A quick and easy appetizer recipe for your next holiday party.
I don’t know about you, but I love bruschetta/crostinis/toasts with fancy things on top. They’re fun to create and snack on, and they’re easy party food. This is a simple crowd-pleasing party recipe that I made for our Thanksgiving table this year. Not only was it an amazing Thanksgiving appetizer – I also brought it to my team at work as a treat, and I made it for a little holiday party. Guess what? It was a hit each time. The sweet chili jam mixed with tangy, cooling goat cheese is the perfect combination. Chocolate shavings and fresh mint enhance the flavors and wow your guests (and taste buds!). Plus, you can get all of the ingredients from Trader Joe’s, which is great if you’re in a pinch for time.
While many people look forward to the winter holidays, Thanksgiving is the central holiday for my family. My Dad’s extended family comes in town each year, and it’s such a special time for us to spend together. Over the years, I’ve become responsible for our Thanksgiving appetizers, which is something I relish in. I’ve been having a lot of fun creating cheese boards with different cheeses, jams, and accompaniments, and I always like to highlight a new bruschetta/crostini or two. Plus, putting a pre-made bruschetta on a cheese board takes the guesswork out of it for those who aren’t sure how to navigate all of their options, like which type of cheese to pair with apricot jam. The idea for this one came to me when I spotted the new **chili jam at Trader Joe’s, and I just knew it would be making an appearance on our table this year. It’s actually surprisingly spicy, so a little goes a long way, but it’s got that spicy-sweet thing going on which makes it a bit addictive. And if you’re not a fan of goat cheese, it’s also yummy made with cream cheese.
**Note that Trader Joe’s unfortunately stopped selling this jam. See recipe note for an idea for a substitute.
Trader Joe’s is an entertaining secret anyone can have up their sleeve. If you’re invited to a party and you’re not sure what to bring, you can stop by your Trader Joe’s and grab a bottle of bubbly and a yummy snack to share – we love their Danish Kringles, and pirouette cookies look pretty when arranged in a parfait cup. If it’s during the holiday season you can try a chocolate chip pannetone or even some dark chocolate covered marshmallows! The possibilities are endless, and your host will be grateful. Also, please note that this is not a sponsored post – I just really love Trader Joe’s and shop there quite often.
If you’re looking for the perfect party appetizer, I recommend this savory-sweet crostini.
Sweet Chili & Goat Cheese Crostini with Mint & Dark Chocolate
Print RecipeIngredients
- 2 tbsp+ Trader Joe's Hot & Sweet Chili Jam**
- 8 ounces plain goat cheese
- 1 sprig of mint (about 10 leaves), chopped
- 1 ounce of dark chocolate
- 1 baguette
- Olive oil and Maldon sea salt, to top
Instructions
Preheat the oven to broil.
Slice the baguette and place the slices on a baking sheet. Broil for ~2 minutes on each side, just until toasted.
Combine 2 tbsp of jam and the goat cheese in a bowl, and whip with a fork to combine. If you'd like it to be more or less spicy, you can increase or decrease the amount of jam to suit your taste.
You have a choice: spoon the jam into a decorative ramekin and top with a drizzle of oil, mint, and chocolate shavings and serve as a dip. Or spread a bit of the jam + goat cheese mixture onto each slice of toast. Arrange on a platter and sprinkle mint over top.
Shave dark chocolate over each crostini and drizzle olive oil over the platter. Finish with a sprinkle of Maldon sea salt.
Notes
Feel free to sub cream cheese for goat cheese ** Trader Joes unfortunately stopped selling this specific chili jam. You can substitute any other spicy/sweet jam for a similar effect.
