Homemade crostini transforms simple bread into elegant appetizer bases that cost a fraction of store-bought versions. While grocery stores charge up to five dollars for a small bag, you can create crispy, golden crostini at home using just three basic ingredients. This versatile recipe works with day-old baguettes, sourdough, or any bread you have on hand, making it economical and delicious for entertaining.
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Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
The secret to perfect crostini is using slightly stale bread, which toasts evenly without becoming soggy. The olive oil creates a golden, crispy exterior while the salt and pepper enhance the bread’s natural flavors. This simple technique transforms ordinary bread into an elegant foundation for countless toppings, making it ideal for both casual gatherings and formal entertaining.
Ingredients
- Black pepper – Adds subtle warmth and complements the other simple ingredients
- Baguette – Provides the classic thin, crispy base when sliced and toasted until golden
- Olive oil – Creates a golden crust and adds rich flavor while helping seasonings adhere
- Salt – Enhances the bread’s natural flavors and balances the olive oil’s richness
How to Make Homemade Crostini
Preparing the Bread
- Preheat your oven to broil setting and position the rack 4-6 inches from the heating element.
- Slice the baguette diagonally with a serrated knife into ¼-inch thick slices. Aim for uniform thickness to ensure even toasting.
- Arrange baguette slices in a single layer on a large baking sheet or sheet pan, ensuring they don’t overlap.
Seasoning and Toasting
- Drizzle olive oil lightly over each bread slice or brush it on evenly using a pastry brush.
- Season generously with salt and black pepper, pressing gently to help seasonings adhere.
- Broil for 2-3 minutes until the tops are golden brown and crispy, observing to prevent burning.
- Flip each slice and broil the other side for another 2-3 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before serving or storing.
How to Use Crostini
Crostini is most often used as an appetizer. Some ideal crostini toppings are spinach artichoke dip, fresh tomatoes, olive oil, and fresh basil, cheese, fresh vegetables, feta dip, and olive tapenade. Honestly, the toppings you can use are endless.
You can also serve these as crispy bread with soup or salad.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
Flavor Enhancements:
- Rub fresh garlic cloves over the surface of the baked crostini before adding olive oil
- Sprinkle with herbs like rosemary, thyme, or oregano
- Use flavored salts such as garlic salt or herb-seasoned salt
Bread Alternatives:
- Sourdough bread – Creates tangy, robust-flavored crostini
- Dinner rolls – Perfect for bite-sized appetizers
- Artisan breads – Adds unique flavors and textures
- Bollos or bakery bread – Utilizes day-old bread economically
Oil Substitutions:
- Replace olive oil with melted butter for richer flavor
- Use flavored oils like herb-infused or garlic oil
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Freezing: Freeze toasted crostini in freezer bags for up to 3 months, or freeze untoasted oiled bread slices and toast directly from frozen, adding 1-2 extra minutes to cooking time.
- Room Temperature Storage: Store in airtight containers for up to 3 days at room temperature. Ensure crostini are completely cool before storing to maintain crispness.
- Reheating Method: Place on a baking sheet and warm at 350°F for 5 minutes to restore crispiness. No reheating is necessary for most uses.
What kind of bread can you use to make crostini?
You can use any type of bread you like. I prefer day-old baguettes, but I have also made them with sourdough bread, bollos, day-old bread I bought at the bakery or even leftover dinner rolls. You really can make these crunchy bites out of anything you have on hand!
More Topping Ideas for Crostini
- Bruschetta Caprese
- Alfredo Appetizer
- Boudin
- Baked Goat Cheese
- Liptauer Spread
- Jezebel Sauce
- Cheesy beer dip
- Cream Cheese Spread
- Beef Cheese Ball
Serve crostini with these soups
Get more ideas for crostini to make tasty appetizers and comforting soups.
Easy Homemade Crostini Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 baguette (8 to 10 ounces) sliced into 1/4 to 3/8 inch slides, this should yield 40 to 60 slices
- 1/2 cup olive oil or 1 stick of butter
- kosher salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to broil.
- Slice bread into 1/4 to 3/8 inch slices, and place sliced bread onto a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle half of the olive oil over the sliced bread.
- Use a pastry brush to brush out olive oil evenly. Season with salt and pepper if desired. Place into oven, the bread should brown in one to two minutes. Remove baking sheet from oven. Flip bread over, drizzle with remaining oil, and brush out olive oil evenly.
- Place baking sheet back into the oven and allow bread to brown, this should only take about one minute. Allow bread to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
I made my crostini the day ahead. The next day they were really hard to bite into and tough. What can I do to revive them?
I would try putting them in a plastic bag with a slide of bread and see if that helps. You could also try spritzing them with water and then heating them up to see if this helps.
Thank you for this! It saved me a ton of money for a party I was having. I bought some day-old baguettes and gives this a try. Your recipes are the best. keep going!
Finally, I don’t need to purchase these at the store! I can make them at home.
So delicious. My kids will love this food. I will try this one for my dinner. Thank you for your useful instruction!
Great recipe. Thanks for sharing.