These crispy goat cheese crostini are topped with thinly sliced ham, wine-soaked cherries, fresh thyme and drizzled with honey.

They're sweet, salty and just a little boozy and make for the perfect appetizer!

How to make goat cheese crostini

Dried cherries or cranberries: You'll soak these in wine so they become plump and juicy.
Wine: A sweet red or dessert wine works perfectly for soaking the dried fruit.
Baguette: To be sliced and baked into crispy little toasts.
Goat cheese: That tangy, creamy goodness to smear on each toast.
Smoked ham: Thinly sliced and stacked.
Nuts: Crushed and sprinkled to add nuttiness and texture.
Thyme: Fresh, pulled from the twigs.
Honey: A little drizzle adds some sweetness to balance out the tang and saltiness.

Place the dried cherries and wine in a jar fitted with a lid.
If the wine doesn’t cover the cherries, add a little water.
Allow the cherries to soak for 2 or more hours, until cherries are plump. Drain.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Place baguette slices on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
Sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake in the oven for 7-8 minutes, until crisp. Allow to cool.
Spread a thick layer of goat cheese on each crostini.
Top each with a slice of thin ham, a tablespoon of wine-soaked cherries, a few nuts and a few thyme leaves.
Drizzle each crostini with teaspoon of honey.
Place on a platter and serve.

For the dried fruit: Your favorite dried fruit will work, such as cranberries, cherries, blueberries or even chopped apricots.
For the wine: Any sweet red or dessert wine works.
- If you're looking for non-alcoholic, you can use cranberry juice.
For the baguette: A French or whole grain baguette will work.
- Or you can buy premade toasts at the supermarket.
For the goat cheese: Try with cream cheese, mascarpone or ricotta.
For the smoked ham: Swap for prosciutto.
For the nuts: Any crushed nuts or seeds, such as walnuts, pecans, almonds or pepitas.

To make these gluten free: Use a gluten free baguette to make the crostini.
- Be sure all other ingredients are gluten free.
To make these dairy free: Use a dairy free cream cheese spread instead of goat cheese.
To make these vegan: Use a plant-based cream cheese spread instead of goat cheese and skip the ham.
To make these nut free: Skip the nuts.
- Be sure all other ingredients are nut free.
To make these egg free: This recipe does not contain eggs.

Best appetizer recipes for any occasion:

Crispy crostini topped with goat cheese, ham, wine-soaked cherries and fresh thyme.

Scale

Place the dried cherries and wine in a jar fitted with a lid. If the wine doesn’t cover the cherries, add a little water.
Allow the cherries to soak for 2 or more hours, until cherries are plump. Drain.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Place baguette slices on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.Sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake in the oven for 7-8 minutes, until crisp. Allow to cool.
Spread a thick layer of goat cheese on each crostini. Top each with a slice of thin ham, a tablespoon of wine-soaked cherries, a few nuts and a few thyme leaves.Drizzle each crostini with teaspoon of honey.
Place on a platter and serve.

Substitution Tip: Use any dried fruit.

Keywords: appetizer, side, holiday, seasonal, Christmas, Thanksgiving, easy, simple, healthy