This Homemade Crostini Recipe is so easy to make with just three ingredients and a little bit of knowledge! These small pieces of perfectly toasted bread make the best appetizers.
This easy Homemade Crostini Recipe is part of my “basics” series, where I share simple recipes to help you learn how to be the best you can be in your kitchen.
Learn to make bone broth, or learn how to cook pasta perfectly. I share my amazing recipe for chocolate buttercream frosting too, which I think everyone should have in their recipe box!
Whether you’re new to cooking or a seasoned pro, this recipe for homemade crostini will help you improve your cooking skills, and give you a fail-proof recipe that will make it so simple for you to create all types of delicious crostini appetizers.
What is Crostini?
Crostini are small slices of bread that have been toasted until crispy. Generally, the bread is topped with cheese, meat, or spreads and served as an appetizer.
In Italian, the word crostini means “little toasts”, and that’s exactly what we’re making today!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Making homemade crostini at home is an inexpensive DIY recipe! At my local grocery store, they make crostini from yesterday’s bread, and charge more than double for it! You can skip paying for that service, and easily make your own crispy bread slices in just a few minutes.
You’ll also have all the control when it comes to the type of bread, the amount of salt, and the size of your crostini.
Lastly, knowing how to make homemade crostini will make you an expert in creating quick and easy appetizers! All you need is this recipe and one or more simple crostini toppings.
Try my homemade bruschetta, Sicilian caponata, or homemade ricotta cheese on your crostini!
Ingredients In Homemade Crostini
Here’s what you need to make these simple crispy bread slices:
- Baguette – If this is your first try at making crostini, I suggest picking up a fresh, crusty baguette. These are easy to find at the supermarket and always make the best crostini. You can also try ciabatta, or any other type of sturdy, crusty bread that you like.
- Olive Oil – This gives the crostini flavor and helps it to get wonderfully crisp in the oven.
- Salt – Flaky sea salt, sprinkled on the bread after it’s toasted, is the easiest way to make your bread tast amazing.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make Homemade Crostini
To get started, preheat your oven to 375°F/190°C, and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice the Bread: Take care to slice your baguette into even slices that are no more than ½-inch thick. I like to cut on the bias (diagonally) – the slices look so much fancier that way!
- Brush with Olive Oil: Use a pastry brush to brush both sides of each slice of bread with olive oil, then place the bread on the baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake the crostini in a preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Sprinkle with flaky salt while still warm.
Tip!
Wait to add any toppings to your crostini until after you’ve fully toasted the bread! You can add cheese or spreads to the crispy crostini and place them under the broiler if needed.
Crostini Recipe Tips
- Pick the right bread. Choose bread that is firm and does not fall apart or crumble as you slice it. French baguette is commonly used since it’s long and thin. You can also try ciabatta or hearty Italian loaf, cut into smaller pieces.
- 1/2-inch slices are perfect for crostini. Any thicker than that and they won’t get crispy all the way through. Thinner slices will cook much more quickly.
- If you’re cooking outside, try grilling crostini! Preheat the grill to 375°F/190°C, and add the sliced bread right to the grill grates, over indirect heat.
- To make garlic crostini, rub a peeled clove of garlic over the warm, crispy bread right after you pull it out of the oven. The heat from the crostini will release oils from the garlic.
- To Store: Keep leftovers in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the crostini for up to 1 month.
Storing Tips
These are easy to make ahead of time! Let the crostini cool completely, then store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
You can also freeze crostini for up to 1 month.
Crostini Topping Ideas
Once you know how to make perfectly crispy crostini, the sky is the limit when it comes to topping them!
Start with these delicious ideas, then try making your own amazing crostini appetizers.
- Homemade Ricotta Cheese is amazing on its own, but even more delicious topped with a drizzle of honey, fruit spread, or grilled vegetables.
- Spread crostini with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus and sprinkle with chopped tomatoes and parsley.
- Add sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil leaves to create caprese salad crostini. Try it with a layer of pesto too!
- Cream cheese, smoked salmon, and pickled red onion
- Cream cheese, thinly sliced cucumber, and dill.
- Olive Tapenade
- Guacamole
- Bruschetta
- Vegan Cream Cheese and Everything Bagel Seasoning
Be sure to add toppings to the crostini right before serving so that the bread doesn’t get soggy.
Recipe FAQs
Generally, bruschetta is made by toasting large slices of rustic Italian bread over a flame or coals, while crostini are generally smaller, sliced from a denser bread like a baguette.
Your bread slices should be crispy on the outside but still slightly tender in the center. If yours are coming out of the oven too hard, it may be because your oven temperature is not hot enough, or that you’re baking them for a bit too long.
If stored in an airtight container or bag, your crostini can be kept for up to 5 days at room temperature, or up to 1 month in the freezer.
Simple, crispy, toasted crostini are quick to make and the perfect base layer for delicious appetizers. Save this recipe for the next time you’re hosting a get-together!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Homemade Crostini Recipe
Equipment
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
- 1 fresh baguette crusty – or ciabatta
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- Flaky sea salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F/190°C (170°C fan oven), and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice the baguette or bread into thin slices, about 1/2 inch thick.
- Brush each slice with olive oil on both sides.
- Arrange the slices on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with flaky sea salt and allow to cool.
- Serve the crostini as is or topped with your favorite toppings, such as tomato bruschetta, cheese and cured meats, hummus and vegetables, or any other toppings of your choice.
Notes:
- Choose bread that is firm and does not fall apart or crumble as you slice it.
- 1/2-inch slices are perfect for crostini. Any thicker than that and they won’t get crispy all the way through.
- If you’re cooking outside, try grilling crostini! Preheat the grill to 375°F/190°C, and add the sliced bread right to the grill grates, over indirect heat.
- To make garlic crostini, rub a peeled clove of garlic over the warm, crispy bread right after you pull it out of the oven.
- To Store: Keep leftovers in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the crostini for up to 1 month.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
Sheila G says
So easy to make! We had them with ur caesar salads and they were delicious!
Little Sunny Kitchen says
Thank you, Sheila! I’m so glad you found these crostinis easy to make and enjoyed them with my Caesar Salad recipe!
Kara says
Seriously addicting topped with tomatoes, onion, fresh basil, mozzarella, and balsamic vinegar! I bet it’s also great with meat and cheese. 🙂
Little Sunny Kitchen says
Thank you, Kara! That’s so great to hear that you loved this recipe, it’s so delicious with meat and cheese too!
Sharina says
I love topping my crostini with scrambled eggs! A great way to start my day!
Little Sunny Kitchen says
Yum! I’m so happy to hear that, Sharina! Thank you!