This crostini recipe makes the perfect baked gluten-free appetizer for the holidays! Super quick, easy, healthy, and delicious, this is one of my favorite crostini recipes! A gluten-free crostini topped with goat cheese, roasted balsamic cranberries, and sweet onions, then garnished with fresh basil and balsamic glaze.
This crostini recipe post is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Udi’s Gluten Free. The opinions and text are all mine.
I’m just going to put it out there. I have a major roasted cranberry and goat cheese obsession lately. Not even together Separately.
Until now, when I decided that the two needed to become one. As in ….this cranberry goat cheese crostini recipe.
If you follow me on snapchat or Instagram stories, you will see this. I’ve made whipped goat cheese 3 x this week. This is also my third cranberry recipe this Fall, GASP! But here’s the thing. I don’t plan on stopping with these heavenly holiday inspired flavors.
Nope, I want to FULLY enjoy the season we are in. That means I may go overboard on seasonal produce (Pumpkin FOR LIFE), holiday appetizers, cozy breakfast casseroles, warming soups, and just about anything I can put in a slow cooker. All gluten free, of course.
Maybe making and enjoying all the food means I (we) should entertain more. You know, with the right ESSENTIALS. Maybe going overboard means we just need to embrace our holiday enthusiasm. You know it’s in you, deep down inside.
Like a little kid on Christmas Day. That is my confession to you today. I’m no longer trying to “contain” the enthusiasm. Nope, I’m just a girl, standing in kitchen, ready to serve up a batch of holiday cheer (enter corniness).
Or in this case Roasted Cranberry Goat Cheese Gluten Free Crostini.
Holly molly ya’ll! Talk about feeding an obsession. I made this Cranberry Goat Cheese Crostini recipe last week and now I can’t get stop. I basically serve them to all who come over. See, the enthusiasm has begun! I keep saying. Ohh “you gotta try this, it’s for a Thanksgiving appetizer.” And then I proceed to make more to “test.” And when I say “test,” I mean I just feed the cranberry/goat cheese obsession. WHOLE HEARTEDLY.
This baked appetizer so easy to make, and it’s customizable. Meaning, you can make this gluten free crostini recipe with vegan cheese, another soft cheese, or even without cheese.
Although, I highly recommend the goat cheese crostini. Just giving options. I am to please. As you can tell.
Making the Cranberry Goat Cheese Crostini Recipe
The true star for these gluten free crostini is how you make them. Roasted cranberry and red onion tossed in olive oil first.
Lightly baked Gluten free bread/rolls. I used Udis gluten free rolls, sliced horizontally. They make the perfect size “amuse bouche” crostini (more on that topic below). Plus they bake up quickly and oh so HEAVENLY!
You then smear a little goat CHEEEEESE on each slice of baked gluten free bread and top with the roasted cranberry and onion. But wait, there’s more. After that sweet/tart topping, you garnish with fresh basil, thyme, a drizzle of balsamic glaze, and cracked pepper. This crostini recipe is SO SIMPLE yet has so much SWOON FACTOR!
The flavor is an absolute match made in heaven. But I’m sure I don’t have to convince you much to believe me. Yes. Sweet, tart, creamy, and addicting.
That’s the other thing I like about appetizers, sometimes it’s the simplest ingredients that make the most delicious recipe. Amen amen!
Plus mini bites of goodness make me happy. A true amuse bouche you might say. — -> ” A little bite of food to amuse the mouth and invigorate the palate.”
Did I just go overboard again on my gluten free crostini description? Yes, I SURE DID! Ha ha!
OK back to this cranberry goat cheese crostini recipe. I know you’re going to want to try this out before Thanksgiving, so I’ll get to the recipe already!
You know, so you can join me in the cranberry and goat cheese infatuation. Tis the season!
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Quick Cranberry Goat Cheese Crostini Recipe (Gluten Free)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 25–30 gluten free crostini bites 1x
Description
This crostini recipe makes the perfect baked gluten free appetizer for the holidays! This gluten free crostini recipe is healthy, delicious, and easy!
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon avocado or olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Pinch salt and pepper
- 2 cups cranberries, fresh or previously frozen
- ¼ cup sliced red onion
- 4–5 gluten free rolls, sliced ¼ to ½ inch thick
- Maple syrup or raw sugar, to taste
- ¼ cup soft goat cheese or soft cheese of choice (see notes for substitute)
- ½ cup fresh basil, stemmed and chopped
- 1 fresh Thyme sprig, optional
- Topping – cracked black pepper, sea salt and balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Gently mix in cranberries and onions.
- Spread the cranberries mixture on the prepared baking dish. Bake for 15-18 minutes.
- While cranberries are baking, place rolls on a separate baking sheet. Bake for 7-10 minutes at 400F. Flip the rolls over once during the baking time. Remove the rolls and cranberries from the oven.
- Place roasted cranberries in a bowl and add just enough maple syrup so the mixture is not too tart.
- Place toasted bread slices on a platter.
- Smear 2-3 teaspoons of goat cheese on each slice of bread.
- Add ½ Tablespoon of the cranberry mixture on top of the cheese.
- Sprinkle crostinis with chopped basil and thyme leaves. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and cracked pepper and sea salt to finish. (See notes for tips.)
- Serve or place in the fridge, covered, for later. Reheat the crostini’s slightly when serving.
Notes
Substitute – Vegan cream cheese can be substituted for goat cheese.
Taste Tip – If the crostini’s are too tart, drizzle with maple syrup or sprinkle with sugar.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: appetizer
- Method: oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 crostini
- Calories: 28
- Sugar: 0.7g
- Sodium: 85.6mg
- Fat: 1.2g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4g
- Carbohydrates: 3,7g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 0.9g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
These were so good! A few notes though, I drizzled the goat cheese with honey before putting on the cranberry onion mixture. I also added quite a bit of maple syrup to the cranberry onion mixture. I tasted prior to those changes and it was so tart! With the sweetness of those additions, they were delicious! Next time I may try adding the maple syrup before baking the cranberries.
Oh thank you for that insight! I will update the recipe with your notes Joy!
We made these this year and they were so tart it was almost difficult to eat. To try and solve the problem I added sugar to the cranberry minute and then drizzled some honey on top as well. They sure were pretty though!
Really? I’m so sorry to hear that. I wonder if it was your cranberries. Maybe under ripe? I will for sure make those notes in he recipe. What cheese did you use? Thanks for the honest feedback Cassandra! I truly do appreciate it.
I used the Laura Chenel’s Goat Cheese Log (I am certain there are better cheese’s out there ) and then the bag of Safeway’s Fresh Cranberries. I made my own balsamic drizzle by reducing balsamic vinegar over the stove. I just ate another one, after resting them a while, and it is very good, slightly sweetened with the honey. I could also see mixing the goat cheese and honey in advance, before spreading it on the toast, or buying a sweetened goat cheese, as an alternative.
Good to know! I will make these notes! I did have the option of extra maple syrup to drizzle, but i think it got delteed when I changed recipe plugins. Ugh.
what is the best way to reheat these if I make them and serve them later?
I would just lightly warm them in the oven for 5 minutes or so. The first time you make the crostini, take them out a few minutes early, that way when you reheat it, the toast can still brown a bit. Does that make sense?
I say serve up that holiday cheer, especially when it involves bread, goat cheese, cranberries and fresh herbs. In fact, if you keep this up, I may show up on your doorstep. 🙂
Look at those cranberries!! What an awesome and unique holiday dish! (Though, I think if I made these I wouldn’t be able to share with anyone… All for me!!) I love that you used Udi’s too – they’re my fav!!
Oh wow! These look amazing!!!! I love how festive and healthy they are. Those cranberries look heavenly!
Too funny, I was just thinking of trying blueberry crostini with dairy-free “goat cheese”. Okay, not quite the same, but pretty tasty on that bread, too, I think!
totally! I was thinking the Kite Hill spread!
I keep thinking that maybe I can handle goat cheese better than regular…because well it’s freaking delicious! This flavor combo is seriously perfection and probably worth an potential stomach ache 🙂
Love this idea of pairing cranberries with goat cheese. AND it looks so holiday!! I’m with ya on upping the holiday entertaining and maximizing the holiday enthusiasm 🙂
wish we lived closer. WE could have so much fun with holiday hosting!
Ohhhh… you know what this would be good with? Wine. 😉
yep! shall i bring these to your wine club? 😉
I love entertaining and these look so perfect for it! What a fabulous flavor + texture combo. I used to refuse to get swept up in holidays/celebrations. Probably, I was being a silly teenager who was too cool for that. Now? I love nothing more than going pumpkin crazy, wrapping gifts, cozying up by the fire with my family, and/or enjoying a ton of Christmas music and movies while baking 734 treats. And I’ll happily embrace spring and summer when they roll around. All the festive things!
oh yes, i had that silly teenager attitude as well. What were we thinking? LIfe is short, let’s be CORNY HAPPY! hehe
You’re so right! The simplest ingredients can make the best appetizers! Especially when it’s roasted cranberries and goat cheese!
Simple and delicious always makes me happy! 😀
I love goat cheese and fruit together so these look AMAAAAAAAAZING!
Such a great flavor combination for sure! Thanks!
I’ve been on a goat cheese kick lately so this is right up my ally! I love the sweet and savory combo here my friend!
These are definitely worth trying if you’re currently on a goat cheese kick! hehe
I don’t think you could ever over do it on describing the food you make. You truly spark a love and gratitude in my heart for even the littlest foods.
Oh I just love you so! Thanks so much for your encouragement emily
I love the colors & sounds amazing!
Thanks, Jody!
#1 Why am I not following you on snapchat? #2 Christmas cheer is impossible to contain, and foodies rejoice over all the yummy food this time of year #3 I LOVE cranberries and goat cheese – this is such a perfect (and pretty) party app!!
haha I know right? so hard to follow people on snap chat. We need a better way.
These look delicious! I think I need to add these to our Christmas spread or maybe even my in-laws earlier Thanksgiving this weekend (which they can easily be adapted to make dairy free too with some delicious dairy free cheese I have in the fridge)! While using dairy free cheese would clearly not give it that amazing goat cheese flavor I think it would add that bit of creaminess and color contrast and be better than omitting it.
Lindsay these seriously look incredible! So many of my favorite ingredients AND they are absolutely beautiful! Love these!!!
Thanks, Laura! Hope you’ll try!
…Aaaannnnnd now you have ignited a whipped goat cheese and roasted cranberry obsession on this end of the screen too…. GAH!
🙂
Then my work here is done! haha
I’ll amuse your bouche 😀 I freaking love cranberries. I need to stock up, but right now I have no room in my freezer after my epic cooking weekend!
LOL! i love you more for that comment
They’re almost too pretty to eat. Like little holiday ornaments!
hehe I like that idea! crostini bite ornaments