Easy Crostini Toasts with a Hint of Garlic and Tomato

Planning an Italian-inspired charcuterie board for your next get together? Adding homemade crostini toasts give your guests a crunch-worthy grazing experience and makes you look like a kitchen connoisseur. But shhhh, don’t tell anyone. It’s super easy.

If you’ve got a French baguette and a few spare minutes, making fresh crostini toasts really comes down to slicing and toasting the bread, rubbing it with garlic and tomato, and adding salt and pepper to taste. Yup. It’s that easy.

In this article, we’ll take a look at what crostini is, list out the only five ingredients—you heard us right—five ingredients you need, breakdown the no-fail way to cook these crusty creations, and give our favorite recommendations for what to top them with.

Crostini or Not to Crostini

When most people see thinly sliced and toasted rounds of bread topped with olives, tomatoes, or creamy brie, they describe the crunchy base as being bruschetta. However, depending on the bread that was used, their tastebuds may actually be enjoying crostini. What’s the difference?

While both serve as deliciously edible plates for all of your favorite meats, cheeses, veggies, and spreads, the big difference between the two comes down to the bread. Typically, bruschetta is made from wide slices of a rustic Italian or sourdough type bread, while crostini is made from finer-textured bread like a baguette. We know it's a subtle difference, but Italian grandmas everywhere would start writing to us if we didn't mention it.

When making charcuterie spreads, we at Siroh & Ivy tend to prefer crostini over bruschetta. Due to their smaller size, they fit better on a serving board and invite guests to keep experimenting with different flavor combinations. Bruschetta, on the other hand, tends to eat more like a meal.

It Only Takes 5 Ingredients

• French baguette
• Garlic cloves (2 should be enough)
• Tomatoes (we like kumato cherry tomatoes)
• Salt
• Pepper

How to Make the Crostini

Are you a visual learner? Check out our crostini reel on Instagram.

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
2. While preheating, slice the baguette on a angle at about a quarter of an inch thick
3. Place the cut rounds on a lined cookie tray
4. Bake them in the oven until light brown on the edges
5. Peel apart, de-skin, and cut a garlic clove in half
6. Cut a tomato in half
7. After removing the crostini from the oven, rub the cut face of the garlic clove all over one whole side
8. On the same side, repeat the rubbing process with a tomato half
9. Salt and pepper to taste

Customize Your Crunch

You can quite literally dress these fancy crostini up with any topping you can imagine—well, pickled pig feet may not go too well—but here are a few of our favorite flavors:

• Smoked salmon with lemon dill cream cheese
• Mozzarella, tomato, and basil topped with balsamic glaze
• Shrimp with avocado
• Ricotta topped with chopped olives and sun-dried tomatoes
• Goat cheese with strawberry and drizzled with honey
• The always simple but delicious garlic hummus

Stay Crunchy

One last thing. Since the dawn of time, power entertainers have asked the question, “How do I keep my crostini crunchy?” Okay, we might be embellishing a little, but it’s still a highly asked question. We’ve got two simple tips for you.

First, your freshly-made crostini can be kept crispy for up to three days if you store them in an airtight container, which finally gives you an excuse to breakout the Tupperware Aunt Sandy regifted you last 4th of July.

Second, beware of adding toppings to your crostini too early. They’re the top culprits for soggy, lifeless bread. If you’re going to top your crostini before guests arrive, hold off for as long as you can and consider starting with a slice of cheese to create a protective barrier.

Have Fun & Tag Us On Social

Show off your crostini creations and let us in on the fun by posting a picture on Instagram and tagging @sirohandivy. We'll be sure to like, share, and comment.