Add a hearty finishing touch to nearly any soup with these crispy, buttery crostini – they’re easy to make, frugal, and ready in less than 15 minutes!

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 the weather turns colder. Tomato Basil Soup, Chinese Noodle Soup, and White Bean and Sausage Soup, just to name a few.
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!
BEST BREAD WITH SOUP
Who doesn’t love soup? 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!
CROSTINI BREAD
Making crostini bread for soup is really simple. And you only need 2 ingredients!
- Loaf of sourdough bread (try my Simple Sourdough Bread Recipe)
- Butter or extra virgin olive oil

1. 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.

2. 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 Bruschetta, you’ll want them closer to 1″ thick.
With a serrated knife, slice straight across for more rounded crostini, or on the diagonal for larger crostini.
EASY CROSTINI RECIPE
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-lined sheet pan.
Step 3. Cook for 4 minutes, turn bread slices over, and cook for another 4 minutes.
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 slices with butter, broil for 1-2 minutes, or until the edges just begin to darken.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator if you have any leftovers.
Note: Simple variations to this recipe can be made such as:
- Adding crushed garlic or garlic powder to the butter for garlic crostini
- Replacing the butter with Parmesan cheese or another type of cheese for cheesy crostini
Psst! Want to kick this up a notch? Try finishing this 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 salt on this page. (Just pay shipping.)

TOPPINGS FOR THIS HOMEMADE CROSTINI RECIPE
Boost the flavor of these scrumptious little toasts and top the crostini recipe with one of the following:
- Goat cheese
- Balsamic glaze
- Cream cheese
- Feta
- Fresh thyme, basil, or parsley
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- 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 makes a perfect base for fun toppings. Set out several of the crostini toppings for your family or guests to choose their own flavors. Yum!

RECIPE CROSTINI FAQS
What is the difference between bruschetta and crostini?
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.
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 BREAD
Here are some other ideas for 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

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Add a hearty finishing touch to nearly any soup with these crispy, buttery crostini – they’re easy to make, frugal, and ready in less than 15 minutes!
- 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)
- butter, softened
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 (1/4-1/2″).
- Thicker crostini- like those used in French Onion Soup, or for Bruschetta, you’ll want them closer to 1″ thick.
Nutrition
- Calories: 384
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!