Goat Cheese Crostini

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

Featured Ingredients

• 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.

Step-by-Step Instructions

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

Recipe Substitutions and Alterations

• 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.

Nutrition Considerations

• 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:

• Cheesy Bacon Spinach Dip with Artichokes
• Strawberry Basil Bruschetta
• Olive Hummus with Crudites
• Simple Charcuterie Board
• Goat Cheese Fritters with Artichokes
• Roasted Grape Ricotta Dip

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