What's the difference between bruschetta and crostini?

Both are slices of baguette with various toppings. Bruschetta is usually served with a tomato mixture but doesn't have to be. The difference is in how thin the slices are. Crostini is cut into very thin slices which makes it extra crunchy. Bruschetta has thicker slices which are slightly more chewy and soft.

Can you make all the components in advance?

You can make the toasted baguette and the whipped goat cheese 1-3 days ahead but I recommend roasting the grapes the day you're planning to serve them. The flavors are just not the same after they've been refrigerated.

Can you make this vegan?

Yes, definitely! Just use maple syrup instead of honey and vegan soft cheese or vegan cream cheese instead of goat cheese.

What could I use instead of grapes?

Butternut squash or sweet potato would work great here, they will just take more time to roast. Check out my Sweet Potato Rounds with Hummus, Pesto, and Goat Cheese for cook time.

Whipped Goat Cheese Crostini with Roasted Grapes

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 10 reviews

Whipped Goat Cheese Crostini with Roasted Grapes

Recipe by Veronika Sykorova

This crostini is the perfect fall and winter appetizer! Sweet caramelized grapes, crunchy garlicky baguette, and creamy goat cheese.

Total Time45 minutes
Yield2-4 1x
DietVegetarian

Ingredients

Units Scale

Whipped Goat Cheese:

200g goat cheese (about 1 cup)
2-3 tbsp milk (I used cashew)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3-4 cloves of Roasted Garlic or 1 tsp garlic powder (see notes)
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves or 1 tsp dried thyme
1/4-1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)

Toasted Baguette:

1 baguette, sliced into thin slices (about 30 slices per baguette)
Avocado oil in a spray or 1 tbsp oil
1 clove garlic

Roasted Grapes:

3 cups grapes (seedless if possible)
Handful fresh thyme springs
1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (plus more for serving)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Whipped Goat Cheese:

Add all the ingredients into a food processor and process until smooth. Start with 2 tbsp of milk and add more if needed.
Transfer to a bowl or a jar and refrigerate until ready to use.

Toasted Baguette:

Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
Arrange the sliced baguette in a single layer on a baking sheet and spray with cooking oil. You might have to toast the slices in two batches.
Toast for 8-10 minutes or until slightly golden brown. No need to flip.
When the slices are cool enough to handle, rub them with the garlic on top.
Set aside until ready to serve.

Roasted Grapes:

Raise the oven temperature to 425F (220C).
Add the grapes to a baking sheet, they will be easier to serve if you bake them without the vine.
Add the thyme in between the grapes, a small splash of water, and roast for 10 minutes.
Drizzle with the honey and roast for 10 more minutes.
Cool slightly before serving.

To serve:

Spread the whipped goat cheese on the toasted slices, top each with 2-3 grapes, drizzle with more honey, and garnish with more fresh thyme leaves if desired.

Notes

I'm using roasted garlic from this recipe of mine for the whipped goat cheese because it has a much milder flavor than raw garlic has. If you don't mind the sharp flavor of raw garlic, you can use it but I would only add one clove. I highly recommend roasting some garlic, though! It's super easy and so delicious.

The thinner the baguette slices, the crispier they will be. If you don’t want them to be too crispy, cut them thicker as you would bruschetta.

You can make the whipped goat cheese a day ahead but the baguette and the grapes are best when prepared right before serving. You can toast the slices 1-2 hours before serving and make the roasted grapes when you’re ready to eat.

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Category: Appetizer
Method: Oven
Cuisine: American

Would you like to save this recipe?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

Find it online: https://thehealthfulideas.com/whipped-goat-cheese-crostini-roasted-grapes/