Besides being delicious, this Pear and Goat Cheese Crostini is super easy and fast to make. It's ready in minutes with just a few ingredients. VEGETARIAN.
What's not to love about toasty bread, cheese, fruit, honey, and nuts! And let us say again, SO EASY! This cheese crostini recipe is delicious and perfect for a party, company dinner, or any time you want a fresh snack with a glass of wine!
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Looking for a crostini without goat cheese?
Try our Caramelized Onion Brie Crostini!
Steps for Making Pear and Goat Cheese Crostini
- Start with the crostini - use Homemade Crostini or store bought.
- Spread goat cheese on the crostini - plain goat cheese or whipped goat cheese both work great!
- Place in the oven for 3-5 minutes to soften the cheese.
- Top with a slice or two of your favorite pear.
- Add a drizzle of honey - we like a local honey but use what you have.
- Finish with some toasted, chopped nuts.
- Enjoy!
What is the difference between crostini and bruschetta?
Crostini and bruschetta are really just a fancy way to say lightly toasted (or grilled) bread brushed with a little EVOO (or butter!)
Even though people use these terms interchangeably (and that's okay), they are ‘technically’ different. Crostini are usually smaller diameter bread with a less rustic feel - like baguette slices. Bruschetta are made from a larger diameter bread with a more rustic texture - think lots of nice air holes or sourdough! You can use bruschetta for crostini recipes and crostini for bruschetta recipes.
Substitutions for Pear and Goat Cheese Crostini
This goat cheese crostini appetizer recipe is so forgiving and easy to make your own. If it doesn't need to be vegetarian, add some crispy prosciutto pieces on top of the goat cheese.
Bread. We used a baguette for this crostini recipe and it was great for a small bite option. For more of a main-dish-sized version use slices from a rustic french loaf or sourdough loaf and make this into a bruschetta. Same steps just on larger slices of bread. If using larger slices of bread the amount of goat cheese, pears, honey, and nuts may need to increase.
Nuts. We like the flavor of toasted pecans. Almonds, walnuts, or hazelnuts would all be equally delicious. Make sure to toast them before using to bring out the flavor. The extra sweetness of chopped Sugared Pecans is also be amazing!
Goat Cheese. Use plain, creamy goat cheese or a whipped goat cheese like this one from our friends at Life As A Strawberry. Either will be delicious! Not a fan of goat cheese? Use a soft spreadable cheese like feta, whipped feta, cream cheese or ricotta.
OPTIONAL STEP: Softening the goat cheese before spreading on the crostini makes it easier to spread, but is not necessary. To soften the cheese, heat goat cheese on a medium-low setting in the microwave for 5-15 seconds (recommend 5 second intervals) until cheese is slightly softened.
Make Ahead Tips
We almost always have some crostini sitting around because we love it and use it for so many quick snacks. If not, make some crostini in just 15 minutes and store on the counter in an airtight container. Our Homemade Crostini post has lots of information and tips on how to make crostini.
If using whipped goat (or feta) cheese, make the whipped cheese up to 5 days in advance and store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to make these appetizers.
Time Saver Tips
Use store bought crostini. Many grocery stores and specialty markets now carry pre-made crostini. Grab a package and you are good to go. This also works on plain, 'un-toasty', baguette slices. It will have all the flavors, but miss the texture and crunch from the crostini.
We like to toast our nuts to bring out the flavor, but if short on time, just chop them and sprinkle on top of the honey.
We tested this many ways and found we liked the cheese warmed a little after it was on the crostini. This step can be skipped and this crostini with goat cheese and pears is still amazing!
Saving Leftovers
The FDA recommends discarding any perishable food that has been out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Even if within the FDA recommendations, this appetizer with goat cheese doesn't really save. The pears will begin to turn brown, the cheese and honey will soften the bread and nuts.
Other Easy Goat Cheese Appetizer Recipes
Some Common FAQ's
It is very hard to keep these crostini warm. We warm the crostini with goat cheese to soften the cheese and make it a little creamier. They are great served room temperature.
YES! Almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, or our Sugared Pecans would all be great.
📖 Recipe
Pear and Goat Cheese Crostini
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 24 pieces 1x
Description
This Pear and Goat Cheese Crostini is super easy and fast to make. It is ready in minutes with just a few ingredients. The best part - IT'S DELICIOUS!
Ingredients
- 24 Homemade Crostini (store bought also works)
- 6 ounces goat cheese, room temperature or warm in the microwave for 5-10 seconds on medium-low heat
- 1 pear, thinly sliced
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- ¼ cup chopped pecans, toasted (sugared pecans, hazelnuts, almonds, or walnuts also work)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place crostini on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Spread a spoonful of goat cheese over each crostini.
- Place in a 350 degrees Fahrenheit oven for 3-5 minutes to soften cheese. Remove from the oven.
- Top goat cheese with 2 or 3 slices of pear. If the pear slice is a lot longer than the crostini, cut the slices in half.
- Drizzle honey over the pears. You may not use all of the honey or you may use a little more depending on the amount of your drizzle!
- Sprinkle toasted, chopped pecans on top of honey.
- Serve.
Notes
Bread. We used a baguette for the crostini in the photos, and it was great for a small bite option. If you want more of a main-dish-sized version use slices from a rustic french loaf or sourdough loaf and make this into a bruschetta.
Cheese. We used plain goat cheese, but this Whipped Goat Cheese from our friends at Life As A Strawberry would also be delicious. No goat cheese? Use a soft cheese like feta, whipped feta, cream cheese, even ricotta.
Nuts. We used toasted pecans but have also made this with Sugared Pecans and it was delicious! Almonds, walnuts, or hazelnuts would all work great - make sure to toast them first.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minute
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 crostini
- Calories: 48
- Sugar: 2.2 g
- Sodium: 37.7 mg
- Fat: 3.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 3.1 g
- Protein: 1.6 g
- Cholesterol: 3.3 mg
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