Dessert Crostini with Mascarpone, Fresh Berries and Drizzled Honey Recipe
Crostini with Mascarpone, Fresh Berries and Drizzled Honey Recipe

Crostini are thinly sliced toasts, but think of them as a blank canvas for savory and sweet toppings.

Often served as an appetizer in Italy with a smear of pureed chicken livers, crostini are versatile little crisps. Topped with pesto and herbs, they make an excellent garnish on a chilled or hot soup. Topped with a puree of peas with mint, they are a wonderful accent to a summer salad.

Dessert crostini are a cook's best friend. They require little more than bread, fruit, cheese and a drizzle of honey.

These tasty Crostini with Mascarpone, Fresh Berries and Drizzled Honey take just a few minutes to put together, so consider serving them when you are pressed for time. They're just the thing for an afternoon tea or as an elegant end to a meal.

Toast some thinly sliced bread, spread over with cheese, and then top with an array of sweet flavors. Mascarpone is a very soft, rich cheese that tastes a little bit like sour cream but is much denser in texture. The creamy cheese contributes a textural contrast to the crisp toast, tart berries and sweet honey.

Serve a fruity after dinner wine to complete the meal.

Dessert Crostini with Mascarpone, Fresh Berries & Drizzled Honey Recipe

    Prep Time: 12 minutes

    Cook time: 10 minutes

    Yield: Serves 4 to 6

Dessert Crostini with Mascarpone, Fresh Berries & Drizzled Honey Recipe Ingredients

    12 1/2-inch slices French bread baguette

    1/4 cup mascarpone

    1 pint favorite ripe berries, such as blackberries or raspberries

    1/4 cup fragrant honey like orange blossom, white truffle or lavender

Dessert Crostini with Mascarpone, Fresh Berries & Drizzled Honey Recipe Instructions

    1. To toast the French bread slices, preheat the oven to 350 F. Place the bread slices on a baking sheet and toast for about 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool.

    2. Arrange on a platter and smear about a teaspoon of mascarpone on each bread slice. Arrange a few berries on top and then drizzle lightly with honey. Serve immediately.

Help is on the Way

-- Try different types of bread such as raisin nut or ciabatta.

-- Find soft cheeses such as fresh goat, blue or triple cream for easy spreading.

-- If using fruit that needs to be sliced, make sure the slices are very thin.

-- Look for creative drizzles such as caramel, balsamic glaze or fruit puree.

-- Do a variation of this idea: Arrange a soft, creamy blue cheese, a strong cheddar and a triple cream cheese on a basket. Have slices of toasted raisin-nut bread around the cheese. Place a pot of honey in the basket. Let your guests make their own selection, and make sure to have them drizzle the cheese and bread with a bit of honey.

Diane Rossen Worthington is an authority on new American cooking and author of 18 cookbooks, including "Seriously Simple Holidays," and also a James Beard award-winning radio show host.

 

Subscribe to Receive our Gourmet Recipes


Dessert Crostini with Mascarpone, Fresh Berries and Drizzled Honey Recipe

World-renowned chefs with an extraordinary passion for food share their passion on iHaveNet.com. These chefs make great cooking easier than imagined. Each gourmet recipe features expert advice and an easy-to-make recipe. Exactly what you need to transform your home cooking from acceptable to delectable

© Diane Rossen Worthington