Crostini - Learn how to make crostini from a baguette with this easy recipe. The perfect base for your favorite toppings and dips. So Good!
Make this simple crostini recipe with only 3 ingredients in just 15 minutes in the oven, in the broiler, or on the grill.
Crostini are little Italian toasts that are made from a baguette or any rustic Italian bread. They are the perfect thing to serve with hot dips like Spinach Artichoke Dip, or with a Charcuterie Board, or with your favorite pasta or dinner recipe like this Leftover Bratwurst Pasta.
Looking for more bread recipes? Be sure to check out our recipes for homemade focaccia and garlic breadsticks.
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Here's What You Need
You only need a few simple ingredients that you can pick up at any grocery store to make the best homemade crostini.
Notes on Ingredients
- French baguette - We find the best bread for crostini to be a French baguette. But you may substitute any other crusty bread, like a rustic Italian bread, ciabatta, whole wheat, or whole grain bread.
- olive oil - May substitute butter.
- fresh garlic - May substitute garlic salt, sea salt, or kosher salt.
Equipment
- serrated knife - A key piece of equipment to make bread slicing a breeze.
- cutting board
- sheet pan - baker's half sheet
- parchment paper - We like to use parchment paper for easy cleanup.
How to Make It
Follow these few simple steps to make homemade crostini.
Preheat oven to 450°F. Use the middle rack.
Slice baguette. Using a serrated knife, slice a whole baguette into ½ inch thin slices.
Place the small pieces out evenly in a single layer on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.
Brush on oil. Use a pastry brush to brush a little olive oil onto the sides of the bread.
Pro Tip: Alternatively, pour the olive oil onto the sliced bread directly from the bottle.
Simply partially cover the top of the bottle with your thumb, allowing only a thin drizzle of olive oil to escape onto each bread slice.
Just a thin spiral or squiggled line on each piece will be enough.
Garlic. Cut clove of garlic in half. Gently rub the top of each piece of sliced bread with the garlic.
Use the side of the garlic that has been sliced in half with a knife. This way the juice from fresh garlic slice will impart more flavor.
Pro Tip: May substitute garlic salt (sea salt, or kosher salt) instead to save time.
Season only one side of each small piece of bread.
That'll make sure they aren't too salty. If you like garlic bread, this is a great way to go!
Bake. Bake at 450°F for 6-8 minutes in a preheated oven, until they are a light golden brown.
Using this method, there will be no need to turn them over while baking. Both sides will be evenly toasted.
Pro Tip: Keep a close eye on them while they are baking.
Cooking time will vary and they'll burn fast if you take your eye off them.
See note below on oven temperatures.
Variations
Using Different Oven Temperatures
Using the oven for something else? Make crostini in the oven at the same time with other things is easy following the time and temperatures adjustments below.
- 10-12 minutes @350°F
- 8-10 minutes @400°F
- 6-8 minutes @450°F
Grilled Crostini
It's easy to make grilled crostini. Simply, lay the sliced bread on a hot grill watch them closely, turning them when they have golden brown grill marks. Remove them from the grill when they are a light golden brown.
Broiler Method
Move Rack and Preheat Broiler. Place the oven rack on the second rung down from the top (upper third of the oven) and turn on the broiler.
Broil Crostini 1-2 Minutes Each Side. Broil them with the door closed for 1-2 minutes. Then take them out of the oven and turn them over. Return the baking pan to the oven and close the door for another minute.
Keep A Close Eye On Them. Make sure you keep an eye on them. They burn super fast if left unattended.
Golden Brown Color. They're done when they are a light golden brown in color. The darker the color, the crispier they will be.
Make Garlic Bread Instead
Make garlic bread instead by swapping out the olive oil for butter and sprinkling on some garlic salt. Bake them according to oven instructions.
Crostini Toppings
Crostini are the perfect thing to serve on their own, or with various toppings.
Serve them with your favorite toppings, with a charcuterie board, your favorite pasta, or soup recipe. They are the perfect thing to serve with a hot dip. They're so versatile and delicious.
Crostini Toppings
Crostini are the perfect base for so many of your favorite spreads and different toppings. Try any of these Simple Crostini Topping Ideas:
- Bruschetta - Classic Italian antipasto made with fresh tomatoes, minced herbs and garlic, salt & pepper, all marinated in olive oil.
- Balsamic Glaze with Black Pepper
- Caprese - Mozzarella, tomato, and fresh basil. Another Italian classic.
- Olive Tapenade
- Olive Oil with Italian Seasoning and Minced Garlic
- Charcuterie - Meats and cheeses
- Feta Cheese
- Goat Cheese
- Steak Crostini - This is a Friday night favorite in our house. Sliced Ribeye Steak or Filet Mignon with Gruyere or Manchego and a little bit of horseradish sauce on top of a little crostini. Absolutely delicious.
- Brie and Proscuitto
- Brie and Peach Jam - or bourbon peach jam
- Baked Brie and Honey
- Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Artichoke Crab Dip
Recipe FAQS
Crostini are toasted, thin slices of a crusty bread like an Italian ciabatta or a French baguette. They can be made from either fresh bread or stale bread. And are a great way to use up old bread.
Crostini should be lightly toasted on the edges while remaining soft in the center when you bite into it.
Freezing and Storage
Have leftovers? Store them in an airtight container at room temperature overnight, or in the freezer.
Steak Crostini - Serve with thinly sliced Ribeye Steak or Filet Mignon served on a little crostini with some gruyere cheese and a dollop of horseradish sauce. Steak Crostini are our absolute favorite to serve at a dinner party or for just for two with a glass of red wine. So so good!
How To Serve Crostini
- Spinach Artichoke Dip - These little Italian toasts are sturdy enough to make the perfect dipper.
- Simple Charcuterie Board - They make the perfect base for the various meats, cheeses, and spreads you'll find on a charcuterie board.
- Fettuccine Alfredo - Homemade crostini are a tasty accompaniment for a big bowl of pasta.
- Cheesy Potato Soup - They're a dunkable favorite to serve with a creamy soup like this delicious, cheesy potato soup.
- Leftover Bratwurst Pasta - A deliciously creamy and savory weeknight dinner that can be on the table in 30 minutes.
There you have it. Making this Simple Crostini Recipe is as easy as that! We hope you enjoy our super simple, super tasty recipe. Try it and let us know how you like it. We'd love to hear from you!
xo ~ Seanna
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📖 Recipe
Simple Crostini Recipe
Equipment
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 French baguette
- ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
- 1 clove garlic
Instructions
Preheat Oven To 450°F. Place oven rack in the center of the oven.
- Slice baguette. Using a serrated knife, slice a whole baguette into ½ inch thin slices. Place the small pieces out evenly in a single layer on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.1 French baguette
- Brush on oil. Use a pastry brush to brush a little olive oil onto the sides of the bread.Pro Tip: Alternatively, pour the olive oil onto the sliced bread directly from the bottle. Simply partially cover the top of the bottle with your thumb, allowing only a thin drizzle of olive oil to escape onto each bread slice. Just a thin spiral or squiggled line on each piece will be enough.¼ cup olive oil
- Garlic. Cut clove of garlic in half. Gently rub the top of each piece of sliced bread with the garlic. Use the side of the garlic that has been sliced in half with a knife. This way the juice from fresh garlic slice will impart more flavor.Pro Tip: May substitute garlic salt (sea salt, or kosher salt) instead to save time. Season only one side of each small piece of bread. That'll make sure the crostini aren't too salty. If you like garlic bread, this is a great way to go!1 clove garlic
- Bake. Bake crostini at 450°F for 6-8 minutes in a preheated oven, until they are a light golden brown. Using this method, there will be no need to turn them over while baking. Both sides will be evenly toasted. Pro Tip: Keep a close eye on the crostini while they are baking. Cooking time will vary and they'll burn fast if you take your eye off them. See note on oven temperatures below.
Video
Notes
How to Bake Crostini At Different Oven Temperatures
Using the oven for something else? Make crostini in the oven at the same time with other things is easy following the time and temperatures adjustments below.- 10-12 minutes @350°F
- 8-10 minutes @400°F
- 6-8 minutes @450°F
Grilled Crostini
It's easy to make grilled crostini. Simply, lay the sliced bread on a hot grill watch them closely, turning them when they have golden brown grill marks. Remove them from the grill when they are a light golden brown.Broiler Method
Move Rack and Preheat Broiler. Place the oven rack on the second rung down from the top (upper third of the oven) and turn on the broiler. Broil Them 1-2 Minutes Each Side. Broil them with the door closed for 1-2 minutes. Then take them out of the oven and turn them over. Return the baking pan to the oven and close the door for another minute. Keep A Close Eye On Them. Make sure you keep an eye on them. They burn super fast if left unattended. Golden Brown Color. They're done when they are a light golden brown in color. The darker the color, the crispier they will be.Make Garlic Bread Instead
Make garlic bread instead by swapping out the olive oil for butter and sprinkling on some garlic salt. Bake them according to oven instructions.Crostini Toppings
Crostini are the perfect base for so many of your favorite spreads and different toppings. Try any of these Simple Crostini Topping Ideas:Nutrition
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Russ B
Incredible with the filet!
Seanna Borrows
Steak Crostini is for sure our favorite!