Why I love this blackberry goat cheese crostini recipe
This blackberry goat cheese crostini is such a simple recipe, but it’s honestly one of the best appetizers I’ve ever made.
It’s basically just baguette slices spread with a whipped mixture of goat cheese and cream cheese, and topped with fresh blackberries.
The combo of creamy, tangy, and sweet flavors is seriously addictive, and it looks so pretty on the table.
Plus, it looks really elegant but it’s crazy easy to put together, which is always a bonus when I’m hosting a party!
Ingredients
Here is your shopping list (for 12 slices):
For the crostini:
- Bread – 1 baguette. Stale bread works just fine and can even produce a crustier result.
- Oil – 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Seasoning – ½ teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the topping:
- Dairy – 4 ounces goat cheese, ¼ cup (2 ounces) cream cheese.
- Fresh produce – 1 pint fresh blackberries, 1 lemon, a bunch of fresh mint leaves (for garnish)
- Seasoning – Salt and black pepper to taste.
- Sweetener – 2 teaspoons honey, plus extra for garnishing.
Substitutions & Additions
- If you can’t find French baguette, you can can use Italian bread. If the slices are too big, try cutting them in half or quarters for a smaller-scale crostini.
- You can also buy pre-made crostini if you don’t want to make your own.
- Substitute other berries such as raspberries or blueberries for the blackberries if desired.
- Or for a sweeter version, use 1 teaspoon blackberry jam instead of the fresh berries.
- For a lighter, fluffier spread, use whipped cream cheese instead of regular cream cheese.
- You can also replace the goat cheese with an equal amount of cream cheese if you’re not a goat cheese fan.
How to make blackberry goat cheese crostini
1 | Prep work
Take the cream cheese out of the fridge a couple of hours before you start. Softening it at room temperature makes it much easier to mix smoothly.
Zest enough of the lemon to get ½ teaspoon, plus extra for garnish. When zesting the lemon, only grate the yellow outer layer. Avoid the white pith underneath since it adds a bitter taste.
2 | Make the crostini
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This keeps the bread from sticking and makes cleanup easier.
Start by slicing the baguette into ½-inch thick pieces. Using a sharp serrated knife helps make clean cuts without squishing the bread.
Arrange the baguette slices on the sheet, leaving about half an inch between each piece so they toast evenly.
Brush the tops lightly with olive oil using a pastry brush or the back of a spoon. This helps them turn golden and crispy.
Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on top for flavor.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are golden and slightly crisp. Keep an eye on them so they don’t over-brown.
3 | Make the whipped goat cheese
In a food processor or blender, combine 4 ounces goat cheese, 2 ounces softened cream cheese, 2 teaspoons honey and ½ teaspoon of the lemon zest.
Mix everything together until smooth and creamy.
If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a mixer, but a processor makes it faster and gives a more uniform texture.
Taste. Then add salt and pepper as needed, and blend again until everything is well incorporated.
4 | Assemble the appetizer
Spread about a tablespoon of the whipped goat cheese onto each toasted baguette slice.
Top each with 2 or 3 fresh blackberries.
For a finishing touch, drizzle a little honey over the top for sweetness, sprinkle some lemon zest for brightness, and add a small sprig of fresh mint for freshness.
How to make ahead
If you need to prepare in advance, I recommend making and storing each element separately, then assembling just before serving. Otherwise, the bread will get soggy.
To do this:
- Toast the baguette slices and let them cool completely. Place them in an airtight container or large zip lock bag until needed. They can be kept for up to a week this way, or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prepare the whipped goat cheese mixture and keep it refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Add the berries and garnishes just before serving.
Storage
I do not recommend keeping leftovers of the assembled crostini, as the bread will become soggy and go stale pretty quickly.
Blackberry Crostini
Ingredients
For the crostini
- 12 ½-inch slices baguette
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the topping
- 4 ounces goat cheese
- ¼ cup (or 2 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 2 teaspoons honey plus extra for garnish
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest plus extra for garnish
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 pint fresh blackberries
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- parchment paper
- Pastry brush
- measuring cups and spoons
- Chef’s knife
- cutting board
- Food processor or blender
- Butter knife or small spatula for spreading the whipped goat cheese on the crostini
- Serving platter or wooden board
- Honey dipper
Instructions
Make the crostini
- Pre-heat the oven to 375℉.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange the baguette slices on the baking sheet about a half-inch apart.12 ½-inch slices baguette
- Brush the tops of each baguette slice with olive oil.1 Tablespoon olive oil
- Sprinkle with salt & pepper.½ teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until slightly crisp and golden on the edges.
Make the whipped goat cheese
- In a food processor or blender, combine the cream cheese, goat cheese, honey, and lemon zest until smooth.4 ounces goat cheese, ¼ cup (or 2 ounces) cream cheese, softened, 2 teaspoons honey, ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- Add salt and pepper to taste and blend until thoroughly combined.Salt and black pepper to taste
Assemble
- Spread about a tablespoon of the whipped goat cheese filling onto each slice of toasted baguette.
- Top each slice with 2 or 3 black raspberries.1 pint fresh blackberries
- Garnish with a drizzle of honey, a sprinkle of lemon zest, and a sprig or sprinkle of fresh mint.½ teaspoon lemon zest, Fresh mint leaves, 2 teaspoons honey
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Have comments or questions about our blackberry goat cheese crostini? Tell us in the section below.