Looking for focaccia bread appetizers? You'll love this Focaccia Crostini! These crunchy mini toasts are so delicious and easy to make. Serve with your favorite toppings (you'll find lots of ideas below) for the perfect snack or party appetizer!
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Ginnie's Take
Crostini is one of my favorite things to make with leftover bread. These tiny Italian toasts are simple to prepare, and they're so crunchy and delicious (always a crowd pleaser at parties). Best of all, you can make them with almost any kind of bread! I made a batch of Focaccia Crostini recently, and I love how they turned out. I topped them with a creamy cheese and roasted tomatoes (yum!), but you can serve them with other toppings and dips, too. You have to try this easy recipe!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Delicious - Homemade crostini has a light, crispy texture, and a wonderful flavor. Especially when you use high quality bread, like focaccia, to make it!
- Easy to Make - This recipe takes minutes to prep and bake. Super simple, and they store well, too. Make them ahead of time for parties.
- Versatile - Serve these mini toasts with your favorite toppings or alongside a creamy dip. You'll love them either way. They're perfect for snacking and so fun for parties!
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Ingredients
You need just a few basic ingredients for this focaccia appetizer:
- Bread - You'll need some focaccia bread, of course! I used store bought, but homemade works great, too. You can use flavored focaccia (like rosemary), but I'd avoid bread with a thick layer of toppings (they'll just fall off) or with toppings that might burn when baked (like cheese).
- Oil - Before baking, you'll brush the toasts with extra virgin olive oil, which helps them crisp up and brown.
- Salt - Just a pinch of kosher salt is all that's need to season the crostini.
- Garlic - For extra flavor, rub the toasts with a garlic clove after baking.
This recipe is naturally vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, and nut free.
You'll Also Need
You will need a sharp knife to slice the bread (a serrated knife works best), a pastry brush for the olive oil, and a large baking sheet (or two) for cooking the focaccia.
How to Make Crostini with Focaccia Bread
This yummy focaccia appetizer couldn't be easier to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card with measurements below, but here's a quick overview of the steps:
- Slice bread. Focaccia typically comes in big slabs, so you'll want to start by sectioning the bread into smaller pieces. About 2 ½ to 3 inches wide (or big enough for two bites) is best. Once you've done that, cut these small pieces into thin slices.
- Brush with oil. Place the bread slices on a baking sheet, then use a pastry brush to brush them with olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with salt.
- Bake. Transfer the baking sheet to your oven, then cook the toasts until they are crisp throughout. No need to flip!
- Rub with garlic. Cut a garlic clove in half, then rub the cut side over the toasts. Tip: This step is optional. If I'm pairing the toasts with savory toppings, I like to add garlic. But for sweeter toppings, you can skip it.
- Add toppings. Once the toasted bread has cooled, add your toppings!
And that's all there is to it! I used this Focaccia Crostini recipe to make this scrumptious Roasted Tomato Crostini. Each toast has a layer of goat cheese (other spreadable cheeses will also work) topped with roasted grape tomatoes. So delicious, and the perfect bite size appetizer!
Topping Ideas
You can top these crispy mini toasts with almost anything! Here are some of my favorite recipes and topping ideas:
Recipes
- Tomato Crostini - This bruschetta-esque topping is super delish and easy to make!
- Goat Cheese + Hot Honey Crostini - The perfect sweet-savory bite.
- Mushroom Crostini - A must make for mushroom lovers!
- Butternut Squash Crostini - This fall favorite pairs roasted squash with creamy cheese and and crispy fried sage leaves.
- Avocado Crostini - A fun mini avocado toast version!
- Blue Cheese + Cranberry Crostini - Perfect for holiday celebrations.
- Brie + Fig Crostini - An irresistible combination of sweet-savory flavors!
- Peach + Hot Honey Crostini - This one's a true summer favorite.
- Pesto Ricotta Crostini - So creamy and dreamy. Topped with fresh tomatoes.
More Toppings
- Veggies - Almost any vegetable, whether fresh, pickled, sautéed, or roasted, makes a great topper. Try roasted asparagus, caramelized onions, Roasted Grape Tomatoes (or Cherry Tomatoes), mashed peas, Marinated Tomatoes, roasted sweet potatoes or carrots, marinated artichoke hearts, sautéed or roasted bell peppers, cauliflower, and more.
- Fruit - Sweet fruits (either fresh or dried) are also wonderful. Figs, apples, peaches, pears, strawberries, blackberries, grapes, citrus, and blueberries will all work. Serve the fruit on its own, or pair it with cheese for a sweet-savory combination.
- Jam - Gourmet jams will also work great. I like pairing them with savory cheeses.
- Cheese - Speaking of cheese, it makes the best topping. Try feta, ricotta, blue, goat, brie, parmesan, burrata, or fresh mozzarella. You can spread cheese on the toasts, slice it, or sprinkle it over other toppings for a garnish.
- Pesto - Classic Pesto Sauce can be spread on the bread or drizzled over other ingredients. Experiment with different flavors, like Rosemary, Macadamia, Cilantro, Trapanese, or Kale.
- Dips - Serve Crostini alongside your favorite dips / spreads. Pair with Guacamole, Homemade Hummus, Cream Cheese Dip, Baked Ricotta Dip, Caramelized Onion Dip, Mexican Spinach Dip, or Whipped Goat Cheese.
- More - Top the toast with briny olives or tapenade, spread them with homemade Roasted Garlic, or sprinkle them with capers, fresh herbs, or chopped nuts.
Storage
Crostini can be made in advance, then stored in an airtight container at room temperature. They'll keep for about two weeks, although they do taste freshest when eaten within a few days after making. You can also freeze crostini for one to two months.
Related Recipes
Looking for similar ideas? Check out these easy recipes next:
- My Basic Crostini Recipe is a true classic! It's the perfect base for any topping.
- This Garlic Crostini is just as easy to make as the original recipe, but even tastier!
- Sourdough fan? Make sure to bookmark this yummy Sourdough Crostini.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Crostini is thinly sliced bread (often from a baguette) that's been brushed with olive oil and baked until crunchy. These little Italian toasts are eaten as an appetizer and paired with different toppings, like cheeses, fruits and veggies, nuts, herbs, nuts, and spreads, or served alongside dips for dipping.
The word crostini means "little toasts" in Italian. The singular form of crostini is crostino.
Crostini can be served hot, at room temperature, or cold, depending on the toppings. It's frequently eaten at room temperature, making it perfect for parties!
Crostini should be crunchy throughout, however it shouldn't be hard enough to hurt your mouth. If your crostini are too hard to eat, try slicing the bread thinner (about ¼-inch thick is best), or choose a bread with a lighter texture.
Crostini and bruschetta are two different types of Italian toast. Crostini is typically made from a thinly sliced baguette (though other breads can be used), brushed with olive oil, and baked until crunchy. Bruschetta, on the other hand, is usually made with rustic-style bread. It's sliced a little thicker, and it's traditionally grilled, before being rubbed with garlic. Because bruschetta is grilled, it often has a charred, slightly smokey flavor.
Focaccia Crostini
Ingredients
- 1 piece focaccia bread, about 2 ½ to 3 inches wide (see note)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Using serrated knife, cut focaccia into 20 thin slices about ¼-inch thick.
- Place bread slices on a baking sheet in a single layer (you'll may need more than one). Brush lightly with olive oil. Flip, then brush the other side with oil.
- Sprinkle slices lightly with salt.
- Bake for 5 to 10 minutes, or until crisp throughout and lightly golden (no need to flip).
- Serve with your choice of toppings. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
