Apricot and Cheddar Cheese Crostini are the easiest, no-cook small party bite. Simple, toasted French baguette slices are topped with apricot preserves and a good sharp cheddar. Don’t you wish all holiday entertaining is this easy?!

Apricot and cheddar crostini on a serving board

Get a last minute call? Guests are coming over unexpectedly? If you have 10 minutes and these simple ingredients, you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen making complex appetizers. 

A quick appetizer to serve that will delight and entertain your guests. This cheese and fruit crostini is a classic example of allowing your grocery store to do all the heavy lifting while you get to simply assemble the dish!

Apricot and cheese crostini viewed from overhead

For the bread, I like to use a freshly sliced baguette because the pieces are bite size, versus my other favorite bread, ciabatta which makes large slices, which are not ‘bite sized’ friendly. You can also buy pre-toasted baguette slices.

This is an example of crostini more than bruschetta. The difference between crostini and bruschetta is, crostini are smaller slices of bread (like French baguette) with toppings and bruschetta are made with large slices of bread (like Ciabatta) and served with toppings.

Hence the translations: Crostini ‘little toasts’ and bruschetta ‘to toast’.

Apricot and cheese crostini viewed from overhead

Fruit and cheese is a classic flavor pairing and this combo is actually something I enjoy regularly for breakfast. A good sharp, white cheddar is simply the best flavor with apricot (I know; I’ve tried many different types of cheese!). 

When it’s apricot season, you could even use freshly sliced ones. Another good option which I also enjoy is a hearty blackberry jam with sharp cheddar.

Now, I know you’re thinking it’s just simply toast, cheese and jam (and it is!). But… a delicious hors d’oeuvre doesn’t have to be difficult to look elegant. For presentation and a dash of color, I garnish with a bit of micro greens.

How many small bites do you serve per person?

A good rule of thumb is 3-4 per person.

Fruit and Cheese Crostini pairing

I recently served these alongside Baked Brie with Pistachios, Pomegranate and Rosemary (very festive) and Cheese, Chive and Rosemary Puffs. This was all washed down with a Smoked Christmas Manhattan and Christmas Cosmopolitan that I premade in pitchers and served chilled. So easy!

Yield: 4 servings

Apricot and Cheddar Cheese Crostini

Toasted baguette slices topped with apricot preserves and white cheddar

Simple toasted baguette slices are topped with apricot preserves, sharp cheddar cheese and a pretty garnish.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 16 bread slices
  • 16 teaspoons Apricot jam
  • 16 slices cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Toast the slices in the toaster or a toaster oven. Spread an even layer of jam or preserves on the slices, top with cheddar slices and micro greens.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 847Total Fat 42gSaturated Fat 22gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 15gCholesterol 111mgSodium 1351mgCarbohydrates 82gFiber 3gSugar 19gProtein 37g

This nutrition calculation is provided by Nutronix that is only a guideline and not intended for any particular diet.