Easy strawberry crostini with goat cheese, honey, balsamic reduction, and basil. A sweet and savory bite perfect for any occasion!
This strawberry goat cheese crostini recipe is a delicious summer appetizer for family or entertaining. Fresh strawberries, balsamic reduction, goat cheese, honey, and fresh basil all served on a crispy baguette slice! The perfect combination.
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Ingredients
These refreshing crostini come together in no time with just a few ingredients! All you need:
- Baguette - We love using a baguette for perfectly bite-sized appetizers, but this recipe also works with larger slices of crusty bread or sourdough.
- Strawberries - Fresh, in-season strawberries make all the difference here!
- Goat cheese - Let it come to room temperature on the counter for 15-30 minutes before assembling to make it easier to spread!
- honey, olive oil, and lemon juice
- balsamic reduction
- fresh basil
Strawberries not in season?
Try another favorite crostini recipe Caramelized Onion Brie Crostini!
Riffs and Substitutions
These strawberry goat cheese crostini are very versatile - feel free to play around and make them your own! Some of our favorite swaps and additions:
- Use a drizzle of honey instead of balsamic reduction if you prefer, or skip the reduction and use a very light drizzle of plain balsamic vinegar to save time.
- Swap the goat cheese for ricotta, whipped feta, burrata, brie, or whipped goat cheese!
- Use fresh mint instead of the basil if you like.
- Top with chopped pistachios or walnuts for extra texture!
- No strawberries? Use raspberries, blackberries, peaches, or tomatoes instead.
Time Saver Tips
Use store-bought crostini or crackers. No time to bake crostini? No worries! Grab some pre-made crostini or a box of crackers to save some time.
Buy pre-made balsamic reduction. Store-bought balsamic reduction is a great timesaver! Look for options with no added sugar for the most similar flavor - some brands add sugar to their reductions, which can affect the flavor and makes it a glaze instead of a true reduction.
Make Ahead Tips
Most of these components can be prepped a day or two in advance and placed in an airtight container until ready to use! What to make ahead of time:
- Crostini - for more details on homemade crostini see our easy homemade crostini post. Make a day in advance.
- Goat cheese mixture - refrigerate up to 5 days.
- Balsamic reduction - this will keep a week or more in the fridge.
You can also slice the berries a few hours in advance and store them in the fridge!
Saving Leftovers
The FDA recommends discarding any perishable food that has been out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Once assembled, these strawberry goat cheese appetizers will not keep very long. We recommend they be eaten within an hour of making. If your event is going to be longer than that, consider making them in batches as needed.
FAQs
We love making our own balsamic reduction: it's quick, easy, and lasts for weeks in the fridge! (We use it on everything from crostini to pizza to salad to pasta.) If you don't feel like DIY-ing your balsamic, you can also often find pre-made balsamic reduction at the grocery store. Look for a brand without added ingredients (like sugar) for the truest balsamic flavor!
People have come to use these terms interchangeably, but they are ‘technically’ different. Crostini are usually made from a smaller diameter loaf of bread that has a less rustic feel - think more even texture - like a baguette. Bruschetta are made from a larger, thicker slice of bread that has a more rustic texture - think lots of nice air holes or sourdough! Both are toasted or grilled. You can use bruschetta for crostini recipes and crostini for bruschetta recipes. To use the correct term, focus on the size of the bread when served. NOTE: we often link bruschetta with the tomato mixture served on toasted bread - bruschetta is 'technically' the term for the bread not the topping.
More Favorite Crostini Recipes
Strawberry Goat Cheese Crostini
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 24 pieces 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Easy strawberry crostini with goat cheese, honey, balsamic reduction, and mint. A sweet and savory bite perfect for any occasion!
Ingredients
- 1 baguette, sliced
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 8 large strawberries
- 5 ounces goat cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chiffonaded (cut into small, thin strips)
- 2 Tablespoons balsamic reduction
Instructions
Prep
- Place baguette slices on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Broil on high for 1-2 minutes or until lightly toasted. Let cool to room temperature.
- Cut the strawberries into thin slices (we typically get 4-5 slices per berry). Set aside.
- In a small bowl, add goat cheese, honey, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Mix until thoroughly combined.
Assembly
- Spread a small scoop (about one teaspoon) of the goat cheese mixture onto each toasted baguette slice, then top with 1-2 strawberry slices.
- Garnish with a drizzle of balsamic reduction and a sprinkle of fresh basil. Serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutions and Additions. Use mint instead of basil if you like. Swap the balsamic reduction for a bit of honey. Top crostini with a pinch of flakey sea salt.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Assembly Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 113
- Sugar: 1.9 g
- Sodium: 217.6 mg
- Fat: 2.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 19.2 g
- Protein: 4.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0.8 mg
Keywords: vegetarian, fruit, summer
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