These are the best Whipped Goat Cheese Crostini appetizers. Make them with tangy goat cheese, Proscuitto, honey, cranberry, and fresh thyme.
This easy appetizer is the perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors on top of crusty bread. Crostini is made with simple ingredients, like soft goat cheese, Proscuitto, honey, and fresh fruit over toasted baguette slices. They take less than 20 minutes to make and don’t require any special tools!
This elegant appetizer is perfect for cocktail parties, holiday appetizers, or a holiday season movie night snack!
What is Crostini?
Crostini is an Italian appetizer made with small slices of toasted bread and toppings. The toppings can be as basic or as complex as you desire. A simple crostini may just have olive oil and a few fresh herbs or a pinch of salt. More complex appetizers contain cheeses, meats, jams, and vegetables.
A platter of crostini is perfect for holiday parties or appetizers because they are simple, quick, and bite-sized. The recipes below are for two fun crostini topped with whipped goat cheese. The tangy cheese pairs well with salty meat or sweet jelly. The recipe for cranberry sauce crostini is perfect for serving family leftovers after a holiday meal.
Ingredients for Two Different Whipped Goat Cheese Crostini
- Whipped Goat Cheese – Goat cheese, or chevre, is a creamy and tangy cheese made from goat’s milk. It’s a popular cheese for charcuterie boards or appetizers because the bold flavor pairs well with sweet and savory foods. Whipped goat cheese can be found in the cheese section of your local grocery store. Or you can make your own by adding Greek yogurt and goat cheese to a bowl and whipping it with a hand mixer. I also have a great recipe for Whipped Goat Cheese Dip.
- Baguette – A French baguette is a long, thin loaf of bread. It has a crisp crust and fluffy center. It is popular for cheese boards or serving alongside dinners. Thin slices of baguette are the crostini for this recipe.
Proscuitto + Goat Cheese Crostini
One variation of crostini toppings that I love to serve at the holidays is Proscuitto and Apples. The sweetness of the apples and the saltiness of the Proscuitto is a perfect flavor combination.
- Proscuitto – This thin-sliced ham is dry-cured with a delicious flavor. It’s a popular ingredient for charcuterie boards and Italian antipasto.
- Apple – Thin slices of red apple add sweetness and a crunch to this holiday appetizer.
- Honey – Drizzle honey over the top of your crostini for additional sweetness that perfectly balances the flavors of the appetizer.
- Thyme – A little bit of fresh time adds an earthy and aromatic flavor to the bread bites.
Cranberry + Goat Cheese Crostini
This is the perfect holiday appetizer due to its simplicity. And the best time for simplicity is the day after a big holiday! Add leftover cranberry sauce to the crostini for a delicious, and easy, snack the day after the holidays!
- Cranberry Sauce – The flavor of cranberry sauce is a holiday staple, whether it’s Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas. Purchase a can of whole berry cranberry sauce or use your favorite homemade cranberry sauce recipe.
- Walnuts – Add a little extra crunch with roasted walnuts on top of these goat cheese bites.
- Rosemary – A spring of fresh rosemary adds an extra burst of flavor to this tasted bread appetizer.
How to Make Goat Cheese Crostini
This crostini recipe is actually two recipes! Both are the perfect appetizer for a cocktail party this time of year!
Step One – First, slice a French baguette into thin slices. Place the slices on a large baking sheet and lightly drizzle them with olive oil. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until the tops turn a light golden brown.
Step Two – Next, spread a thick layer of whipped goat cheese onto each crostini using a butter knife. Be sure to cover the entire top of the bread.
Step Three – Top the goat cheese with various toppings depending on which crostini you wish to make.
- Prosciutto + Honey: Cut slices of Proscuitto into small rectangles. Fold the pieces of Procuitto and layer them over the whipped goat cheese with a thin slice of apple. Drizzle a little bit of honey over each crostini. Then top with fresh thyme leaves.
- Cranberry + Walnut: Spread a teaspoon of cranberry sauce over the goat cheese on the crostini. Top each one with a roasted walnut and a sprig of fresh rosemary.
Step Four – Serve the crostini on a cheese board or serving platter. Garnish the platter with sprigs of rosemary and thyme.
Alternative Crostini Toppings
- Figs
- Pears
- Walnut
- Mint
- Strawberry
- Balsamic Vinegar Glaze
FAQ’s
Assembled crostini with goat cheese and toppings do not store well. The cheese and toppings make the bread soggy in the middle. And the bread gets stale on the outside. I recommend storing the components separately. Store the crostini in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Store whipped goat cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
The whipped goat cheese and toppings may be made in advance. However, I don’t recommend assembling the crostini until it’s time to serve them. They will get soggy and stale if they sit out for too long.
It’s possible to substitute another soft cheese spread for chevre (goat cheese). Try Boursin or a cream cheese spread instead. I also have a recipe for Whipped Feta.
This Goat Cheese Crostini appetizer is a must for your next dinner party! They are sure to be a big hit with your guests!
More Delicious Holiday Appetizer Ideas
Whipped Goat Cheese Crostini
Ingredients
- 1 French baguette
- 1 cup whipped goat cheese
Proscuitto + Goat Cheese Crostini
- 2 oz Proscuitto
- 1/2 medium apple sliced thin
- 1/8 cup honey
- fresh thyme
Cranberry + Goat Cheese Crostini
- 1/4 cup cranberry sauce
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- rosemary
Instructions
- Slice a French baguette into thin slices. Place bread on a large baking sheet and lightly drizzle with olive oil.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, until the tops turn golden brown.
- Spread a thick layer of whipped goat cheese onto each slice of bread.
- Top with various toppings.
Prosciutto + Honey
- Cut Proscuitto into small rectangles and fold them.
- Place a slice of apple and folded Proscuitto on each crostini.
- Drizzle with a little bit of honey and top with fresh thyme leaves.
Cranberry + Walnut
- Spread 1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce over the crostini.
- Top each with a roasted walnut and a sprig of fresh rosemary.
