This crostini recipe brings together contrasting flavors and textures: crisp toasted bread, sweet-tart cranberry sauce, and creamy brie finished with a brûléed sugar topping. Arrange a platter of these elegant bites for your next gathering and you’ll have a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Looking for more crostini ideas? Try these variations: Steak Crostini with Horseradish Cream, Peach and Honey Ricotta Crostini, or Pea and Prosciutto Crostini.
This post may contain affiliate links which help support this blog. As an Amazon Associate, the site may earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting the content.
With so many crostini options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. When in doubt, cranberry and brûléed brie crostini are a dependable favorite. The tartness of homemade cranberry sauce balances the rich, buttery brie, while the brûléed sugar layer adds a hint of caramelized sweetness and crisp contrast.
Why This Crostini Recipe Works
- Simple – Crostini are essentially toasted bread, so prep is quick and straightforward.
- Elegant party appetizer – These bite-sized starters look upscale and travel well on a serving platter for gatherings and holidays.
- Versatile – The basic crostini can be topped with many combinations, so you can swap ingredients to suit the season or your pantry.
What is Crostini?
Crostini, Italian for “little crusts,” are small slices of toasted bread brushed with olive oil and baked or grilled until crisp. They serve as a base for jams, sauces, cheeses, vegetables, cured meats, and other toppings.
Crostini vs Bruschetta
Both crostini and bruschetta are toasted bread appetizers, but they differ in bread choice and presentation. Bruschetta typically uses thicker rustic slices, often grilled and topped with tomato, garlic, basil, and olive oil. Crostini are smaller, thinner slices—usually from a baguette—and offer a wider range of toppings.
Tools You’ll Need
- Baking sheet
- Kitchen torch (for brûlée finish)
Ingredients You Will Need for Cranberry and Brûléed Brie Crostini
This appetizer has three parts: homemade cranberry sauce, slices of brie, and toasted crostini made from baguette or sourdough. See the ingredient list below for exact amounts.
Cranberry Sauce
- Fresh cranberries – vibrant, tart flavor
- Spices – cinnamon stick, ground nutmeg, and a pinch of allspice for warmth
- Water – to adjust consistency
- Orange juice – adds brightness and balances tartness
- Granulated sugar and light brown sugar – sweeten and mellow the cranberries; reserve extra granulated sugar to brûlée the brie
- Pure vanilla extract – a little enhances flavor
- Salted butter – enriches the mouthfeel of the sauce
- Kosher salt – a small pinch to enhance all flavors
Brie Crostini
- Baguette or sourdough – sliced about 1/2 inch thick; a sturdy base holds the toppings
- Creme brie wheel – sliced thin for even melting
- Quality olive oil – for brushing the bread prior to toasting
Best Bread for Crostini
Baguette or other crusty loaves work best because they toast evenly and remain sturdy under toppings. Avoid very soft sandwich breads that won’t hold up when topped.
How To Make Crostini
Start by making the cranberry sauce since the crostini toasts quickly. Once the sauce is ready, toast the bread, assemble with brie and sauce, then brûlée the cheese tops.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Combine the cranberry sauce ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 13–15 minutes until the cranberries pop and the mixture thickens slightly. If the sauce seems too thick while hot, add water a tablespoon at a time. Remove from heat, cover, and let cool. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
- Brush both sides of the baguette slices with olive oil and arrange them on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven for 6–8 minutes or until golden and crisp. Watch closely so they don’t burn.
- Spread a spoonful of cranberry sauce on each toasted slice. Lay a thin slice of brie on top of the sauce. Sprinkle a small pinch of granulated sugar on the top of each brie slice, taking care not to get sugar on the cranberry sauce.
- Use a kitchen torch to melt and caramelize the sugar on each brie slice, moving the torch in a circular motion to encourage even browning. Keep the torch a safe distance to prevent burning. Work in batches if necessary.
- Let crostini cool for about a minute, then serve warm and enjoy.
Tips and Tricks
- Day-old bread works well. Slightly stale bread crisps nicely in the oven and makes excellent crostini.
- Use a serrated knife. It produces even, clean slices without crushing the loaf.
- Watch the toasting time. Bread browns quickly at 400°F—check early to avoid burning.
- Move the torch in small circular motions. This helps melt the sugar evenly without scorching.
- Serve warm. Crostini are best enjoyed shortly after assembly, when the brie is still soft and the sugar is crisp.
Crostini Ideas
Crostini are a versatile base for many toppings. Try these combinations:
- Cheeses – cream cheese, mozzarella, whipped feta, goat cheese, whipped cottage cheese
- Fresh herbs & veggies – mushrooms, tomatoes, basil
- Seafood – smoked salmon or tuna tartare
- Meats – steak slices, salami, roast beef, prosciutto
How to Make Crostini Ahead of Time
Bake the crostini slices and store them in an airtight container for up to one week. If they soften, refresh them in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 5 minutes to crisp them up before assembling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are crostini made of?
Crostini are made from thin slices of baguette or similar crusty bread brushed with olive oil and toasted. They’re then topped with spreads, cheeses, and other ingredients.
Is crostini Italian or French?
Crostini are an Italian appetizer.
What bread is crostini made from?
Crostini are typically made from baguette or other crusty loaves sliced into thin pieces and toasted until crisp.
Why are my crostini so hard?
If crostini are too hard, they were likely over-toasted. Toast at a high temperature for a shorter time to achieve a crisp but not rock-hard texture.
Looking for More Appetizer Recipes
- Cheesy Garlic Bread
- Baked Brie Bread Bowl with Caramelized Onions
- Little Gem Wedge Salad with Miso Ranch
- Baked Brie with Honey Chili Oil
- Easy Honey Hot Wings
Loving this Crostini Recipe?
If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and share a photo on social media—it’s wonderful to see how you customize the toppings. Thank you for supporting the blog and happy eating!
Cranberry and Brûléed Brie Crostini
Crisp crostini topped with homemade cranberry sauce and a slice of brie, finished with a brûléed sugar crust. Perfect as a festive appetizer or elegant snack.
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 35 minutes | Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12 pieces
Author: Jeri Mobley-Arias
Course: Appetizer, Snack | Cuisine: Italian
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Kitchen torch
Ingredients
Cranberry Sauce
- 10 ounces fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 1/2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus more for brûléing
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 3-inch cinnamon stick
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Brie Crostini
- 1 baguette (sourdough), cut into 1/2-inch slices
- 8 ounces brie wheel, sliced 1/4-inch thick
- Quality olive oil, for brushing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Make the cranberry sauce: combine all cranberry sauce ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, for 13–15 minutes, until cranberries pop and sauce thickens slightly. Thin with water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed. Remove from heat and cover; the sauce will thicken as it cools.
- Brush baguette slices with olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Toast for 6–8 minutes or until golden and crisp.
- Spread cranberry sauce on each toast. Top with a slice of brie. Sprinkle a bit of granulated sugar over each brie slice, taking care to avoid the cranberry sauce.
- Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar until it becomes amber and crisp, moving the torch in a circular motion for even melting. Allow crostini to cool for a minute and serve warm.
Keywords: crostini, crostini appetizers, crostini bread, crostini ideas, crostini recipe, crostini toppings, crostini vs bruschetta
Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment and tag @whisperofyum on Instagram—we love to see your creations!