Crispy, buttery crostini add a hearty finishing touch to nearly any soup, or load them up with toppings – they’re easy to make, frugal, and ready fast!
Some people eat soup year-round.
I don’t mind doing that, especially since soup is usually a pretty budget-friendly meal, but we really get into the season of eating soups when it’s cold outside.
Curried Butternut Squash Soup, Slow Cooker Mexican Potato Soup, and Minestrone Soup are among my family’s favorites.
But, even with a Caesar salad alongside it, soup can sometimes feel too light to be a complete meal…
Enter crostini!
EASY CROSTINI RECIPE
We love adding this homemade crostini recipe to soup night, because it’s:
- Quick. Ready in 10 minutes!
- Easy. Slice, bake, butter, broil, done!
- Taste amazing. Freshly made crostini are worlds better than the crunchy, crouton-like packaged ones at the store.
- A frugal way to complete the meal. If your soup doesn’t feel like a full meal even with a salad, adding some crusty bread can satisfy your big eaters.
- A method that works with multiple types of good bread. Use a loaf of homemade sourdough or a French baguette from the store.
- The perfect base for toppings. As you’ll see below, if you’re not enjoying them with soup, crostini make a great party appetizer with salty toppings or sweet garnishes.
Whether you’re in the middle of winter or just enjoying a frugal meal, nothing’s quite as comforting as a steaming bowl of soup!
Except for maybe a steaming bowl of soup with a couple of these golden, buttery, perfect crostini to dip into it!
CROSTINI BREAD INGREDIENTS
Making crostini bread for soup is really simple. And you only need 2 ingredients!
- Loaf of Sourdough Bread. Try my Simple Sourdough Bread Recipe. You can also thinly slice a different bread if you prefer.
- Butter. I love the flavor of the butter as it melts into the bread, but you can brush on extra virgin olive oil instead if that’s what you have.
BEST BREAD FOR CROSTINI
I love sourdough, not only for its nutritional benefits, but also because its airy texture makes for a wonderfully light and crispy crostini. Try my Simple Sourdough Bread Recipe if you’re looking for a good loaf of bread.
It’s okay if your bread is a little bit stale – once it’s toasted, you won’t even notice!
Note: If you don’t have a sourdough starter going, this No-Knead Overnight Artisan Bread might be a good option! You can also slice up a French baguette for this crostini recipe.
CROSTINI BREAD THICKNESS
This is partly a matter of personal preference and partly a matter of how you want to serve your crostini. For:
- A lighter, crispier texture: Cut the bread into thin slices (¼-½″).
- Thicker crostini: Like those used in French Onion Soup, or for Tomato Basil Bruschetta, you’ll want them closer to 1″ thick.
With a sharp serrated knife, slice straight through the loaf for more rounded crostini, or on the diagonal for larger crostini. Whichever you choose, make sure your slices are uniform so that they bake evenly.d crostini, or on the diagonal for larger crostini.
HOW TO MAKE CROSTINI
Step 1. Preheat oven to 400F.
Step 2. Slice the sourdough to your desired thickness and place it in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking pan.
Step 3. Cook for 4 minutes, turn the bread slices over, and cook for another 4 minutes. You may need less time for thinner slices, so watch them closely.
Step 4. Remove the bread from the oven and turn the broiler on.
Step 5. While the broiler is heating, butter one side of each bread slice. After brushing all of the slices with butter, broil for 1-2 minutes, or until the edges just begin to darken golden brown.
Psst! Want to kick this up a notch? Try finishing this crostini recipe with a pinch of finishing salt! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get an 8-oz bag for free!! Get your bag of flaky sea salt on this page. (Just pay shipping.)
CROSTINI RECIPE TIPS
Try one of these yummy variations the next time you make crostini:
- Add crushed garlic cloves or garlic powder to the butter for garlic crostini bread.
- Replace the butter with Parmesan cheese or another type of cheese for cheesy crostinis.
Store leftover crostini in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Enjoy cold or reheat in a toaster oven or air fryer for crispier bread.ests to choose their own flavors. Yum!
If you’re interested in milling your own grains or making your own flour, I highly recommend Mockmill. For my full review, check out this post.
RECIPE CROSTINI TOPPINGS
Boost the flavor of these scrumptious little toasts and top the recipe crostini with one of the following:
- Goat cheese
- Balsamic glaze
- Cream cheese
- Feta
- Fresh thyme, basil, or parsley or other herbs
- Honey
- Maple syrup drizzle
- Crushed red peppers
- Brie cheese
- Dates
- Hummus (try my homemade version)
- Avocado
- Cranberries
- Roasted vegetables
- Sliced cherry tomatoes
- Pesto
- Mozzarella
- Caramelized onions
- Thinly sliced apples or pears
- Ricotta
- Spinach artichoke dip
- Black pepper
You could even have a fun little crostini appetizer bar! Crostini make a perfect base for all sorts of things. Set out several of the crostini toppings for your family or guests to choose their own flavors. Such a fun bite size snack!
MACRO-FRIENDLY CROSTINI RECIPE
Since crostini is made with bread (carbohydrates) and butter (fat), you’ll want to enjoy it in moderation to fit within your macro goals for the meal or for the day as a whole.
It’s the perfect side to pair with your two P’s: protein and produce!
Serving crostini with a protein-rich soup that includes plenty of veggies is a great way to enjoy these tasty little toasts while still fitting with your nutrition goals.
Want to learn more about macros, nutrition goals, and accurately tracking what you eat? Grab my free guide here to start achieving your real body goals by eating the foods you love.
CROSTINIS RECIPES FAQS
What is the difference between bruschetta and crostinis recipes?
Bruschetta is when the whole loaf or wide slices of sourdough bread or Italian bread are toasted. Crostini is sliced into thinner pieces and then toasted. You’ll almost always see bruschetta with some sort of tomato topping.
Are crostini supposed to be hard?
Crostini is crisp on the outside and easy to chew on the inside. If your crostini are hard, they may be overbaked. Try reducing the cooking time by a minute or two.
Are crostini served hot or cold?
You can serve crostini hot or cold! That’s one of the many great things about this delicious bread!
SOUP PAIRINGS FOR CROSTINI RECIPES
Crostini is an amazing bread for soup. Try these savory soups to pair with your tasty crostini:
- Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Soup
- Zuppa Toscana Soup
- Leftover Pork and Potato Soup
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Garlic White Bean with Kale Soup
- Tomato Basil Soup
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Crispy, buttery crostini add a hearty finishing touch to nearly any soup, or load them up with toppings – they’re easy to make, frugal, and ready fast!
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 13 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf 1x
- Category: Sides
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 1 loaf sourdough bread (try my homemade recipe or use similar-textured bread) (170g)
- 2 tbsp butter, softened (28g)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Slice sourdough to desired thickness and place on parchment lined baking sheet.
- Cook for 4 minutes, turn slices over and cook for another 4 minutes.
- Remove from oven, and turn the broiler on.
- While the broiler is heating, butter one side of each bread slice. After brushing all slices with butter, broil for 1-2 minutes, or until edges just begin to darken.
Notes
Simple variations to this recipe can be made such as:
- Adding crushed garlic or garlic powder to the butter
- Replacing the butter with Parmesan or another type of cheese.
For :
- Lighter, crispier crostini- slice them thin (¼-½″).
- Thicker crostini- like those used in French Onion Soup, or for Bruschetta, you’ll want them closer to 1″ thick.
Not a recipe, just how to put butter on and put into the oven
Hi Shelli,
Thanks for your comment, but this recipe for crostini is a method for making homemade crostini in the oven, rather than buying it from the store. Additionally, we always make homemade crostini using homemade bread (which the recipe is listed). Hope this helps!
Great Soup! Thanks for the recipe. Made it using this as a guide but I’m a cook who does it his way. lol Everyone loved it and ask when I gonna make some more. THANKS!