Are you tired of me saying it yet? Talking about how much I adore salty paired with sweet? I hope not, because you’re in for a big dose of it today.
This past weekend we made our way to our friend’s annual holiday company Christmas party. No, I’m not moonlighting on the side for their businessโLord knows I’ve triedโbut we’ve been really good friends for a few years and somehow we’ve weaseled our way into getting an invite each year.
Maybe it’s because we’re helpers in the kitchenโduring that last minute flurry of panic before the guests start rolling in, lending a helping hand. But since they always have it so well put together, I think its just because we are so much dang FUN! And these guys, well they go all out so it definitely isn’t a chore to whoop it up and have a good time.
This year I was asked to give my opinion on the menu. Now, Sherrie is an amazing cook and party giver, so she really doesn’t need any help from me. But since I’m a bone fide food blogger (ahem, cue smoke and mirrors) people seem to think I know what works when it comes to food.
In my opinion when it comes to feeding a crowd, I like to make it plentiful and keep it simple. And it doesn’t get much simpler than melted bread and cheese to keep people happy.
This recipe spruces up the flavors of traditional crostini with my go-to, keep in my pantry for any emergency, fig preserves. This jar has made its way onto more appetizers than I can count: almost always as a version of this cheese and spread combo, either served with crackers, baked on puff pastry with apples and nuts or simply slathered on a warm slice of sourdough.
This time around I’m loading up a thinly sliced baguette then topping it with shredded cheese, a dollop of the fig preserves, a second helping of a strong, slightly dry and salty blue, and then a drizzle of sweet honey. Adding just one more twist to your mouth is a few specks of rosemary.
I used a mix of an aged, thus dryer, asiagoโyou can try parmesan if it’s easier to come byโwith a stronger, slightly nutty farm cheese, like gruyere. Feel free to try a milder cheese such as fontina or swiss if that suits your taste better.
For a crowd, I assemble the crostini on several baking sheets, multiplying the recipe for the number of guests. You can load 27-30 crostini per baking dish, prepared well before the party and refrigerated. Then pop them into the oven once your guests arrive and continue and add fresh, hot treats throughout the cocktail hour.
Make sure to layer the cheese on the bread before the jam ย if you are making these ahead of time. Theย cheese acts as a barrier against the jam’s moisture and potentially soggy bread slices. As such, choose a firmer bread like sourdough rather than a lighter french bread.
ย
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo andย tag me on Instagramย with #foodiecrusheats.
Fig Spread and Cheese Crostini Appetizer
PrintIngredients
- 12 baguette slices cut about ยผ" thick
- 1 ยฝ cups grated cheese , such as farm cheese or gruyere
- ยผ cup blue cheese crumbles
- โ cup fig spread
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400ยฐF. Spread baguette slices on a baking sheet fitted with parchment paper or foil.
- Top baguette slices with grated cheese, then a teaspoon or so of fig spread, then blue cheese crumbles. Bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until cheese has melted and edges of baguettes are golden. Remove from the oven and drizzle with honey and top with rosemary leaves.
Nutrition
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k~
Made your crostini apps for a cocktail party I hosted last night and they are to die for! PERFECT combination!!! Love how easy they were to make ahead and how different they are from the average party fare! Thank you SO much for the recipe… it will be one of my “go-to’s” for years to come!
Susan P
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Tom and Jerry’s…..a tradition when visiting relatives in Wisconsin…yum!
Lia Simpson
Peppermint hot chocolate
Kat Collins
And last, but not least…I followed you on Pinterest. :)
Kat Collins
Now a Facebook fan, too!
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Kat Collins
Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa mix from Starbucks. It’s like a melted candybar without too much sweetness. And it has to be made with milk!
Christine
Facebook fan!
Christine
Peppermint hot chocolate with a splash of coffee and homemade whip with crushed peppermints on top!! So comforting on a cold Michigan evening! Those mugs are so adorable!
kathy from west michigan
Bailey’s with coffee and whipped cream with red and green sprinkles…..YUM
Calli
Hot cocoa is a must!
kimberlee trim
Homemade eggnog & hot apple cider are a must for me!
Jeremy Pepper
Pinterest: check
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Jeremy Pepper
Facebook: check
Eric
Glug is my favorite drink at x-mas
Jeremy Pepper
I’m Jewish – I don’t think we have Holiday drinks. Um, matza ball soup in a cup?
Becky @ Project Domestication
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Becky @ Project Domestication
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Becky @ Project Domestication
Twitter follwer for sure. :)
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Becky @ Project Domestication
I think my favorite thing to drink these last few holiday seasons has been Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate!
Myrna Johnson
Merry Christmas. I love a tom and jerry or hot buttered rum, but actually have a hot apple cider w/cinnamon stick.
callie
The FoodieCrush Pinterest boards are some of my favs!
Angela P
I also follow on Facebook
callie
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Angela P
Hard decision. Probably hot spiced wine or eggnog.
callie
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callie
My favorite Christmas drink is a big mug of hot cocoa with whipped cream on Christmas morning! :)
Meredith
And I like your page on FB.
Meredith
Eggnog, but not with alcohol and balanced just right with spices. :)
Robin Kornstein
Egg Nog, so rich, decadent and delish !
Christine
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Christine
Peppermint hot chocolate!
Alyssa | Queen of Quinoa
I follow along on Pinterest too! (@alyssarimmer)
Alyssa | Queen of Quinoa
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Alyssa | Queen of Quinoa
I follow you on Twitter as well (@alyssarimmer)
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Alyssa | Queen of Quinoa
LOVING those mugs! They are absolutely adorable :) My favorite thing to drink at Christmastime is Spiced Eggnog with a hint of rum. So tasty!
Michelle Brigham
I follow FoodieCrush on twitter!
Renee {The Way to My Family's Heart}
I’m already your friend on Facebook. Thanks for crushing on us bloggers- I love your enthusiasm for it!
Michelle Brigham
I am following FoodieCrush on pinterest.
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I am a facebook follower!
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Renee {The Way to My Family's Heart}
I already follow you on Pinterest!
Michelle Brigham
My favorite drink at Christmas time is eggnog! Love that stuff and I have the rest of the winter to drink hot cocoa :)
Cakewhiz
Following you on pinterest
Cakewhiz
Following you on twitter
Cakewhiz
Following you on facebook
Cakewhiz
My favorite thing to drink around christmas time is hot cocoa …i find it comforting :)
Traci Catt
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Traci Catt
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Following on Pinterest
Traci Catt
My favorite thing to drink at Christmas time is homemade Hot Cocoa with Peppermint.
Sarah Preston
Facebook, already there… No twitter account for me though
Sarah Preston
Newsletter, done!
Sarah Preston
Already follow on Pinterest :)
Sarah Preston
Usually hot cocoa. But with my stress level this year, anything with alcohol will do!
susan
following your pins on pinterest! LOVE!!!
John Snediker
Newsletter? I get it!
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Phyllis G Davis
I make an eggnog recipe that was given to me by a lovely woman back in the 1960’s..We were living in Panama at the time and she was so gracious to share it with me. It incorporates heavy cream and whipped cream which just makes it over the top
Pambazo!
Facebook like… yes!
susan
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susan
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susan
I love to drink Pumpkin spice latte!!!
Natalie
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Natalie
I like mulled cider and eggnog.
Heather Harris
My favorite drink is christmas chai tea
Jo
I WANT these fig crostini :)
Jo
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Jo
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Jo
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Jo
I love hot cocoa with peppermint schnapps at Christmas time . . . even more fun in a very cool mug!!
Jill J
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Jill J
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Jill J
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Jill J
I love peppermint hot chocolate or peppermint mochas during the holidays
carrian
I love drinking water. I know, laugh away, but it’s the only drink I like
Sarah H.P.
I love drinking eggnog at Christmas!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl
This looks insanely delicious!!! I love salty and sweet.
Cookie and Kate
I will never tire of salty and sweet! These crostini sound incredible. My favorite thing to drink around the holidays is hot tea with lemon and bourbon.
Ashley C
I love drinking egg nog :)
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Chelsea
I love drinking hot chocolate!
Derek Raguindin
I follow on Facebook (Diego Raguindin)!
Derek Raguindin
I follow on Twitter (@_cannon)!
Derek Raguindin
I follow on Pinterest (where I found this article)!
Derek Raguindin
Favorite thing to drink = the Nor’easter! (http://pinterest.com/pin/99290366754216543/)