30-Minute Pear Bacon Brie Crostini with Walnuts
Elegant appetizer crostini topped with creamy brie, crispy bacon, sweet pear, and toasted walnuts. The combination of savory bacon, mild cheese, and fresh fruit creates a sophisticated flavor balance perfect for dinner parties, wine tastings, or holiday entertaining. Toasted French bread provides the ideal crispy base for this rich, indulgent topping that guests always remember.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1
Toast walnuts in a dry pan until fragrant
- 2
Fry bacon until crisp, drain on paper towels and crumble into bowl
- 3
Remove rind from brie and dice
- 4
Core and dice the pear
- 5
Combine everything together except the bread
- 6
Slice french bread into slices and toast under broiler on both sides
- 7
Place about a rounded tablespoon of mixture on each slice of toast
Tips
Toast walnuts just until fragrant to avoid bitterness and enhance their nutty flavor.
Use very ripe pears for the best sweetness that balances the salty bacon.
Make the topping mixture ahead and assemble just before serving to keep bread crispy.
Good to Know
Refrigerate topping mixture up to 1 day. Assemble just before serving.
Prepare topping mixture 1 day ahead. Toast bread day of serving.
Serve immediately while bread is crispy and topping is at room temperature.
Common Mistakes
Toast bread just before serving to avoid sogginess.
Don't overfill bread slices to prevent topping from sliding off.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
Nut-Free Alternatives
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I make these ahead of time?
Make the topping mixture up to 1 day ahead, but assemble just before serving to keep the bread from getting soggy.
What if I can't find ripe pears?
Use firm pears but dice them smaller, or substitute with crisp apple for a different but delicious flavor profile.
How long will leftovers keep?
Assembled crostini don't keep well, but leftover topping mixture stays fresh refrigerated for 2-3 days.