How To Make Spring Crostini Appetizers

A white platter with crostini recipe topped with edible flowers and herbs.

5 from 3 votes

How To Make Spring Crostini Appetizers

Spring garden crostini with edible flowers and herbs is a spectacular easy appetizer, perfect for a tea, garden party, wedding shower, or Mother's Day.

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Course: Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: crostini, edible flowers, spring appetizer

Servings: pieces

Calories: 80kcal

Author: Lisa Hatfield

Equipment

Ingredients

Crostini

1 baguette
¼ cup olive oil

Cream Cheese Spread

8 oz. cream cheese softened, whipped prefered
¼ teaspoon celery salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1-2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, basil, dill, and or chives finely minced

Garnish

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

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Make Crostini Toasts

Slice 1 baguette diagonally with a serrated knife about ¼-1/2" slices.
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.
Choose your grill 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 parchment paper lined baking sheet in a single lay 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 browned and grill-marked. Cool the bread on a tray before assembling.
Cool the bread on a tray before assembling.

Make Cream Cheese Spread

Finely mince all your fresh herbs: parsley, basil, dill, chives. You will need 2 tablespoons. I put the fresh herb leaves into a coffee cup and snip away with clean kitchen scissors.
Prepare Garnish: Snip your herbs into small pieces, and select the flowers you want to use for the top. I like to sometimes just use some flower petals, it looks beautiful.
In a stand mixer with beater or bowl with hand mixer, or bowl with spoon, stir whipped cream cheese or softened cream cheese, heavy cream, celery salt, and herbs.
Tip: Use a hand mixer to soften the cream cheese block quickly and make it fluffy. 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.
The cream cheese spread can be made up to a day ahead, covered, and refrigerated.

Garnish and Decorate

Spread Cream Cheese Spread on each slice of cooled bread.
Garnish with edible flowers either whole or use the petals, mint, parsley, and dill or anything you like from your garden or farmers market just be sure they are organic and safely edible!

Notes

Grilled Crostini

Grill marks look great, but it's more important to get a nice golden toast on the bread. The herb spread will cover the bread, so don't be too concerned if they aren't all perfect.

Herb Spread

You can use whipped cream cheese! Or try my Boursin spread, it is fantastic. Or a regular block of cream cheese. Use a hand mixer to soften the cream cheese quickly and get it fluffy, otherwise rest in a bowl on the counter for an hour to soften, this makes it easier to stir in the herbs and celery salt. This Cream Cheese Herb Topping can be made a day ahead, covered, and refrigerated. Just pull it out of the fridge an hour or so before you want to use it, so it spreads easier.

Make Crostini Toasts Ahead

To make the crostini toasts ahead of time, grill them, and cool completely to room temperature. Store in airtight containers for up to two days on the counter. You may need to re-crisp the crostini in the oven on a sheet pan for a few minutes, to remove any moisture.

Edible Flowers and Herbs

Edible flowers can be ordered through the produce department of your local grocery store, 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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