The first time my brother-in-law offered to cook for us, I pasted a smile on my face and stifled an urge to run for the hills. At the time, he was a bachelor and used to feeding himself basic meals that could go from microwave to plate as quickly as possible (yeah, that meant a lot - I mean A LOT - of frozen burritos). So, when he whipped up an appetizer that involved a wheel of Brie cheese and strawberries cooked inside a crusty, golden brown layer of pastry, I was eating my words...and then several helpings of that gooey, melty dish. Okay, I may have seated myself beside the plate and chowed down until there was not a single morsel to be found.
I blamed it on the kids.
That blissful first meeting with the Brie and strawberries led to a bit of an obsession. My dreams filled with spinning wheels of Brie and dancing strawberries (okay, that's a little weird...true, but weird) that ultimately culminated in one of my favorite desserts, Brie Cheese & Strawberry Puff Pastry "Ravioli" with Chocolate Sauce.
The thing that dreams are made of.
My infatuation hasn't waned and I find myself, yet again, pairing together the sweet, fragrant fruit with slices of warm, melted cheese. This time it's in the form of crostini and topped with a light drizzle of honey and thin slices of fresh basil. The first time i made this, I wasn't sure what to expect. With the first bite, my teeth sunk slowly through the strawberries and soft cheese until they met with the slightly crunchy bread. The flavors are sweet and savory, herbaceous and floral...and utterly delightful.
I'm not sure whether to call this an appetizer or a dessert because, really, it could go either way. Whether you choose to serve it at the beginning or the end of the meal, I guarantee that it will be a hit. And watch out because you, too, may become bitten by the strawberry-Brie bug.
The recipe:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Lay the baguette slices on a baking sheet. Top each piece of baguette with a slice of Brie cheese.
Bake in oven until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted, 5 to 6 minutes.
Top each with 2 slices of strawberry, ¼ to ½ teaspoon of honey and a few slices of basil. Serve.
Printable Recipe
Crostini with Brie Cheese, Strawberries, Honey & Basil Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 thin slices French baguette sliced on diagonal
- 4 ounces Brie cheese cut into 12 slices
- 6 medium strawberries sliced
- 1-2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar
- 4 fresh basil leave thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Lay the baguette slices on a baking sheet. Top each piece of baguette with a slice of Brie cheese.
- Bake in oven until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted, 5 to 6 minutes.
- Top each with 2 slices of strawberry, ½ to ½ teaspoon of honey and a few slices of basil. Serve.
Nutrition
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Jen @ Jen's Favorite Cookies
Is there anything that doesn't go with Brie? I think not. Brie is heavenly!
Stephanie
Totally putting this on my list of possible appetizers/snacks to make for company! Thanks.
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious
I totally know how good this would taste! I've tried the frozen burritos before but 2 minutes after they are done they're always rock hard?? I learned my lesson and with so many awesome Mexican eats here in CA frozen burritos are no longer 🙂
Laurie @SimplyScratch
I could literally eat these beauts all day long!
Jill
This looks delicious! I have everything for this, so you know what's for lunch today!
Belinda @zomppa
What a fantastic combination!! This is my kind of meal!
Julia {The Roasted Root}
Creamy, sweet and crunchy, what a great little appetizer! The honey/agave on top sounds delicious. This crostini is beautiful and simple to make - definitely perfect use for fresh ripe strawberries!
Maria
I think it would make a great breakfast too:)
Meeta
I'll take this at any time of the day Dara! We've been enjoying light snacks like this a lot - cheese, honey and fruit. Cannot get better than this! Perfect with a chilled chardonnay!
Kristen
I think you should just call it brilliant - it looks so delicious, Dara! Love the simplicity of it.