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 bottles 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 twelve 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 seven 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
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.
Equipment
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℉. Thinly slice the French bread loaves (¼ 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.
Heather Gallagher
Monday 28th of November 2016
These kind of recipes are my absolute favorite. I'm so so so doing this - looks amazing :)
Jennifer A Stewart
Sunday 27th of November 2016
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!!
Debra C.
Sunday 27th of November 2016
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!!
Sandra Shaffer
Sunday 27th of November 2016
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!!
Michaela Kenkel
Saturday 26th of November 2016
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?? ;)