If you’re searching for a delightful appetizer that effortlessly combines creamy, crunchy, sweet, and spicy flavors, you’ve just found your next favorite. This Apple & Brie Crostini with Hot Honey Recipe is the perfect crowd-pleaser, blending melting brie cheese with crisp apple slices, salty prosciutto, peppery arugula, and a drizzle of warm hot honey glaze. Every bite offers a little celebration of textures and flavors, making it an irresistibly elegant snack or starter for any gathering.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Apple & Brie Crostini with Hot Honey Recipe calls for simple, fresh ingredients that each play an important role. From the crisp baguette base to the spicy-sweet hot honey, every item is essential for achieving that perfect balance of taste and texture.
- French baguette: Provides a sturdy, crunchy base that holds all the delicious toppings without getting soggy.
- Brie cheese: The creamy, mild cheese that melts beautifully, giving the crostini a luscious, velvety texture.
- Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apple: Thinly sliced for crispness and a refreshing touch of tartness that cuts through the richness of the cheese.
- Prosciutto: Adds a salty, savory layer rolled into perfect little bites that complement the sweetness perfectly.
- Arugula: Offers a peppery, fresh green element that brightens the overall flavor profile.
- Honey: The natural sweetness base for the hot honey glaze that ties everything together.
- Hot sauce (or cayenne pepper): Brings just the right amount of heat to balance the sweetness of the honey and the fruitiness of the apple.
How to Make Apple & Brie Crostini with Hot Honey Recipe
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Setting your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit is the first step to achieving perfectly toasted baguette slices topped with melted brie. Prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper—it helps keep the crostini from sticking and makes clean-up a breeze.
Step 2: Arrange and Toast the Baguette
Slice the French baguette diagonally into about 1/2 inch thick pieces. This angle isn’t just for looks—it creates more surface area for the toppings. Lay the slices evenly spaced on the baking sheet so they toast evenly and get that satisfying crunch.
Step 3: Add the Brie and Bake
Place a slice of brie on each baguette piece. As the oven works its magic, the brie softens and melts to a gooey delight, which will create a rich, creamy layer that perfectly contrasts the crunch of the bread and apple.
Step 4: Top with Apple, Prosciutto, and Arugula
Right after baking, while the brie is still warm, layer each crostini with thin apple slices for freshness, a rolled piece of prosciutto for a burst of salty goodness, and a few leaves of peppery arugula to lift the flavors with a sharp green note.
Step 5: Make and Drizzle the Hot Honey
Combine honey and hot sauce or cayenne pepper in a small bowl and warm it briefly in the microwave until easy to drizzle. This luscious hot honey is the game-changer—it adds a sweet heat that enhances every element on the crostini.
Step 6: Serve Immediately
Drizzle the warm hot honey over each crostini and serve them right away to enjoy the mix of warm, melted cheese, crisp apples, and spicy-sweet honey all at once.
How to Serve Apple & Brie Crostini with Hot Honey Recipe
Garnishes
Sprinkle a tiny pinch of fresh thyme or finely chopped chives over the crostini to add a fresh herbal note that pairs beautifully with the brie and honey.
Side Dishes
Pair these crostini with a light mixed green salad or a chilled white wine like Sauvignon Blanc to balance the richness of the cheese and the sweet heat of the honey.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange the crostini on a wooden board or platter with clusters of grapes and nuts around them for an inviting and festive spread. For added flair, include small bowls of extra hot honey and whole apple slices for guests to customize their bites.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftovers, store the crostini components separately to keep them fresh—bread and cheese in the fridge wrapped tightly, and apple slices in an airtight container with a little lemon juice to prevent browning.
Freezing
While it’s best enjoyed fresh, you can freeze the toasted baguette slices alone. Freeze them in a sealed bag and reheat in the oven before assembling. The assembled crostini do not freeze well due to the toppings.
Reheating
Reheat the toasted baguette slices in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for a few minutes. After reheating, add fresh brie, apple, prosciutto, and arugula, then drizzle with freshly warmed hot honey to revive that fresh, melty goodness.
FAQs
Can I use other types of cheese instead of brie?
Absolutely! While brie adds creaminess and mildness, you can experiment with camembert or a mild goat cheese for a different twist, though the texture and melting qualities will vary.
How spicy should the hot honey be?
The recipe allows you to control the heat by adjusting the amount of hot sauce or cayenne pepper. Start with less if you prefer mild spice, and increase as you get comfortable with the flavor kick.
What apple variety works best for this recipe?
Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples are ideal because they offer a nice balance of tartness and crispness that complements the rich brie and sweet honey perfectly.
Can this recipe be made vegan?
For a vegan version, substitute the brie with a plant-based cheese that melts well and swap honey for maple syrup mixed with a pinch of cayenne to mimic the hot honey glaze.
Is it okay to prepare the crostini in advance?
You can prepare the baguette slices and hot honey ahead of time, but assemble the crostini just before serving to maintain the apple’s crispness and the freshness of the toppings.
Final Thoughts
This Apple & Brie Crostini with Hot Honey Recipe is truly a celebration of flavor and texture, offering an easy but impressive dish you’ll want to make again and again. Whether it’s a cozy evening in or a lively party, these crostinis bring warmth, sweetness, and a little bit of spice to the table. Give them a try—you might just find your new favorite appetizer!
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Apple & Brie Crostini with Hot Honey Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Total Time: 24 minutes
- Yield: 20 crostini servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-inspired
Description
These Apple & Brie Crostini with Hot Honey are an elegant and easy appetizer perfect for gatherings. Crispy baguette slices are topped with melted creamy brie, crisp apple slices, salty prosciutto, and fresh arugula, then drizzled with a warm, sweet, and spicy honey glaze for a delightful flavor contrast.
Ingredients
Bread
- 1 French baguette, cut diagonally into 1/2 inch slices
Cheese
- 8 ounces brie cheese, sliced (enough slices for each crostini)
Toppings
- 1 large Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced
- 2 ounces prosciutto, cut into 20 pieces and rolled
- 1 cup arugula
Hot Honey Glaze
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce (or substitute with a pinch of cayenne pepper)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Arrange baguette slices: Arrange the sliced baguette pieces evenly on the prepared baking sheet, using two sheets if needed to fit all slices.
- Add brie cheese: Place a slice of brie cheese on top of each baguette slice, preparing them for baking.
- Bake crostini: Bake in the preheated oven for 7-9 minutes or until the brie is nicely melted and bubbly.
- Add apple and prosciutto: Once out of the oven, immediately top each crostini with a thin slice of apple and a rolled piece of prosciutto to add flavor and texture.
- Add arugula: Place a few fresh arugula leaves on top for a peppery crunch and freshness.
- Prepare hot honey glaze: In a small bowl, combine honey and hot sauce (or cayenne pepper). Microwave for 10-15 seconds until warm, then stir well to blend the flavors.
- Drizzle hot honey: Drizzle the warm hot honey over the assembled crostini just before serving to add a sweet and spicy glaze.
- Serve immediately: Serve the crostini right away to enjoy the contrast of warm melted brie with fresh toppings and delicious glaze.
Notes
- Use either Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples for a sweet-tart flavor that balances the richness of the brie.
- Adjust the hot sauce or cayenne to make the glaze as spicy as you like.
- For easier slicing, chill the brie slightly before slicing.
- Prosciutto can be substituted with thinly sliced smoked ham or pancetta if preferred.
- Serve crostini immediately after assembling to maintain crispness and freshness.
