Description
These Cranberry Bacon Jam Crostini are a fun holiday appetizer made with a homemade sweet and smoky bacon jam, melty cheese, and crunchy baguette slices.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb bacon (finely chopped)
- 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- ½ cup brown sugar (lightly packed)
- ½ cup cranberry juice
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brewed coffee (hot or cold)
- 1 baguette (thinly sliced, about 20 slices)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 10 slices good quality cheese (cut in half, smoked cheddar, havarti, or gouda recommended)
- toasted chopped walnuts, for garnish
- fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, cook the bacon until nicely browned. Remove from pan, saving about 2 tablespoons bacon fat. Drain the rest off.
- In remaining bacon fat, cook the onions over medium heat until translucent. Add garlic and cook about a minute until fragrant.
- Add bacon back to the pan with the brown sugar, cranberry juice, cranberries, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, and coffee.
- Cook over medium-low heat for about 30 minutes until thickened and syrupy. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as desired and set aside.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 400℉.
- Lightly butter one side of each bread slice, and place on baking sheet with the butter face down. Place pan in the oven for 3-4 minutes, until the bottom is lightly toasted.
- Flip bread slices and top with cheese. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of bacon jam on top of cheese and place in the oven for 4-5 minutes, until the bacon jam is warmed through and the cheese is melted.
- Top with chopped walnuts and parsley if desired.
Notes
- The bacon jam can be made ahead and stored in the fridge.
- Warm the jam before spreading if made ahead.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 crostini
- Calories: 274
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg