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 business—Lord knows I’ve tried—but 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 kitchen—during 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, asiago—you can try parmesan if it’s easier to come by—with 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 if you are making these ahead of time. The 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.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
Fig Spread and Cheese Crostini Appetizer
PrintIngredients
- 12 baguette slices cut about ¼" thick
- 1 ½ cups grated cheese , such as farm cheese or gruyere
- ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles
- ⅓ cup fig spread
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. 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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spiked hot chocolate
karen
High octane eggnog, thank you very much.
patti
How can you beat figs and cheese? Especially when served with white wine. Love those mugs, and I’ll follow you anywhere.
seas
Pumpkin spice latte!
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eggnog!
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Thank you so much for offering such a wonderful giveaway. I love those mugs! As for my favorite Christmastime drink, I am definitely an eggnog addict.
cathy j
I like to put my feet up and down an ice cold Diet Coke!
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I follow all the boards on Pinterest. Thanks for the great ideas!!
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I would have to say anything with mint. Love it
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Champagne!
Kimberly
My favorite drink is a skim chai or a vanilla tea latte!
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Peppermint hot chocolate
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Linda
My favorite thing to drink at Christmas is eggnog
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I love hot chocolate!
Pat
My favorite Christmastime drink is peppermint hot chocolate!
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My favorite is hot mulled cider (or wine!).
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My favourite thing to do at Christmas is celebrate with family and friends, of course!
Emily
My fave is totally ghetto: the 70-calorie hot cocoa from Cold Stone. They no longer make it so I’ve totally stocked up thanks to Amazon.com. :)
Kathy C
on Pinterest- Merry Christmas!
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get the rss :o)
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Coffee in the mornings and bubbly water. I’m not into soda’s or juices and I don’t drink alcohol. Merry Christmas!
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Hot chocolate.
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I love a good chai latte in the cold weather :)
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I love hot mulled cider!
Ellen M.
I already like you on Facebook – thanks for a great recipe and giveaway!
Ellen M.
My favorite drink at Christmas is hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps – yum! Thanks for the giveaway!
Cheryl Ross
For me it’s a cup of hot chocolate with a shot of peppermint schnapps added.
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I LOVE FOODIECRUSH, I subscribe and follow you on Twitter. Will RT this post. Happy Holidays!
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Those mugs are so adorable!! I love hot chocolate (with a dash of cinnamon and cayenne for a kick) with whipped cream.
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Champagne, of course!
natalie
hot toddies
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Eggnog ! I still have to buy a pint!
JudithQ
…I’m still drooling from the gorgeous photographs ! i prepare …”Old Fashion Whiskey Sour Punch” in a crock pot…serve it on front porch for the Carolers who come each year.( PS the crowds are getting bigger each year…the “secret is out!) also have cookies and hot co-co in another crock pot for the children! Merry Christmas to all.
( When I get my blog up and running again after a 1 year sabbatical…i’ll share the recipe for the Punch…it’s from the archives of an old whiskey producer)
Carolyn
I love to drink a big frothy mug of Ibarra’s Mexican hot chocolate with a dollop of whipped cream.
Yummy!
Radhika @ Just Homemade
Figs are one of my favorite dried fruits!
Heard about Korin knives a few times lately. Why not? Count me in!
Nothing in particular, but if I have to go with what others have mentioned, it would be hot cocoa with cinnamon sprinkled on top :)
Rachel
Those mugs are the cutest! And a sharp knife? Yes please. Currently all our knives are either from Ikea or the dollar store.
As for a favorite drink, right now it is a rich hot chocolate made with hazelnut milk. So good!
Kari
I love to sprinkle ground cloves in my afternoon coffee this time of year. Warms me up here in Minnesota!
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I like to drink all the pretty punches at different get-togethers!
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What a great giveaway! My boyfriend makes an amazing homemade eggnog (Alton Brown’s recipe) but since I found out I’m egg intolerant I’m going to have to find a new drink this year! Bourbon sounds like a plan :)
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Homemade eggnog, of course! But only if I don’t have to make it because it’s a pain in the butt. :)
Wendy Schatz
My favorite is Chai!
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My favorite drink at Christmastime is egg nog.
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I love coffee and at party time – spiked coffee!