The Easiest Homemade Crostini Recipe

Name: The Easiest Homemade Crostini Recipe
Prep time: 4 min
Cook time: 16 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: French baguette; 1/4-1/2 cup olive oil (depending on the size of your baguette); Kosher salt

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This quick and easy crostini recipe requires 3 ingredients and takes about 20 minutes from start to finish. Making crostini at home is easier than you might think. And freshly made crostini tastes SO much better than the version you'll find at the grocery store!

A baking sheet filled with crispy homemade crostini

Table of Contents show

Ingredients and Substitutions

French Baguette - I love to use a classic, crusty French baguette for this recipe, but you can use your favorite long loaf of bread.
Olive Oil - I like to use organic, cold-pressed olive oil for this recipe. Since the ingredient list is so short, you want to make sure you're using quality ingredients that taste delicious!
Kosher Salt - I prefer to use Kosher salt in 99% of my recipes and this one is no exception! A sprinkle of salt goes a long way in boosting the flavors of this homemade crostini.

Instructions

Slice French baguette into thin slices using a serrated knife. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet.

Brush both sides of each piece of bread. Sprinkle with Kosher salt.

Sliced French bread brushed with olive oil on a baking sheet

Bake for 8 minutes, flip, and bake for another 8 minutes.

Freshly baked crispy crostini on a baking sheet

Serve with your favorite dips, spreads, and appetizers! The one pictured below is my favorite Holiday Baked Brie with Jam.

Tips

You can use just about any type of bread for this crostini recipe as long as it's a long thin loaf. One of our local bakery's has a delicious rustic baguette that I love to use to make crostini. Our local grocery store also has a great sourdough baguette. Find one that you like and don't be afraid to switch it up next time you make them!
You can slice the directly across or on the diagonal. Slicing the bread directly across is going to give you a more sturdy crostini, so I recommend that if you're pairing it with a thick, creamy dip like my Spinach Artichoke Dip. Cut the bread diagonally if you're serving it with something more forgiving like Olive Oil Bread Dip.
The crostini should be quite crispy when it comes out of the oven. This is what makes it perfect for serving with all your favorite appetizers! It's sturdy enough to hold up to creamy Creamy Whipped Feta Dip, Fig Jam Baked Brie, and Cheesy Baked Olive Dip.
If you want to add a bit of extra flavor to your crostini, slice a clove of garlic in half and rub the cut side of the garlic across the surface of the baked crostini. This will add a subtle garlic flavor that pairs perfectly with savory dips and spreads!
Crostini can be served warm, straight from the oven, or at room temperature.

FAQ

What is the difference between crostini and bruschetta?

Crostini are typically made with smaller loaves of bread, like a baguette. Whereas, Bruschetta is typically made with whole slices of bread from a larger loaf, like rustic Italian bread. I prefer to serve crostini with my appetizers as it's a more handheld size and requires a smaller bite. Crostini literally means "little toasts".

What bread is crostini made from?

Crostini are typically made with a French baguette or another long loaf of bread. I prefer to use a small, thin, crusty baguette for this recipe. There are also different types of baguette - sourdough, rosemary, artisan, rustic, etc. Use your family's favorite for this crostini recipe!

How do you eat crostini?

The versatility of crostini is what makes it one of my favorites! You can serve it alongside Roasted Garlic Goat Cheese Dip or Herb-Marinated Feta Cheese. But you can also use in its place of croutons in a Simple Arugula Salad. Or use crostini to add a bit of texture to your favorite Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup or Vegan Mushroom Wild Rice Soup. It also works great as a crunchy element on a Simple Cheese Board.

Crostini Toppings

You can get pretty wild with the crostini toppings - there are no rules! Here are some of our family's favorite combinations.

honey, roasted walnuts, and fresh thyme
pesto, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil
ricotta cheese, Parmesan, black pepper, pear, and prosciutto
fresh mozzarella, grape tomatoes, balsamic glaze
hummus, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese

Make Ahead, Storage, Freezing, and Reheating

Make Ahead: I don't recommend making these crostini more than 24 hours in advance or they won't taste as fresh.
Storage: Once crostini have cooled to room temperature, store them in an airtight container on the counter until you're ready to eat them.
Freezing: I prefer not to freeze these crostini, especially because they're so easy to make.
Reheating: If you want to serve these crostini warm, you're welcome to reheat them in a 250-300 degree oven for a couple minutes but don't cook them too long or they'll end up drying out too much. They taste great at room temp too!

Serve Crostini With

Easy Appetizer Recipes

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