Can I Use Canned Cranberry Sauce?

Yes! Canned cranberry sauce will work for this recipe, as will homemade cranberry sauce or cranberry relish.

Can I Make Goat Cheese Cranberry Crostini Ahead?

You can make the cooked cranberries up to 5 days ahead of time and toast the baguette slices up to 1 day ahead. Assemble the crostini up to 8 hours in advance and store in the fridge lightly covered with plastic wrap.

Can I use Dried Cranberries to Make Sauce?

You can use dried cranberries when making sauce, but it is not a one-to-one swap. Use half of the volume of unsweetened dried cranberries. The sauce will not be quite the same, however.

Cranberry Goat Cheese Crostini

Name: Cranberry Goat Cheese Crostini
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 oz. (about 2 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries; 1 1/2 cup water; 1 cup granulated sugar; 16 slices (1/2-inch thick) baguette; 2 Tbsp. olive oil; 4 oz. goat cheese log; Coarse sea salt, if desired

Description

These Cranberry Goat Cheese Crostini are one of the easiest ways to put together a show-stopping appetizer, perfect for the holidays. Creamy goat cheese and tart cooked cranberries are spread on toasted baguette slices for a festive bite, ready in about 15 minutes.

Ingredients

Units Scale

6 oz. (about 2 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries
1 1/2 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
16 slices (1/2-inch thick) baguette
2 Tbsp. olive oil
4 oz. goat cheese log
Coarse sea salt, if desired

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

To make the cranberry topping, combine cranberries and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a low simmer and cook, covered, until the berries burst, 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the sugar. Gently stir until the sugar dissolves. Strain the berries and reserve the cranberry simple syrup for other uses. Set the cranberries aside (you can make them up to 3 days ahead of time).
Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the slices of baguette in a single layer on the baking sheet and brush with oil. Bake until lightly toasted, 6-8 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside until ready to use (make ahead up to 1 day).
To assemble, set the goat cheese on the counter for 10 minutes to soften slightly then spread evenly on the baguette slices and then spoon on the cranberries, about 2 teaspoons per toast. Finish with a sprinkle of sea salt, if desired, and drizzle with more olive oil.

Notes

You can make the cranberry topping up to 3 days in advance. This is essentially the leftover cranberries from my Cranberry Simple Syrup recipe. Use the flavorful bright red syrup for a holiday punch, cocktails, mocktails, or cakes. Be sure to store leftover cooked cranberries in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
The baguette slices may be toasted up to 1 day ahead of time. Store in an airtight container or zip-top bag on the counter.
You can finish the crostini with a drizzle of honey or balsamic reduction. Or finish with chopped pistachios or pecans, finely chopped herbs like sage, rosemary, or thyme. Grate on orange zest for a pop of flavor.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: baking
Cuisine: American