Include a holiday crostini bar at all of your holiday parties this year! These 12 3-ingredient crostini recipes are easy to make and pair perfectly with my favorite Sicilia DOC wines, Nero d’Avola and Frappato.
This post is sponsored by Wines of Sicily. My love of Sicilian wine and my opinions are my own.
Are you throwing a holiday party this year? It can seem like a daunting task but if you plan ahead, you and your guests can both have a great time.
To make sure my party is a success I depend on two things: great wine and great food.
Picking wines has become easier for me since I traveled to Sicily with Sicilia DOC. I have already stopped at the store and picked up cases of Grillo, Nero d’Avola and Frappato for the holiday season.
I’ve talked about Grillo and Nero d’Avola already, but not Frappato. Frappato is another Sicilian red; it is a medium-bodied, complex wine and the perfect addition to your holiday party wine list.
Now that you have your wine picked, it’s time to talk about food.
Holiday Crostini Bar
Food bars are great for parties because they allow you to do all or most of the prep ahead of time and let your guests have more say in what they are eating.
They also look really pretty and can double as decor. (Win, win!)
Deciding which crostini you include may be the hardest part; I like to do a mix of sweet and savory. Guide your guests to your suggested flavor combinations by including a crostini menu.
This will be especially helpful if you decide to include all 12 3-ingredient crostini here in this post.
Use a cheese board for the cheeses, small bowls for the nuts and fruits and a plate for any meats. If there are any items that need to be cooked, like the mushrooms, do that 30 minutes before your guests are to start arriving.
Ten minutes before your party starts, toast the crostini and set it out next to all of your crostini ingredients.
A helpful tip: create several sample crostini so guests know that its a crostini bar and not an elaborate charcuterie setup.
All of my parties this year will include a holiday crostini bar and either Nero d’Avola or Frappato. To help you decide which wines pair with which crostini, I have created 12 3-ingredient crostinis and listed their pairings for you.
3-Ingredient Crostini for Nero d’Avola
If Nero d’Avola is your party wine of choice, here are 7 perfect 3-ingredient crostini pairings.
- Goat Cheese, Pancetta, Shallots
- Feta, Mint, Roasted Red Pepper
- Gorgonzola, Mint, Walnuts
- Roast Beef, Mushrooms, Rosemary
- Ricotta, Blueberries, Lemon Zest
- Blue Cheese, Fig Jam, Almonds
- Hazelnut Spread, Pears, Marscapone
3-Ingredient Crostini for Frappato
If Frappato is your party wine of choice, here are 5 perfect 3-ingredient crostini pairings.
- Cream Cheese, Shrimp, Chives
- Mozzarella, Olives, Prosciutto
- Parmesan Cheese, Basil, Tomato
- Ricotta, Almonds, Honey
- Apples, Raspberries, Honey
Holiday Crostini Bar – 12 3-Ingredient Crostini Recipes
Ingredients
- 2 loaves French bread
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
Meat
- Pancetta
- Prosciutto
- Roast Beef
- Shrimp
Cheese
- Blue Cheese
- Cream Cheese (softened)
- Feta
- Goat Cheese
- Gorgonzola
- Marscapone
- Mozzarella
- Parmesan Cheese
- Ricotta
Nuts
- Almonds
- Walnuts
Spreads
- Fig Jam
- Hazelnut Spread
- Honey
Herbs
- Chives
- Mint
- Rosemary
Fruits and Veggies
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Lemons (zested)
- Mushrooms
- Pears
- Raspberries
- Roasted Red Pepper
- Tomato
Other
- Olives
- Shallots
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Thinly slice the French bread loaves (1/4 inch slices). Brush olive oil on both sides of the bread slices and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until toasted.
Assemble crostini ingredients and serve.
For more information about Nero d’Avola, Wines of Sicily and Sicilian grape varietals, check out their website. You can also find more information on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Amy @ Little Dairy on the Prairie says
This is such a pretty spread! I agree, planning ahead is the key to being able to enjoy hosting a party!
Jennifer A Stewart says
Still so jealous that you went to Italy!! That trip is on my bucket list for sure and so is every combination of crostini that you have listed here. Pinning!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Absolutely gorgeous pics and I’m in love with that crostini bar!!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
That’s a nice variety of crostini – Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up and don’t forget to leave a comment at the party – Next week’s features that also leave a comment get pinned, yummed and tweeted!
Michelle | A Latte Food says
What a perfect set-up! This is an amazing idea for easy entertaining!
Krista says
This is a great idea! I am going to have to add this to my Holiday menu plan!
Lauren @ Hall Nesting says
A crostini bar is my favorite thing to do for a girls night
Nicole says
Thanks for sharing all the pairing ideas. It’s so helpful to know what flavors go best together. #HomeMattersParty
Theresa @DearCreatives says
I love crostini and all these look amazing for appetizers. Break out the wine, cheers. Have a happy Thanksgiving btw. Thanks for joining the #InspirationSpotlight party. Shared
Julie says
What a great post. I’m always looking for great ideas for entertaining and I love your crostini variations. I haven’t tried this wine yet. I’ll have to put it on my shopping list. Holidays are better with wine!
Debi at Life Currents says
What a delicious looking spread, and these little bites look amazing. I’ll have to keep an eye out for this wine. It sounds like a great pairing!
Angela says
What a gorgeous spread!! WOW! Wonderful wine and crostini pairings! This all sounds so lovely!
lisa@Lisa's Dinnertime Dish says
I love this! This would be so fun at a party and so easy to put together!
Justine says
I love doing crostini bars, one of my favorite ways to entertain!
Platter Talk says
I LOVE crostini and the idea of a crostini bar, for entertaining, is nothing short of sheer genius. What a fantastic little guide you have put together here; thanks so much for sharing this!!!
Michaela Kenkel says
I would so much rather nosh like this than sit down for a big meal! What a nice assortment you have here!! and … that wine!! I am looking for it this weekend! Can I come over for the next party?? 😉
Sandra Shaffer says
All the combination of flavors look so delicious, but right now I would love the crostini with hazelnut spread, pears and Marscapone! This is my kind of party!!
Debra C. says
Oh yum! I love all of the combinations you’ve shared. I’ve never thought of doing a crostini bar – so smart and easy for a great party. Beautiful picture too!!
Jennifer A Stewart says
I love the idea of a crostini bar!! I wish I could eat like this all the time! And it’s perfect for my next party!!
Heather Gallagher says
These kind of recipes are my absolute favorite. I’m so so so doing this – looks amazing 🙂