Craving fancy finger food? Elevate your appetizer game with our easy Brie, pear & prosciutto crostini recipe. Sweet, salty, crispy bliss in every bite!
Forget soggy bread and store-bought dips. This brie, pear, and prosciutto crostini recipe is about to rock your appetizer world and is perfect for a party or date night at home.
Imagine thin slices of crusty baguette crisped to golden perfection, then slathered with melty brie cheese. Picture jewel-toned pear slices adding a burst of sweetness, and salty prosciutto wrapping it all up in a delightful, one bite-sized package.
Every element creates an explosion of textures and flavors that are guaranteed to vanish from your plate in record time.
This recipe is the epitome of easy elegance. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep time, you can whip up a crowd-pleasing appetizer that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen.
So ditch the boring cheese and crackers, and join me on a journey to crostini bliss. Let’s get cookin’! Wait until you try this super simple prosciutto recipe!
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But First, What is Crostini?
Crostini are essentially mini toasts. Thinly sliced bread, traditionally a crusty baguette, gets brushed with olive oil, seasoned, and toasted until crisp.
They’re a blank canvas for toppings, from simple herbs and garlic to creamy spreads, vibrant vegetables, and decadent meats. Think finger-sized appetizers with endless possibilities.
One of my favorite crostini recipes, is my Grandma’s Bruschetta Crostini. Oh, it is so yummy! I love to use my tomato harvest for that one, but I also make it year round too. But I digress.
How to Make Crostini
Making crispy, delicious crostini is easier than you think! Here’s a basic guide:
Ingredients to Make Toasted Crostini
- Bread: Opt for a crusty loaf like a baguette, ciabatta, or sourdough. Choose day-old bread for better slicing.
- Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil adds flavor and helps with browning.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and herbs like rosemary or thyme are classic choices. Feel free to experiment with garlic, chili flakes, or other spices.
Directions to Make a Crostini Recipe
- Slice & Season: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cut the bread into 1/2-inch thick slices. Drizzle each slice lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with your chosen seasonings.
- Toast to Perfection: Arrange the slices on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy. Keep an eye on them to avoid burning.
- Cool & Top: Let the crostini cool slightly before adding your toppings. Get creative! Here are some ideas:
Crostini Tips
- Use a serrated knife for cleaner bread slices.
- Brush the olive oil on with a pastry brush for even distribution.
- If your bread is fresh, toast it for a few minutes longer to achieve desired crispness.
How to Make Brie, Pear & Prosciutto Crostini Recipe
This recipe makes a perfect appetizer for crowd. It’s elegant enough for a a New Year’s Eve party but also casual enough to serve at a brunch, Super Bowl Party or bring to a tailgate party.
As an aside, I love a good finger food that’s simple to make. There’s a short list of ingredients. The preparation is minimal. And seriously, this is SO GOOOD!
When I first tried this recipe, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Because I’m not a huge fan of brie. Like at all. It’s just not my go-to cheese.
When I was first introduced to this appetizer, I wasn’t all that into it. But a friend of mine made it for a supper club party several years ago. So of course I had to try it.
And I was hooked from the first bite! The brie paired with the proscuitto, pear, and apple butter is so delicious!
Ingredients to Make This Mouthwatering Brie, Pear & Prosciutto Crostini Recipe
When making this recipe, choose skinny french bread for the base. It holds up better as a finger food and I think it toasts better as crostini.
Thicker Italian breads, while good, don’t work the same way and are tough to make into bite-size pieces. Use them if you want to make this same recipe as a sandwich instead.
We’ve made this before in our panini press as a sandwich and it’s even better as a sammy! Here’s what you need to make this insanely delicious prosciutto recipe.
- Baguette
- Apple Butter
- Brie
- Pear
- Proscuitto
Directions to Make This Proscuitto Recipe Appetizer
- Preheat oven to 375.
- Thinly slice the pear.
- Thinly slice the bread.
- Add bread slices to the baking sheet. Toast the bread in the oven until it gets lightly toasted. No more than 7-8 minutes depending on your oven.
- Rough chop prosciutto into small pieces so it can fit on the bread slices.
- Remove the bread from the oven. Bump the oven temp up to 400.
- Spread apple butter on each slice.
- Top with 1 slice of pear, a slice of brie, and a small piece of prosciutto.
- Bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melty. Do not overcook. Keep an eye on it.
- Remove from oven.
- Allow to cool, serve, and enjoy!
Crostini Recipe FAQs
How Do You Keep Crostini From Getting Soggy?
The key to keeping a crostini recipe from getting soggy is to make sure you add the toppings before you serve (like a bruschetta). This recipe for crostini with brie, pear and proscuitto doesn’t get soggy – at least I haven’t seen it get soggy. Even after sitting for a bit.
Keeping your crostini crisp all comes down to two key principles: moisture control and timing. Here are some tips to prevent sogginess:
- Bread choice: Opt for a crusty bread like baguette, ciabatta, or sourdough with a dry crumb. Avoid soft or airy loaves.
- Toasting: Toast the bread thoroughly until golden brown and completely dry. Consider a double toast if the toppings are particularly juicy.
- Toppings: Add wet ingredients, like tomatoes or cheese, just before serving. Pre-chop and drain any watery toppings like marinated vegetables.
- Fat layer: Use spreads like olive oil, pesto, or garlic rub as a barrier between the bread and wet toppings.
- Storage: Store untoasted crostini in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Toast them just before serving. Store topped crostini in the refrigerator for a maximum of 2 hours.
- Assemble & serve: Assemble your crostini just before serving to minimize the time the bread spends in contact with wet ingredients.
- Portion control: Consider making smaller bite-sized crostini that are eaten all at once, minimizing time for sogginess to set in.
Why Are My Crostini Tough?
Tough crostini is not fun to eat. It’s awkward and you feel like you are going to bust a tooth! But there are a few reasons why your crostini might be tough. Here’s what you need to do to fix it.
- Overcooked: Too much oven time can harden the bread, even if it looks golden. Aim for 8-10 minutes at 375°F and keep an eye on them.
- Stale bread: Fresh bread can have too much moisture, leading to toughness after toasting. Day-old bread is ideal for its drier texture.
- Low oven temperature: If the oven isn’t hot enough, the bread won’t dry out properly and can remain dense. 375°F is the sweet spot for crispy crostini.
How Do You Store a Crostini Recipe If You Prepare It Ahead?
Storing homemade crostini successfully is all about preserving that crispness! Here’s what you need to do.
Before Toasting
- Freshness matters: Use day-old bread for the best texture. Fresh bread tends to release more moisture during toasting, making them prone to sogginess.
- Slicing strategy: Cut your bread into even slices around 1/2 inch thick. This ensures consistent toasting and avoids burnt edges.
Toasting for Tomorrow
- Golden glow: Toast your crostini to a beautiful golden brown, ensuring they’re completely dry with no soft spots. This maximizes their shelf life.
- Cooling down: Let the toasted crostini cool completely before storing. Trapped heat can create condensation and lead to sogginess.
Storage Secrets
- Sealed tight: Store your untoasted crostini in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. The airtight seal protects them from moisture and stale air.
- Toast to order: When ready to serve, simply pop the untoasted crostini in the oven or toaster for a quick refresh. This brings back their delightful crunch without drying them out.
- Top it off: Add your toppings just before serving. Wet ingredients like cheese or tomatoes can quickly soften the bread, so assembling on demand keeps them fresh and crispy.
Brie, Pear & Prosciutto Crostini Recipe Bliss: Pop-in-Your Mouth Perfection
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Package Proscuitto thin sliced
- 1 Pear thin sliced
- 1 Package Brie
- 1 Container Apple Butter
- 1 Loaf Skinny French Bread thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375
- Thinly slice the pear.
- Thinly slice the bread.
- Add bread slices to baking sheet. Toast in the oven until lightly toasted. No more than 7-8 minutes depending on your oven.
- Rough chop prosciutto into small pieces so it can fit on the bread slices.
- Remove bread from the oven and spread apple butter on each slice.
- Bump the oven up to 400
- Top with 1 slice of pear and small piece of proscuitto.
- Top with small piece of brie.
- Bake in oven for 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melty. Do not overcook. Keep an eye on it.
- Remove from oven.
- Allow to cool, serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
More About Making Brie, Pear & Prosciutto Crostini Recipe
Have you ever made a prosciutto crostini recipe before? It is out of this world with the brie, pear and apple butter. I would love to know more in the comments below. If you try it, please let me know and give it a rating!
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Enjoy a beautiful day! xo
I’m making it as part of my virtual dinner group’s New Year’s Eve dinner party menu.
