Apple Goat Cheese Crostini Appetizer
Taste the tartness of this Apple Goat Cheese Crostini Appetizer with Granny Smith apples, goat cheese, a drizzle of olive oil and lemon zest.
So good and fresh, there’s nothing better than a tart Granny Smith apple with cheese :) We love this Apple Goat Cheese Crostini Appetizer served any time of year! But if you’re a pear lover, then you’ll love this Pear Walnut Crostini Appetizer.
Apple Goat Cheese Crostini Appetizer
Really, so simple. All you need are these ingredients:
- Goat cheese
- Lemon
- Granny Smith apples
- Fresh thyme
- Ground coarse black pepper
- Pinch of salt
- Baguette
- Olive oil to drizzle
How to make crostini
Let’s get started. On baking sheet, spread out baguette bread slices. Lightly drizzle both sides with olive oil, then broil in oven for 2-3 minutes on each side—until the bread is lightly golden and crunchy. Easy as 1, 2, 3. Just don’t forget them under the broiler. Do you know how many times I have burnt crostini? (ack!)
Now you’re ready to make an outstanding appetizer!
Why practice hospitality
We all want to live a rich, satisfying life. If we do a heart check, and really realize the importance of relationships at some point, we have a longing to connect with others.
Not to fill our own needs, but to give out, be generous, loving, and hospitable. I do believe it’s in our DNA for all of us to have this innate ability to show love. The problem is, we either get caught up in the details, or we run out of money and time, or we get lazy.
Yup, it’s easier to sit on the couch and get caught up on our favorite Netflix series (hand raised, I whizzed through The Crown) than to do a little planning, and invite maybe new neighbors or friends over for dinner.
Entertaining: it’s not about you, it’s all about THEM
Eight years ago (2010, wow, have I been blogging that long?), I posted a very simple post and statement that still rings true today: Hospitality is not about YOU, it’s all about THEM.
Being a hospitable person actually changes us if we’re willing to let it. I have an extrovert personality, so hosting may seem like it’s easier for me than someone with an introvert personality. Years ago I, too, got caught up in the cycle of worrying about what others thought of me. Worried about my cooking. Waiting until my house had a new sofa (because the current one was ugly). Feeling like I didn’t want to cook a more humbling dish like spaghetti, and opting for something not in my budget, like filet mignon. Silly things like that.
But the more I hosted, the love and connection melted my heart strings, and I started caring more about people than all the details. I also started seeing that creating a space for people to connect was a good thing. Something people longed for, and enjoyed. Pretty soon we started introducing people to other people, and friendships were born. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of. All over what were essentially potluck meals.
Goat Cheese & Apple Crostini Appetizer
So today, start small. Enjoy this Apple Goat Cheese Crostini Appetizer, buy a bottle of wine, and invite 2 people over for dinner.
It’s easy! Start with this dish: One-Pot Paprika Chicken Thighs, ask your guests to bring a green salad, heat up some bread, and you’ve got a dinner party!
If, and only if, you want to make a dessert, you’ll love my Peach Upside Down Cake. Delicious any time of year, serve it warm with fresh whipped cream.
Thank you friends for allowing me to share my journey with you.
If you want to be happy, start asking more people over to share a meal!
More apple appetizers:
Goat Cheese Honey Crisp Apple Thins [RE], Apple Pie Baked Brie Appetizer [The Cookie Rookie and Maple Glazed Apple Chicken Sausage Bites [Noble Pig].
Get the Recipe:
Apple Goat Cheese Crostini Appetizer
Ingredients
- 4 oz goat cheese
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced
- 3 Tbsp fresh thyme, plus some for garnishing
- 1/2 tsp ground coarse black pepper
- Pinch of salt
- 1 baguette, sliced in longer pieces (diagonally)
- Olive oil to drizzle
Instructions
- On baking sheet, spread out bread slices. Lightly drizzle both sides with olive oil, then broil in oven for 2-3 minutes on each side—until the bread is lightly golden and crunchy.
- In small bowl, cream together goat cheese, pepper, a pinch of salt, and thyme. Set aside.
- In medium bowl, pour lemon juice over apple slices to prevent apples from browning. Drain any remaining lemon juice and set aside.
- Smudge a dollop of goat cheese on each crostini, and then top with an apple slice, lemon zest, and thyme.
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
These were excellent. Made a triple batch for a party in about 20 minutes. Love your comments on hospitality. Its a dying art for sure.
If I toast the bread the day before I serve it, do you think it will be ok?
Yes, as long as you keep them crisp, then assemble right before serving.
I make similar appetizers and we absolutely love them! They are so delicious – I could eat all of them instead of a dinner :)
wonderful sentiments on hospitality and a great reminder of its importance, a nice recipe too, thank you
I love this Sandy! It’s so true, entertaining does take some effort, but the rewards are totally worth it. Last summer we had a standing taco Tuesday night. Everyone was invited, every week. It was super fun (and I won’t lie, I was a little burned out by the end of the summer) but it was a really fun way to spend more time with friends!