This Parmesan Pear Crostini is one of the quickest and easiest party appetizers! Toasted baguette slices are topped with melted parmesan, fresh pear, walnuts, and honey for a sweet and savory snack that’s perfect for any occasion.
Add a little elegance and some fanciness to the party with this Parmesan Pear Crostini appetizer. French baguette slices are toasted together with parmesan cheese, then topped with pear, walnuts, and honey. The best part is this sweet and savory snack only takes 20 minutes to put together!
This easy crostini appetizer fits in at any occasion, from holiday parties to casual get-togethers to birthday celebrations. It’s one of the best snacks to make when you’re in a rush because you only need a handful of simple ingredients and the toasts can be assembled right before everyone arrives. Just like my Classic Hummus Recipe and Caramelized Onion Dip, it’s the most perfect party snack!
Recipe features
- Beautifully balanced between sweet and savory.
- It’s so elegant and fancy, your guests won’t even know it only took 20 minutes to make.
- A delicious and quick crostini appetizer for the holidays. Assemble it right before your party guests arrive!
Ingredient notes:
- French baguette - A great crostini appetizer starts with the bread. French bread is super soft and rich, which is why it’s my favorite, but a sourdough or whole wheat baguette will work as well.
- Parmesan cheese - Slices of fresh parmesan cheese or Parmigiano-Reggiano are baked right onto the crostini to become the gooey and creamy glue for the pear slices. Gruyère and Jarlsberg will both work as substitutes.
- Olive oil - A drizzle of olive oil on top of the sliced bread is key to achieving a golden brown toast.
- Pear - Serving this pear crostini for the holidays? Slice up a mix of green and red anjou pears for festive colors! Otherwise, any type of pear will taste great on top of the parmesan crostini.
- Toppings - Some walnuts and a drizzle of honey are the finishing touches to this pear parmesan and honey crostini. For a festive anise flavor, add a few fennel leaves to the crostinis as well.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Make the crostini. Place the baguette slices onto a baking sheet and top each one with a slice of parmesan. Drizzle olive oil on top and bake.
Step 2: Prepare the toppings. Slice the pear and chop the walnuts while you wait for the bread.
Step 3: Assemble and enjoy. Take the bread out of the oven and immediately place 1 or 2 slices of pear on top of each piece. Sprinkle some walnuts on top, add a drizzle of honey, then serve and enjoy!
Tips and FAQs
- Make sure the baguette is sliced in even, not too thin, and not too thick slices. You want them to be easy to eat and all toasted evenly.
- Place the pear slices on top of the bread as soon as it comes out of the oven. The warm and melty cheese will act like glue, keeping the pear in place.
- Instead of melted parmesan cheese, you can toast the crostini ahead of time and serve the appetizers with sliced brie, goat cheese, mozzarella, or ricotta cheese instead.
- Turn this into an extra savory crostini appetizer by adding a slice of prosciutto or fresh arugula on top.
- Instead of walnuts, use toasted pine nuts, hazelnuts, or candied pecans instead.
- For a festive flair, finish the crostini toasts with a sprig of fresh thyme or rosemary.
How do you make crostini?
Crostinis are really easy to make on their own. Once the baguette is sliced, drizzle some olive oil on both sides of the bread. Toast in a 350ºF oven for about 10 minutes, watching them carefully so they don’t burn. When the crostini are done, you can store them in a sealed container at room temperature for up to a week!
How many pear crostinis should I make?
Think about how many people are coming over and if you plan on serving more food along with these canapes. If you’re putting out more snacks, like a cheese plate or bacon-wrapped dates, then plan to serve each guest 3 to 4 crostinis. If you only plan on serving this pear crostini recipe, then make enough to serve 5 to 6 crostinis per person.
Can you make these ahead of time?
Because the cheese and crostini are baked in the oven together, I don’t recommend toasting the crostini ahead of time. Instead, save time by slicing the baguette and cheese up to 1 day before serving. Keep the bread slices in a sealed ziploc bag at room temperature and the cheese in an airtight container in the fridge.
More tasty party appetizers
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Parmesan Pear Crostini
Ingredients
- 1 french baguette sliced in ½" slices
- 6 oz. parmesan cheese thinly sliced (or sub gruyere)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or more
- 1 pear thinly sliced
- ¼ cup walnuts
- 2 tablespoon honey
- fennel leaves for garnish optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Place the bread slices onto a large baking sheet, then top each piece with a slice of cheese. Drizzle the olive oil over the bread, then place the bread into the oven for 10 minutes, or until the cheesy is warm and melty.
- While the bread is in the oven, slice the pear and chop the walnuts.
- As soon as the bread is done, remove it from the oven and place the pear slices on top. Sprinkle everything with walnuts, drizzle with honey and enjoy!
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