These Cranberry Brie Crostini are full of festive flavor and color. Tart cranberries and creamy brie are layered on slices of toasted baguette. This appetizer couldn't be easier and looks so pretty and fancy.
Cranberry Brie Crostini are the perfect small bites during the holidays. They are as easy and delicious as they are pretty and festive. I love the combination of creamy brie with the tartness of the cranberries. If you're not a fan of cranberry sauce, fig or apricot preserves make an excellent substitute.
What is crostini?
Crostini are slices of toasted bread topped with a variety of cheeses, meats, veggies, or jams. A baguette - a long, thin loaf of french bread - is typically used for crostini.
Toppings for crostini
Cranberries - The tartness of homemade cranberry sauce pairs beautifully with the creaminess of the brie. This is a perfect way to use up extra or leftover sauce. For a shortcut, store-bought fruit preserves can also be used.
Brie cheese - Brie is a soft cow's milk cheese named after the region in France where it originated. It has a white rind which is completely edible. Leaving the rind on or cutting it off is a matter of personal preference. I personally enjoy the rind, so I left it on this recipe. If you prefer, you can remove the rind before slicing the cheese into wedges. In place of brie, camembert or good quality gorgonzola can be used.
How to make crostini
Slice the baguette into ¼-inch slices. I like to cut the bread on a diagonal. The slices will be a little larger giving more surface area for the yummy toppings. Depending on its size. one loaf should yield between 20-28 slices.
Arrange the bread on a sheet pan and brush with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. The outside will be crispy and the inside will still be slightly chewy.
Add toppings, garnish and serve. I love using seasonal or festive ingredients like the brie and cranberry sauce in this recipe. Any variety of cheeses, meats, jams, spreads, or veggies can be used. Some of my favorite flavor combos include:
- beef tenderloin and horseradish cream
- prosciutto and pear
- apples and gorgonzola
Step-by-step instructions
See the recipe card for complete instructions and ingredient amounts.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Slice the bread into ¼-inch slices on a slight diagonal.
- Brush the bread with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
- Bake for 5 minutes until lightly brown and crisp around the edges.
- Meanwhile cut the Brie into thin wedges, approx. ⅛-inch thick.
- Top each slice of bread with a wedge of Brie and 1-2 teaspoons of cranberry sauce. Garnish with orange zest. If you prefer to melt the Brie, add it to the top of the bread slices before toasting.
With their festive flavor and color, cranberry brie crostini make the perfect appetizer during the holidays. So easy and fuss-free, these delicious nibbles can be whipped up in no time.
Equipment
More appetizer recipes you may enjoy
- Hedgehog Cheeseball
- Spicy Sausage Cheese Balls with Horseradish Cream
- Easy Cucumber Canapes
- Tortilla Roll-Ups with Corned Beef, Green Olives, and Scallions
- Roasted Mini Sweet Peppers with Goat Cheese
- Mini Cheese Balls with Fig and Prosciutto
- Marinated Mozzarella Balls
Cranberry Brie Crostini
Ingredients
- 1 loaf baguette
- olive oil (for brushing)
- salt and pepper
- 8 ounces brie
- ¾ - 1 ¼ cups cranberry sauce
- orange zest (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Slice the bread into ¼-inch slices on a slight diagonal. Brush with oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 5 minutes until lightly golden brown and crispy around the edges. (Note 1).
- Meanwhile, slice the brie into ⅛-inch wedges.
- Top each crostini with a wedge of brie and 1-2 teaspoons cranberry sauce. Garnish with orange zest.
EQUIPMENT
Notes
- For melted brie, top each slice with a wedge of brie before toasting the bread.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary depending upon the exact amounts and specific ingredients used.
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