Sweet & Tangy Pear Crostini Recipe: A Bite-Sized Delight
Elegant appetizers often surprise guests with unexpected flavor combinations, and this delightful pear crostini recipe brings rustic charm to any gathering.
Crisp baguette slices create the perfect canvas for soft cheese and caramelized fruit.
Sweet pears mingle with creamy ricotta, creating a delectable harmony of textures and tastes.
Toasted bread provides a satisfying crunch that complements the tender fruit.
Fresh herbs add a subtle brightness to each delectable bite.
These sophisticated little toasts work beautifully as a starter or party snack.
Serve these irresistible morsels and watch your guests marvel at your culinary prowess.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 16 minutes
Calories: 210 kcal
Servings: 7
Everything You Need for Pear and Brie Crostini
For The Base:
Baguette: Crusty French bread that provides a crispy foundation for the crostini, select a fresh loaf with a golden, crackling crust.
Olive Oil: Helps create a golden, crisp texture when toasting the bread, choose extra virgin for rich flavor.
For The Fruit And Cheese:
Anjou Pear: Sweet and buttery variety that offers a delicate, juicy contrast, pick firm pears with smooth skin and no bruises.
Brie Cheese: Creamy French cheese that melts beautifully and adds luxurious richness, select a wheel that's soft but not overly runny.
For The Aromatics And Finishing Touches:
Fresh Rosemary, Fresh Thyme: Herbaceous seasonings that bring earthy, pine-like notes to the dish, use bright green sprigs with intact leaves.
Garlic: Adds a pungent depth that complements the mild cheese and sweet pear, choose firm cloves without sprouts.
Balsamic Reduction: Provides a sweet-tangy glaze that elevates the entire appetizer, look for a thick, glossy syrup with deep color.
Pear and Brie Crostini Kitchen Essentials
Broiler: Essential for toasting and melting cheese quickly.
Baking sheet: Needed to hold baguette slices while broiling.
Sharp knife: Perfect for slicing baguette, pear, and Brie precisely.
Brush: Use for evenly coating baguette slices with garlic and olive oil.
Cutting board: Provides a stable surface for slicing ingredients.
Small bowl: Helpful for mixing garlic and olive oil.
Making Pear and Brie Crostini the Easy Way
Bread Preparation Fresh slices of baguette are cut into perfect bite-sized pieces, creating a crispy canvas for our delightful appetizer.
Flavor Infusion Crushed garlic mingles with olive oil, creating a fragrant base that will be brushed generously onto each bread slice to enhance the overall taste experience.
Toasting Magic Broiler transforms the bread into golden, crispy perfection, warming each slice to a delectable crunch that provides a wonderful texture foundation.
Cheese Elegance Soft, creamy Brie is carefully layered across the toasted bread, melting into a luxurious blanket that promises rich, smooth flavors.
Fruity Accent Delicate pear slices are artfully arranged, bringing a subtle sweetness and fresh brightness to complement the creamy cheese and crispy bread.
Herbal Finale Aromatic rosemary and thyme are sprinkled across the crostini, adding a sophisticated herbal note that elevates the entire appetizer.
Final Touch A drizzle of balsamic reduction provides a tangy, glossy finish that ties all the flavors together, creating a stunning small plate perfect for entertaining.
Ideas to Enhance Pear and Brie Crostini
Experiment with different cheese varieties like goat cheese or camembert for unique taste profiles.
Fresh thyme and rosemary can be swapped with sage or tarragon to create exciting flavor twists.
Prepare baguette slices and slice pears and cheese in advance, storing separately to assemble quickly before serving.
Toast baguette slices slightly longer for extra crispiness, or keep them softer for a more delicate bite.
Drizzle honey or add toasted walnuts for an elegant touch that elevates the entire appetizer's flavor complexity.
How to Serve Pear and Brie Crostini with Flair
Elegant Appetizer Showcase: Arrange these crostini on a rustic wooden board with fresh herb sprigs scattered around, creating a stunning visual presentation that invites guests to dig in.
Wine Pairing Perfection: Serve alongside a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a light Pinot Grigio that complements the creamy brie and sweet pear flavors.
Seasonal Party Platter: Create a mix of these crostini with other seasonal toasts like fig and goat cheese or roasted tomato variations to offer guests a delightful tasting experience.
Brunch Centerpiece Delight: Pair these crostini with a fresh mixed green salad and light mimosas for an impressive weekend brunch spread that feels both luxurious and effortless.
Tips for Keeping Pear and Brie Crostini Fresh
Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover crostini in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking, and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Smart Prep Hack: Slice baguette, cheese, and pears in advance and keep separately in sealed containers, allowing quick assembly when unexpected guests arrive.
Freezing Wisdom: While best enjoyed fresh, you can freeze unbaked baguette slices brushed with garlic oil for up to one month, thawing at room temperature before topping and broiling.
Temperature Revival: Reheat refrigerated crostini in a preheated oven at 350°F for 3-4 minutes to restore crispness and revive the melted cheese's gooey texture.
Rustic pear crostini delights palates with elegant Italian-inspired simplicity. Crisp bread slices topped with creamy cheese and caramelized pears invite friends to savor each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
1 baguette (about 25 inches long)
10 oz (283 g) Brie cheese
1 Anjou pear
2 tbsps olive oil
2–3 tbsps balsamic reduction
2 tbsps fresh rosemary, finely chopped
2 tbsps fresh thyme, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
Instructions
Oven Preparation: Ignite broiler to maximum intensity, positioning rack 4 inches from heat source.
Bread Transformation: Slice baguette diagonally into half-inch pieces using a serrated knife, creating uniform crostini foundations.
Ingredient Preparation: Delicately slice Brie into thin segments and julienne pears into translucent ribbons while mincing garlic for aromatic oil blend.
Flavor Infusion: Whisk extra virgin olive oil with minced garlic, creating a fragrant herbal emulsion to generously coat each baguette slice.
Toasting Stage: Broil bread slices for approximately 2 minutes until edges turn golden and crisp, developing a robust texture.
Cheese Melting: Layer Brie segments across toasted surfaces, returning to broiler for an additional 2 minutes until cheese gently surrenders its form.
Herb and Fruit Finale: Crown melted cheese with pear slivers, sprinkle rosemary and thyme for botanical complexity, then broil one final minute to integrate flavors and warm fruit.
Presentation: Elegantly drizzle balsamic reduction and garnish with fresh herb sprigs, transforming simple crostini into a culinary masterpiece.
Notes
Slice Bread Precisely: Use a sharp serrated knife to create uniform half-inch diagonal slices for even toasting and consistent texture.
Watch Broiler Carefully: Keep a close eye during toasting to prevent burning, as broilers can quickly char bread and cheese.
Choose Ripe Pears Wisely: Select firm yet slightly soft pears that will provide a sweet, juicy contrast without being too mushy or hard.
Herb Infusion Technique: Crush garlic and herbs gently to release maximum flavor when blending with olive oil for a more aromatic base.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO
Degree: Diploma in Culinary Arts
Focus: Hands-on training in classic and modern culinary techniques, emphasizing sustainable cooking practices, kitchen professionalism, and real-world restaurant experience through externships.
Oregon State University
Degree: B.S. in Nutrition and Food Management
Focus: In-depth study of human nutrition, food safety, meal planning, and food-service operations, with a strong foundation in public health, dietetics, and community-based nutrition programs.
Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café.
Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.
Sophie Reynolds
Co-Founder, Recipe Curator & Culinary Educator
Expertise
Education
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO
Oregon State University
Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café.
Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.