How to make crostini at home in under 20 minutes and just 2 simple steps. Top tips, tricks, and topping recommendations for this crisp, crowd-pleasing appetizer!

When it comes to simple appetizers, I love all things bread. At restaurants, I’ll happily gobble down the basket of bread/breadsticks. Meanwhile, at home, entertaining guests nearly always means mozzarella & tomato bruschetta, roasted garlic bread, or cheesy sourdough pull-apart bread. And of course, these quick and easy crispy crostini, loaded with versatile toppings!

Once prepared, this homemade crustini recipe is ready to serve as a simple, delicious appetizer or part of a cheese board. Or it can even be a quick “clear out the fridge” type of lunch, using various spreads and leftovers. You can even use the crusty bread for dipping into dips, soups, and stews. Plus they make for the best holiday appetizers (for more Thanksgiving appetizer ideas, check my 45+ Best Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas).

What Is Crostini

Crostini (or crostino if singular) is an Italian appetizer, meaning “little toasts” or “little crusts.” This refers to slices of bread that are toasted or grilled until crisp, usually brushed with olive oil first.

These crunchy bites are then topped with toppings like cheese, meat, vegetables, spreads, etc. The result is a dish that’s simple to prepare but loaded with texture and flavor.

What Is The Difference Between Crostini And Bruschetta

The main difference between these two bread appetizers is the type/style of bread used to prepare them. Crostini is made with small, round, baguette-style bread toasted or grilled until crisp.

In comparison, traditionally, the best bread for bruschetta toast is larger, thicker slices of a rustic loaf of bread (like country bread or sourdough). It’s usually rubbed with garlic before toasting.

These days though, the two terms are often used interchangeably for small, crisp slices of bread loaded with toppings.

Crostini Ingredients

The best cristini recipe requires two ingredients and the toppings of your choice (options listed below).

• Bread: I love using French baguette (see below for more) for homemade crostini.
• Olive oil: Use high-quality olive oil. I don’t recommend substituting it for other oil.
• Sea salt & black pepper: (Optional) use depending on your toppings for crostini.

What Is The Best Bread for Crostini?

Traditionally, crostini recipes are made with a crusty baguette cut into thin rounds. I prefer to use a slightly stale/2-day-old baguette, as it’s easier to cut and already slightly crisp. Plus, what a great way to avoid waste. And you can save any leftovers to make homemade croutons and breadcrumbs.

That being said, any thin, elongated bread should work for this crostini recipe. I.e., sourdough, artisan, ciabatta, etc.

How To Make Crostini

Follow just 2 simple steps to prepare homemade crostini bread. They’ll be perfect for topping with all your favorite spreads and ingredients (recommendations lower in the post).

How To Cut Baguette For Crostini

You can cut the crostini baguette either at a bias (diagonally) for longer slices or cut it straight across into small rounds (almost bite-sized), depending on how much topping you’d like to add.

Use a serrated knife to slice the baguette appetizers between ¼-inch to ½-inch apart, trying not to ruin the shape of the bread as you slice.

Then, brush both sides of the bread with olive oil. Transfer the slices in a single layer to a baking sheet. Optionally, season with a bit of salt and pepper.

At What Temperature Do You Bake Crostini

Bake the crostini slices in the oven for 6-9 minutes at ¼-inch thickness or 8-12 minutes at a 1/2-inch thickness in a preheated oven at 450ºF/230ºC. Flip them halfway.

I recommend keeping an eye on them while baking. The cooking time can vary based on the size of the bread pieces and your oven.

Alternatively, grill the crostini for 2-3 minutes per side for a subtle smoky flavor and grill marks.

They’re ready when golden-brown and crisp, with a “hollow” sound when tapped.

How Long Do You Keep Crostini and How to Store It

Toasted crostini are generally best when fresh. But you can store the crisp bread (without toppings) in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Make sure they’re thoroughly cooled before storing them.

You may need to pop them back in the oven for a few minutes if they soften while storing.

You can also freeze the olive oil brushed bread for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the fridge or at room temperature, then bake them according to the recipe.

Crostini Toppings

The sky is the limit when topping your toast bread for crostini. I tend to follow a formula of a spread/dip plus toppings over. Keep reading for my favorite toasted baguette toppings and my top 10 crostinis recipe recommendations!

The Best Dips and Spreads For Crostini Toast

• Olive tapenade,
• Sun-dried tomato spread,
• Whipped ricotta or feta,
• Labneh or cream cheese,
• Pâté,
• Pesto – traditional basil, vegan, red pesto,
• Dips and sauce like hummus, white bean dip, muhammara, romesco,
• Jam/preserves – fig jam, onion jam, blackberry jam, raspberry jam, etc,
• Apple butter or pumpkin butter,
• Roasted garlic or garlic confit,
• Nut/seed butter – almond butter, peanut butter, tahini, etc.

Other Crostini Toppings

• Sliced or diced tomatoes,
• Roasted cherry tomatoes/tomato confit,
• Roasted vegetables – like asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, peppers, etc.,
• Olives,
• Pickles – red onion, gherkins, etc.,
• Caramelized onions,
• Sun-dried tomatoes,
• Meat – thin slices of ham or even cooked lamb, beef, etc.,
• Seafood – shrimp, smoked salmon, salmon flakes, squid, anchovies,
• Sliced cheese – cheddar, brie, blue cheese, etc.,
• A sprinkle of fresh herbs – like fresh basil, dill, parsley, green onions, scallions, etc.
• Fruits – grapes, pear, apples, figs, strawberries, peaches, etc.
• Avocado – sliced or diced.

Top 10 Flavor Combinations

Here are just a few of my go-to crostini topping combinations using a combination of the above and more.

1. Cream cheese, smoked salmon, dill, and optional capers & lemon zest.
2. Extra virgin olive oil, fresh tomato, and basil with optional balsamic glaze. Optionally, grate some garlic on the bread.
3. Hummus and dukkah or za’atar (and optionally roasted peppers).
4. Ricotta (or goat cheese/gorgonzola), fig (or apple/pear), and honey.
5. Nutella (or healthy homemade Nutella) and strawberries/other berries/banana.
6. Creamy mushrooms or sauteed mushrooms with herbs (and optionally mashed avocado).
7. Pesto with roasted tomatoes and mozzarella.
8. Shrimp and avocado in garlic butter.
9. Almond butter, brie, and apple slices.
10. Ricotta or goat cheese with caramelized onion and balsamic vinegar.

Let me know if the comments below what your favorite toppings are for this easy crostini recipe.

FAQs

More Bread Appetizers

• Jalapeno cheddar cornbread
• Cheesy garlic bread
• Turmeric rosemary no-knead focaccia
• Cucumber Sandwich
• Quick Dinner Rolls Recipe

If you try this French bread crostini recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!