Hot Honey Goat Cheese Crostini (Printable)

Crispy baguette slices with creamy cheese blend and spicy honey drizzle. An impressive starter ready in 25 minutes.

# Components:

→ Bread

01 - 1 baguette, sliced into ½-inch slices (about 16 slices)

→ Cheese

02 - 4 oz fresh goat cheese, softened
03 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened

→ Hot Honey

04 - ¼ cup honey
05 - ½ to 1 tsp red pepper flakes, adjusted to taste

→ Garnish

06 - 1 tbsp fresh chives or thyme, finely chopped
07 - Flaky sea salt to taste

→ For Brushing

08 - 2 tbsp olive oil

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush both sides lightly with olive oil.
02 - Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp. Allow to cool slightly before assembly.
03 - In a small bowl, combine goat cheese and cream cheese, mixing until smooth and creamy.
04 - In a microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan, combine honey and red pepper flakes. Warm gently for 15 to 20 seconds in the microwave or over low heat until just warm and fragrant. Stir and allow to sit for one minute to infuse flavors.
05 - Spread a layer of the cheese mixture onto each toasted baguette slice.
06 - Drizzle each crostini generously with infused hot honey.
07 - Top with fresh herbs and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They come together in under 25 minutes, so you can make them while guests are arriving without feeling frazzled.
  • The hot honey can be made days ahead, which means less stress and more time to actually enjoy your gathering.
  • Each element is excellent on its own, but together they create something that tastes way more impressive than the minimal effort required.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cooling step after baking—hot bread doesn't spread evenly, but it also won't hold the cheese properly because everything just slides off.
  • The pepper flakes need time to infuse into the honey; I learned this when I rushed and the heat came in one sharp burst instead of building gradually across the flavor.
  • Make these as close to serving time as possible, because the bread softens after about 20 minutes and loses that critical crunch.
03 -
  • Keep the hot honey warm in a small bowl while serving—cold honey doesn't cling to the cheese the same way and tastes less integrated into the overall bite.
  • Brush your baguette slices generously with olive oil before toasting; this is the difference between crispy and crispy-on-the-outside-but-still-slightly-bread-like on the inside.
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