Strawberry Crostini are an easy, fresh summer appetizer made with creamy ricotta, sweet strawberries, and fresh mint on toasted bread. Perfect for brunch or entertaining.
Strawberry Ricotta Crostini
Easy, fresh, and packed with seasonal flavor, these Strawberry and Mint Crostini were a big yes from the Skinnytaste Community, and now they’re here! Toasted bread is topped with creamy ricotta (or goat cheese), sweet strawberries, fresh mint, and a light drizzle of honey. This appetizer has it all: simple ingredients, beautiful presentation, and it is the perfect bite for warm-weather gatherings.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Summer Appetizer
I asked my Skinnytasters to help me decide which appetizer I should create for my blog and this easy strawberry mint crostini was a popular option. I hope you enjoy it!
- In Season: A great use of summer produce
- Great for a Crowd: You can easily scale up the recipe to make more to feed a larger party.
- Easy to Serve: The perfect bite-sized appetizer.
- Dietary Restrictions: Weight Watchers-friendly, vegetarian; gluten-free (if using GF bread), vegan and dairy-free (if using plant-based cheese)
For more crostini recipes, try my White Bean Crostini and Spinach-Artichoke Crostini.
Ingredients And Variations
Here are the strawberry crostini ingredients. See the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Strawberries: Using in-season strawberries when they’re at their sweetest will deliver the best results, but you can make this app any time of year.
- Sugar and Lemon Zest: The strawberries macerate in granulated sugar and lemon zest, drawing out the berries’ liquid and becoming sweeter and juicier as they sit.
- Baguette: Buy a good-quality baguette since it’s the base of the appetizer.
- Ricotta Cheese I used low-fat with fewer calories than full-fat ricotta, but feel free to use whichever. Cottage cheese can also be used here.
- Honey lightly sweetens the ricotta.
- Chopped Mint pairs beautifully with the strawberries, complementing the berries’ sweetness and providing a pretty pop of green.
How to Make Strawberry Crostini
These simple strawberry crostini are low-effort, high-reward and are sure to impress your guests. See the recipe card at the bottom for printable directions.
- Macerate the Berries: Combine the strawberries, sugar, and lemon zest and let sit while you prep the other ingredients. Macerating is a fancy term for letting fruit sit in a liquid or sugar to soften it and draw out its juices.
- Toast the Bread: Place the sliced baguette on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Sweeten the Ricotta: Stir the ricotta cheese and honey together.
- How to Assemble Crostini: First, mix the mint into the strawberries. Then, spread ricotta over each crostini and top with strawberries.
Variations
- Change the Base: Swap the crostini for sourdough toast or whole-grain baguette slices.
- Gluten-Free: If you’re gluten-free, substitute a gluten-free baguette or even endive leaves, which are also a great low-carb option.
- Swap the Cheese: Try goat cheese, whipped feta, cottage cheese, or mascarpone instead of ricotta.
- Substitute honey with agave syrup.
- Use a Different Herb: Fresh basil is a nice alternative to mint.
- Go Dairy-Free: Use a plant-based spread, such as almond ricotta or vegan cream cheese.
- Drizzle with Balsamic: For a tangy-sweet finish, add a drizzle of balsamic glaze over the top to complement the strawberries without overpowering them.
- Add Crunch: A sprinkle of chopped pistachios or almonds adds great texture.
Yield: 8 servings
Serving Size: 2 crostini
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
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Add the chopped strawberries, sugar, and lemon zest to a bowl. Stir to combine, cover and set aside at room temperature while you make the crostini. You can do this step ahead and let sit covered at room temp or in the fridge for up to 3 hours.
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In the meantime, place the baguette slices on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly spray both sides of each slice with the olive oil spray. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, until lightly golden and toasty. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes.
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Add the ricotta and honey to a small bowl and mix until evenly incorporated. Before assembling, add the chopped mint to the strawberries and stir to combine.
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To assemble, spread a layer of the ricotta mixture over each crostini. Evenly divide the strawberry mixture on top of the ricotta. Serve immediately.
Last Step:
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- Strawberry mixture made about 1 cup
- Ricotta mixture made ½ cup
Serving: 2 crostini, Calories: 101 kcal, Carbohydrates: 17.5 g, Protein: 4.5 g, Fat: 2 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 5 mg, Sodium: 156.5 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 4 g
Storage
It’s best to serve the crostini right after adding the toppings, so the bread doesn’t get soggy. Here are some tips for storing them:
- Only make as many crostini as you plan on eating at the time.
- Store the berries, ricotta, and toasted baguette in separate airtight containers.
- Refrigerate the strawberries for up to 2 days and the ricotta for up to 4 days. Store the bread at room temperature.
- When it’s time to eat the leftovers, assemble your crostini as instructed.
Can you make crostini a day in advance?
You can slice and toast the crostini a day in advance and keep them in an airtight container. For the best texture, I recommend making the strawberry mixture only 3 hours before serving. They will start to break down if left too long.
FAQ
The biggest difference between the two is that bruschetta uses thicker sourdough bread, often rubbed with garlic and grilled. Crostini’s signature bread is thinly sliced and toasted baguette. I cut my bread just a quarter-inch thick. Crostini means “little toasts,” and bruschetta, from the word buscare, means “to
roast over coals” in Italian.
The ricotta cheese acts as a barrier, preventing the strawberry juice from soaking the bread. However, crostini can still get soggy, which is why it’s best to prepare them right before serving.
More Summer Recipes with Strawberries You’ll Love
For more recipe ideas using strawberries, check out these five delicious summer strawberry recipes to inspire your next meal!
If you make this healthy Strawberry Mint Crostini recipe, I would love to see it. Tag me in your photos or videos on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. And be sure to join the Skinnytaste Community to see what everyone’s cooking!
