you slice your bread too thin, the toppings may fall off or soak through the bread making it soggy.

Yes, I brought out the measuring tape for this one. 🙂 but I'm a visual person so I want to show you too.

The ideal crostini thickness is ½". You may be able to go a bit thinner but I don't recommend thicker.

Showing how thick your crostini should be with a measuring tape.

Seasoning Your Crostini

Many people don't season crostini properly which is a BIG mistake.

The best way to season crostini is similar to garlic bread. But much lighter.

All you need is a light drizzle of olive oil and to season with salt and pepper. After that, you can experiment with garlic or onion powder or even Italian seasonings or Parmesan cheese.

I love this olive oil bottle. It's best for drizzling oil without dousing it too much.

Take Your Crostini To The Next Level

If you want to REALLY kick up the notch, drizzle or brush your crostini with my Herbe Infused Olive Oil. It literally can be served alone with this!

Baking Your Crostini

The ideal bake time depends on the thickness of your crostini, your oven (because all ovens are different!) and the placement of crostini.

I've found, out of all the crostini I've baked up, that 7-9 minutes at 400 degrees F is best.

Crostini Bake Time

The temperature of your oven will affect the bake time. Higher heat = shorter time. I prefer higher heat to lower to ensure the crostini gets nice and golden brown.

10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees F
7 to 9 minutes at 400 degrees F
5 to 7 minutes at 450 degrees F

Grilling Your Crostini

Grilling your crostini depends entirely on the heat of your grill which is very hard to determine. Make sure your grill is super duper HOT before adding the crostini. The idea is for the grill grates to leave a grill marks on the crostini. (Grill marks look appetizing too!)

Topping Your Crostini

I could talk all day about crostini toppings. There are no boundaries when it comes to topping bread.

It's a blank canvas really.

My favorite crostini toppings are:

Bruschetta (tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar)
Pesto (basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, olive oil)
Tapenade (olives, capers, anchovies, garlic, olive oil)
Cheeses (like goat cheese, ricotta, burrata, brie, blue cheese)
Prosciutto or other cured meats
Roasted vegetables (red peppers, eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms)
Fig jam or honey
Avocado (mashed with lemon juice, salt, pepper)
Smoked salmon (with cream cheese or crème fraîche, dill)
Caramelized onions

Fun Fact

The word "crostini" actually means "little toasts" in Italian, reflecting its simple and rustic nature.

📝 Save this recipe for later!

Let us email it to you, so you can come back to it later!

Storing Crostini

I prefer to make crostini in a large batch and freeze them in a large Ziploc bag.

To do this, make sure your crostini is fully cooled or the crostini will get freezer burn.

I recommend freezing unbaked crostini that is pre-cut and fully seasoned. This way you can ensure your guests are eating fresh slices of bread. Otherwise, it's best to underbake your crostini a bit so you can toss your crostini directly in the oven without thawing.

Crostini Ideas

Here are some crostini I've made in the past. The ones below all are dairy free which is a great option for guests. I used Nuts For Cheese cashew based cheeses. They are a delicious base for almost any topping.

Crostini Topping Spreads

Consider also serving crostini naked (plain) with some spreads or dips on the side rather than pre-assembled.

Liver Pâté

Anchovy Garlic Spread For Bread

Artichoke Dip With Crab

Spinach Dip Ingredients

Tirokafteri (You can whip the feta too)

Ricotta and Honey Dip

Whipped Eggplant Dip (Like a caponata)

What's the difference between crostini and bruschetta?

Bruschetta uses larger, thicker slices of bread topped with a specific mixture of tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil. Crostini uses smaller, thinner slices of bread and can have a wider variety of toppings beyond the traditional bruschetta mixture.

Bruschetta-Type Crostini

Smoked Salmon Crostini

Fig goat cheese crostini appetizer on cutting board.

Goat Cheese Fig Jam Crostini

Easy Mushroom Appetizer

Bruschetta topped with mozzrella and tomatoes.

Bruschetta Caprese

Crostini Tips

Here are my best crostini tips for you to consider before entertaining.

Choose the right bread: Opt for a rustic loaf such as baguette or ciabatta. These bread types have a good crust and sturdy texture, which holds up well when toasted.
Slice evenly using a serrated knife: Slice the bread, using a serrated knife, into even slices, about ½ inch thick.
Use olive oil or butter: Brushing the bread with olive oil or melted butter before toasting adds flavor and helps achieve a crispier texture.
Rub with garlic: For extra flavor, rub the toasted bread slices with a clove of garlic while they're still warm. This imparts a subtle garlic flavor to the crostini.
Experiment with toppings: Get creative with your toppings. You can use a variety of ingredients such as tomatoes, cheese, cured meats, vegetables, spreads like pesto or tapenade, or even sweet toppings like honey and fruit.
Balance flavors: Aim for a balance of flavors and textures in your toppings. For example, pair a creamier cheese with something acidic like tomatoes or balsamic glaze.
Garnish with fresh herbs or flowers: Fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or thyme can elevate the flavors of your crostini and add a pop of color.
Serve at room temperature: Allow the assembled crostini to come to room temperature before serving.
Be mindful of timing: If your toppings require cooking, prepare them ahead of time so you can assemble the crostini just before serving. This ensures that the bread stays crispy.

Happy entertaining! Share your favorite crostini combinations below. I love to hear from you guys!

📖 Recipe