Apple and Goat Cheese Crostini

Written By N M
 

Prep: 10 Minutes | Cook: 30 Minutes | Total: 40 mins

Makes 30 Crostini

Ingredients

30 Crostini / Crackers/ pieces of bread

Flakey Salt (to serve)

Spiced Apples

2 Granny Smith Apples

4 T Brown Sugar

1⁄4 stick Butter (unsalted)

1⁄2 t ground Cinnamon

1⁄4 t ground Nutmeg

Honey Goat Cheese Spread

8 oz Plain Goat Cheese

8 oz Cream Cheese

3 T Honey

1 t Salt

Recipe Summary

  1. Mise en Place

  2. Make Apples

  3. Make Whipped Goat Cheese

  4. Assemble the Crostini

Recipe 

Mise en Place: Take your goat cheese and cream cheese out of the refrigerator and allow to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. While the cheeses are warming up, thinly slice apples and retain slices in a bowl. Measure out sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Place in one bowl separate from the apple slices

Make Apples: Heat a large pan at medium-low heat and add sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and butter. Once melted, add in apples and mix thoroughly until they are evenly coated. It’s important not to overcook the apples in this step because we want to retain some of the crunchy texture. Once the apples are slightly warmed and the sugar mixture has fully coated the apples, remove them from the heat.

Make Whipped Goat Cheese: As the apples are cooking and the cheeses have warmed slightly, place them in a food processor with honey and salt, and whip for 1 minute or until fully incorporated. You can also use a hand mixer, however you will need to allow your cheeses to soften even more to mix thoroughly if using this method. Remove the whipped cheese and place into a piping bag.

Assemble the Crostini: Using the piping bag, pipe a layer of whipped goat cheese onto the crostini/cracker/bread. Place 1-2 slices of apple on top of the cheese and then garnish with flakey salt for additional texture. Serve.

Tips and Notes

  • Goat cheese and cream cheese whip best when at room temperature. Leave them out for at least 30 minutes before whipping them for best results

  • The whipped goat cheese mixture comes out of a piping bag best when it’s closer to room temperature. If making the mixture in advance make sure to allow it to warm for 20 minutes out of the refrigerator.

  • Flakey salt is a great way to layer the crostini and add even more texture

  • The crostini is texturally balanced with layers of crunchy (crostini), creamy (goat cheese), slightly crunchy/soft (apples), crunchy (flakey salt).

  • Table crackers are easier to find at a grocery store than crostini and are a perfectly good substitute. If using table crackers make sure to get plain or salted ones to avoid clashing flavors.

  • Granny Smith or other mildly tart apples are ideal for this recipe. They will not be overly sweet when cooked in the additional sugar mixture and will maintain their texture better than some other types of apples like Red Delicious.

N M
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