Name: Cranberry Crostini Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 18 min
Ingredients: 1 baguette; 3 Tablespoons butter (softened); 1 Tablespoon honey; 4 ounces cream cheese (softened); 1/2 cup cranberry sauce; Lime zest (optional)

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Looking for an easy crostini appetizer? This Cranberry Crostini Recipe with cream cheese is festive, easy to make, and perfect for the holiday season.

Raise your hand if you love a good appetizer. Sometimes I could skip the main course and just fill up on party appetizers.

And cranberry crostini is one of my favorites! Much like pumpkins, cranberries are a quintessential Fall and Winter season food.

cranberry crostinis topped with cream cheese on cutting board

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A crostini technically means toasted bread in Italian but it sure does look and sound fancy. When you are prepping for a big party the last thing you need is a complex recipe or menu. But you want it to look good, right?!

No one needs to know cranberry crostini with cream cheese comes together in just 20 minutes. And that includes the prep work!

I know you’ve probably seen Brie cheese used here, but I like to change things up by using cream cheese. It’s easy to find and friendly on the wallet.

As we are approaching the holiday season be sure to check out these posts for more holiday recipes and helpful tips.

ingredients labeled to make cranberry crostini

Ingredients for Cranberry Crostini Recipe

Baguette – you can use a French or Italian loaf

Butter – you are going to mix this with the honey, so it needs to be softened

Honey

Cream cheese – will need to soften

Cranberry sauce – ditch the jellied cranberry sauce and go for one that has whole berries in it. It truly makes a difference! You can also check out my easy homemade cranberry sauce and use it instead of store-bought.

Lime zest – it’s optional but adds a bright flavor profile to the dish. Use a microplane zester for best results.

How to Make Cream Cheese Cranberry Crostini

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare your baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Use a serrated knife to slice the bread into 2-inch slices Then place the slices on the baking sheet.

two image collage showing bread slices and bread topped with cheese

Whisk together the butter and honey in a small mixing bowl until it’s smooth.

Spread the honey mixture on the baguette slices.

Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Spread the cream cheese on top, making sure it’s softened so it spreads easily.

Top with cranberry sauce and finish with a dash of lime zest.

close up of cranberry crostini with lime zest and cream cheese

What Cheese Pairs Well with Cranberry?

Traditionally soft cheeses pair well with cranberries. The most common cheeses are Havarti, Brie, and cream cheese. You want to use a milder cheese so the flavors balance out and it doesn’t overpower the other ingredients.

top shot of finished crostini on a cutting board

Tips for Making

Substitute goat cheese for the cream cheese if preferred.
If you’ve got access to lingonberry sauce (thank you Ikea!) swap it for the cranberry sauce. Soooo good!
Use my easy homemade cranberry sauce in place of store-bought.
This recipe works best with whole berry sauce rather than the jellied style sauce.
Cranberry crostini is best served immediately.

More Easy Appetizer Recipes:

Pin the Cranberry Crostini Recipe for Later

cranberry crostini on a cutting board with text overlay

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