Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

This easy cranberry crostini recipe makes the perfect holiday appetizer

No one has to know how simple these are to make

Lindsay Parrill
By
Cranberry brie crostini
Lindsay Parrill / The Manual

The season of entertaining is upon us. It’s that time of year when invitations are sent out in the spirit of excited merriment and good intentions. We deck the halls and smile, thinking of how much fun that future event will be, friends and family, sparkling cocktails in hand, gushing over the gorgeous spread of delicious foods before them, each one a homemade testament to our superior hosting abilities.

But then the day arrives, and we find ourselves frantically googling “easy recipes for a crowd,” cursing ourselves for our naive optimism at having forgotten the stress that holiday entertaining can bring. That’s why we’re thankful for recipes like this one. Recipes that come together quickly and simply, and will impress everyone at your holiday party.

Recommended Videos

This easy holiday appetizer combines deliciously creamy brie with the beautifully tart taste of fresh cranberries. The two flavors are fused together with a sweet vinegar punch, and topped on individual toasts, making for the perfect party dish. Not only is its flavor sinfully delicious, but it looks absolutely beautiful on a table, and comes together in just a few minutes with only a handful of ingredients.

Related

This dish also works for any number of holiday gatherings, from an upscale Champagne brunch to a friendly neighborhood potluck and the fanciest of Thanksgiving tables. It’s delicious when served both warm and at room temperature, so there’s no need to worry about oven space or meticulous timing. Just set these little beauties out on the table and wait for them to disappear (but don’t forget to get one for yourself first!).

Cranberry brie crostini
Lindsay Parrill / The Manual

Cranberry crostini recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 French baguette, sliced 
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 4 ounces triple cream brie
  • Salt to taste

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the butter and olive oil.
  3. Brush both sides of the baguette slices with the butter mixture and arrange on one baking sheet in a single layer, seasoning with salt.
  4. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the cranberries, vinegar, sugar, and rosemary. Pour the mixture onto the second baking sheet, spreading into a single layer.
  5. Bake both the cranberry mixture and the baguette slices for 7 to 10 minutes, until the cranberries have burst and the baguette slices are golden brown.
  6. While the baguette slices are still hot, spread the brie onto each piece, and top with the warm cranberry mixture.
  7. Top the crostini with lemon zest and serve warm.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Lindsay Parrill
Lindsay Parrill
Contributor
Lindsay is a graduate of California Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu, San Francisco, from where she holds a degree in…
4 delicious crock pot recipes: These low-carb, keto-friendly soups are perfect for winter
Warm up with these incredible keto recipes
Carrot soup

As we dive into the holiday season, carb-heavy foods seem to be everywhere we go. Foods high in carbs and sugars are certainly delicious, but they can leave us feeling sluggish. During the busy holiday season, the last thing we need to feel is slowed down -- we have shopping and gift wrapping to do! That's why swapping heavy-carb meals with simple, low-carb foods is a great idea to keep you energetic this winter. Even better, cooking low-carb recipes in a slow cooker can help save you time so you can focus on spending time on the holiday activities you love most.

Craving a delicious winter soup? These four crock pot recipes are perfect for your low-carb diet and are sure to hit the spot in the cool weather. The low-carb meals are also keto recipes, making them an excellent choice for anyone -- including those on a low-carb, ketogenic, or diabetic diet. Warm and delicious, you're bound to add these favorites to your go-to list after a few tries.

Read more
Why chocolate is the must-add ingredient for the perfect eggplant parmesan
This is why you shouldn't save the chocolate for dessert
Cucina alba Eggplant Parmigiana.

The dining room of Cucina Alba. Peter Murdock / Le CollectiveM

Eggplant parmesan, or Parmigiana, is one of the most popular and tastiest Italian foods. But what if there was an eggplant parmesan recipe that adds an intriguing ingredient to this familiar dish? At Cucina Alba, an elegant Italian restaurant in New York City, Executive Chef Adam Leonti does exactly that, adding the unique ingredient of bitter dark chocolate and elevating this classic to another level.
How to make eggplant parmesan with chocolate
Eggplant parmesan is one of the most popular eggplant recipes: pieces of fried eggplant are smothered with tomato sauce, tasty parmesan cheese, and creamy mozzarella cheese. However, the addition of dark chocolate adds a surprisingly sweet flavor to the rich creaminess of the ricotta. The inspiration for this sweetness? Chef Leonti states that the sweet and savory flavors of Naples eggplant dishes were the source.

Read more
The gin cocktail recipes you can’t live without
Anytime is a good time for a gin cocktail. Here are some of the best recipes to try
Tom Collins cocktail

Any season can be gin season. Unlike some other spirits, gin is great year-round. Maybe it's the fragrance, maybe it's the many botanicals that go into the stuff. Maybe it's great year-round because we simply just want a good cocktail.

If you're mixing up whiskey cocktails or engineering tequila drinks, more power to you. We simply encourage you to embrace gin and not just as the ball and chain to tonic. No, a good gin can do wonders in a number of cocktails, bringing fresh, herbal flavors to the mix and working great with high-toned additions like citrus and other fresh fruit.

Read more