Spring Crostini Appetizers

Last Updated April 4th, 2024 at 01:36 pm by Lisa

Spring Crostini Appetizers are little toasts topped with a creamy cheese spread, edible flowers, and herbs for Easter, bridal showers, teas, or Mother's Day.

The baguette slices are brushed with garlic and good olive oil, and toasted golden brown with a crisp crunch.  The crostini is slathered with an herby creamy spread and then crowned with Spring garden (safe and edible 😉) flowers and herbs.

Your celebration will be one to remember with gorgeous finger food like this...

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What is Crostini?

Crostini Defined: (noun) small pieces of toasted or fried bread served with a topping as an appetizer or canapé. In Italian, crostini means "little toasts".

The word also describes canapés consisting of small bread slices with a savory topping such as cheese, shrimp, pâté, or anchovies. And it is pronounced kraw-stee-nee. An interesting fact to know is that these are Italian appetizers and one single crostini is called a crostino!

How To Make Spring Crostini

• 1 French baguette or loaf of French bread
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Cream Cheese Spread

• 8 oz. cream cheese softened, whipped preferred
• ¼ teaspoon celery salt
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons finely minced: parsley, basil, dill, chives
• optional: kosher salt sea and salt black pepper to taste

Garnish

• ¼ cup mint and dill small pieces
• 1 box edible flowers use flowers or petals

Making Crostini Toasts

Step 1: Slice 1 baguette diagonally with a serrated knife.

Step 2: Cut a clove of garlic in half, and rub each piece of crostini bread with the cut side of the garlic clove on all sides of each piece of bread.

The fresh garlic flavors the bread. Next, brush each slice with good olive oil on both sides with a small pastry brush.

Step 3: Choose your cooking method for the baguette slices.

Outdoor Grill: toast for 15 to 20 seconds on each side, until nicely marked, then remove with tongs and set aside.

Oven Broil: Place the sliced bread on a baking sheet (do not line with parchment paper or it might catch on fire!) in a single layer after rubbed with garlic and brushed with olive oil. Adjust the rack so the slices are 2 inches from the flame and turn when the crostini starts to get golden at the edges, this happens in just a couple of minutes, so stay by the stove!

Indoor Grill Pan: Heat your cast iron grill pan and flip over after 30-60 seconds once toasted brown.

Step 4: Cool the bread on a tray before assembling.

This is how I made my crostini toasts, on a cast iron grill pan on the stovetop. If you don't have a cast-iron pan, simply use your broiler or take it out to your grill.

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Creamy Cheese Spread

1. Finely mince all your fresh herbs: parsley, basil, dill, chives. You will need 2 tablespoons. I put the fresh herb leaves in a coffee cup and snip away with clean kitchen scissors.
2. In a stand mixer with a beater, (or a bowl with a hand mixer, or bowl with a spoon), stir whipped cream cheese or softened cream cheese, heavy cream, celery salt, and the fresh herbs.  Use a hand mixer to soften the cream cheese block quickly and make it fluffy if you didn't buy whipped cream cheese. Rest the block in a bowl on the counter for an hour to soften. It will be easier to mix in the herbs and celery salt.
3. Snip your herbs into small pieces, and select the flowers you want to use. I like to sometimes just use some petals, it looks beautiful.
4. You can make this ahead and store in a small glass bowl with a lid and refrigerated.

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Or if you want, make my Homemade Boursin Cheese spread, it will go great on crostini toasts!

Spring Crostini Tips

• Slice the baguette at a slight diagonal angle so you have larger bread slices to toast as the perfect base for a variety of toppings. You can also cut straight across the bread for small toasts that are 1-2 bites.
• Cut ¼" thin slices or ½ inch thick slices, both work well.
• You can garnish your crostini in so many ways, I love fresh herbs, edible flowers or petals, and a sprinkle of good sea salt like Maldon flakes.
• A great way to use a day-old stale baguette is to make crostini, but it gets rock hard and almost impossible to slice after one day.
• Serve a beautiful charcuterie board and make an easy crostini recipe for an instant party! I have lot's of recipe combinations below.
• It's best to slice your bread the day you buy it and then make the homemade crostini when you have time. You can freeze them in a zip-top bag.
• I have found the best way to get even small slices of toast is to use a small serrated knife, it seems to be the perfect size for good crostini.

Now, Let's Talk About Edible Flowers

Hey, you certainly don't have to eat them, but they make a beautiful statement. Take a look at this edible flower chart.

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Where To Order Edible Flowers

• Edible flowers can be ordered through the produce department of your local grocery store, gourmet markets, ordered online, or through Costco.
• You can grow edible flowers in your garden, just be sure that they are organic, pesticide-free, and safe to eat as an edible flower.
• Organic edible dried flowers are an option, look beautiful, and are available online.

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Common Edible Flower List

Arugula, Bachelor's Buttons, Basil Blossom, Borage, Buzz Button, Calendula, Carnation, Camelia, Chive, Blossom, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, Daylily, Garlic Blossom, Hibiscus, Hollyhock, Lavender, Lilac, Marigold, Nasturtium, Orchid, Pansy, Peony, Rose, Snapdragon, Squash Blossom, Violet, and Viola.

• Buy flowers that are marked edible flowers online. Not all flowers are safe.
• Please do your research, and make sure your flowers are safe to eat. If they are known as safe edible flowers, they are okay to eat. But hey, you don't have to eat them, they sure look pretty though.
• If you’re unsure, don't experiment.
• Avoid flowers from a florist.
• Wash and use clean flowers thoroughly before using them in recipes or eating them, even if you grow them yourself or buy them. Avoid fertilizers, contaminated water, etc.

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This is the box of edible flowers from Costco, I had it shipped to my home. It arrived packed with cool packs and was in great condition, and is a large box and costs $39.99.

It was fine in the fridge for a couple of days until I made the crostini recipe. Costco does not ship perishables over the weekend or for delivery on the weekend.  I love Costco Delivery, it is FREE, have you tried this yet? It could change your life ; )

 Also see my post on how to make a DIY Garden Party Flower Ice Bucket to chill wine, champagne, or any large bottle, and it is perfect to use the extra flowers from this recipe.  So easy and SO cute!

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