How to Make Crostini
Treat yourself to golden, crispy pieces of homemade Crostini! Crostini means “little toasts” in Italian, but they’re really so much more than that. Each slice of crostini is buttery, perfectly crunchy, and ready to be topped with all of your favorite toppings or served alongside pasta or soup.
Crostini
If you’ve never made crostini at home before, I’ll let you in on a little secret – it’s pretty easy! On top of being easy, it’s also customizable. So if you like your crostini a little over or under cooked for a more or less crunchy consistency, you can certainly make that happen!
The trick is to flip the crostini half way through baking so it doesn’t burn, but don’t worry, we’ll get more into those specifics in just a little bit.
I love making crostini for a number of reasons, but primarily, crostini is the BEST because it goes with everything! I really don’t think there’s a flavor out there that doesn’t pair well with a homemade buttery crostini slice.
Savory, sweet, salty, tangy, you name it, and it’s probably delicious on a crostini. When you really want to impress with a mouthwatering and picturesque appetizer, use homemade crostini to do it! I always get complimented when I serve Roasted Balsamic Strawberry Crostini with Mascarpone Whipped Cream and Pistachios and Honey Ricotta Peach Crostini with Crispy Pancetta.
These little Italian treats don’t just make perfect bases for appetizers either. They’re also incredible when served with soups, salads, and pastas of all kinds! I personally really love them with The Very Best Tomato Soup.
They’re excellent at soaking up all the rich tomato soup, while still maintaining their satisfying crunch. Also, they’re a whole lot lighter than eating a grilled cheese with the soup. And when I serve them with stuff like French Onion soup, I usually just leave them plain and let the flavor of the soup do all the work. However, you can dress up your crostini however you’d like!
How to Make Crostini
With just a few simple steps, you can have the perfect crunchy appetizer or side for so many dishes!
- Preheat. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Slice. Slice the baguette crosswise into 1/4 inch thick slices.
- Stir. In a small bowl, stir together the butter, olive oil, and garlic.
- Brush and place. Brush the oil mixture on both sides of the bread. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet.
- Bake. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Flip and bake for an additional 3-4 minutes until toasted and crisp.
Enjoy! Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature. Top with your favorite toppings or serve alongside a bowl of soup. They’re also fantastic in place of a cracker for dip like this easy Crab Dip!
How can I make the crostini crunchier?
With my method, the crostini will be crunchy all the way through and golden, but not browned. However, if a bit of browning around the edges is what you’re craving, it’s easy to do! You just have to be cautious to get the browned edges without actually burning the bread.
To accomplish this, simply cook the crostini for about 6 minutes per side. Keep an eye on it, though! Depending on your oven, the might be a little bit too long and you could burn the crostini.
What kind of bread should I use to make crostini?
A day old baguette is what’s best for making crostini. Why? The shape and flavor of the baguette is most traditional (and delicious) with this recipe! Also, using a baguette that’s about a day old or so also helps tremendously with the texture of the crostini. If the bread is too fresh, the inside of the crostini might be a bit too soft and not crunchy as desired.
How long will crostini stay fresh?
In an airtight container, crostini will stay fresh at room temperature for about 4-5 days. They’re meant to be served at room temperature, so there’s no need to reheat them.
Here are a few tasty spreads to use on your crostini!
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Get the Recipe: How To Make Crostini
Ingredients
- 1 Day old Baguette, cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, smashed, optional
Equipment
- baking sheet
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Slice the baguette crosswise into 1/4 inch thick slices In a small bowl, stir together the butter, olive oil, and garlic.
- Brush the oil mixture on both sides of the bread. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet.
- Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 5 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Flip and bake for an additional 3-4 minutes until toasted and crisp.
- Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature.
- Top with your favorite toppings.