How To Make Crostini
Made with just 3 ingredients and in 10 minutes, golden, crispy crostini are the perfect base for appetizers!
Crostini, or "little crusts" in Italian, are simply little toasts that are used for party appetizers, for a light meal with soup or salad, or as a quick snack. They are incredibly easy to make. Thin slices of bread, brushed with olive oil, are then baked until crisp. A little sprinkle of sea salt is added for more flavor.
Now all you have to do is top them with any condiment like this flavorful pistachio pesto, spiced pear butter, or various toppings, dunk them in any dip like my easy fried pickle dip, vegan spinach artichoke dip, or whipped goat cheese, and enjoy!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
✨Making crostini at home is super simple! With just 3 ingredients, you can make them in minutes.
✨Homemade crostini is far more flavorful and tastes so much better than the store-bought ones. Oftentimes, the store-bought ones are too oily and hard. And over-priced!!
✨Crostini can be made ahead of time, which makes it perfect for stress-free entertaining or when you want to have a quick, light lunch. It's great for scooping up avocado egg salad or smashed chickpea salad! Yum!
Recipe Ingredients
Bread: A crusty French baguette works the best. But you can use ciabatta or sourdough too.
Olive oil: Any good quality extra virgin olive oil will work well.
Sea salt: I like to use sea salt for sprinkling on top of the warm crostini for extra flavor. Kosher salt can also be used.
Please see the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Crostini
Making crostini at home couldn't be easier! You simply cut the bread, brush it with olive oil, bake, and done!
Step 1: Slice the baguette into 1/2" thick slices. Place the sliced bread on a baking tray. Brush both sides of each slice with olive oil.
Step 2: Bake for 9-10 minutes until golden and crispy. Sprinkle with sea salt.
Top with your favorite dip or topping and enjoy!
Best Bread For Crostini
A crusty French baguette is the best for making crostini. That said, you can also use sourdough or ciabatta. Please slice the bread into small, even-sized pieces.
Avoid using multigrain, dense breads for making crostini. They will not crisp up as well.
You can also use stale baguettes. They work out great, too. Just make sure they are no more than 1-2 days old. Most of the time, I use leftover baguettes to make crostini!
Top Tips
- Slice the bread on the diagonal if you want larger slices. Cut the bread straight across to make smaller toasts.
- Use a sharp serrated knife for slicing the bread.
- The bread gets nicely golden on both sides in the oven, so there is no need to flip it.
- Crostini can be served warm or at room temperature.
- Store the cooled crostini in an air-tight container for up to 1 week.
- You can also grill crostini. Brush both sides of the bread slices with olive oil and place them directly on a hot grill. Cook for 2-3 minutes on both sides.
- You can use 1-2 day-old stale bread, too!
How To Serve Crostini
There are so many ways you can serve crostini! Make them a part of your cheese board, dunk them in a roasted pumpkin soup, or eat with a creamy cucumber salad!
Use to scoop up melting, gooey baked brie or baked camembert.
Serve alongside a classic hummus, labneh, tzatziki, whipped feta dip, or creamy avocado dip!
Top the crostini with marinated tomatoes or cashew ricotta cheese!
Recipe FAQs
What is crostini?
Crostini means "little crusts" in Italian. Small slices of bread are brushed with olive oil and then baked or grilled until crisp. They are used as appetizers with various toppings and dips.
What's the difference between bruschetta and crostini?
Bruschetta is made with larger slices of bread. It's brushed with olive oil, toasted, and then topped with diced tomatoes. Crostini, on the other hand, is smaller and used as canapés or appetizers.
How long do homemade crostini last?
They stay well for up to 7 days in an airtight container. There is no need to refrigerate them.
More Easy Appetizers
Recipe
How To Make Crostini
Ingredients
- 1 Baguette
- 2-3 tbsp Olive oil
- Sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius or 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking tray with parchment paper for easier clean up.
- Slice the baguette on the diagonal into 1/2" thick slices.
- Place the slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and brush both sides of each bread with olive oil.
- Bake for 9-10 minutes, until crisp and golden brown, at 200 degrees Celsius or 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Sprinkle with sea salt and serve on a platter with any dip or toppings of your choice. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Slice the bread on the diagonal if you want larger slices. Cut the bread straight for smaller toasts.
- Crostini can be served warm or at room temperature.
- Store the cooled crostini in an air-tight container for up to 1 week.
- You can also grill crostini. Brush both sides of the bread slices with olive oil and place directly on a hot grill. Cook for 2-3 minutes on both sides.
