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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Apple Crostini with Balsamic & Thyme

    Published: Oct 4, 2021 · Modified: Oct 29, 2023 by Emily Laurae · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    apple crostinis.
    apple crostinis.
    apple crostinis.

    Make a big, beautiful tray of Apple Crostini appetizers with balsamic & thyme for your next gathering with family and friends within mere minutes! These crostinis are made with thin slices of SweeTango® apples - read on to learn more about how to make some for yourself!

    Apple Crostini with Balsamic & Thyme.
    Jump to:
    • ⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 
    • ❓ What is a Crostini?
    • ❓ What is Mascarpone?
    • ❓ What is Balsamic Glaze
    • 📝 How to Make your own Balsamic Glaze
    • 🍴Ingredients 
    • 📖 Step by Step Instructions
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • More Fall Recipes to Try
    • Apple Crostini with Balsamic & Thyme
    • 💬 Comments

    ⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

    The crisp, sweetness of these crostinis are made using SweeTango® apples - mouth-watering apples with a honeyed citrus flavor profile balanced with a hint of warm spices. They're absolutely ideal to use for the creation of these apple crostinis with balsamic and thyme! It can be incredibly challenging to pick which apple to choose when you're at the grocery store, but SweeTango® makes it an easy choice when you hear more about how they are made!

    Across America and Canada, SweeTango® apples are raised in orchards by incredible farmers that are conscious and careful about their environmental impact, use the most rigorous quality control, and are committed to growing only the best apples!

    SweeTango® apples were originally introduced in 2009 when horticulturalists from the University of Minnesota bred a Honeycrisp with a Zestar using time-honored techniques. The offspring produced the Minneiska tree—a special tree that grows a seasonal apple harvested in early fall…the SweeTango®!

    These apples are crisp, incredibly juicy, and distinctly flavorful apples that you can find at your local grocery store! Head on over to SweeTango® website and use their locator to find a store near you that sells their delicious apples so that you can make these Apple Crostinis with Balsamic and Thyme for your next get together!

    Apple Crostini with Balsamic & Thyme
    Cheese in a bowl.
    Adding cheese to corstinis.

    ❓ What is a Crostini?

    “Crostini” means “little crusts” (ie. “little toasts”) in Italian and that’s exactly what they are:  thinly sliced bread, toasted until crisp, and then layered with all kinds of different toppings.

    Once your base has been created, you can top the bread slices with all kinds of toppings! Hummus, cheese, pesto, fruits, vegetables, herbs, oils, and balsamic - the world is yours!

    Adding apples to crostinis.
    Apple for making Apple Crostini with Balsamic & Thyme.

    ❓ What is Mascarpone?

    The closest ingredient that we can compare mascarpone to is cream cheese. Mascarpone has less acidity than cream cheese, which makes it perfect for pairing with a higher acidity ingredient like lemon curd. The process of creating each is essentially the same, yet while cream cheese is made with whole milk, mascarpone is made with heavy cream.

    The heavy cream is heated, acid is added and the cream starts to thicken. After pouring into a strainer lined with cheesecloth and letting it set overnight – the next morning, you have mascarpone!

    ❓ What is Balsamic Glaze

    A thick, balsamic glaze is a wonderful acidic and slightly sweet addition to these crostinis – I would highly recommend either buying some in the oil aisle of your local grocery store or making your own! At its core, it is a balsamic reduction with a touch of sweetener, and it takes less than 20 minutes to make.

    📝 How to Make your own Balsamic Glaze

    To make your own balsamic glaze, add 1 cup of balsamic vinegar into a saucepan and add ½ tablespoon honey. Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce heat to simmer for about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally until reduced by half and lightly coat the back of a spoon. As the glaze cools it will continue to thicken! 

    Apple Crostini with Balsamic & Thyme on a cutting board.

    🍴Ingredients 

    There are only a few ingredients needed to create these crostinis! Here's what you'll want to round up:

    • 1 Baguette , Sliced, one inch pieces slightly toasted
    • ½ Cup Mascarpone
    • 4 SweeTango® Apples, Thinly Sliced
    • 3 tablespoon Balsamic Glaze
    • 3 tablespoon Fresh Thyme

    📖 Step by Step Instructions

    Here's how to make these Apple Crostinis for yourself:

    1. Spread a layer of mascarpone on the cooled slices of toasted baguette.
    2. Top with two thin slices of SweeTango® Apples, fanning slightly.
    3. Finally, drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with fresh thyme before serving!
    Apple Crostini with Balsamic & Thyme.
    Apple Crostini with Balsamic & Thyme.

    *This post has been sponsored by SweeTango®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    What cheeses pair well with the flavors of apple in a crostini?

    Creamy goat cheese, brie cheese, and blue cheese all complement the natural sweetness of apples beautifully, making for a delicious recipe and a perfect appetizer for gatherings.

    If I'm looking for an easy appetizer for a dinner party, how can apple crostini fit the bill?

    Apple crostini, with its blend of crisp apples, cheese, and a drizzle of honey, offers a simple yet sophisticated option. Using slices of baguette or crusty bread, you can quickly create an appetizer that feels gourmet.

    How can I add a little extra sweetness to my apple crostini without overpowering the other flavors?

    A light drizzle of maple syrup or placing a small dollop of cranberry sauce or apple chutney atop the apple slices will enhance the sweetness without overshadowing the dish's other flavors.

    What are some suggestions for storing leftover apple crostini or its components?

    Store any leftover apple slices in an airtight container in the fridge. For the baguette slices, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature to retain their golden brown crunch for the next day.

    More Fall Recipes to Try

    • Cookie butter cookies on a plate with cookie butter and flaky salt on top.
      Easy Biscoff Cookie Butter Cookies Recipe (No Chill!)
    • Bacon egg and cheese croissant on a plate with juice nearby on a counter.
      Bacon Egg and Cheese Croissant Breakfast Sandwiches
    • Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls thumbnail.
      Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls Recipe (Easy!)
    • Molasses cookie sandwiches with cream cheese frosting.
      Ginger Molasses Cookie Sandwiches with Cream Cheese Filling

    If you try this recipe for Apple Crostinis, please leave a 🌟 review and share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter! 📧 

    Apple Crostini with Balsamic & Thyme

    Apple Crostini with Balsamic & Thyme

    Make a big, beautiful tray of Apple Crostini appetizers with balsamic & thyme for your next gathering with family and friends within mere minutes! These crostinis are made with thin slices of SweeTango® apples - read on to learn more about how to make some for yourself!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 207kcal
    Author: Emily Laurae

    Equipment

    • Cutting Board
    • Paring Knife

    Ingredients

    • 1 Baguette , Sliced, one inch pieces slightly toasted
    • ½ Cup Mascarpone
    • 4 SweeTango® Apples, Thinly Sliced
    • 3 tablespoon Balsamic Glaze
    • 3 tablespoon Fresh Thyme

    Instructions

    • Spread a layer of mascarpone on the cooled slices of toasted baguette.
      1 Baguette, ½ Cup Mascarpone
    • Top with two thin slices of SweeTango® Apples, fanning slightly.
      4 SweeTango® Apples
    • Finally, drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with fresh thyme before serving!
      3 tablespoon Balsamic Glaze, 3 tablespoon Fresh Thyme

    Nutrition

    Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 200mg | Potassium: 148mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 371IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1mg
    Enjoyed this recipe?Mention @emilylaurae or tag #emilylaurae!

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    About Emily Laurae

    Emily is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Emily Laurae. After finishing Pastry School and working as a chef in the restaurant industry, she created this blog to share those skills with home bakers and creators all over the world!

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