SPONSORED STORY – BROUGHT TO YOU BY CASTELLO ALPS SELECTION
Let’s get creative with some crostini. Two savory. Two sweet. Add in some wine and it is pretty much a complete meal. Right?
By Chris Cockren
Let’s get creative with some crostini. Two savory. Two sweet. Add in some wine and it is pretty much a complete meal. Right?
The Bacon, Caramelized Shallot, and Honey crostini was paired with the Castello Alps Selection’s Classic cheese. The Classic cheese has a texture similar to cheddar but a bit drier consistency and a pretty mild flavor. 
The Roasted Cherry Tomato and Pesto Crostini paired very well with Castello Alps Selection’s Hirten cheese. With a texture and flavor similar to Parmesan (although a bit darker in color with hints of caramel-y sweetness), the Hirten cheese was a great match both within the pesto and in topping the roasted tomatoes.
Hirten cheese also made a fantastic salty counterpoint to the Roasted Grape with Thyme Crostini. I’ve honestly never roasted grapes before, and after tasting them, feel pretty darn foolish. I mean, really, they are so ridiculously good! The roasting process adds an extra dimension to the typical flavor of grapes, and it went really well with the Hirten cheese and a light sprinkling of thyme.
Saving my absolute favorite for last, is the Nectarine with Lemon-Basil Sugar Crostini, paired with Castello Alps Selection’s Weissbier cheese. The softest cheese of the bunch, Weissbier has a smooth, buttery consistency with a bit of nutty sweetness.
The nectarines were bursting with juice and perfectly ripe. And I know basil seems like the oddball out here, but it’s beautifully subtle within the lemon-basil sugar. Trust me. It’ll be your favorite as well. Now that I have these four creative crostini recipes down, it’s time to host that wine and cheese party. Let’s see if I can round up some friends to join me .
Win a Castello Alps Selection cheese tasting for you and your friends – enter below!
Elegant Party Food – 4 Delicious Crostini Recipes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: about 40 crostini (serves 8–10 as an appetizer) 1x
- Diet: Omnivore
Description
Crostini for every taste! Savory and sweet options to impress your guests.
Ingredients
- 2 baguettes, thinly sliced (1/4"-1/2" thick)
- Extra virgin olive oil, for brushing and drizzling
- 1 clove garlic, peeled
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
Nectarine and Lemon-Basil Sugar Crostini:
- 2 nectarines, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/2-1 tsp fresh lemon zest
- 10 basil leaves, chiffonade (rolled up and cut into thin strips)
- About 4 oz (115 g) Weissbier Cheese (or another soft, buttery cheese), sliced
Roasted Grape and Thyme Crostini:
- 1 1/2 cups seedless red grapes
- Small handful thyme sprigs, leaves removed and roughly chopped
- About 4 oz (115 g) Hirten Cheese (or another semi-firm, nutty cheese), thinly sliced
Roasted Cherry Tomato and Pesto Crostini:
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 1/2-2 cups fresh basil
- 1/2-2/3 cup olive oil
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup shredded Hirten Cheese, plus a little more thinly sliced for topping
Bacon, Caramelized Shallot, and Honey Crostini:
- A few slices thickly-sliced bacon
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Honey, for drizzling
- About 4 oz (115 g) Classic Cheese (or another mild, medium-soft cheese), sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Lightly brush baguette slices with olive oil and sprinkle with Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Toast in oven for approximately 3–4 minutes, then turn baguette slice over and toast another couple minutes.
- Brush several of the toasted baguette slices with the peeled garlic clove.
- For the Nectarine and Lemon-Basil Sugar Crostini
- In a small bowl, combine the sugar, lemon zest, and chiffonade of basil.
- Top toasted baguette slices with a slice of cheese, 2 nectarine slices, and a small spoonful of lemon-basil sugar.
- For the Roasted Grape and Thyme Crostini
- Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).
- Spread grapes in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Drizzle and lightly coat with olive oil and sprinkle with Kosher salt.
- Roast in oven for approximately 20–25 minutes, until the skins have wrinkled and grapes have softened and collapsed slightly.
- Top toasted baguette slices with a few roasted grapes, a few shards of cheese, and a light sprinkle of fresh thyme.
- For the Roasted Cherry Tomato and Pesto Crostini
- Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).
- Spread tomatoes in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Drizzle and lightly coat with olive oil and sprinkle with Kosher salt.
- Roast in oven for approximately 20–25 minutes, until the skins have wrinkled and tomatoes have softened and collapsed slightly.
- Meanwhile, in a small food processor, combine garlic and basil.
- Drizzle in olive oil (start with 1/2 cup and add more if needed) and purée.
- Stir in shredded cheese and season with Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Top toasted baguette slices with a few roasted cherry tomatoes, a spoonful of pesto and a few shards of cheese.
- For the Bacon, Caramelized Shallot, and Honey Crostini
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small skillet over medium/medium-low heat.
- Add shallots, season generously with Kosher salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and caramelized, approximately 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cut bacon into 1/2″ pieces.
- Cook over medium-low heat in a skillet until golden brown and crispy.
- Drain bacon on a few paper towels.
- Top toasted baguette slices with a slice of cheese, a small spoonful of caramelized shallot, a few pieces of bacon, and drizzle very lightly with honey.
Notes
Toast the bread up to a day ahead and store in an airtight container. Add toppings no more than 30 minutes before serving so the crostini stay crisp.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 crostini
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 200
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 10
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance can I toast the crostini?
Toast the bread slices up to a day ahead and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Add toppings no more than 30 minutes before serving so they stay crisp.
What bread works best for crostini?
A baguette or ciabatta sliced about 1/2 inch thick holds up well under toppings. Avoid slicing too thin or the rounds can shatter when guests bite in.
Can the toppings be prepped ahead for a party?
Most spreads, chopped vegetables, and cured meat toppings can be prepared several hours in advance and kept refrigerated. Assemble close to serving time for the best texture.
