Cranberry Goat Cheese Crostini Party Appetizer
Each holiday season I love spending time in the kitchen coming up with new recipes for entertaining and holiday appetizers are always at the top of my list! This year I was inspired by my homemade Thanksgiving cranberry sauce and a white pizza I like to make. The unexpected pairing of the tangy goat cheese, toasted bread, salty meat, and spicy honey came together to form the perfect harmony of flavors with only four ingredients! This perfect holiday appetizer is not only festive but super easy to make! Let me show you how to make this cranberry goat cheese appetizer in a few easy steps. Full recipe card below.
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What is goat cheese?
First, let’s talk about goat cheese. I often hear people say they dislike goat cheese only to find out they haven’t ever had it. If you are skeptical, let me assure you it’s delicious!
As the name suggests, goat cheese is made from goats milk rather than cows milk. It is a soft cheese making it ideal for spreading but is also often found in crumbles and makes a great topping for salads and pizza. Goat cheese is rich and tangy in flavor and is a great compliment to fatty foods due to its acidic nature.
Why You Will Love this Recipe
In this crostini recipe the combination of goat cheese and mixture of cranberries compliments the fattiness of the salami. The spicy honey adds just a little heat while still being sweet. And the crusty bread of the crostini brings the crunch! Honestly, it’s amazing that only a handful of ingredients can create such a powerful flavor, holy molly! And the best part is, there is no cooking required!
Ingredients
This easy hors d’oeuvre recipe is an explosion of flavor but uses only four ingredients! Your guests will love it and everyone will be asking for more.
Cranberry Cinnamon Goat Cheese – I know this sounds like an odd pairing, but trust me, the cranberry mixture is the best! It’s not only a great way to add a layer of flavor but also makes a festive appetizer. I can find this at my local Walmart and Costco in the specialty cheese section. If you cannot find it at your grocery store you could also use plain goat cheese and add fresh cranberries. There is also a blueberry version that could be a good option if you do not like cranberries.
Bruschetta Toasts – For these goat cheese toasts I used the olive oil version of Bruschetta toasts. If you think about it you could also call these cranberry goat cheese bruschetta since they use the same crostini toasts! They make for an easy appetizer and don’t require any prep work. Just open the bag and add the toppings. I found mine at Target, but you can also make your own out of French bread if you want or buy them from your favorite bakery.
Salami – I often buy a trio of salami for charcuterie since we drink our fair share of wine. So I used a combination of the Italian dry and Calabrese to make these, but any salami you prefer would work for these crostini appetizers.
Mike’s Hot Honey – Mike’s hot honey is definitely one of my favorite condiments and I use it on all kinds of dishes like salmon, pizza, and peanut butter sandwiches! If you haven’t had it, you are definitely missing out. It is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy in my opinion. Just drizzle a little on each toast with a honey dipper or straight from the bottle. If you are not into spicy things you can use regular honey or even maple syrup for a similar taste.
Garnish – If you are looking for a pretty presentation, garnish with fresh parsley, mint, thyme or fresh rosemary.
Serving platter – I used my dark marble slab here, but a nice wood charcuterie board or a simple platter would look good as well! Just make sure to choose a pretty dish because everyone will see it when the last cranberry crostini is gone!
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PrintCranberry Goat Cheese Crostini Party Appetizer
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 42 pieces 1x
Description
A simple combination of a crunchy crostini, creamy goat cheese, salty salami, and a spicy drizzle of honey make this simple appetizer an explosion of flavor in a handheld bite. These are perfect for your next holiday party, wine and cheese night, game day, or simply as a snack. Once you take a bite, you will be coming back for more!
Ingredients
- 1 pkg Salami
- 16 oz Cranberry Goat Cheese Log
- 1 bag Bruschetta Toasts
- Parsley (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Slice each piece of salami into quarters.
- Using a butter knife, gently spread about half a tablespoon of goat cheese onto each crostini.
- Add a piece of salami to the top of each toast.
- Drizzle honey on top of each toast
- Garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
I do not recommend freezing these. They only take a few minutes to make and can even be set up on a charcuterie board in parts for guests to help themselves.
This recipe will make roughly 42 toasts depending on how much topping you use.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Christmas, Holiday, Snack
- Cuisine: American
When to Make This Goat Cheese Cranberry Appetizer
Let me tell you a story. When I was testing this recipe Barry came into the kitchen and asked if he could try one. He liked them so much I couldn’t make them fast enough! These may have been our dinner that night along with some wine, haha! So I think the better question here is when not to make them?
Here are a few other occasions to make this simple recipe. Holiday parties, family reunions, as a Thanksgiving appetizer, game day, happy hour, pot luck dinners, game night, or just as an easy snack! You could even use the the blueberry goat cheese and make these for the fourth of July for a more summery flavor!
Looking for another perfect party appetizer for your next big gathering or game day? Check out my Mexican style street taco deviled eggs, Hidden Valley Ranch veggie pizza, red and green bell pepper green goddess dip, or my favorite holiday crab puff appetizers on English muffins.
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