Crostini With Whipped Goat Cheese And Bacon Onion Jam
If you’re looking for that one appetizer everyone talks about long after the party is over… this is it. Creamy whipped goat cheese topped with a rich, sweet-and-smoky bacon jam—it’s layered with flavor and ridiculously easy to make. Serve it with golden crostini and watch it disappear in minutes. Trust me, you’ll want to keep this one in your back pocket for every gathering!
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 288kcal
Equipment
- Large Skillet For recipe (and fried crackers if desired)
- Baking sheet For crostini
Ingredients
- 8 oz. thick-cut bacon about 6 slices, chopped
- 1 cup chopped yellow or sweet onion from 1 small onion
- 3 Tbsp. light brown sugar
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- ½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 8 oz. goat cheese softened
- 4 oz. cream cheese softened
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- ½ tsp. kosher salt
- Fresh thyme leaves
- Easy Fried Crackers or Crostini recipes follow
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Stir it now and then. Cook until the fat melts and the edges turn crisp, about 9 minutes
- Remove from heat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Pour drippings into a heatproof measuring cup.
- Add 2 tablespoons of drippings back to the skillet; reserve the remaining drippings for another use.
- Add the onion and cooked bacon to the skillet; cook over medium, stirring often, until the onion is golden brown, about 8 minutes.
- Stir in brown sugar, 1 tablespoon water, smoked paprika, and Worcestershire into the bacon mixture.
- Cook for 15 to 30 seconds, stirring the whole time, until it turns glossy and syrupy.
- Remove from heat, then transfer the mixture to a heatproof measuring cup or bowl. Let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
- Beat goat cheese, cream cheese, oil, and salt with an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 30 seconds.
- Spread the goat cheese mixture inside a shallow bowl. Top with Smoky Bacon Jam, and garnish with thyme leaves.
- Serve with Easy Fried Crackers or crostini. ( Recipes are included in the recipe notes.)
Notes
How to Make Crostini
- 1 baguette, preferably whole grain
- 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, peeled and sliced in half length-wise
- ¼ tsp. sea salt
- ¼ tsp. ground black pepper
- Turn on the oven's broiler to high. Cut the baguette slices at a diagonal angle about ¼-inch thick, and lay them flat on a parchment-lined sheet pan.
- Brush the baguette slices lightly with olive oil. Rub the garlic on each baguette slice, then sprinkle them with the salt and pepper.
- Place the pan in the oven, about 4 inches from the broiler. Toast for about 2 minutes. Check the chicken at 1 minute. Turn the pan if needed, for even browning.
- Remove the baking pan from the oven and carefully flip the slices over so the uncooked side is facing up. Brush with remaining olive oil. Rub the slices with garlic again.
- Return to the oven, and again toast the bread about 4 inches from the broiler for 1 to 1-½ minutes. The edges should be a golden brown.
- Remove from the oven immediately. The crostini may be served warm or cool with your favorite topping.
- Heat 4 cups of canola oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat to 350℉.
- Working in batches, fry one sleeve of saltine crackers until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per batch.
- Let drain on a wire rack.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week (if they last that long!).
Nutrition
Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 464mg | Potassium: 130mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 798IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 1mg