Description
These Apple & Brie Crostini with Hot Honey offer a delightful appetizer featuring crispy baguette slices topped with creamy melted Brie, fresh apple slices, and a spicy-sweet drizzle of hot honey. Garnished with fresh thyme, this elegant yet simple recipe balances savory, sweet, and spicy flavors perfect for entertaining or a cozy snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread:
- 1 French baguette, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
Cheese:
- 8 ounces Brie cheese, sliced or cut into small pieces
Fruit:
- 2 medium-sized apples, such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith, thinly sliced
Other:
- 1/4 cup hot honey (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- Fresh thyme leaves, for garnish
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to get it ready for toasting the baguette slices.
- Arrange Baguette Slices: Place the sliced baguette rounds in a single layer on a baking sheet to ensure even toasting.
- Butter Bread: Spread a thin layer of softened unsalted butter on one side of each baguette slice to add flavor and help achieve a golden crust.
- Toast Baguette: Bake the buttered baguette slices in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes, until they become golden brown and crispy.
- Cool Toasts: Remove the toasted baguette slices from the oven and allow them to cool slightly so they are easier to handle for topping.
- Prepare Apples: While the breads cool, thinly slice the apples to create perfect, delicate layers for the crostini.
- Add Brie Cheese: Place a slice or small piece of Brie on the toasted side of each baguette slice, covering the surface well.
- Top with Apples: Lay a thin slice of apple over the Brie, ensuring it covers the cheese for balanced flavor and texture.
- Drizzle Hot Honey: Drizzle a small amount of hot honey over the apple slices, allowing the sweet heat to mingle with the creamy Brie.
- Season: Sprinkle a pinch of salt and black pepper on each crostini to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Melt Brie: Return the assembled crostini to the oven for 2-4 minutes, until the Brie begins to melt and become gooey.
- Garnish: Remove from the oven and top each crostini with fresh thyme leaves to add a fragrant herbal note.
- Serve: Serve immediately to enjoy the warm, melty cheese alongside crisp apples and spicy honey.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith or sweet-tart varieties like Honeycrisp to balance the richness of Brie and sweetness of honey.
- Adjust the amount of hot honey to suit your preferred spice level.
- For homemade hot honey, infuse honey with chili flakes or fresh chili peppers heated gently.
- Serve these crostini warm for the best texture and flavor experience.
- Can be prepared ahead by toasting bread and slicing apples, then assembled and melted just before serving.
