Description
Elegant honey whipped feta and cranberry delight crostini showcase Mediterranean flavors with rustic charm. Crisp toasted bread serves as a perfect canvas for creamy whipped feta, sweet honey, and tart cranberry compote that dance deliciously together.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 French or sourdough baguette, sliced into 6–8 toasts
- 8 oz (226 g) block feta cheese
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese
- 2 cups (300 g) fresh cranberries
- 1 cup (240 ml) orange juice
- ½ cup (120 ml) red wine
- 1 cup (80 g) unsweetened coconut chips
- ⅓ cup (70 g) dark brown sugar
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) honey, plus extra for drizzling
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) maple syrup
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) soy sauce
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp (5 g) smoked paprika
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) chili powder
- 1/8 tsp (0.6 g) black pepper
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- Fresh thyme
- Flaky sea salt
- To serve
Instructions
- Coconut Chip Preparation: Blend soy sauce, maple syrup, smoked paprika, chili powder, and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Thoroughly coat coconut chips with the marinade and spread evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Roasting Process: Bake coconut chips in a 350-degree oven for 8-10 minutes, rotating midway to ensure uniform crispness. Allow to cool completely for maximum crunch.
- Cranberry Sauce Creation: Combine whole cranberries, orange juice, red wine, brown sugar, cinnamon, rosemary, and salt in a large skillet. Simmer on medium heat, gently breaking down cranberries until the sauce reaches a thick, luxurious consistency.
- Feta Cheese Transformation: Blend feta, cream cheese, honey, and olive oil in a food processor until silky smooth, periodically scraping down the sides to ensure complete integration.
- Baguette Toasting: Brush baguette slices with olive oil and broil until edges turn golden-brown, carefully monitoring to prevent burning.
- Crostini Assembly: Spread whipped feta on toasted baguette slices. Drizzle with honey, top with crispy coconut chips, and add a spoonful of cranberry sauce.
- Final Presentation: Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, completing this visually stunning and flavor-packed appetizer.
Notes
- Toast with Care: Watch baguette slices closely under the broiler to prevent burning, as they can quickly go from golden to charred.
- Marinate Evenly: Ensure coconut chips are thoroughly and uniformly coated with the soy sauce mixture for consistent flavor in every bite.
- Simmer Slowly: Allow cranberry sauce to reduce gradually, which concentrates flavors and creates a rich, thick texture without burning.
- Pulse Precisely: When blending feta mixture, scrape down processor sides to guarantee a smooth, fully integrated cream without lumps.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 30mg