22 Ways to Serve Crostini at Your Next Party

Celebration-Worthy Toast Toppings

By
Cathy Jacobs
Cathy Jacobs
Cathy Jacobs
A freelance journalist and avid home cook, Cathy Jacobs has more than 10 years of food writing experience, with a focus on curating approachable menus and recipe collections.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 11/12/19
Smoked Salmon Crostini

Leah Maroney

 

Crostini—also known as mini toasts with toppings—are the ultimate party appetizer. Toasted bread rounds can be dressed up with a variety of topping options to create enticing hors d'oeuvres for all of your holiday gatherings and cocktail parties. We've collected our favorite crostini recipes and ideas here for you to try, from the ever-popular smoked salmon crostini to miniature toasts with bacon jam, grilled chicken bruschetta, vegan crostini ideas, and more.

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  • 01 of 22

    Jalapeño Pepper Jelly

    Jalapeño Pepper Jelly

    Elaine Lemm

    Spicy, tangy jalapeno jelly tastes terrific on toast and is a great way to wake up guests' palates before you serve the main course. Add to a cheeseboard, too, as a clever complement to soft ripened cheeses such as Brie or Camembert.

  • 02 of 22

    Chicken Liver Mousse

    Chicken Liver Mousse

    Elaine Lemm

    This is not your grandmother's chicken liver pate! Chicken liver mousse is an airy, light-tasting concoction that takes minutes to assemble (plus time for chilling), and always impresses. Blitz sauteed, seasoned chicken livers in the food processor before straining and fluffing again with a spoon to create the ultimate smooth, savory spread.

  • 03 of 22

    Creamy Crab Dip With Cream Cheese

    Creamy Crab Dip With Cream Cheese

    The Spruce

    Create a warm crostini topping for seafood lovers at your party with this winning crab dip. It is easy to make in only 10 minutes using canned crab meat, cream cheese, mayonnaise, a little milk, and simple spices. Top toasts with chopped scallions, parsley, or cilantro for serving.

  • 04 of 22

    Smoked Salmon Crostini

    Smoked Salmon Crostini

    Leah Maroney

     

    Smoked salmon crostini are perfect for serving a festive crowd. Assemble them by layering slices of smoked salmon on top of baguette rounds spread with a creamy herb-and-lemon-infused ricotta cheese.

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  • 05 of 22

    Fig Crostini

    Fig Crostini

    The Spruce/Molly Watson

    Make easy, elegant fig crostini to impress a Christmas or New Year's Eve crowd. Soak fresh figs in good-quality balsamic vinegar before adding to baguette rounds along with optional goat cheese or blue cheese and fresh snipped rosemary.

  • 06 of 22

    Easy Black Bean Salsa

    Easy Black Bean Salsa

    Leah Maroney

    Here's an easy, versatile appetizer idea for a Mexican-themed party. Assemble black bean salsa in just 15 minutes, by combining canned black beans with thawed frozen corn, chopped tomatoes, red onion, lime juice, garlic, and a few other, simple flavorings. Spice it up with diced fresh jalapenos if you like, for added kick.

  • 07 of 22

    Herbed Vegan Mushroom Pate

    Herbed Vegan Mushroom Pate

    The Spruce/Anastasiia Tretiak

    Vegans and vegetarians can enjoy a rich-tasting pate with this delicious, meatless recipe that makes an excellent topping for toasted bread rounds. Mushrooms are the star player in this tasty appetizer spread, which you flavor with garlic and fresh herbs, tossing in breadcrumbs for extra texture.

  • 08 of 22

    Mentaiko France

    Mentaiko France

    Judy Ung

    These tasty caviar toasts are a fabulous mash-up of French and Japanese cuisines. Spread French bread rounds with light cream cheese and top with karashi mentaiko, a spicy cod roe available at Japanese or Korean grocery stores. Sprinkle with optional chili pepper for an added kick.

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  • 09 of 22

    Bacon Jam

    Bacon Jam

    Grilled Cheese Social

     

    Bacon jam is further proof that bacon is awesome! Cook diced bits with brown sugar, onions, apple cider vinegar, coffee, chili powder, and optional whiskey to create a crostini topping that holiday party guests will cheer for.

  • 10 of 22

    Jewish-Style Chicken Liver Pate

    Jewish-Style Chicken Liver Pate

    The Spruce

    Wow guests at your Hanukkah party or New Year's Eve soiree with this fabulous chicken liver pate that is served on appetizer toasts. It is easy to prepare in 30 minutes using a food processor, but plan ahead for overnight refrigeration to let the flavors blend.

  • 11 of 22

    Olive Tapenade

    Olive Tapenade

    The Spruce

    This tapenade is a Mediterranean-style spread with a gorgeous, briny taste that olive-lovers will adore. Whip it up easily in your your food processor and spread on warm crostini for a fabulous party app. Leftover tapenade will keep up to one week in the fridge if sealed in an air-tight container.

  • 12 of 22

    Caponata Alla Siciliana

    Caponata alla Siciliana

    haoliang / Getty Images

    Caponata is an eggplant-based delight that originates from Sicily, where the recipe was invented to make the most of local ingredients. Enjoy the super-flavorful crostini spread at your next party with this recipe, which cooks down meaty eggplant with tomatoes, onions, capers, pine nuts, and green olives.

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  • 13 of 22

    Instant Pot Deli-Style Roast Beef

    Instant Pot Deli-Style Roast Beef

    Diana Rattray

    Thrill meat-lovers at your parties when you top baguette rounds with some cream cheese, a few chives, and a tempting pile of thinly-sliced, perfectly-cooked roast beef. This genius Instant Pot recipe takes care of the roast beef, cooking it to perfection in less than an hour in an ultra-flavorful dark beer and mustard marinade.

  • 14 of 22

    Grilled Chicken Bruschetta

    Bruschetta Chicken

     Kristina Vanni

    Upgrade your party bruschetta with this delicious recipe that adds grilled chicken and avocado to traditional toppings. Serve warm atop toasted bread slices, topped with freshly-grated Parmesan cheese.

  • 15 of 22

    Crockpot Caramelized Onions

    Crockpot Caramelized Onions

    Chris Ted/Photodisc/Getty Images

    Onions take on a jammy sweetness when cooked low and slow for hours in the crockpot. Use them for topping slices of toasted French bread, along with some goat cheese crumbles and fresh chopped oregano or thyme leaves.

  • 16 of 22

    Easy Pizza Crostini

    Easy Pizza Crostini Appetizer

    Diana Rattray

     

    Pizza crostini will be a hit with kids and adults alike. Make a big batch for parties in under 30 minutes, using grocery store baguette, some olive oil, and your favorite pizza toppings, with ideas included in the recipe.

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  • 17 of 22

    Cranberry Chutney

    Cranberries and Cinnamon Sticks
    Fresh Cranberries and Cinnamon Sticks. Photo: Diana Rattray

    Combine seasonal apples and cranberries with brown sugar, cider vinegar, raisins, ginger, and cinnamon, cooking down the mixture to create a sweet and spiced chutney that is ideal for topping toasted baguette rounds, or using a spread for cheese and meat sandwiches.

  • 18 of 22

    Green Bean Walnut Vegetarian Chopped Liver

    Green Bean Walnut Vegetarian Chopped Liver

    Tastyart Ltd Rob White/Getty Images

    Please vegetarian party-goers with this veggie-based "mock chopped liver" pate that's tasty enough for all eaters to enjoy. Make it easily with canned or frozen green beans, peas, walnuts, and a few other ingredients. To make it vegan, simply omit the eggs and add a splash of lemon juice for extra flavor.

  • 19 of 22

    Roasted Garlic Hummus

    Roasted Garlic Hummus

    Tempura / Getty Images

    Roasted garlic hummus makes a lovely spread for party crostini. Prepare it in an hour with this recipe that needs only five ingredients. For a pretty presentation, top toast-and-hummus slices with chopped black or green olives (or a combination) and feta cheese crumbles.

  • 20 of 22

    Pickled Shallots

    Pickled Shallots

    Chris Burrows/Getty Images

    Pickled shallots add brightness and crunch to goat cheese-topped bread. Make your own quick-pickled shallots with this easy four-ingredient recipe. Allow a week for this pickle to fully develop flavor, before using.

    Continue to 21 of 22 below.
  • 21 of 22

    Southern Pimiento Cheese Spread

    Southern Pimiento Cheese Spread

    Diana Rattray

    Pimiento cheese spread is a much-loved Southern party food that makes a scrumptious topping for mini-toasts. The classic recipe is so delicious, you may want to make a double batch! Leftovers make a delicious sandwich filling on their own, or a welcome addition to grilled cheese.

  • 22 of 22

    Raw Vegan Sundried Tomato Olive Pate

    Raw Vegan Sundried Tomato Olive Pate

    Eleonora Tuveri / Getty Images

    Raw vegan pate flavored with sundried tomato and olives is an excellent option for topping crostini, when you host guests who eat meatless. Pureed, soaked sunflower seeds create the smooth, creamy base for this pate, which you make in the food processor, and can be stored up to five days in the fridge.