Cream Cheese Herb Crostini (Printable)

Crispy baguette slices topped with creamy cheese and fresh herbs for a flavorful starter.

# What You'll Need:

→ Crostini

01 - 1 baguette, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds (approximately 24 slices)
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 garlic clove, halved

→ Cream Cheese Spread

04 - 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
05 - 2 tablespoons sour cream
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
09 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Herb Toppings

12 - Fresh chives, finely chopped
13 - Fresh dill sprigs
14 - Fresh parsley leaves
15 - Fresh basil leaves, torn
16 - Fresh thyme leaves
17 - Microgreens
18 - Edible flowers (optional)
19 - Flaky sea salt, to finish
20 - Freshly ground black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Set oven temperature to 400°F and allow to fully preheat.
02 - Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush both sides lightly with olive oil.
03 - Toast in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp. Remove from oven and rub each slice lightly with the cut side of the garlic clove. Allow to cool to room temperature.
04 - In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, chives, dill, parsley, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper. Mix until smooth and well blended.
05 - Spread a generous layer of the herbed cream cheese mixture over each cooled crostini slice.
06 - Top each crostini with assorted fresh herbs, microgreens, and edible flowers as desired. Finish with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and additional black pepper.
07 - Arrange the finished crostini on a large serving board or platter and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when you really spent less time than it takes to watch a movie.
  • The toasted bread stays crisp for hours, so you can prep everything ahead and assemble just before guests arrive.
  • It's a blank canvas where your favorite herbs and flavors take center stage, and no two boards ever look the same.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cooling step on the crostini; if you spread while they're hot, the cream cheese gets oily and slides around instead of staying put.
  • Fresh herbs make or break this dish, so use the crispest ones you can find and add them as close to serving time as possible so they don't wilt.
03 -
  • Slice the baguette on a slight diagonal instead of straight across and you'll get more surface area for spreading and a more elegant presentation.
  • Make the cream cheese spread the morning of and let it sit in the fridge where the flavors meld together and become more rounded and delicious.
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