Name: Easy Crostini Recipe (Homemade Baguette Crackers)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 French baguette (day old); ¼ cup butter (softened); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 tablespoons minced garlic (optional); 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill (optional)

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Why You’ll Love My Recipe

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but those fancy little toasts on every party platter are SO easy to make at home! Crostini are just thin slices of baguette brushed with butter and olive oil and baked until golden and crispy. They take about 20 minutes, they’re way cheaper than store-bought crackers, and you can top them with just about anything.

They’re a must on my Antipasto Platter, and they’re perfect next to a plate of my Bisquick Sausage Balls at your next party.

Crostini means “little toasts” in Italian, and you’ll often see them called crostini crackers or baguette crackers. Whatever you call them, they’re sturdier than regular crackers, so they hold up to thick dips, spreads and cheeses without snapping in half.

Golden homemade crostini on a marble counter, two of them topped with soft cheese and roasted red peppers.

Karlynn’s Recipe Notes

Skill Level: This is a very easy recipe. If you can slice bread, you can make crostini!
Total Time: About 20 minutes: 10 minutes to slice and brush, and 8 to 10 minutes in the oven.
Variations: Mix 2 tablespoons of minced garlic or fresh dill into the butter, or rub the warm toasts with a cut garlic clove. A little lemon or orange zest is lovely too. Use a gluten-free baguette so everyone at the party can dig in.
Tools For This Recipe: You’ll need a serrated bread knife, a pastry brush and a large baking sheet.
Servings: One baguette makes about 24 crostini.

Homemade crostini piled on a wooden board, with two topped with soft cheese and roasted red peppers.

What You’ll Need for Ingredients

French Baguette: A day-old baguette is perfect because it slices cleanly and crisps up beautifully. Karlynn’s Tip: Use good bakery bread with a light, airy texture. A really dense loaf makes crostini that are hard to bite through.

Butter & Olive Oil: A quarter cup of softened butter stirred together with a tablespoon of olive oil gives you the best of both: buttery flavour and extra crunch.

Optional Flavours: Garlic and fresh dill are my favourite add-ins. Stir them right into the butter before you brush it on.

Gluten-Free Option: A lot of people are sensitive to gluten these days, so I like to make a batch with a gluten-free baguette too. Bake them on their own sheet and keep them in a separate container so they don’t get mixed up.

How To Make Crostini

This is a quick overview of the recipe. The full list of ingredients & complete step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.

Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Slice the baguette on a diagonal into ¼ inch thick slices, so you get nice long pieces.
Stir the butter and olive oil together, plus any flavour add-ins.
Brush a thin layer onto one side of each slice and lay them buttered side up on a baking sheet.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until golden and crisp.
Let them cool completely before topping or storing.

An antipasto platter with homemade crostini, salami, olives, bocconcini, peppers, cheese and breadsticks.

Karlynn’s Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Crostini

Keep the Butter Thin: Only brush on a thin layer. Too much butter and your crostini will turn out spongy instead of crisp.
Watch the Oven: Every oven is a little different, so check them at 8 minutes. You want them golden and hard, not dark brown.
Topping Ideas: Spread them with my Olive Tapenade or Chicken Liver Pâté, or serve them alongside a gooey Walnut Raspberry Baked Brie.

Storage Instructions

Room Temperature: Once they’re completely cool, store crostini in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for 3 to 5 days. If they soften, pop them back in the oven for a few minutes to crisp them up again.

Freezer: Freeze cooled crostini in a freezer bag for up to 1 month. Re-crisp them in a 375°F oven for a few minutes before serving.

More Delicious Party Appetizer Recipes

Building a party spread? Add one of these:

My Tex-Mex 7 Layer Bean Dip is always the first thing to disappear.
Every party needs a big bowl of my Classic Homemade Nuts and Bolts!
My hot and cheesy Crab Rangoon Dip is perfect for scooping up with crostini.

And there you have it, folks! Crispy, golden homemade crostini that are ready for any topping you can dream up.

Give this recipe a try and leave a comment below to let me know: what’s your favourite thing to put on a crostini?

Happy Baking!

Karlynn