Cranberry Brie Crostini is a simple crostini recipe topped with brie cheese, pomegranate cranberry relish, and walnuts. This savory, sweet, crostini appetizer is love at first bite and a festive favorite in my holiday recipe collection.
If you know how to make crostini and cranberry relish (or cranberry sauce), get ready to WOW the holiday party table with this super festive appetizer. This sweet and savory crostini recipe is probably the most hassle-free holiday food you’ll ever make. Who doesn't love brie cranberry things!!
Cranberry Brie Crostini Ingredients
- baguette
- extra virgin olive oil
- brie cheese (goat cheese is great too!)
- cranberry relish (or cranberry sauce)
- walnuts
- fresh thyme (or other fresh herb)
How to make Cranberry Brie crostini
- Preheat the oven to 375° and slice the baguette.
- Brush both sides with olive oil and bake 4-6 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- To prepare for serving, lay the brie cheese slices over each crostini. Add a spoonful of cranberry relish or cranberry sauce, a sprinkle of walnuts, and tiny pieces of fresh thyme.
- Serve immediately.
Note: I recommend making the cranberry relish a day or two in advance because the flavor just gets better by the day.
Do I need stale bread for crostini appetizers?
Stale bread is a nice way to use up stale bread, but it's not required to make crostini. In fact, the fresher the bread, the crispier the crostini. Bread that's too stale can make crostini bread less delicate and rather crunchy. The same goes for my homemade croutons.
What’s the best bread for crostini appetizers?
I prefer a baguette over a loaf for it's size and shape, but a loaf can work too. As for type, French, sourdough, or whole grain will make beautiful crostini. You can buy packaged crostini, but it will be more expensive and likely will be seasoned. Skip it all, save money, and make your own crostini. It’s so easy!
Cranberry relish vs. cranberry sauce
Cranberry sauce will work beautifully, but I personally recommend venturing out with my 3-ingredient Cranberry Relish (aka “Cranberry Crack”). It’s a 3-ingredient, no-cook, cranberry recipe that pops with fresh pomegranate. It’s mouthwatering delicious and utterly addictive. If you’re a cranberry person, you want this on your holiday menu now ... and forever. I recommend making it ahead a few days to build even more flavor and juiciness.
Recommended Tools
- bread knife or chef’s knife
- cutting board
- Silicone pastry brush
- baking sheet
Easy scrumptious holiday recipes
- Herb Roasted Turkey Breast
- Apple Sausage Stuffing
- Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip
- 5-Minute French Onion Dip
- Garlicky Roasted Mushrooms
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Vegan Green Bean Casserole
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie
Cranberry Brie Crostini
Ingredients
- 1 Baguette, sliced
- 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 4 oz Brie Cheese
- 1 cup Cranberry Relish, or Cranberry Sauce
- ¼ cup Walnuts, finely chopped
- 2 sprigs Fresh Thyme, or mint or rosemary
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° and slice bread into 1/4” slices.
- Lightly brush both sides with OLIVE OIL. Bake 4-6 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- Slice BRIE CHEESE into 1/8” slices and lay one on each crostini.
- Top each crostini with a spoonful of CRANBERRY RELISH.
- Sprinkle WALNUTS and THYME over crostini. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes from TKG
Crostini appetizer make-ahead recipe tips
Bake the crostini up to two days ahead. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Do no refrigerate. The cranberry relish gets juicier and more delicious by the day, so make it up to three days in advance and refrigerate in an airtight container. I dare you to not eat it all before serving dayNutrition
Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.
Jeff says
Oh man, that cranberry relish really does make this pop and the flavor is outta control! This crostini will be on our Thanksgiving appetizer menu every year from now on. So easy too!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
This is such a delicious appetizer! I love crostini and brie and cranberry together is one of my favourite combinations.
The Kitchen Girl says
Yay, Bintu! Glad to hear you love this crostini as much as I do 🙂 Thanks so much1
Jacqueline Debono says
I love cranberry sauce with cheese so this may well become my new favourite crostini recipe. The walnuts are a great idea! They add some crunch!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Jacqueline! Glad you're enjoying this crostini 🙂 Thanks so much!
Tracy says
This is a super elegant appetizer!! We love all things brie cheese here but we haven't had it with cranberries before. That cranberry relish, wow it definitely puts the cranberries of my childhood to serious shame! 😀
The Kitchen Girl says
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it, Tracy! We must have grown up on the same era
Dannii says
You can't beat a cranberry and brie combination. Love the look of serving them on crostini too.
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks Dannii! Yes...love the combo, especially on crostini 🙂
Kechi says
This looks so scrumptious! An absolute must-have holiday appetizer. I'm making these, can't wait!
The Kitchen Girl says
Yay Kechi! So glad you can enjoy these for the holiday. Cheers to that! 🙂