Crostini are mini garlicky bread rounds that are toasted in the oven. Add a variety of toppings to create a tasty appetizer.
You can top them with whatever ingredients sound delicious, whether sweet, or savory. Try some jam, cream cheese and locks, cheese, a chutney, or even Bruschetta. Or try pairing these crispy rounds with one of these tasty soups: Cheesy Cauliflower Soup, Tomato Tortellini Soup, and Homemade Tomato Soup.
What is Crostini?
Crostini (pronounced “kruh-stee-nee”) literally means “little toasts” in Italian. Crostini are small, thin slices of toasted bread, which are usually brushed with olive oil.
The word also describes canapés consisting of small slices of toast with a savory topping such as cheese, shrimp, pâté or anchovies. They are perfect served as appetizers with yummy toppings, or alongside soups or salads.
You can use any type of small bread, because you’ll want to get relatively small rounds for topping. The most widely used is a baguette. They seem to be the perfect size!
How to Make Crostini
PREP. Preheat the oven to 375. Place the baguette slices on a baking sheet.
WHISK & BRUSH. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, olive oil, and garlic powder. Brush the mixture evenly over the tops of the baguette slices.
Why do you use butter and olive oil? We like using both because it gives it some extra richness that you couldn’t get from just using one of them.
BAKE. Bake 10-12 minutes, until lightly golden brown and crisp.
Variations
While I think a baguette works best for making crostini, you can use pretty much any variety of breads, such as:
- Ciabatta
- French Bread
- Sourdough
- Bollos
- Olive Loaf
- Leftover Dinner Rolls
Perhaps you want to add a little bit of flavor besides just garlic powder. Here are some ways to do that:
- Use a flavored oil (lemon, garlic, etc)
- Sprinkle with herbs
- Sprinkle with lemon or orange zest
Serving and Storing
SERVE them with a variety of toppings, such as Bruschetta, to make a simple appetizer. Or, dip them in a bowl of soup. Some of our favorites are Cheesy Cauliflower Soup, Potato Corn Chowder, and Broccoli Soup.
Keep them STORED in an airtight container on the counter for 4-5 days. They will eventually lose their crispness, but that can be fixed by popping them in the oven for a few minutes.
For more breads, try:
Crostini Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 baguette - sliced into ¼ inch slices
- 1/4 cup butter - melted
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375. Place the baguette slices on a baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, olive oil, and garlic powder. Brush the mixture evenly over the tops of the baguette slices.
- Bake 10-12 minutes, until lightly golden brown and crisp.
Nutrition
These are perfect for bruschetta!! The bread is crisp with a hint of delicious flavor from the olive oil & garlic powder!
These little Crostini are perfect to serve with your favorite Italian dish! I love them!
I like to serve crostini with romesco sauce layered over homemade ricotta. Always a hit and I can’t stop eating it!
That sounds delicious!! Thank you!