Why You’ll Love This Herbed Goat Cheese and Fig Crostini

• Effortless Elegance. These crostini look like they came from a fancy caterer, but they are surprisingly simple to assemble. The vibrant colors and beautiful presentation do all the talking for you.
• A Perfect Flavor Balance. The tangy, creamy goat cheese is the perfect counterpoint to the deep, sweet fig jam. Add a sprinkle of fresh thyme and a crack of black pepper, and you’ve got a symphony of flavors in every single bite.
• Incredibly Versatile. You can easily adapt these to what you have on hand. No fresh thyme? Use rosemary. Prefer a different cheese? A soft blue cheese works wonderfully. They’re a fantastic canvas for your own creativity.
• Make-Ahead Friendly. You can toast the bread slices and prepare the herbed goat cheese mixture a few hours ahead of time. When guests arrive, all you need to do is assemble, which means you get to enjoy the party too.

Ingredients & Tools

• 1 baguette, cut into ½-inch thick slices
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
• 1 log (about 150g) fresh goat cheese (chèvre), at room temperature
• 2 tbsp whole milk or heavy cream
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, plus more for garnish
• 1 tsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• 1 small clove garlic, minced or grated (optional)
• ½ cup fig jam or preserves
• to taste flaky sea salt (like Maldon) and freshly cracked black pepper
• for garnish fresh thyme sprigs or a drizzle of honey (optional)

Tools: A baking sheet, a small mixing bowl, a small spatula or spoon, a pastry brush (helpful but not essential).

The quality of your ingredients really shines here, so it’s worth seeking out a good, creamy goat cheese and a fig jam with real fruit pieces. A little goes a long way in making these crostini unforgettable.

Serves: 6-8 (makes about 24 crostini) | Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes

Before You Start: Tips & Ingredient Notes

• Room temperature goat cheese is non-negotiable. Trying to whip cold goat cheese is a workout you don’t need. Let it sit out for at least 30 minutes before you start—it will blend into a beautifully smooth and spreadable consistency with the milk or cream.
• Your baguette choice matters. A day-old baguette is actually ideal here, as it’s a bit sturdier and will toast up with a better crunch. If your bread is very fresh, just toast it for a minute or two longer to achieve that perfect crispness without burning.
• Don’t skip the fresh herbs. While dried herbs can work in a pinch, the bright, fragrant flavor of fresh thyme and rosemary is what makes the herbed cheese mixture so special. They provide a lovely, aromatic contrast to the rich toppings.
• Fig jam vs. fresh figs. Using a good-quality fig jam ensures a consistent, sweet layer that’s available year-round. If you’re making these in late summer with perfectly ripe fresh figs, you can slice them thinly instead—just know the result will be a bit different, though equally delicious.

How to Make Herbed Goat Cheese and Fig Crostini

Serving Suggestions

Complementary Dishes

• A Simple Arugula Salad — The peppery bite of arugula dressed with just lemon juice and olive oil provides a fresh, crisp counterpoint to the rich, sweet crostini.
• Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon — This classic pairing continues the sweet-and-salty theme beautifully and makes for a stunning antipasto platter.
• Roasted Red Pepper Soup — Serve these crostini alongside a velvety, slightly smoky soup for a sophisticated starter course that’s perfect for a dinner party.

Drinks

• A Crisp Rosé — The berry notes and acidity in a dry rosé cut through the creaminess of the cheese and complement the fruitiness of the fig perfectly.
• A Sparkling Prosecco — The bubbles are always a celebration, and the lightness of Prosecco cleanses the palate between each delicious bite.
• An Herbal Gin & Tonic — The botanicals in a good gin, especially ones with floral or citrus notes, echo the fresh herbs in the goat cheese spread wonderfully.

Something Sweet

• Dark Chocolate Truffles — End the meal with something rich and decadent. The bitterness of dark chocolate is a fantastic follow-up to the sweet and savory notes of the appetizer.
• Lemon Sorbet — For a lighter finish, a scoop of bright, tart lemon sorbet will refresh everyone’s palate and feel incredibly cleansing.
• Almond Biscotti — These crunchy, not-too-sweet cookies are perfect for dipping into a final cup of coffee or tea, providing a nice textural contrast to the meal.

Top Mistakes to Avoid

• Mistake: Using cold goat cheese. This is the number one reason for a lumpy, unspreadable cheese mixture. It’s frustrating and easily avoidable. Just remember to take it out of the fridge ahead of time.
• Mistake: Soggy bread. If you assemble the crostini too far in advance, the moisture from the toppings will seep into the bread and turn it soft. I’ve messed this up before too… it’s a sad sight. Assemble as close to serving as possible.
• Mistake: Over-toasting or under-toasting the bread. Burnt crostini taste bitter, while under-toasted ones are chewy and can’t support the toppings. Aim for that perfect golden-brown color and listen for a crisp sound when you tap them.
• Mistake: Skipping the final seasoning. That sprinkle of flaky salt at the end isn’t just for show. It truly elevates all the flavors and adds a delightful little crunch. Don’t forget it!

Expert Tips

• Tip: Add a nutty crunch. For an extra layer of texture and flavor, try sprinkling some chopped toasted walnuts or pistachios over the assembled crostini. The nuttiness pairs incredibly well with both the fig and the goat cheese.
• Tip: Infuse your oil. If you really want to impress, gently warm the olive oil with the thyme and rosemary sprigs before brushing it onto the bread. This infuses the oil and gives the crostini base an even more profound herbal aroma.
• Tip: Get creative with shapes. If you can’t find a baguette, you can use a ciabatta loaf cut into small rectangles or even large, sturdy crackers as your base. The method remains the same!
• Tip: Make it a platter. Turn this into a build-your-own crostini bar for a party! Set out the toasted bread, bowls of the herbed goat cheese, fig jam, and other toppings like prosciutto, arugula, and honey. It’s interactive and fun for guests.

FAQs

Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes, but with a specific strategy. You can toast the bread slices and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a day. The herbed goat cheese mixture can be made and kept covered in the fridge for 1-2 days. Let it come back to room temperature before spreading. The key is to assemble the components—spreading the cheese and adding the jam—no more than an hour before serving to keep the bread perfectly crisp.

What can I use instead of fig jam?
Fig jam is classic, but other fruit preserves work wonderfully. A good-quality cherry, blackberry, or even apricot jam would be delicious. You’re looking for something with a balance of sweetness and a little tartness. A savory option like caramelized onions or a sun-dried tomato pesto would also create a fantastic, though completely different, flavor profile.

My goat cheese is still crumbly after adding milk. What did I do wrong?
This usually means your goat cheese was still too cold. If you’re in a hurry, you can try zapping it in the microwave for literally 5-second bursts until it just starts to soften at the edges. Be very careful not to melt it! Alternatively, just keep whipping it vigorously with the fork—the friction will eventually help it soften up.

Are there any good vegan substitutions?
Absolutely! For the cheese, a vegan cream cheese or a soft vegan goat cheese alternative (available in many health food stores) would be your best bet. Whip it with the herbs just as you would the dairy version. For a substitute for the fig jam, it’s already vegan, but check the label to be sure. The result will be different, but still tasty.

How do I store leftovers?
Honestly, these are best enjoyed immediately. If you do have leftovers, store them in a single layer in an airtight container in the fridge for a day. They will be soft, but the flavors will still be good. You could even crumble them over a salad the next day for a tasty lunch!