Looking for an easy Christmas appetizer that your guests will love? These two-bite Christmas crostini take minutes to assemble and are a great addition to your holiday menu! There’s creamy Brie, crispy prosciutto and sweet clementine and pomegranate arils. They’re finished with a little drizzle of balsamic reduction for one satisfying crostini recipe.
I love crostini. So much. Why? Because they are so darn easy to make, the combo possibilities are endless and they taste so yummy!
For me, the holidays are all about enjoying good food with family & friends. And nobody wants to be in the kitchen for hours on end; I know I don’t!
That’s where this easy Christmas appetizer comes into play. These simple crostini have the whole sweet and salty/savoury combo going on, come together in minutes and disappear just as fast.
I wanted to use flavours and colours of the season and the iconic clementine fits the bill. I always associate those with Christmas because that’s when we usually see them around here.
And working with a red and green theme for the holidays, pomegranate arils and peppery arugula is a great addition to the party making these crostini one festive bite.
How To Make This Easy Christmas Appetizer
Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Bake the prosciutto. I like to crisp the prosciutto here because it make for easier eating (plus, who doesn’t love crispy prosciutto?).
- Then brush your crostini bread with a little olive oil and bake until golden brown and crispy.
- Place some Brie on your crostini slices and warm just a little.
- Top with pomegranate arils, clementine, prosciutto, arugula and balsamic drizzle. There ya have it, an easy Christmas appetizer ready to be devoured!
Best Bread To Use
Use something you enjoy most of all!
Don’t go for a simple white bread, though. You want something like a baguette or artisanal bread, something that isn’t too dense, but isn’t too fluffy either.
Slice your bread into about ½-inch thick slices. You don’t want them too thin that the crostini fall apart when you are enjoying and you don’t want too thick that they’re heavy.
And make sure the slices are cut into roughly two-bite sizes.
Tips and Variations
- This recipe yields 12 crostini, but you could easily double for a crowd.
- I cut the clementine slices in half. Why? So they aren’t clunky on the crostini, but also because they are shinier and the presentation looks better.
- Balsamic reduction can typically be found in your grocery store where you would find regular vinegar.
- Don’t like Brie? Goat cheese would work lovely here too. If using goat cheese there’s no need to melt the cheese like you would with Brie.
- Not into balsamic reduction? Try a drizzle of honey.
More Delicious Holiday Appetizers
Hope you love this easy Christmas appetizer as much as we do!
If you make this easy crostini recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Christmas Crostini
Ingredients
- 2 slices prosciutto
- 12 pieces bread, like sourdough or your favourite variety, each piece about 3-inch x 2-inch in size and about ½-inch thick
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3.5 ounces Brie cheese, cut into slices to fit the bread (about 100 grams)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons pomegranate arils
- 3 clementine, peeled, segments removed and sliced in half
- ¼ cup baby arugula
- 2 to 3 tablespoons balsamic reduction
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the slices of prosciutto in a single layer on the baking sheet, ensuring the slices aren't touching. Bake for 5 to 6 minutes or until prosciutto is crispy.
- Carefully remove the prosciutto from the oven. Once cool enough to handle, break into small pieces (to fit onto bread) and set aside. Discard parchment paper.
- Place bread onto baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until bread reaches your desired doneness. You want it golden brown with a little crunch, but still slightly tender in the middle.
- Once bread is done, carefully remove from the oven and top each with a slice of Brie. Bake for a few minutes, or until cheese is starting to melt a little. Carefully remove from oven.
- Top Brie with pomegranate arils. Next, top with clementine slices, prosciutto and a leaf of arugula. Drizzle with balsamic reduction. Serve and enjoy!
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
© Girl Heart Food Inc. Photographs and content are copyright protected.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Mimi
What fun! You can’t go wrong with all of these wonderful ingredients. I have a bread on my blog (I think it’s still there) that I call bread for cheese. It’s yeasted, and I like to pack it full of nuts and dried fruits. It looks similar to your beautiful bread, although a little more dense. Now I need to make it so I can make these crostini! Fabulous !
Girl Heart Food
I agree 😉 Thank you Mimi! Have a great weekend ahead!
Kevin
This recipe is all about the winter peak season flavors, colors, etc. Beautiful dish!
Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thanks Kevin 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
Such festive little toasts for the holiday season Dawn! I love the flavor combination you’ve got going on! Pinning and can’t wait to try!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Mary Ann 🙂 Enjoy!
Ben|Havocinthekitchen
Oh yessss, I do, do, do love these Christmas crostini. Indeed, I was sold on broe and prosciutto which are some of my favourite things ever. Definitely, clementines bring some winter mood (They’re also associated with winter holidays to me) while pomegranate adds this extra festive look. And what did you say? 12 crostini? That definitely won’t be enough for myself – I’ll need to double (triple?) it 😉 Very well done!
Girl Heart Food
Lol….doubling the batch is never a bad idea, if you ask me 😉 Thanks so much, Ben!
Laura
Dawn, these are so BEAUTIFUL! My favorite kind of treat is one that is sweet, tart, salty, and savory! I’m not asking too much, obviously, especially with these little bites of heaven! Thanks for the inspiration!
Kendra
My mouth is watering! These look heavenly! I am definitely going to have to make them for guests at Christmas (and also probably later this week because I don’t want to wait that long to eat these)! Hope your Monday is going well Dawn!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Kendra! Hope you enjoy them as much as we do 🙂
SHASHI AT SAVORYSPIN
This is such a delightful pairing – first off there’s that apricot walnut bread (which would be heavenly on itsown) but you go and amp it up with brie, prosciutto, pomegranate and clementines and round it off with that balsamic reduction! Sounds so easy yet looks exquisite! My daughter and I have a New Years Eve appetizer party and this has gotta go on my list! Happy Monday Dawn! Hoping this week is fabu! xoxo
Girl Heart Food
Yay! Hope you guys love this one, Shashi! Thank you so much 🙂 Have a fab week too, my friend! XOXO
Vanessa | Zest & Simmer
I am in love with this beautiful and festive appetizer! I think I’d have a hard time sharing with anyone as I want to eat them all to myself! 😉 Brie is definitely something I love and often have at home so will be giving these a go!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you so much Vanessa! Haha…been there 😉 Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
So pretty and such a great appetizer for holiday entertaining! Loving the flavours, too 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Jennifer :)!!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
What a lovely little bite! These are perfect for the holidays and would disappear quickly. Sometimes all I want for dinner is an appetizer like this and a glass of wine!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Kathy! They didn’t last long in our home 🙂
Holly
These are beautiful and festive! I have balsamic reduction in my pantry and only recently stumbled upon it in the grocery store. I think using it on crostini is a wonderful idea! Brie is the holiday food that I consider a treat so I savor the occasions when I eat it. Love this appetizer idea!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Holly! Love any time of cheese and you can never go wrong with brie 🙂 And isn’t balsamic reduction wonderful??
David @ Spiced
These crostini really would make for a great appetizer on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve! I love the addition of clementines here…what a fun twist using seasonal fruit. And you’re lucky to have a bakery nearby that makes apricot walnut bread. That sounds and looks phenomenal! Make sure to save me a couple of these crostini, ok? 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Yes!! Thank you David! I sure will 😉
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
These are beautiful Dawn! I love a good crostini too–even better when it’s pretty :). I think I’m going to try these for dinner just as soon as I can pick up the ingredients. And I really want to try that apricot walnut bread; it sounds incredible! Have a great week, girl!
Girl Heart Food
Yay! Thank you Kelsie! Enjoy 🙂 Have a great week too!
annie@ciaochowbambina
Hey! Whenever I can get my food to match the decorations on my tree – I am all in! This is beautiful and delicious, my friend! You know how I love crostini!! Brava! Have a great week, dear! XOXO
Girl Heart Food
Lol…so true 😉 I do know!! Thank you lovely! XOXO
Valentina
This is such a beautiful appetizer for the holiday season. I love the vibrant colors and how festive and fun it is. And that apricot walnut bread you choose is perfect! Love!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
This is totally festive Dawn! Love all the toppings! Brie is a staple in our house, and I actually picked up a carton of clementines today at the grocery store. They most definitely remind me of the holidays. Hope you’re having a great weekend! This would certainly be a great addition to my Saturday night!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Leanne! They didn’t last long 😉