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Brown Butter Crostini

Recipe Level: Easy

Here's a fun spin on a crostini and a perfect way to impress a crowd.  You'll love these brown butter crostini with rich nutty flavours of browned butter, the sweetness of fresh fruit and the earthy hint of herbs.

Baked by Alie Romano

Professional Baker and Recipe Developer

* For best results, read the entire article. Every step matters, and I’ll provide helpful tips along the way!

Brown Butter Crostini
Brown Butter Crostini with Ricotta, Fruit & Herbs

Crostini, means “little toasts” in Italian. They are thin slices of bread grilled or toasted with a variety of toppings and served as an appetizer. Normally crostini are brushed with oil and topped with meats, cheeses or vegetables, but in this case, I wanted to take a summer spin on them and liven them up!

My Dad loves his sweets, but the next best thing he loves (if not just as much) is bread and butter! I couldn’t think of a better way to spoil my Dad this Father’s Day but to make homemade bread for him and slather it in brown butter topped with fresh fruit, cheese, herbs, and yes, more brown butter! I love the twist on these brown butter crostini with the rich, nutty flavour of butter, the sweetness of fresh fruit and the earthy hint of herbs.

They are super easy to make and pair wonderfully with almost any meal you decide to serve your Dad this Father’s Day. If you are already planning on barbecuing then all you have to do is throw the brown butter bread on the grill and then top them as you please.

Brown Butter

Making brown butter can seem intimidating, but it’s really not difficult at all! It’s actually super easy. Once you do it you’ll wonder why you haven’t done it before. Brown butter transforms the most basic dish into a world of explosive, rich, nutty flavours. It’s like a secret ingredient waiting to enhance your dish! And that’s exactly why I wanted to use brown butter on these crostini.

Simply add unsalted butter to a pot on medium heat and let the butter simmer until it starts to brown and small flecks appear. It should start to smell fragrant and nutty. Remove from heat, scrape the bottom and pour into a bowl or glass jar. Voila! You have brown butter.

Brown Butter Crostini
Brown Butter Crostini with Ricotta, Strawberry and Basil

Crostini Variations

Top each crostini with approx. one tablespoon of ricotta cheese, then add sliced or crushed fruit, your favourite herb and top with a drizzle of brown butter.

  1. Slices of fresh strawberries with basil
  2. Crushed raspberry with chives and black pepper
  3. Crushed blackberry with toasted sage
  4. Slices of fresh apricots with thyme
  5. Chopped cherries with mint
  6. Apple slices with rosemary
Brown Butter Crostini
Brown Butter Crostini with Ricotta, Fruit & Herbs
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Brown Butter Crostini

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A fun spin on a crostini and a perfect way to impress a crowd. Brown butter adds a nutty rich flavour and pairs lovely with fresh fruit and herbs.

  • Author: Alie Romano
  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 30 mins
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
  • fresh fruit such as; raspberries, blackberries, apricots, strawberries
  • fresh herbs such as, thyme, sage, chives, basil
  • 1 french baguette or make your own (click here for recipe)

Instructions

  1. In a light coloured pot (so you can see the colour of the butter change) melt butter on medium heat. Swirl the pan occasionally to be sure the butter is cooking evenly. Your butter will foam and start to change colour from yellow to brown with brown flecks. It will also start to smell nutty, at this stage take the butter off the heat, transfer to a small bowl and let cool.
  2. Meanwhile, slice your baguette into 1/2 inch thick slices.
  3. Brush each side of the baguette with the brown butter, be generous!
  4. Broil or grill each side of the buttered baguette slices, and set aside to cool.
  5. Add approx. 1 tablespoon of ricotta cheese to each slice of baguette and top with desired fruit and herbs – slices of strawberries with basil and drizzle brown butter on top; slices of apricot with thyme, or sage; crushed blackberries with thyme or sage; crushed raspberries with thyme or chives.

Notes

For added flavour, I dipped my sage and thyme in brown butter and lightly grilled them.

My favourite herbs used were chives and sage, don’t be afraid to try something a little different.

Brown butter will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 35
  • Sugar: 0.4g
  • Sodium: 31mg
  • Fat: 3g
  • Saturated Fat: 0
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 1.3g
  • Fiber: 0.2g
  • Protein: 0.8g
  • Cholesterol: 8mg

Did you make this recipe?

Write a review and let me know!

Share a photo and tag me on Instagram @bakingforfriends_

I can’t wait to see what you’ve made! xo alie

FAQ’s

What is a crostini?

Crostini mean’s ‘little toasts’ in Italian and are served as appetizers. They are small slices of bread that have been grilled or toasted on both sides, normally brushed with olive oil. They are then dressed with a variety of toppings like cheeses, meats and vegetables. They can be sweet or savoury.

What bread is best used for crostini?

A French baguette or a long loaf is a popular choice for making crostini. The bread is typically small in diameter and should crisp up nicely.

Are crostini served hot or cold?

Crostini can be served either hot or cold and can be sweet or savoury. They are very popular and versatile appetizers.

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Alie

I'm a professional baker, recipe developer & photographer behind Baking For Friends. I specialize in classic & comforting baking. I hope you enjoy the recipes & find inspiration of your own to bring your family & friends together over home-cooked food!

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