Fresh Lemon Herb Goat Cheese Crostini
A bright and fresh appetizer featuring creamy lemon herb goat cheese spread on crispy toasted baguette slices, perfect for spring parties and easy to prepare in under 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- Baguette, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds (day-old bread works best for extra crunch)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Coarse sea salt
- Goat cheese (4 oz / 115 g, softened to room temperature)
- Lemon zest from 1 large lemon
- Fresh lemon juice (about 1 tablespoon / 15 ml)
- Fresh herbs: 1 tablespoon chopped chives, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon chopped thyme leaves
- Garlic clove, minced (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Honey (1 teaspoon, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly oil it to prevent sticking.
- Slice the baguette into 1/4-inch rounds, keeping slices uniform for even toasting.
- Place the slices on the baking sheet and brush the tops lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle a pinch of coarse sea salt over each slice.
- Bake in the oven for about 8-10 minutes until golden and crisp. Flip halfway for even browning if desired.
- While the crostini toasts, combine softened goat cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, minced garlic, chopped herbs, honey (if using), salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix well until creamy and evenly blended.
- Remove the toasted bread from the oven and let cool slightly.
- Spread a generous dollop of the lemon herb goat cheese onto each crostini slice. Optionally, sprinkle extra fresh herbs or drizzle olive oil on top.
- Serve immediately. If preparing early, keep crostini and cheese spread separate until ready to serve.
Notes
Let goat cheese come to room temperature before mixing for a creamy texture. Use day-old baguette for better crunch. Avoid spreading cheese on piping-hot crostini to maintain texture contrast. If spread is too tangy, add more honey or olive oil. Can prepare cheese spread up to 2 days ahead and store refrigerated.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 crostini
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 120
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3.5
- Carbohydrates: 7
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 3
Keywords: lemon herb goat cheese crostini, spring appetizer, easy crostini recipe, goat cheese spread, party appetizer, fresh herbs, lemon zest