I must be on an appetizer kick because this crostini bar I’m sharing today is all about the appetizers.
I feel like the holiday season is all about appetizers. Dips, spreads, small bites, and special dishes that you can take to any holiday party.
I hope the ideas I’ll share today about this crostini bar are something you can incorporate into your holiday plans this year. Heck, even if you have no holiday plans, hello lockdown city over here, it’s still something fun you could do at home to mix things up with your family.
I whipped up three different crostini toppings that would be great for any get together, keep reading to see how you can make them.
Fig + Goat Cheese Crostini
This is my go to when I need a last minute appetizer to take to a party. It’s only three ingredients and is so easy anyone could do it.
First, slice up a baquette and toast it in the oven with a little drizzle of olive oil. You actually don’t even need to do this part if you’re running low on time.
Then top with some goat cheese and dollop some fig preserves on top of the goat cheese.
See super easy!
Olive Tapenade + Parmesean Reggiano Crostini
Another really easy crostini idea if you can find these things premade. If not, it’s really easy to make the tapenade yourself too.
I love this option because of how salty it is. I’ve also been having a love affair with olives lately so I really like it.
Again toast some cut up baguettes with olive oil, then top with tapenade and sprinkle parmesan reggiano on top.
If you can’t find tapenade premade, use a mix of green and kalamata olives and pulse them in a food processor until they are cut up really small. You can add in some olive oil and herbs and spices too. Garlic is a great addition as well.
French Onion Soup Inspired Crostini
This last crostini appetizer is a little twist on French onion soup. It’s got all the same components, onions, cheese, and bread!
To start I caramelized onions. I know that sounds super hard, but trust me it’s literally just chopping onions and putting them in a skillet on low heat with a little olive oil. You have to kind of baby sit them though. Be sure to give them a somewhat constant stir so they don’t burn or stick to your pan.
Once they are a nice brown color, they’re done, give them a little salt too.
Put them on top of your toasty baguette and add some gruyere for a little bite of French onion soup.
How To Host a Crostini Bar Party
Now that you’ve made all of your crostini’s and toppings why not share them with others?
It’s the perfect way to feed a small gathering of people. Throw in a nice leafy green salad and you won’t feel bad for all the bread and cheese you’re eating.
There are several ways you can make this a fun little way to have an interactive element to your gathering. It’s always a good idea to include some sort of interactive element to your party. It gets the guests involved in the party and feeling like they have a purpose.
First you could put a big platter or bowl out of crostini’s and let your guests build their own appetizers with the toppings I shared above.
Or you could provide the crostini’s and ask your guests to bring something to top them with.
Either way setting up a crostini bar is a fun and different way to serve your guests. Plus it’s a simple way to keep things small and intimate when you’re still restricted on how many people can gather.
What do you think, is this a party you’d see yourself hosting? We may be busting out something fun like this around Christmas even for just our small family.
