I recently made this appetizer for an ornament exchange party and I loved it! It was unique, easy to make ahead of time, and a crowd pleaser. With the beautiful color the roasted cranberries provide, this will be perfect to serve on New Year’s Eve. I found this recipe on Neighborhood Food Blog – if you go to the post on my site at www.bubblyhostess.com, you will find the link to her post as well.
Also, with this being my final column for 2015, I want to thank each and every one of you for reading my posts and for following me! Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy 2016! Cheers!
I love to hear feedback – please visit my blog at www.bubblyhostess.com. You can also follow The Bubbly Hostess on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.
Roasted Balsamic Cranberry and Brie Crostini
Serves 10-12
Recipe from Neighborhood Food Blog
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ a French baguette, sliced thin
12 ounces fresh cranberries
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon rosemary
Thyme, to garnish
4 ounces triple cream brie (Note: I found a slicing brie that was perfect for this – link to product is on my blog)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a small bowl, whisk together the butter and olive oil. Brush both sides of the baguette slices with mixture and line them up on a baking sheet. Set aside.
In another small bowl, stir together the cranberries, balsamic vinegar, sugar, and rosemary. Spread these out on a rimmed baking sheet. (They get pretty sticky, so if you want to avoid scrubbing, line the pan with parchment paper).
Place the cranberries in the oven. Roast for five minutes and then add the tray of baguette slices to the oven. Roast for an additional 6 minutes then remove the baguette slices, flip them over, and return to the oven for another 4-6 minutes, or until crispy and golden. At this point, the cranberries should be popped open with juices running out. Remove both the cranberries and baguette slices from the oven.
Top each baguette with a slice of brie and a spoonful of cranberries. Garnish with thyme if desired. These can be served while the cranberries are still warm, or you can make the components ahead of time. The cranberries can be chilled overnight and the crostini will keep in a zip lock bag. Simply assemble and serve at room temperature when you’re ready!